Supporting employers who hire people with disability
Laura is a 24 year old trained beauty therapist who has been on DSP for three years since being diagnosed with severe arthritis and depression, affecting her ability to participate in work.
Laura's Job Capacity Assessment determines she has a work capacity of eight to 14 hours a week, taking account of her future work capacity.
As part of the new requirements, Laura and Centrelink draw up a Participation Plan and she is required to attend quarterly interviews for the first 18 months, and two each year after that.
Laura is keen to work again and has volunteered to be referred to Disability Employment Services. Laura participates in employment services and keeps attending participation interviews.
When Laura finds part time employment as a beauty therapist, she is no longer required to attend participation interviews and can work up to 30 hours per week for two years, without her payment being suspended, subject to the income test.
Encouraging employers to hire people with disability
It is equally important to provide support and encouragement to employers to take on people with disability who want to work.
The Government will invest $11 million to provide higher wage subsidies to reward employers who hire people with disability for at least 15 hours per week. A further $1 million will fund up to 10 disability employment broker projects to implement strategies to create job opportunities and build relationships with employers.
The Government is also extending the eligibility for the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme to people receiving support from Disability Employment Services.
Mental Health
Around 30 per cent of DSP recipients have a mental health condition. For these people, working can be beneficial in managing their condition.
The Government will provide $50 million to expand Personal Helpers and Mentors services to help people with mental illness on income support who are also working with employment services. The Government will also provide $2 million to improve the capacity of employment services to support employers to successfully recruit and retain employees with a mental illness.
DSP recipients by primary medical condition (major categories)
Source: Australian Government Administrative Data, 2010.