The Back to Work program will be undergoing significant program updates from 1 July 2018.

Back to Work Regional

The Mature Aged Worker Boost Payment is only available for applications submitted in QGrants by 11.59pm, 30 June 2018.

If employers hire an eligible jobseeker after this date in regional Queensland they may still be eligible for a Back to Work Employer Support Payment of up to $15,000 under the Back to Work Regional program.

Employers not eligible for a Back to Work payment may still be eligible for a Work Start incentive payment for hiring a new trainee or apprentice who had previously participated in a Skilling Queenslanders for Work project.

 

The Queensland Government has extended the eligibility period for all other payments available under the Back to Work Regional program until the 30th June 2020 (subject to the availability of funding).

This means if regional employers hire an eligible unemployed jobseeker they may be eligible for the following payments under Back to Work:

  • Employer Support Payments ($10,000) for a jobseeker previously unemployed between four and 52 weeks
  • Employer Support Payments ($15,000) for a jobseeker previously unemployed for 52 weeks or more
  • Youth Boost Payments ($20,000) for a jobseeker previously unemployed for a minimum of four weeks and aged between 15-24 years.

Back to Work SEQ

From 1 July 2018, eligible Local Government Areas (LGAs) for Back to Work SEQ will be:

  • Logan
  • Scenic Rim
  • Ipswich
  • Lockyer Valley
  • Somerset and
  • Moreton Bay.

All applications for the Back to Work SEQ program in areas that will no longer be eligible from
1 July 2018 must be submitted in QGrants by 11.59 pm, 30 June 2018.

Applications received after this date will be assessed under the new 2018-2020 Guidelines for Funding. This means that the job offered will need to be located in an eligible LGA under the new program guidelines to be considered for assessment. If your employee commenced work with you in a job located in an LGA that remains eligible under the new Guidelines then please complete your application as normal.

The Mature Age Worker Boost Payment is only available for applications submitted in QGrants by 11.59 pm, 30 June 2018. If the payment you are applying for was for a Mature Aged unemployed jobseeker who was unemployed 52 weeks or longer, you may still be eligible for an Employer Support Payment of up to $15,000.

The initial 12 month Back to Work SEQ program has been highly successful and was always due to end on 30 June 2018. The continuation of the Back to Work SEQ program was announced as part of the Queensland Government’s 2018 State Budget on        12 June 2018.

From 1 July 2018, Back to Work SEQ will be available in areas of South East Queensland which continue to experience significant labour market challenges.

The new eligibility criteria will take effect from 1 July 2018. The Back to Work SEQ Guidelines for Funding 2018-2020 and Terms and Conditions will apply to applications received from an eligible employer from 1 July 2018 (subject to funding availability).

Employer Support Payments of up to $15,000 will be available for eligible employers who hire a long term unemployed jobseeker (unemployed for 52 weeks or longer).

Youth Boost Payments of up to $20,000 will be available for eligible employers who hire an eligible unemployed young jobseeker (aged 15-24 years and unemployed for four weeks or longer).

The Back to Work program will still be processing second and final payment claims. Employers will be sent a reminder as claims become due.

It is important to note these payment claims must be received by the Back to Work Team within 12 weeks of the employee completing:

  • for the second payment, 26 weeks of continuous employment
  • for the final payment, 52 weeks of continuous employment.

No, the application cap has not changed. Each eligible employer may claim a maximum of five Back to Work SEQ applications from the pre and post 30 June 2018 programs combined. This cap applies to SEQ 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.

Back to Work Teams will still be available to support all employers and jobseekers with any Back to Work SEQ related matters regardless of when the application was made. Find your local Back to Work Team here.

Employers not eligible for a Back to Work payment may still be eligible for a Work Start incentive payment for hiring a new trainee or apprentice who had previously participated in a Skilling Queenslanders for Work project.