A new $6500 incentive to encourage young jobseekers to get and keep a job for two years kicked in on July 1.
Long-term unemployed aged 18-30 who have been on Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance (as a jobseeker) for 12 months or more will receive a $2500 payment if they find and keep a job – and remain completely off welfare – for 12 months.
Eligible young people will also receive a further payment of $4000 if they remain in a job, and off welfare, for a continuous 24 months.
The initiatives, under the Increased Employment Participation legislation, Work for the Dole program, and a new mature age employer incentive, were welcomed this week by Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss.
“The legislation delivers on two key election commitments from July 1, 2014: the Job Commitment Bonus; and the Relocation Assistance to Take up a Job program,” Mr Truss said.
“These will provide incentives for young people to stay in employment and address some of the barriers faced by the long-term unemployed.”
The Job Commitment Bonus is a new payment that rewards young, long-term unemployed jobseekers aged 18-30 if they get and keep a job.
Also available will be the Relocation Assistance to Take Up a Job program which is aimed at providing relocation assistance for people who have been on certain payments for at least 12 months.
“Up to $6000 will be available to support eligible jobseekers relocating to regional areas to take up a job. Eligible jobseekers relocating to a metropolitan area from a regional area to take up a job may receive up to $3000,” Mr Truss said.
“Families with dependent children will be provided with up to an extra $3000 to assist with the costs of moving.”
The government will also support employment opportunities for mature-aged workers through Restart, an incentive that will provide a subsidy of up to $10,000 if employers hire a worker aged 50 and above.
The subsidy applies to jobseekers who have been on income support for six months or more and who are employed continuously for two years.
A Work for the Dole program will start in July for jobseekers aged between 18 and under 30 who have been unemployed for 12 months or more.
Mr Truss said this program would help young jobseekers to transition from welfare to work by giving them the experience and skills to become job ready.
