Back to Work backs Wide Bay business and jobs

Published Tuesday, 05 November, 2019 at 11:16 AM

Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development
The Honourable Shannon Fentiman

A popular Maryborough café is not only serving up great meals to hungry customers, it’s also thriving thanks to the Palaszczuk Government’s job generating Back to Work program.

Minister for Employment and Small Business Shannon Fentiman said Alowishus Delicious is a great example of a small business that’s is creating more local jobs thanks to the successful Back to Work program.

“Across the state Back to Work has created over 20,000 jobs, with over 80 per cent of those outside of south east Queensland,” Ms Fentiman said.

“Alowishus Delicious is a big fan of this program that has supported them to take on five new employees in Maryborough as well as another ten in the Bundaberg café since it began in 2016.”

“We know wages is one of the greatest costs a small business can face, and our Back to Work program is helping to alleviate that pressure and back businesses to create more jobs.

“This is in addition to our $885 million payroll tax package which will provide payroll tax relief for around 480 businesses in the Wide Bay region.”

Member for Maryborough Bruce Saunders said the Back to Work program has been hugely popular with local businesses looking to take on more employees.

“We are absolutely committed to providing Queenslanders with opportunities – getting a job and helping their business to succeed.

“In my electorate of Maryborough, already this program has backed over 250 local businesses to create over 460 jobs.”

Business owner Tracery McPhee is passionate about her two busy cafes in Bundaberg and Maryborough and through Back to Work Aaron Lowe was able to start his new job in April this year.

“The Back to Work grant has enabled me to recruit and train young people and provide sustainable employment opportunities in both Bundaberg and Maryborough,” Mrs McPhee said.

“Both cafes have many young workers and the Youth Boost which provides a subsidy to hire an unemployed young jobseeker has given me more confidence to grow my business.”

Aaron Lowe is employed at Alowishus Delicious with the assistance of Back to Work Youth Boost and has now recommenced his chef apprenticeship through TAFE Maryborough, he is currently saving up for a deposit on his first home.

Alowishus Delicious is Kaitlin Lindley’s first job, she started through Back to Work Youth Boost in December 2017 on the first day of the café’s opening. Two years later she is still working at the café, is a valuable employee and is saving for a new car.

Ms Fentiman said the Back to Work programs offers assistance up to $15,000 to $20,000 per employee through Youth Boost and Employer Support.

“This is a program that supports local employers with most of them being small businesses,” she said.

“Across the State around one in four jobs created through this program has been for apprentices and trainees.”

For more information on Back to Work www.backtowork.initiatives.qld.gov.au/

Dropbox link to photos:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/063ujahzs3zizar/AAB0F7XMIhe6kwWGz-IfiUPua?dl=0

 

ENDS

Media Contact:          Inga Williams              0439 949 719