Employers Resources
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EMPLOYERS RESOURCES
Funding that is available
Employment Consultants at Workbridge work with employers to hear what the issues are and work hard to ensure that all parties are heard and understood. We use Occupational Therapists for independent, professional assessments.
The Job Support Fund can be used in many, many ways to "level the playing field" so that no additional costs are borne by the employee or employer because of the disability.
It may be in the form of a wage subsidy to make up for any productivity shortfall that is caused by the disability (productivity lost because of a slower work rate, or lost due to a colleague's or supervisor's time spent assisting and supporting the person with the disability instead of doing what they are paid to do). It may be taxis to and from work, or a rented parking space close to work, or specialised software to allow computer access for some disabilities.
We also apply for WINZ Modification Grant when employers need workplace modifications made, be this ramps, new wheelchair accessible toilet, doors needing re-hanging to allow for opposite opening/closing direction; this may also be used for special flashing light fire alarms for Deaf employees or amplified telephone for hearing impaired employees. The list is long and varies for each unique situation.
Both funds are always considered with a view that some costs are inevitable for employers (desk, computer, chair, phone) and for employees (work clothes, transport costs, car parking costs) and these costs are not removed by the Job Support Fund – the Fund only pays the ADDITIONAL cost over and above what would be standard for someone who didn’t have the disability.
Funds are limited and the Modification Grant is not isolated from the annual Job Support Fund limitation.
The Job Support Fund allows a client a maximum of $16,900 per annum; very few use this whole entitlement!
Modification Grant has a maximum spend of $10,000 per application and, if used, the Job Support Fund is considered at $16,900 LESS the amount spent via Modification Grant.
EXAMPLE:
A client has a workplace modified through Modification Grant and the cost of that was $8,500. If that same client wanted a support person to act as their voice or hands, and looked to the Job Support Fund to pay that support person, we would see that there was only $8,400 left in that year's allocation. ($16,900 - $8,500 = $ $8,400)
There are criteria to be met on all application to the Support Funds and these criteria are set by government.
If an application is declined the client always has the right to Review and on occasions a local decision to decline an application is overturned by the Review committee.
Employment support for people with disabilities brochure -pdf