Work Assist: Helping to Keep Employees in Work

If an injury, disability or health condition is making it hard for you to keep your job, or if your employee is facing these barriers, Work Assist (or Ongoing Support) can help.

As an Inclusive Employment Australia provider, Mai-Wel provides support to eligible employees who are having difficulty performing essential functions of their job due to the impact of a disability, injury or health condition, as well as their employer, to overcome these barriers to ongoing employment and to avoid losing a valuable team member.

Work Assist is a FREE service, funded by the Australian Government. Learn more with the Ongoing Support Fact Sheet.

As an Employee

If you are having trouble performing your essential roles at work due to an injury, disability or health condition, our team can support you through our Work Assist services to help you to stay in your job. The service is FREE.

Our team will work with you to increase your confidence, performance and productivity. Some of the assistance we provide includes;

Assessing your workplace and talking to you about your employer’s expectations
Applying for the workplace modifications and/or special equipment through JobAccess
Support on or off the job
Support to manage workplace stress and pressure
Referrals to specialist support services

To see if this service can work for you, please contact us on the form below or give us a call on 4015 8400 to discuss with a member of our team.

As an Employer

If you have an employee who is having difficulty performing the essential requirements of their role due to an injury, disability or health condition, Work Assist, delivered through Mai-Wel, can provide ongoing support to ensure staff continue with performance and connect them to solutions that support their employment.

Common early indicators that an employee could benefit from Work Assist include:

Missing shifts or frequently unwell
Struggling to keep up with productivity or key tasks
Experiencing increased stress, anxiety, or mental health concerns
Needing more medical leave or showing changes in behaviour or confidence

To get started, complete the Work Assist Employer Form below and email to employmentservices@maiwel.com.au

Work Assist Employer Form

How Work Assist Supports Businesses and Employees

Assistance through Work Assist with Mai-Wel is flexible and designed to suit your workplace. Support can include:

Workplace Assessment & Planning

With the employee’s consent, Mai-Wel reviews the role, tasks, challenges and potential adjustments. Mai-Wel can conduct a free workplace assessment and recommend solutions.

Tailored On-The-Job Support

We work with employers and the employee to stabilise performance. Support may include:

Job re-design
Modified duties
Coaching or on-site support
Training or task sequencing
Assistance with communication or supervision strategies
Linking staff to Allied Health Services outside of your business hours
Work alongside your current EAP practices to ensure holistic supports

Supports Through Adjustments or Equipment

If relevant to the role and employee, we can guide employers through the Employee Assistance Fund (EAF), which supports funding workplace modifications, assistive technology, Auslan interpreting, or specialist support such as mental health interventions that will allow the employee to maintain performance in their role.

Employee Eligibility

The employee must:

Be currently employed
Have a disability, injury or health condition affecting job performance
Work 8+ hours per week on average
Be at least 14 years old and under the Age Pension age
Have worked 12 consecutive weeks, or the job must be expected to last 12+ weeks
Be assessed by an Inclusive Employment Australia provider (such as Mai-Wel) as needing Work Assist to keep their job

Roles as an Employer

As the employer, you remain the employer of record, being responsible for payment, hours, performance management and employment decisions.

Mai-Wel’s role through Work Assist is to support both the employee and employer to help navigate difficult conversations and find workable solutions for both parties.