Job seekers will soon be eligible to receive up to $2,000 in upfront payments to assist with the costs of relocating to take up ongoing work.
The Morrison Government’s Relocation Assistance to Take Up a Job program currently provides up to $9,000 in support to encourage eligible job seekers to take up ongoing work in a new location.
Once a job seeker has accepted an ongoing job, this support is available to help reimburse job seekers for some of the costs of relocating.
Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Stuart Robert, said from May this year, job seekers may be able to receive up to $2,000 of that support in upfront payments.
‘The Morrison Government continues to provide unprecedented support to help rebuild the economy and will continue to proactively support job seekers in their search for work,’ Mr Robert said.
‘We recognise there are still many Australians actively seeking work and we’ve also spoken to employers who are finding it difficult to secure the labour they need, especially in regional areas.
‘These changes ensure that all job seekers eligible for relocation assistance, not just those in financial hardship, can get upfront support when they take up an offer of ongoing work, including for ongoing jobs in the agricultural sector.’
Any job seekers moving to take up short-term agricultural work can already gain access to upfront payments to offset their relocation costs if they are in financial hardship.
‘As part of these changes, job seekers will also be eligible for assistance when they move for ongoing work of at least 20 hours a week, down from the current level of 30 hours a week,’ Mr Robert said.
‘All job seekers are immediately eligible to gain access to this support on commencement in employment services, rather than after 12 months of unemployment as was previously the case.
For more details on the Relocation to Take Up a Job program, visit www.dese.gov.au/rattuaj