Connecting People with Jobs is an Australian Government initiative that provides practical assistance to unemployed job seekers who relocate for ongoing work or apprenticeships. The initiative commenced on 1 January 2011 with funding available to assist up to 4000 eligible job seekers to relocate. A wage subsidy is also available for employers taking on a relocating job seeker in an ongoing position.
On 1 August 2011, the eligibility criteria were expanded to maximise opportunities for job seekers, including those who have been recently retrenched, to relocate and to open eligibility to Disability Employment Service (DES) participants.
Update: The Government recently announced that it will provide relocation assistance for redundant Tasmanian forestry workers if they find work in another area, including through Connecting People with Jobs. Interested job seekers are encouraged to speak to a Job Services Australia provider who can determine what assistance they may be eligible to receive.
- Fact sheet—Connecting People with Jobs for Tasmanian forestry workers
(
PDF 130KB | 
RTF 114KB)
- Fact sheet— Connecting People with Jobs for employers taking on workers relocating from the forestry industry in Tasmania
( PDF 124KB | RTF 86KB)
Find your local Job Services Australia provider.
Who is eligible?
The initiative has two sets of eligibility criteria:
1. For job seekers relocating to flood affected areas in Queensland:
To be eligible for assistance a job seeker must:
- have been unemployed for at least three months, be in receipt of an eligible income support payment (Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment or Special Benefit) and have participation requirements
- be registered with a Job Services Australia provider as a ‘Fully Eligible Participant’
- have formally accepted a job or apprenticeship of at least six months duration in an eligible flood affected location in Queensland
- have signed a Connecting People with Jobs Participant Agreement.
2. For job seekers relocating from areas of higher than average unemployment:
To be eligible for assistance a job seeker must:
- have been unemployed for at least three months, be in receipt of an eligible income support payment (Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment or Special Benefit) and have participation requirements
- be registered with a Job Services Australia provider as a ‘Fully Eligible Participant’
- be residing in an area with an unemployment rate that is greater than the national average
- have formally accepted an ongoing job or apprenticeship in another eligible location
- have signed a Connecting People with Jobs Participant Agreement.
What assistance is available?
Job Services Australia and Disability Employment Services providers can use Connecting People with Jobs funding to reimburse job seekers, or make payments on their behalf, for the goods and services they require to:
- prepare for the move
- relocate to commence the new job or apprenticeship
- support the job seeker in the new location.
Job seekers may have an identified position in mind or their provider can work with them to find an appropriate position. Job seekers need to have formally accepted an offer of a job or apprenticeship before they are eligible to access Connecting People with Jobs funding.
Connecting People with Jobs funding is very flexible and can be used for a wide range of relocation related costs. This could include travel expenses, removalists, temporary accommodation and post-placement support and mentoring.
It can also be used to assist job seekers to successfully settle into their new communities, for example, to pay for a wide variety of counselling and support services, and for such things as purchasing new school uniforms for their children.
The amount of funding job seekers may be eligible to receive is subject to different limits, depending on whether they are relocating to metropolitan or regional areas, and whether they are relocating with dependant children.
The limits are:
- relocation to a metropolitan area, no dependants – $3000
- relocation to a metropolitan area, with dependants – $6000
- relocation to a regional area, no dependants – $6000
- relocation to a regional area, with dependants – $9000
Job seekers are encouraged to speak with their Job Services Australia or Disability Employment Services provider to determine the types and level of assistance they may be eligible to receive.
Where can job seekers move from and to?
In determining the eligibility of the relocation, Job Services Australia providers must consider the following:
- Job seekers must be relocating within Australia.
- Job seekers relocating to flood affected areas in Queensland can relocate from anywhere in Australia.
- All other job seekers must be relocating from an Employment Services Area (ESA) where the unemployment rate is above the national average.
- Relocation within a capital city or between capital cities is not permitted (unless it involves relocating to a flood affected area in the Brisbane Major Statistical Region).
- Job seekers must be relocating to another location that is at least 90 minutes away from the job seeker’s originating home address.
For further information regarding the eligibility of the relocation job seekers should speak to their Job Services Australia or Disability Employment Services provider.
Wage subsidies for employers
Employers taking on relocating job seekers under the initiative may be eligible for a wage subsidy of $2500. This is in recognition of the additional support and assistance individuals need in the early stages of their new jobs or apprenticeships. Interested employers should speak to a Job Services Australia or Disability Employment Services provider in their area. Find your local Job Services Australia or Disability Employment Services provider.
What happens if a job seeker leaves their (relocation) job or apprenticeship?
If a job seeker voluntarily leaves their relocation job or apprenticeship within the first six months without a reasonable excuse, or their employment is terminated during this period due to misconduct, they may be subject to an unemployment non-payment period of 12 weeks. This penalty may also be applied if the job seeker accepts the job or apprenticeship and relocates but does not commence employment.
[Return to Top]