Wage Connect is an Australian Government initiative to help people who are very long-term unemployed access sustainable, ongoing employment. It is a new wage subsidy that was announced as part of the Australian Government’s Building Australia’s Future Workforce package. It will be available from 1 January 2012 and there will be 35 000 places available over four years.
Wage Connect provides job seekers with the opportunity to gain paid work and to transition to greater financial independence. At the same time, employers will get help to offset the costs of wages and training for the first six months a person is employed.
To be eligible for Wage Connect job seekers must:
- have been on income support payments for at least the last two years
- be registered with an employment services provider
- have had minimal or no recent work experience.
There are also eligibility requirements for employers and the types of jobs that can be offered. A local employment services provider can provide further information.