Finding people with the right skills for your business can be difficult. Have you considered taking on people facing barriers to employment? The government offers a range of funding and incentive schemes for businesses that support people with a disability, Indigenous Australians, the long term unemployed and the mature-aged. For further information on available incentives and support services see the tables below.
General incentives
In the table below you will find a list of general incentives and support services available to employers hiring people facing barriers to employment.
|
Name
|
Description
|
Administering agency
|
|
Employer Demand Demonstration Projects
|
Grant funding for businesses that develop innovative ways of recruiting, employing and retaining employees that are parents, mature aged, the very long term unemployed and people with a disability. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
|
Employment Innovation Fund (EIF)
|
EIF funding is available for businesses that address a specific employment or labour market problem in an innovative way. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
|
Work Experience Placement programme
|
Under this programme, the government will cover the personal accident and general liability insurance costs of businesses offering work experience to job seekers. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
Hiring people with a disability
In the table below you will find a list of incentives and support services available to employers hiring people with a disability.
|
Name
|
Description
|
Administering agency
|
|
Disabled Australian Apprentice Wage Support
|
Provides ongoing support and assistance for employers who hire a new apprentice with a disability. |
Australian Apprenticeships |
|
JobAccess
|
The JobAccess website provides employers with information on employing people with a disability, including hiring, incentives, training and work strategies. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
|
Supported Wage System (SWS)
|
The SWS provides a free assessment service to eligible people with a disability to determine a fair pay for fair work. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
|
Wage Subsidy Scheme
|
The Wage Subsidy Scheme offers financial assistance through a wage subsidy to employers who hire people with a disability. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
|
Workplace Modifications Scheme (WMS)
|
This scheme provides a reimbursement for the cost of modifying a workplace or the purchase of special equipment to accommodate a worker with a disability. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
Hiring Indigenous Australians
In the table below you will find a list of incentives and support services available to employers hiring Indigenous Australians.
|
Name
|
Description
|
Administering agency
|
|
Corporate Leaders for Indigenous Employment Project
|
The project offers tailored funding to encourage businesses to generate job opportunities for Indigenous Australians. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
|
Indigenous Portal
|
The Indigenous portal website lists a number of Australian Government programs and services available to help Indigenous Australians and their employers. |
Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs |
|
National Indigenous Cadetship Project (NICP)
|
NICP provides grants to businesses that provide work experience, professional guidance or ongoing employment to full-time Indigenous tertiary students. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
|
Structured Training and Employment Projects (STEP)
|
STEP provides funding and support to private sector businesses that provide ongoing employment to Indigenous Australians. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
|
Wage Assistance
|
Incentives for Australian businesses that provide employment to eligible Indigenous job seekers. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
Hiring the long term unemployed
In the table below you will find a list of incentives and support services available to employers hiring the long term unemployed.
|
Name
|
Description
|
Administering agency
|
|
Moving into work
|
The Moving into work website lists initiatives and incentives available for employers providing people on income support with job opportunities. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
|
Wage Assist
|
A wage subsidy programme for employers who provide full-time work for the very long term unemployed. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
Hiring mature aged workers
In the table below you will find a list of incentives and support services available to employers hiring mature aged workers.
|
Name
|
Description
|
Administering agency
|
|
JobWise
|
The JobWise website provides information and support for employers of older Australians. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
|
Mature Age Employment and Workplace Strategy
|
Provides information and services for employers of mature aged workers. |
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations |
|
Mature Aged Worker Incentive
|
Provides businesses with incentives for employing and training mature aged apprentices. |
Australian Apprenticeships |
