Ongoing Support (Work Assist)

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Are you experiencing challenges fulfilling the essential requirements of your employment due to injury, disability or health condition? Under the Government’s Ongoing Support (Work Assist) program, we can provide support to eligible individuals and their employers to maintain employment.

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What support am I able to receive?

Our support is tailored to each Participant and can include;

• Support to understand your rights in the workplace
• Working with employers to match your skills to their needs
• Personalised counselling and guidance
• One-on-one support to work through barriers and ensure that employment is maintained
• Access to the Employee Assistance Fund (EAF) where it is identified that workplace modifications or upskilling may be required
• On-the-job support if required
• Assistance to liaise between you and your employer to ensure that the role is suitable and where necessary tailor the work role to suit
• Assistance to connect with health providers and other services to assist employees to manage your injury, health condition or disability
• Support can also be provided to you without your employer’s knowledge

In the past we have been able to assist participants to;

• Access EAF funding to purchase ergonomic equipment such as desks and chairs to assist in managing pain related to injury, disability or health condition
• Managed referrals to an internal Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Transition Consultant to assist with managing mental health conditions such as depression and borderline personality disorder
• Debriefed and rationalised Participants thoughts on workplace and life stressors
• Managed referrals and advocated for clients with external agencies such as Housing SA, drug and alcohol support groups and Psychiatrist clinics
• Exercising with a Participant whose GP recommended they become fitter to avoid exacerbation of health conditions

Am I eligible for Work Assist?

To be eligible for the Work Assist program you must;

• be currently employed
• have a disability, injury or health condition
• be working at an average of at minimum 8 or more hours per week
• have been working in that job over a consecutive period of at least 12 weeks, or there is an expectation that the job will last for at least 12 weeks
• be assessed that Ongoing Support (Work Assist) is needed to maintain employment
• be at least 14 years old but younger than Age Pension age
• be an Australian resident, or have an eligible visa

You do not need to be receiving a Government support payment to be eligible for Ongoing Support.

For a confidential discussion contact your local Status office and ask to speak with an IEA consultant.