Wage Assistance
Wage Assistance is a payment given to Australian employers as an incentive to employ Indigenous Australians on an on-going basis. The Program is managed by the Australian Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
The Wage Assistance Program was established in 1999 as part of the Indigenous Employment Policy. It provides an incentive to employers to provide ongoing employment for eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander job seekers.
Wage Assistance offers salary subsidies to employers of up to:
- $4,400 for full-time work (that is 35 hours per week or the hours defined as full-time in the relevant industrial award or certified workplace agreement) or
- $2,200 (including GST) for ongoing part-time work of at least 15 hours per week.
Wage Assistance is used mainly by small private sector businesses and is available for apprentices and trainees as well as other employees. It is also available to public and community sector employers.
Wage Assistance Application Form (NEW)
Wage Assistance application forms have been updated to allow for employers to apply for individual employees or for a number of employees (Bulk Wage Assistance) on the one application form. This initiative should assist in simplifying the application process.
If applying for Bulk Wage Assistance, the commencement dates for employees do not have to be the same, however employers must ensure that the submit their application with 28 days of the commencement of the last Wage Assistance participant.
An additional question has been included asking whether the position or positions are part of the
Australian Employment Covenant. For more information about the Australian Employment Covenant call the Heroes Hotline on 1300 346 325.
For more information about Wage Assistance call the Indigenous Employment Line on 1802 102.
Wage Assistance Claim Form (NEW)
Updated Wage Assistance claim forms are available for download.
Wage Assistance claim form (PDF 248 KB)
Wage Assistance claim form (RTF 5.25 MB)
Read more about Wage Assistance eligibility criteria, how to apply, case studies or download the application form.
Wage Assistance application form (PDF 246 KB)
Wage Assistance application form (RTF 5.30 MB)