Small Business Support Pool

Under the revitalised Back to Work program, there is a stronger focus on supporting employers to keep or retain their employees on a long-term and ongoing basis.

The Small Business Support Pool is one component of the suites of programs delivered under the revitalised Back to Work initiative, which is designed to give businesses the confidence to employ Queenslanders who have experienced a period of unemployment and help workers facing disadvantage in the labour market.

Businesses with a current Back to Work Incentive payment agreement for an employee who commenced employment on or after 1 July 2021.

Businesses are eligible for one Small Business Support Pool application per approved Back to Work Incentive Agreement.

To be eligible to apply, the business must (at the time of applying):

• have an active Back to Work agreement for an employee who is currently employed with the business and whose employment commenced on or after 1 July 2021;
• have employed the Back to Work employee for at least 12 weeks;
• employ less than 20 people; and
• detail, to the Departments satisfaction, how the funding will help the business retain the employee.

Eligible businesses can access a payment of up to $2,000 to support the retention of a Back to Work supported employee.

Eligible businesses can access a payment of up to $2,000 to support the retention of a Back to Work supported employee.

Under the Small Business Support Pool Guidelines for Funding, employers must provide quote/s to the value of a maximum of $2000.

Funding can be used for a range of categories including training, digital upgrades, mentoring and coaching and workforce development. All applications must demonstrate how the funding being sought is linked to the retention of the Back to Work supported employee.

Eligible businesses must source their own quotes from an ABN registered supplier/vendor.

Funding cannot be used for:

• any item that does not clearly enable or support the retention of the Back to Work employee;
• any costs relating to marketing, advertising or promotions, or associated activities and materials;
• business operating costs (rental leases, utilities, stock, tax);
• support already funded through the Australian Government*;
• retrospective payments for goods or services already purchased;
• personal and corporate business/debt;
• costs associated with employing (payment of wages, superannuation, WorkCover and other tax); or
• fees for services and/or goods provided by related parties (such as companies with common shareholdings or directorship with the applicant, and employees or immediate family of the applicant).

*For instance, where the Back to Work-supported employee is a person with a disability and the employer is seeking funding to renovate their workspace that has been previously funded under the Australian Government’s Employment Assistance Fund.

Applications can be made through QGrants after the initial 12 weeks of employing a Back to Work-supported employee.

Businesses must:

• complete their application and provide all supporting evidence; and
• submit their own application. Applications submitted by agents or other parties will not be accepted.

The application must include the following information:

• the employee’s most recent pay slip (no older than 30 days)
• a retention statement from the applicant that clearly describes how the proposed activity/activities will directly support or enable the Back to Work employee to retain employment with the business.
• one or more quote/s for the proposed activity/activities, supporting your application. Quotes must be provided from an ABN-registered vendor/supplier detailing item costs and GST details. Note that quotes provided may be verified with the vendor.
• confirmation that the applicant is not eligible for or has not previously received funding for the same activity/service from any other funding source including other Queensland Government or Australian Government funding sources.

Note: Applicants who are applying for a workplace fit out, will be required to provide written evidence that they own the business premises, or have approval to update the premises from the rental manager or owner of the premises.

You will need to provide a correctly witnessed Statutory Declaration, from your rental manager or the owner of the premises detailing and approving the proposed workplace fit out.

Applications will be assessed against the eligibility criteria, taking into consideration:

• funding availability;
• submission of a complete application form, with all requested supporting documentation included;
• prior application history including retention of prior employees; and
• value for money, as determined by the Queensland Government.

Applications submitted with all the required information and documentation are usually processed within 20 business days, depending on application volume.

You can review the status of your application at any time by logging in to QGrants. In cases where additional information is requested, the 20 business days recommences upon the submission of additional information.

Approved applicants will have funds transferred into their nominated bank account within 5-10 business days.

Additional information/documentation may be requested to assist in assessing your application.

If additional information is requested, your application will remain open for 30 business days to allow you to upload the requested information and/or documentation. If you require additional time, you should notify the Department in writing to backtowork@desbt.qld.gov.au.

If the required information/documentation is not provided within 30 business days, the application may not be approved for funding. If you choose to provide this information after the 30 business day period, you may contact the Department to request your application be re-opened.

The decision to re-open the application will be at the discretion of the Department.

If the application has been assessed as not meeting the eligibility criteria, the applicant will be notified that it has not been approved.

Applicants may request a review of this decision. The request must be lodged within 30 calendar days of the decision being provided to the applicant.

This request should state in detail the grounds the applicant believes the original decision should be overturned. The applicant should also attach all relevant material that supports their request. Decisions will only be reviewed after the statement and relevant supporting material have been provided.

Review requests and the additional supporting material must be lodged in writing to: compliance@desbt.qld.gov.au

Or

Review Officer, Employment Pathways
PO Box 15483
City East
Brisbane QLD 4002

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of the review in writing within 60 business days from the receipt of the request.

By receiving notification of an approval, applicants acknowledge they have entered into a formal agreement with the Department to undertake the approved activities as outlined in the approved application.

Approved applicants are required to undertake a short survey and provide information on what the funding was used for, and how it benefited the retention of the Back to Work supported employee.

If at any stage the Back to Work supported employee ceases employment, the applicant must notify the Department as soon as possible, by email to backtowork@desbt.qld.gov.au and provide the following details:

• the date the employment ceased; and
• the reason the employee ceased employment.

Approved applicants must submit evidence of expenditure of funds by providing a tax invoice, issued by an ABN registered supplier/vendor to the Department. The item/s detailed in the tax invoice must correspond with the item/s quoted and approved via the applications.

Applicants can submit their tax invoice by logging into QGrants and accessing their agreement.

The department reserves the right to pursue recovery action if funding has not been expended in accordance with the Guidelines and Terms and Conditions and at least 80% of the total amount of funding granted.

Please note, if applicants have not acquitted their agreement, the Department will be unable to process any subsequent Back to Work Employer Incentive Payments for the related employee. The Department will commence assessment of these claims after the funding agreement has been acquitted.

A sample audit of documentation for goods and services related to the payment may be undertaken by the Queensland Government at any time.

Advice will be published on the Back to Work website  if funding is no longer available or the program has been discontinued.

Applications must be made through QGrants.

The online application form contains a series of questions you must answer to progress the application.

If the employee ceases employment with you after a payment has been made, you do not need to return the payments already received, but you will not be eligible for any further payments for that employee, including Back to Work Incentive payments.

If your employee ceases employment after an application has been approved, you must notify the Back to Work Team in writing at backtowork@desbt.qld.gov.au providing:

• The date employment ceased; and
• An explanation of the reason why the employee ceased employment.

If you have an approved application for the Small Business Support Pool you will be required to undertake a short survey and provide an update on what the funding was used for and how it benefited the retention of the Back to Work supported employee.

Approved applicants will be asked to complete their acquittal as part of making their 26 week or 52 week claims for the Back to Work Employer Incentive Payment.

Approved funding granted under the Small Business Support Pool should be expended prior to making a later payment claim for the Back to Work Employer Incentive Payment.

A sample audit of documentation of goods and services related to the payment may be undertaken by the Queensland Government at any time.