The Australian Government has introduced the Fresh Ideas for Work and Family Grants Program (the Program) to support Australian small businesses to implement practices that help employees balance their work and family obligations as well as improve employee retention and productivity.

The Program provides grants of up to $15,000 (GST exclusive) to small businesses to help meet the set-up costs of family friendly arrangements that suit the individual needs of the business.

In addition, the Program supports small businesses through:

• developing and distributing business and industry specific information to assist in implementing family friendly work arrangements
• having experts within the Office of the Fair Work Ombudsman, to provide assistance and advice to small businesses seeking to set up family friendly work arrangements.
  

The Program is administered in funding rounds by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Note: Applications for Round Two of the Fresh Ideas for Work and Family Grants Program closed on 31 March 2010.

Further information on family friendly work arrangements and the program is available on this website.
For more information please email FIWF@deewr.gov.au.