Restart wage support to get older Australians working

Businesses which provide jobs to older Australians are now eligible to receive up to $10,000 (GST inclusive) in assistance from the Australian Government.

Under Restart, eligible employers will receive an initial $3000 if they hire a full-time mature-age job seeker who has been unemployed and on income support for six months — including the age or disability support pension — and employ that person for at least six months.

Once that job seeker has been working for the same employer for 12 months, the employer will receive another payment of $3000. The employer will then receive a further $2000 once the same job seeker has been with them for 18 months and another $2000 at two years.

It is available on a pro rata basis where employers take on part-time workers for a minimum of 15 hours per week.

The Member for Bradfield, Paul Fletcher, said that Restart was very encouraging news for older job seekers in the area.

“Older workers can sometimes be overlooked by employers but they bring experience, dependability and commitment,” Mr Fletcher said.

“As our population ages, we will need to draw on older workers even more.”

“I encourage all employers in the Bradfield to look closely at Restart and see how they can take advantage of this generous incentive,” he said.

Restart has been allocated $524.8 million over four years and could benefit up to 32,000 mature-aged job seekers each year.

Restart is one of four initiatives announced on 1 July 2014 that reinforces the Government’s commitment to boosting employment across Australia. Other programmes include the Job Commitment Bonus, Relocation Assistance to Take Up a Job, and Work for the Dole.

For more information on Restart visit: http://www.employment.gov.au/restart-wage-subsidy

For more information on how Job Services Australia can help businesses with their recruitment needs visit: http://www.employment.gov.au/how-job-services-australia-can-help-businesses-0