HELPING YOUNG AUSTRALIANS IN BONNER INTO WORK

Young job seekers in Bonner will have new opportunities to secure a job as a result of the Coalition Government’s Growing Jobs and Small Business package announced in the 2015 Budget, Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta said today.

Mr Vasta said young Australians need the right assistance and encouragement to learn new skills, become job ready, get a job and stay in a job.

“The $5.5 billion Growing Jobs and Small Business package will assist employers in Bonner to employ young Australians,” Mr Vasta said.

“It delivers incentives targeted to employers and young job seekers transitioning from school to work.”

“New measures will focus on making job seekers more employable, reducing the costs of taking on new staff, and bringing job seekers and job providers together.”

“Through the $1.2 billion national wage subsidy pool, eligible employers will receive up to $6,500 if they hire an eligible young job seeker under 30 years of age.”

“The Government will also deliver a $331 million Youth Employment Strategy.”

“The Youth Employment Strategy includes a $212 million Transition to Work programme to help disengaged young people aged 15 to 21 years old become job-ready. This programme will commence on 1 January 2016.”

Eligible young job seekers will receive intensive support from community-based organisations with expertise in helping young Australians to develop the work-related skills employers want and need.

The programme will target young people who are either not in the workforce or who are at risk of disengaging from the workforce.

The Transition to Work programme will be supplemented by $106 million for intensive support to vulnerable young people most at risk of long-term unemployment, including migrants, parents and those who experience a mental illness.

Mr Vasta said the Government will establish an $18 million National Work Experience programme for around 6,000 job seekers annually, particularly young people, allowing them the chance to develop practical skills, gain workplace experience, and better connect them with real jobs.

“From 1 October 2015, eligible job seekers will be able to volunteer to undertake work experience in businesses for up to 25 hours per week for four weeks,” Mr Vasta said.

“Participants will continue to receive their income support payment and a supplement to assist with the costs of participation.”

Employers who go on to offer a young person paid employment can receive a wage subsidy of up $6,500 over 12 months.

The National Work Experience programme will work in tandem with new wage subsidy arrangements for employers.

A $14 million Early School Leaver programme will improve educational outcomes and employment prospects for those who have not completed high school, by ensuring they are either looking for work or studying.