Archived Grant Opportunity View - GO493

The National Panel of Assessors provides a range of independent assessment services to assist with the needs of people with disability in the workplace. Assessment services include Ongoing Support Assessments for Disability Employment Services (DES) participants, Supported Wage System assessments which determine the productivity-based wage for Supported Wage System participants, and Workplace Modifications Assessments for Employment Assistance Fund recipients.

The Australian Government is inviting membership to the DES National Panel of Assessors via an open application process, to provide assessment services across all Employment Service Areas (ESA) from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2023. Membership will be offered initially for these five years as a result of this process.

The National Panel of Assessors will include suitably qualified Supported Wage System (SWS) assessment assessors. Applicants wishing to deliver SWS assessments must also apply to deliver Ongoing Support Assessments.

Currently SWS is used for Open Employment and the supported employment sector (Australian Disability Enterprises). The Department is currently working with relevant stakeholders in the Fair Work Commission to develop a new wage assessment tool for use in supported employment, which may include modifications to SWS.

Ongoing Support assistance is available to DES Participants who have achieved 25 weeks of employment, are currently employed, and require the ongoing services of a DES provider to retain and/or maintain their employment. Ongoing Support Assessments (OSAs) assessors will independently assess the Ongoing Support needs of DES Participants in employment.

The Department of Social Services will appoint qualified Workplace Modification Assessors (WMA) who will be required to conduct assessments for people with disability to identify barriers to accessing or performing their work. Successful applicants may also be expected to provide other specialist Workplace Modification Assessment-related services. Applicants will be expected to provide details of nominated assessors with suitable qualifications and experience to conduct the Assessment Services.  

Successful applicants will only be paid for delivering Assessment Services under the Grant Agreement. The services do not include assessment or reporting on issues regarding industrial relations determinations, income support arrangements, medical, health, legal or other related Commonwealth, State or Territory programs including those purchased by the Department. More details are included in the Grant Agreement in section 2 Performing the Services, and section 3 Financial Matters provides guidance on what are permitted activities for grant money.

1 July 2018 to 30 June 2023.

To apply, please go to the Application Form

Questions and Answers for this grant round are available in the grant opportunity documents.

If you cannot find an answer to your question relating to this selection process, please send your question to support@communitygrants.gov.au. The Community Grants Hub will respond to your question within five working days.

The Question and Answer period will close at 5:00pm AEDT 17 October 2017.