Hiring new employees can be a big investment, but there are government programs that can ease the cost.
The Tasmanian and Australian Governments offer a range of employment incentives and subsidies to encourage businesses to hire, train, and retain people, especially those who are young, returning to the workforce, or developing skills through training.
These programs are designed to help you grow your business while also creating job opportunities for all Tasmanians.
Programs:
The Australian Government offers financial incentives to employers who take on apprentices or trainees. These programs help reduce training and wage costs, making it easier to invest in developing your workforce.
Depending on your industry and the type of role, you may be eligible for:
wage subsidies
training support payments
employer incentives for priority occupations.
These incentives are administered through the Australian Apprenticeships Incentive System.
Delivers employment and apprenticeship support services across Australia.
Mas partners with government, industry, employers, individuals and other stakeholders to facilitate apprenticeship sign-ups, deliver targeted mentoring and create workforce participation opportunities across all industries.
These subsidies must be arranged before the employee starts work and requires a formal agreement with a Workforce Australia provider.
Employers may be eligible for a wage subsidy of up to $10,000 when they hire a new employee through Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA). The subsidy helps cover the cost of hiring a new employee for 26 weeks.
To be elgibile, the position must provide at least eight hours of work per week.
Any subsidies are managed through IEA providers and must be arranged before the employee starts.
Contact an IEA provider to check your eligibilty and find out how to apply.
The Supported Wage System allows employers to pay a fair, pro-rata wage to employees with disability whose productivity is affected by their condition.
This ensures individuals are paid in line with the work they can perform, while still receiving the same leave and conditions as other employees.
Eligibility:
employees must be aged 15 years or over
have a disability that affects productivity
meet eligibility criteria for the Disability Support Pension (DSP).
Job requirements:
the role must comply with award or legal employment standards
minimum of eight hours work per week.
How it works:
participants begin with a work trial
a Department of Social Service appointed assessor reviews the employee’s productivity
an agreed pro-rata wage is set based on assessed capacity
regular reviews are conducted to ensure fairness.
Additional support:
Employers who sign up for the SWS may also be eligible for a $1,000 one-off payment to help cover setup costs.
The SWS promotes inclusive employment while ensuring fair compensation based on the employee’s contribution.