Back to Work program to fuel Far North Queensland jobs bonanza

Employment Minister Grace Grace is urging employers to hire a jobseeker and put themselves in line for support payments of up to $20,000 under the Palaszczuk Government’s $177.5 million Back to Work regional jobs program. 

“Thousands of regional Queenslanders are now back at work thanks to this great program and I want to encourage Far North Queensland employers to get on board now and hire a jobseeker,” she said.

Treasurer and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said there had been an overwhelming response from employers in the Far North to Back to Work. 

“Far North Queenslanders have embraced Back to Work and they’re hiring in ever greater numbers,” he said.

“This great program is supporting local jobs and boosting the economy in the Far North which is great news for local businesses and jobseekers.”

Visiting Cairns today, Environment Minister, Steven Miles, said 1076 jobseekers were already back in work in the Far North Queensland region under the program, with many more applications in the pipeline. 

“Already the Back to Work program has supported 572 Far North Queensland employers to hire 1076 local jobseekers,” he said. 

Member for Barron River, Craig Crawford, said local employers have so far received more than $5.2 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 540 locals aged 15-24 now in jobs. 

“The decision to extend the $20,000 Youth Boost to 31 October 2017 is an opportunity for local business to take advantage of the program,” he said. 

Minister for Employment, Grace Grace, said that the Back to Work program will smash the 5,000 jobseekers back in work target this week. 

“And there are a further 846 applications pending approval,” she said. 

Back to Work will also be extended to south east Queensland from 1 July 2017. 

Back to Work Regional Queensland * 

Support payments currently available for eligible employers of up to: 

• $10,000 for hiring an unemployed worker (specific to regional Queensland, outside South East Queensland)
• $15,000 for hiring a long-term unemployed worker (a person unemployed for 52 weeks or more)
• $20,000 Youth Boost for hiring a young jobseeker aged 15-24 years (must be employed by 31 October 2017 (inclusive)  

Back to Work Southeast Queensland * 

From July 1, 2017 

Support payments available for eligible employers of up to:

• $15,000 for eligible employers who hire a long-term unemployed jobseeker (a person unemployed for 52 weeks or more)
• $20,000 for a young jobseeker (aged between 15-24 years)
• To be eligible, employees need to have started work on, or after Saturday 1 July 2017, and have been employed for at least four weeks. 

 *Eligibility criteria applies

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