Veterans undertaking a DVA rehabilitation program and in receipt of DVA incapacity payments, may be further supported to obtain secure and sustainable employment by incentive payments to an eligible employer.
Legislative authority is contained in the following Acts:
The Employer Incentive Scheme (EIS) intends to encourage employers to engage injured veterans who have found it difficult to compete in a tight labour market.
DVA's whole-of-person approach to rehabilitation is underpinned by compelling evidence about the health benefits of good work. Good work is defined as work that is safe, enables the person to be productive and engaged and provides economic stability and personal interaction.
EIS is a vocational rehabilitation approach to assist eligible veterans to find suitable and sustainable civilian work. Payment of wage subsidies are a long-standing feature of employment programs in Australia to encourage eligible businesses to hire eligible jobseekers for ongoing employment.
Veterans commencing, or participating in a DVA rehabilitation program, with an assessed vocational need, are eligible for the EIS if they are:
Employers are eligible for the EIS if:
The EIS is only available to employers that are offering employment based in Australia.
*Note: A local government entity can be an eligible EIS employer, provided the employment position is not funded by an Australian state or territory government.
Incentive payments can only be paid to an employer when:
Initially, the veteran’s rehabilitation provider will discuss the EIS proposal with the veteran and prospective employer. The employer must provide details of the offer of employment including gross wages, hours of employment, duties and conditions of employment.
EIS participation must be approved by a DVA Rehabilitation Delegate before employment commences. As a general rule, the Delegate must be satisfied that EIS participation is likely to lead to sustainable, ongoing employment for the veteran.
Once approved, the DVA Rehabilitation Delegate will:
The employer incentives are only payable after the employer has paid the veteran employee, and are payable on the following basis:
*Gross wages exclude allowances, overtime, superannuation, commissions and any compensation payments.
The incentive payments are paid to the employer, as wages reimbursement and a retention bonus. Employers must use DVA Form D1224 Claim for reimbursement under the Employer Incentive Scheme to claim the incentive payments. This form is provided to the employer, together with the EIS offer letter, at the beginning of the employment period.
Employers should forward claims for the incentive payments at these time periods after the employment commenced:
The veteran’s placement must be monitored by the veteran’s rehabilitation provider for a reasonable time period, i.e. until the DVA Rehabilitation Delegate is satisfied that no further monitoring of the veteran’s employment is necessary and there are no other rehabilitation activities that need to be considered or completed for the veteran.
Policy
Legislation
External websites
Links
[1] https://clik.dva.gov.au/user/login?destination=comment/reply/21201%23comment-form
[2] https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A01285
[3] https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C1988A00156
[4] http://auth-clik.dvastaff.dva.gov.au/rehabilitation-policy-library/9-vocational-rehabilitation
[5] http://auth-clik.dvastaff.dva.gov.au/rehabilitation-library/9-vocational-rehabilitation/99-work-trials
[6] http://auth-clik.dvastaff.dva.gov.au/rehabilitation-library/9-vocational-rehabilitation/912-assistance-finding-suitable-employment
[7] https://www.veteransemployment.gov.au/veterans
[8] https://www.dewr.gov.au/employment/financial-incentives-business
[9] https://www.racp.edu.au/advocacy/division-faculty-and-chapter-priorities/faculty-of-occupational-environmental-medicine/health-benefits-of-good-work