The Palaszczuk Government’s successful Back to Work incentive for businesses to hire young and long-term unemployed staff has been expanded to encourage businesses to take on a mature-aged employee with payments of up to $20,000 on offer.

State Member for Morayfield Mark Ryan said the incentive to hire mature-aged employees should have a positive impact on local businesses.

“The experience and knowledge that our mature-aged Queenslanders can bring to a business in our community is invaluable,” Mr Ryan said.

“Back to Work encourages employers to have the confidence to take on a new employee, creating more jobs for Queensland while supporting local business.”

Minister for Employment and Small Business Shannon Fentiman said it was programs like Back to Work that supported businesses to grow.

“We know that some people are still struggling to find the right opportunity and that’s what makes Back to Work so successful,” Ms Fentiman said.

“Since the Palaszczuk Government was elected, this program has supported more than 10,000 Queenslanders to get a job.”

Back to Work South East Queensland is a $27.5 million initiative designed to give businesses the confidence to employ long-term unemployed, unemployed youth (15-24 year-olds) and mature aged (55 plus) jobseekers in South East Queensland.

The program aims to facilitate unemployed jobseekers into the labour market and support them to create a strong connection to the labour force.

Employer Support, Youth Boost and Mature Aged Worker Boost payments are available under these guidelines to SEQ employers who meet all the program eligibility criteria.

Each eligible employer may claim a maximum of five (5) Back to Work SEQ applications. This cap applies to SEQ Employer Support, Youth Boost and Mature Aged Worker Boost payments and combinations of those payment types. Once a total of five initial payment applications have been approved, no further payment applications can be accepted.

Employer Support Payments

• $15,000 for a jobseeker previously unemployed 52 weeks or more
• $20,000 for a jobseeker previously unemployed (minimum four weeks) and aged between 15 – 24 years
• $20,000 for a jobseeker previously unemployed (minimum four weeks) and aged 55 years or over.

More information about Back to Work programs is available at https://backtowork.initiatives.qld.gov.au or call 13 74 68.