1. What is the role of the Employer Broker?
The objective of the Employer Broker role is to engage with employers to broker solutions that meet employers’ needs and to co-ordinate and target the efforts of Employment Service providers to matching the needs of job seekers with the labour requirements of employers.
2. Where can enquiries about the Employer Broker program be sent?
The Department has established a dedicated mailbox to respond to Employer Broker enquiries. The email address is employer.brokers@deewr.gov.au.
3. How much funding is available under Employer Brokers?
The Australian Government has provided $6 million over three years to fund Employer Broker activities - $2 million in each of 2009-10, 2010-11 and 2011-12.
4. How much funding can be provided for individual Employer Broker Activities?
Individual activities will generally be funded up to $100,000 per year. However, proposals will be considered on a case by case basis and final funding amounts will depend on the scale of the proposed activity and the potential benefits to employers and industries experiencing critical skills shortages.
5. Who can apply for Employer Broker funding?
Only Employer Broker panel members are eligible to apply for funding, however the Guidelines for Employer Broker Activities allow non-panel members to directly approach panel members to collaborate on proposals which a panel member could then submit.
6. Who is on the Employer Broker panel?
There are 75 organisations who are members of the Employer Broker panel. The Employer Broker panel consists of a range of organisations including community groups, industry and employer associations and training organisations. Further information on these panel members can be found at Employer Brokers.
7. If organisations are not members of the Employer Broker panel, can they still nominate activities for funding?
The Guidelines for Employer Broker Activities state that non-panel members may directly approach panel members to collaborate on activity proposals which a panel member could then submit to the Department. Alternatively, non-panel members may nominate ideas to address skills shortages for activities directly to the Department and if determined to be suitable by DEEWR, panel members may be sought to develop and implement these activities.
8. What options exist for non-panel members if they are not able to find a panel member to collaborate with on their proposed activity?
Non-panel members may nominate ideas for activities directly to the Department and if determined to be suitable by the Department, panel members may be sought to develop and implement these activities. Organisations who select this option can contact the Department by email employer.brokers@deewr.gov.au or mail address to
The Manager
Employer Brokers
Targeted Jobs Projects Branch
GPO Box 9880
Canberra ACT 2601
Location Code: C50MA2
DEEWR
9. How do I determine if a project could be suitable for funding under Employer Brokers?
Organisations should refer to the Guidelines for Employer Broker Activities to see if their project complies with its requirements. A copy of the Guidelines for Employer Broker Activities is available at Employer Brokers.
10. Will there be any further calls for Employer Broker proposals?
As the Employer Broker program ceases on 30 June 2012, no further funding rounds will be called.
11. When must Employer Broker activities be completed by?
Employer Broker activities must be completed by 30 June 2012.
12. Is there an appeal process for unsuccessful applications?
No. However, if any panel member is concerned about the process and believes they were treated unfairly, these concerns should be raised with the Department.
13. What is the definition of an Employment Services provider?
Any organisation that is currently delivering Job Services Australia services or Disability Employment Services.
14. What are Priority Employment Areas?
Priority Employment Areas were announced as part of the Australian Government’s Jobs and Training
Compact. The 20 Priority Employment Areas were selected based on an analysis of various labour market indicators, a combination of which increase a region’s likelihood of experiencing disadvantage now or in the future. The locations can be found at JobsFund or Keep Australia Working.
15. Will projects be funded under the Employer Broker program if they are located outside a Priority Employment Area?
All proposals for funding are assessed against the Employer Broker Guidelines. These Guidelines do not stipulate that Employer Broker activities should be located in an Priority Employment Area.
16. Who are Local Employment Coordinators?
Local Employment Coordinators (LECs) have been engaged by the Department to work in priority employment areas to help drive targeted local and strategic responses to local labour market requirements and facilitate connections and strategic linkages across the range of relevant Commonwealth, state and local government programs, together with local community efforts.
17. Can LECs assist in developing project proposals?
Yes. LECs can work with Employer Broker panel members to help identify and develop projects that may be considered for funding.