- Overview
- Local Employment Initiative Fund
- Applying for funding
- Regional Employment Trial Regions
- Employment Facilitators
- Early Access to Relocation Assistance to Take Up a Job
- Who is eligible?
- Activity specific information
- Fact Sheet
- Contact Us
Overview
The trial takes into account regional variations to help ensure that local economic opportunities are better promoted to Australians looking for work and employment services providers.
In trial regions, Employment Facilitators will work with Regional Development Australia (RDA) committees to enable local stakeholders to address employment issues. RDA committees will play a key role in the identification, assessment and promotion of RET projects to ensure they align with local needs.
Stakeholders could include local governments, employers, training organisations, not-for-profits, employment services providers and other community organisations able to provide employment and training related opportunities and assistance to unemployed people.
The trial will deliver:
- stronger connections between regional stakeholders, including employment services providers
- tailored employment initiatives that meet local needs
- improved awareness of local labour markets
- the potential for improved regional employment outcomes
Local Employment Initiative Fund
A Local Employment Initiative Fund of $10 million is available across the 10 RET regions, providing grants of between $7,500 and $200,000 to local stakeholders for employment related projects.
Local stakeholders in the selected regions can develop project proposals for initial consideration by their local RDA committee. To facilitate a strong connection with employment programs, all projects will need to partner with at least one employment services provider.
Activities are expected to better connect employers with regional Australians looking for work, identify future employment, training or work experience opportunities, and help address local skills gaps.
Initiatives will be tailored to the opportunities and needs in each selected region. Examples might include:
- pre-apprenticeship placement programs
- mature aged residents and local business leaders mentoring job seekers
- preparing job seekers to be skilled and ready for employment in up-coming infrastructure projects
- work experience projects aligned with local employment opportunities.
Applying for funding
The Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources is responsible for administering the grant opportunity on behalf of the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, through AusIndustry.
To find out whether you are eligible for funding, download the Regional Employment Trials Grant Opportunity Guidelines from the AusIndustry website.
Regional Employment Trial Regions
The following map and table outline the 10 selected trial regions:
Employment Facilitators
As part of the RET program, 10 Employment Facilitators will support the delivery of the program in the trial regions. Employment Facilitators are contracted by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and are responsible for liaising with the wider community to connect job seekers with employment and training opportunities, and work with employers and local stakeholders to identify strategies that take advantage of local employment opportunities.
RDA Committee and Employment Facilitator Contacts
Early Access to Relocation Assistance to Take Up a Job
For eligible job seekers, the trial will also examine how earlier access to Relocation Assistance to Take up a Job can assist securing employment.
Who is eligible?
Eligible participants on a jobactive, ParentsNext or Transition to Work caseload within a trial region will be able to participate in projects funded through the Local Employment Initiative Fund. This will count toward their program’s relevant Annual Activity/Participation Requirements.
Unemployed people not registered with an employment services provider may also volunteer to participate. Contact your Employment Facilitator for more details.
The program does not include remote areas, as other government programs apply in these regions.
Activity specific information
The following information is for RET Grant Recipients to assist them in managing their Activity:
- Regional Employment Trials Grant Recipient Information
- Information on using the Supervisor App
- Timesheet Template
- Volunteer Unemployed Participant Registration Form
Fact Sheet
The following factsheet provides further information:
Contact Us
For further information on the trial, email ret@dese.gov.au or contact the department’s National Customer Service Line on 1800 805 260.
