Bundaberg Motor Group backs Back to Work

Published Wednesday, 13 September, 2017 at 02:45 PM

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

Bundaberg Motor Group is one of 771 Wide Bay employers which has taken on unemployed jobseekers through the Back to Work Regional Employment Program. 

Visiting the BMG team today, Employment Minister Grace Grace said it was fantastic to visit a local business which had successfully used the program. 

“I visited this business in October last year so it’s great to be back to visit some of the four Back to Work employees on the books now. 

“There are now over 1,370 Wide Bay locals back at work thanks to this program with well over half – 800 – young jobseekers aged 15-24 years hired through the youth boost. 

“Bundaberg Motor Group has been fantastic in giving two young jobseekers a go as well as a long-term unemployed jobseeker who would have been out of work for over 52 weeks. 

“We know that businesses often need that extra bit of confidence to take someone on board and this program is delivering that confidence in spades,” Ms Grace said. 

Minister Grace said that the Wide Bay region had the second-highest take-up rate of all regions for the Back to Work regional jobs program. 

“This region has embraced the program wholeheartedly and is now second behind the Far North region in terms of jobseekers employed. 

“Overall, the Back to Work Regional Program has seen over 6,800 Queenslanders back in work since July 2016 with over $40 million paid out in employer support payments – money that is going directly back into regional economies. 

“I say to employers out there, if you’re thinking of hiring, get in touch with our local Back to Work team to put yourself in line for support payments of up to $20,000.” 

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 a young unemployed jobseeker (aged 15-24 years) through the youth boost (available until 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