428 Wide Bay jobseekers helped Back to Work

Published Tuesday, 21 March, 2017 at 10:42 AM

Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Grace Grace

The Palaszczuk Government’s $100 million Back to Work regional jobs program has helped 428 Wide Bay jobseekers back into employment, Member for Bundaberg Leanne Donaldson said.

“Already the $100 million Back to Work program has supported 292 Wide Bay employers to hire 428 local jobseekers,” she said.

Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders said local employers have so far received more than $2 million in support payments, money they can use to help grow their business.

“The $20,000 Back to Work Youth Boost is already a great success, with 146 locals aged 15-24 now in jobs,” he said.

“We’ve extended the $20,000 Youth Boost to 31 October 2017, and I want to encourage regional employers to take advantage of this great initiative.”

Employment Minister Grace Grace said the Back to Work program has supported 1,090 employers to hire 2,323 workers in regional Queensland.

“There are a further 807 applications pending approval,” she said.

Back to Work

  • Provides employer support payments for eligible employers who hire an unemployed worker
  • $10,000 for an unemployed worker
  • $15,000 for a long term unemployed worker (out of work for 12 months or more)
  • $20,000 for hiring a young jobseeker aged 15-24 (from 1 December 2016 to 31 October 2017)

Businesses can visit www.qld.gov.au/backtowork or call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) for more information about Back to Work, or to apply for an employer support payment.

Media contact: Martin Philip 0427 919 548