There are specific rules for pay and conditions under the Supported Employment Services Award.

This page explains the minimum rate and classification rules that have applied since 30 June 2023.

On this page:

• Who’s covered by the Supported Employment Services Award
• Minimum rates for employees with disability
• Supported wage assessments
• Reviewing an assessment
• Tools and resources
• Related information

Who's covered by the Supported Employment Services Award

The Supported Employment Services (SES) Award covers employees who:

• work for employers who operate supported employment services
• fit within the classifications in the SES Award.

Most employees who work for supported employment services employers are employees with disability.

We have tools and resources to help you understand the award:

• for more information on who the SES Award covers and doesn't cover, read our Supported Employment Services Award summary
• read our library article on award coverage for employees with disability at Award coverage for employees with disability.

We also have information on pay rates for employees with disability at Employees with disability pay rates.

Minimum rates for employees with disability

Since 30 June 2023, there have been important changes to the SES Award.

They include:

• new and updated classifications
• transitional minimum rates for employees with disability.

These changes have affected:

• existing employees employed before 30 June 2023
• new employees hired after 30 June 2023.

Grade classifications

Grade A and Grade B classifications under the SES Award have applied since 30 June 2023. These classifications are in addition to the existing Grade 1 to 7 classifications.

An award classification (called ‘Grades’ in the SES Award) is a description of a job’s duties and the type of work involved. SES Award classifications are found in Schedule A. Learn more about classifications from our Award classifications page.

Grades A and B apply to employees who:

• because of their disability, are unable to undertake the duties or exercise the level of skill and responsibility of a job in Grades 1 to 7
• are in a job that doesn’t fall into Grades 1 to 7
• are in a job that requires a level of supervision and monitoring to accommodate the effects of their disability.

Grade A

Grade A is a job that:

• consists of a simple task or tasks of up to 3 steps
• has steps that may involve using jigs, basic equipment or tools
• is under direct supervision
• has constant monitoring.

From the first pay period starting on or after 1 July 2025, the minimum pay rate for a full-time or part-time Grade A employee is $7.10 per hour.

Grade B

Grade B is a job that:

• consists of a simple task or tasks of more than 3 steps
• has steps that may involve using mechanical or electrical equipment or tools
• is under direct supervision
• has regular monitoring.

From the first pay period starting on or after 1 July 2025, the minimum pay rate for a full-time or part-time Grade B employee is $14.19 per hour.

Grade A and B casual employees get a 25% loading on top of their minimum hourly pay rate. For more information on casual pay rates, go to our Library article: Calculating overtime and penalty rates for casuals in the Supported Employment Services Award.

Changing classification

Classifications under Grades 1 to 7 also changed on 30 June 2023. Since this time, employers should have determined the classification of new employees starting work from 30 June 2023 using the new classification structure.

The classifications between Grades 1 and 7 in the SES Award can apply to employees with or without disability, based on their qualifications, training, experience and duties.

Employers should tell an employee what their classification is.

Transitional pay rates for Grades A and B

Minimum pay rates for Grade A and B employees increase each year until 30 June 2026.

The current and future rates are set out in the SES Award.

You can also check the past and future minimum full-time and part-time pay rates using our Pay and Conditions Tool.

Different pay rates may apply in other circumstances. For example, when an employee:

• is a casual
• performs overtime, weekend or public holiday work.

Supported wage assessments

Employees with disability covered by the SES Award can be paid a supported wage. This is the higher of:

• a percentage of the minimum hourly rate of pay for their classification based on their productive capacity, or
• $3.12 per hour.

An employee’s productive capacity is assessed based on their ability to perform their job. This is determined by an approved assessor using the assessment tool outlined in the SES Award. This is the only supported wage assessment tool that can be used under the Supported Wage System. Since 30 June 2023, all other tools have been removed from the SES Award.

An employee with disability covered by the SES Award doesn’t have to be paid a supported wage. An employer can pay an employee with disability the minimum rate for the employee’s classification.

Employees employed before 30 June 2023

Since 30 June 2023, there have been transitional arrangements about:

• not reducing wages
• conducting SWS assessments for employees with disability already employed.

These arrangements apply to:

• employees classified into Grade A or B
• employees assessed under the SWS.

Any employee with disability must have an initial SWS wage assessment done before 30 June 2026 if:

• they were employed before 30 June 2023
• the SWS applies to them but they didn't have a SWS wage assessment before that date.

These employees stay on their current wage rate until the assessment is done. That rate must increase by the same percentage and at the same time as any Annual Wage Review increase to the Grade 2 rate in the SES Award.

An employer can’t reduce the hourly rate of an employee who was employed before or on 1 January 2023 because they:

• are classified into Grade A or B by their employer, or
• have an initial SWS wage assessment conducted between 30 June 2023 and 30 June 2026 that assesses them as having lower capacity.

Employees employed on or after 30 June 2023

Employees employed after 30 June 2023 are employed for a trial period of at least 13 weeks but no longer than 26 weeks. The trial should include appropriate induction or training.

During the trial period, an assessment of capacity will be done to determine the employee’s minimum hourly rate of pay.

From 1 July 2025, the employee must be paid at least $3.12 per hour for each hour worked during the trial period. If the new employee is assessed at a higher rate of pay than $3.12 per hour, their employer must pay them at the higher rate.

The higher rate starts 13 weeks after the trial commenced.

Reviewing an assessment

There are different rules for reviewing an assessment depending on when the employee was employed:

• on or after 30 June 2023, or
• before 30 June 2023.

Employees also have a right to request a review.

Employees employed on or after 30 June 2023

Employees with disability employed on or after 30 June 2023 can have a review of their wage assessment after 12 months service with the employer. Depending on the results of the assessment, their pay rate may be adjusted.

If the employee changes jobs or the processes involved in their work changes, the employer or employee can request a review once every 6 months. This can happen up to a maximum of 4 times every 3 years. Their pay rate may be adjusted as a result.

Employees employed before 30 June 2023

An employee with disability employed before 30 June 2023 who has an initial SWS wage assessment done between 30 June 2023 and 30 June 2026 won’t need to have their assessment reviewed:

• until 3 years after that assessment, or
• earlier if there’s a change to their job or work processes and the employee or employer requests a review.

Right to request a review

Employees have a right to request a review of their classification.

The award also outlines a dispute resolution process if problems arise when reviewing an employee's classification. Go to clause 30 of the SES Award.

Tools and resources

• Pay and Conditions Tool
• Supported Employment Services Award
• Supported Employment Services Award summary
• Employer checklist and Easy Read template
• Classification guide for the Supported Employment Services Award Classification guide for the Supported Employment Services Award

Related information

• Job Access
• Employees with disability
• Employees with disability pay rates
• Easy read – New rules about your job