Queensland clients of Incentive Employment have every reason to hire right now. The Queensland Government launched a $27.5 million employment incentive initiative on 1 July 2017 called Back to Work South East Queensland, and updated the existing Back to Work Regional Support Payment at the same time.
What are the Back to Work Queensland subsidies?
The aim of these support payments is to give incentive to and support employers who hire a long-term unemployed or young jobseeker either in the populous south east corner of Queensland or in the state’s regions.
Incentive Employment is keen to hear from interested employers looking to hire soon, and recommends you get in touch as soon as possible. The subsidies will be available to employers who hire an eligible jobseeker from 1 July 2017 until 30 June 2018, or when the funds are exhausted.
There are three distinct subsidies, one for each of the broad geographical areas plus the existing Youth Boost payment, which ends soon, on 31 October 2017.
What are the eligibility requirements?
To be eligible for a Youth Boost Payment, the employee must:
- be a citizen or resident with the right to work in Queensland
- have been unemployed for at least four weeks
- not have worked for you in the past 12 months
- not be a full-time student
- not displace any existing staff member
- be employed in a mainstream role if disabled
- be between 15 and 25 years of age.
All employers are eligible with the exception of government entities. You may be required to demonstrate a good record for workplace health and safety and industrial relations, plus a genuine commitment to the employee continuing beyond the end of the subsidised period.
Eligible jobs must be:
- located in the south east or regions of Queensland, respectively
- permanent part-time or full-time (or eight hours per week for people with a disability).
- Full-time and part-time apprenticeships and traineeships are also eligible.
What are the payments worth?
Each employer may claim up to five Back to Work South East Queensland payments of different combinations of Employer Support Payments and Youth Boost Payments.
The conditions for the Back to Work Regional Queensland payments are similar, but with $10,000 in Employer Support Payments for jobseekers previously unemployed for 4 to 52 weeks and $15,000 for those unemployed for more than 52 weeks.
The Employer Support Payments are for up to $15,000 for a job seeker who has been unemployed for at least 52 weeks, paid in three instalments after 4, 26 and 52 weeks.
The Youth Boost is for up to $20,000 for an eligible full-time employee over 52 weeks of continuous employment, also paid in three instalments.
How can Incentive Employment contribute?
Incentive Employment offers a FREE service to employers seeking subsidised staff that takes all of the hassle – and risk – out of the recruitment process.
We source, screen, interview and shortlist local staff from multiple agencies, giving you the benefit of high numbers of quality candidates pre-selected for you.
We are able to offer our expert service free of charge because our fees are drawn from the government. Our biggest fees come from placing candidates for the maximum eligible period of employment, meaning our interests are aligned with yours and those of the candidates. It’s win-win all round.
Contact us today about how to expand your business with quality new staff and receive valuable government subsidies.
