Funding and support for recruitment
Australian Apprenticeships Incentives Programm
The Australian Apprenticeship Support Network provides a free service to employers that includes information and support to access incentives to take on an Australian apprentice, including school-based apprentices. For more information visit https://www.australianapprenticeships.gov.au/aus-employer-incentives and
Back to Work – Regional Employment Package
Provides financial support of up to $20,000 for employers to take on eligible job seekers in regional areas. The package includes the Youth Boost payment for eligible employers who hire an unemployed young person (aged 15-24) between 1 December 2016 and 30 June 2020, and the Mature Aged Worker Boost payment for hiring an unemployed mature aged job seeker (aged 55 years or over) between 1 January 2018 and 30 June 2018. It also includes the Certificate 3 Guarantee Boost, which provides eligible job seekers with funding for training to help secure local jobs. Training may include ‘second chance’ training for job seekers or workers who already have a Certificate 3 (or higher) level qualification but need new or updated skills to gain, change or retain employment. For more information visit https://backtowork.initiatives.qld.gov.au/for-employers/
Back to Work – South East Queensland Employment Package
Provides financial support of up to $20,000 to employers to take on long-term unemployed, unemployed youth (aged 15-24 years) and mature aged workers (aged 55 years or over) in South East Queensland. The package includes the Certificate 3 Guarantee Boost, which provides eligible job seekers with funding for training to help secure local jobs. Training may include ‘second chance’ training for job seekers or workers who already have a Certificate 3 (or higher) level qualification but need new or updated skills to gain, change or retain employment. For more information visit https://backtowork.initiatives.qld.gov.au/for-employers/
Community Development Programme (CDP)
A remote employment and community development service consisting of a network of local service providers who can connect employers with job seekers and provide end-to-end recruitment services at no cost to the employer. CDP service providers can also support eligible employers to take on job seekers from remote areas for up to 26 weeks in a workplace hosted placement (long-term work experience) and assist eligible employers to access incentive funding of up to $7,500 to employ a remote job seeker. For more information visit https://www.niaa.gov.au/indigenous-affairs/employment/cdp
Employment Assistance Fund
Financial assistance to buy work-related modifications and services for eligible people with disabilities and mental health conditions. For more information visit https://www.business.gov.au/assistance/employment-assistance-fund
Jobactives and wage subsidies
Network of recruitment service providers who can connect employers with job seekers and provide end-to-end recruitment services at no cost to the employer. For more information visit www.employment.gov.au/jobactive-help-employers-find-staff
Jobactive providers can also support eligible employers to access a range of wage subsidies when recruiting eligible job seekers, including:
- Indigenous Australians Wage Subsidy – up to $10,000 to employ an Indigenous Australian job seeker
- Long-term Unemployed Wage Subsidy – up to 6,500 to employ a long-term unemployed job seeker
- Parents Wage Subsidy – up to $6,500 to employ a principal carer parent
- Restart Wage Subsidy – up to $10,000 to employ a job seeker 50 years of age and over
- Youth Bonus Wage Subsidy – up to $10,000 to employ a job seeker 15 to 24 years of age
- Youth Wage Subsidy – up to $6,500 to employ a job seeker 25 to 29 years of age
For full details visit https://www.jobs.gov.au/wage-subsidies
Launch into Work
Assistance to link employers with jobactive providers and registered training organisations to co-design a pre-employment program involving training, work experience and mentoring. The program includes end-to-end recruitment services provided by jobactives, and covers the costs of training directly relevant to business needs. Other costs that may be covered include uniform, vaccinations, police checks, transport, medical checks and blue card fees. While primarily focused on creating long-term employment pathways for women, men may also be able to participate in the program, in particular for projects targeting non-traditional roles. For more information visit https://www.jobs.gov.au/launch-work-program
National Work Experience Programme
Assistance for employers to take on a job seeker for an unpaid work experience placement for up to four weeks, to a maximum of 25 hours per week. This gives employers an insight into the job seeker, their personality and their aptitude for the kind of work on offer. Employers who offer participants ongoing employment after the placement may be eligible for a wage subsidy. For more information visit www.employment.gov.au/national-work-experience-programme
Workforce Incentive Program
The Workforce Incentive Program (WIP) – Practice Stream began on 1 February 2020 as part of the 2018/2019 Stronger Rural Health Strategy. It aims to build a sustainable and high quality health workforce, particularly in rural and remote areas, by better targeting incentives. WIP provides incentives to general practices who employ nurses, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners, and allied health professionals. For more information visit https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/organisations/health-professionals/services/medicare/workforce-incentive-program-wip-practice-stream?utm_id=9
Work Start Incentives
A one-off incentive payment to private sector employers who employ a participant from a Skilling Queenslander for Work program in a traineeship or apprenticeship. For more information visit https://desbt.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/8225/work-start-funding-guidelines.pdf
Regional Employment Trials Program
Provides financial support for the trial regions of Townsville and Wide Bay Burnett, with $1 million per region to support local stakeholders to develop and implement tailored projects that address local employment issues and gaps. Stakeholders including employers, training organisations, not-for-profits, local governments, employment services providers and other community organisations are encouraged to develop project proposals for consideration by their local Regional Development Australia (RDA) committee. For more information visit https://www.jobs.gov.au/regional-employment-trials-program
Youth Employment Program (YEP)
Support for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are finishing high school and looking for work or considering further education. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a Certificate lll or higher who are not supported by a job agency can also be supported through YEP. For more information visit https://www.datsip.qld.gov.au/programs-initiatives/youth-employment-program
Youth Jobs PaTH (Prepare, Trial, Hire)
Employer support payment of $1,000 to trial a young person in a business, with up to $10,000 for the employer if they decide to hire the person. During the trial, employers don’t pay the young person. Instead, the Australian Government gives the young person $200 a fortnight on top of their income support and covers their insurance. For more information visit www.employment.gov.au/youth-jobs-path