Community Language Allowance (CLA)
Further information and guidance will be provided upon consultation with the Employee Consultative Group (ECG).
Under Section 26 of the Commonwealth Members of Parliament Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024-27 (EA), eligible ongoing and non-ongoing employees can receive a new allowance if they meet certain competency requirements and are required to use their ability to communicate in braille, Auslan, or a language other than English in the course of their work.
For an employee to be eligible for this allowance, the employing parliamentarian must determine that the employee is regularly required to use their ability to communicate in another language, and that the employee meets the required level of competency prescribed by the PWSS, including:
- A pass in the Community Language Aid Proficiency Test carried out by the National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters (NAATI).
- NAATI certification at the certified provisional interpreter level or higher.
- NAATI recognition as a practicing or recognised interpreter (where NAATI testing/certification is not available for that language).
- A Certificate II in Auslan from a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) provider, State Deaf Society or equivalent.
Clause 33.1 of the Commonwealth Members of Parliament Staff Enterprise Agreement 2024-27 provides for discretionary payment reimbursement and the delegation instrument for this provision allows the PWSS to approve up to $1,000 (GST inclusive). To submit a request for reimbursement, the employee must first complete the
CLA Applicatiom form and then email the receipt to HR@pwss.gov.au within 30 days of receiving the invoice and/or completing the certification, whichever is later.
Apply for Community Language Allowance:
Please contact HR Advice at HR@pwss.gov.au or 1800 747 977 (option 2) for further advice.