$20,000 Back to Work ‘Youth Boost’ a boon for regional businesses

JOINT STATEMENT Premier and Minister for the Arts The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk Treasurer, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Minister for Sport The Honourable Curtis Pitt Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations, Minister for Racing and Minister for Multicultural Affairs The Honourable Grace Grace

$20,000 Back to Work ‘Youth Boost’ a boon for regional businesses Queensland employers will have an additional incentive to hire local young people this festive season. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced in Parliament today the doubling of the Government's $10,000 incentive, offering a $20,000 kick-back for regional businesses who hire unemployed youths. “Youth unemployment was unacceptably high in some regions and my Government is redoubling its efforts to address this challenge,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “This is a massive incentive for businesses to hire, especially as school leavers start to look for work after Christmas. “This offer applies to unemployed people aged between 15-24 and expires on 28 February 2017. “So when the Back to Work ‘Youth Boost’ opens on 1 December, employers will need to act quickly.” Treasurer Curtis Pitt announced the $100 million Back to Work scheme in the State Budget offering $10,000 to businesses who took on an unemployed worker and $15,000 when they hired a long-term unemployed worker (out of work for 12 months or more). “Our resolve to drive down regional youth unemployment is unwavering which is why we’re offering a specific bonus to regional businesses who hire young people,” Mr Pitt. “Everyone in our community is concerned about young people being out of work and needing new opportunities for their futures. “That’s why for every 15-24 jobseeker a business hires between 1 December 2016 and 28 February 2017, my Government will double the existing $10,000 Back to Work payment.” Employment Minister Grace Grace said the Back to Work scheme would still only be available to regional employers. “The new Back to Work ‘Youth Boost’ has been strategically timed to coincide with the end of the senior school year,” Ms Grace said. “Our decision to initiate a regions-only jobs scheme is in-line with the Palaszczuk Government’s aims and economic plan to support to support regional Queensland. “This is evidence of our commitment to ensure regional Queensland remains strong in what we know is a challenging environment. “I’ve seen first-hand the positive difference our Back to Work package is delivering for regional jobseekers and employers, and I want to see this continue.”

Cheers

Michelle

Michelle Newton Senior Field Officer North Coast Region, Training Queensland Department of Education and Training P: 1800 210 210 E: Ncoasttraining@dete.qld.gov.au Crn Maryborough & Woondooma Streets| Bundaberg QLD 4670 PO Box 3008 | Bundaberg QLD 4670 Youth Boost Payment information sheets - see link - Thanks - PR https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwChfNR2l2mGcXduNDZQSUpJNWV4ZHJ4MWlEQWZsVlFIcUhJ/view?usp=sharing