Back to Work program ahead of target – it’s Wellshot

The Palaszczuk Government’s target of creating 8000 jobs within through the Back to Work incentive program for employers has been blitzed.

Visiting the historic Wellshot Hotel at Ilfracombe in the State’s central west, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Back to Work program had supported more than 10,000 jobs in 18 months, with almost 90% of those jobs created in regional and rural Queensland.

“The Back to Work program provides financial incentives for employers hiring young jobseekers and long-term unemployed.  The program is being expanded to cover matured aged workers,” the Premier said.

“Wellshot Hotel proprietor Tracy Hatch is one of more than 4000 employers to access the Back to Work program to hire staff.” 

“Every job counts and Tracy has used the support of the Back to Work program to hire one staff member.”

“Since the 2015, the Government has worked with industry and business to create an additional 143,900 jobs – the equivalent of 140 every day.”

In regional Queensland, 9482 jobs have been created with the support of the Back to Work program.  Significantly, more than half of those jobs – 5736 – have been taken up by jobseekers aged under 25 years.

The Back to Work jobs created by regions are:

• Central Queensland 1447 jobs
• Far North Queensland 2163
• Mackay-Whitsunday 1309
• North Queensland 1847
• North West Queensland 307
• South West Queensland 388
• Wide Bay 2021   

Back to Work Regional Employment Package is a $305 million initiative designed to give businesses the confidence to employ regional jobseekers and provide an economic boost to regions facing challenging times

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

Boost payments are offered in the following regions:

• Wide Bay Burnett

• North Queensland

• Far North Queensland

• Mackay/Whitsunday

• Central Queensland

• North West Queensland

• South West Queensland.

 From 1 July 2017, each eligible employer may claim a maximum of five Back to Work regional initial payment applications. This cap applies to regional 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 initial payment applications can be accepted.

 Employer Support Payments

•$10,000 for a jobseeker previously unemployed between four and 52 weeks

•$15,000 for a jobseeker previously unemployed 52 weeks or more

•Youth Boost Payments of $20,000 for a Jobseeker previously unemployed (minimum four weeks) and aged between 15-24 years

•Mature Aged Worker Boost of $20,000 for a jobseeker previously unemployed (minimum four weeks) and aged 55 years or over

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

Media Contact:

Geoff Breusch                      0417 272 875