Yahoo Finance Queensland offering up to $1,750 to move to the Sunshine State
If you’ve been wanting to spend your days laying on the sandy beaches of the Sunshine State, it’s your lucky day.
The Queensland government has rolled out the Work in Paradise scheme offering Aussies $1,500 for relocation fees as well as a $250 travel voucher to enjoy the sites.
The $7.5 million program is an initiative driven by the Queensland tourism industry to help stimulate the economy and fill job vacancies.
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Closed borders have triggered a worker bottleneck, but with businesses looking to open their doors for the summer months the government is hoping the incentives will help boost the local labour market.
The scheme was originally launched in July, and has been taken up by over 1,500 Aussies so far.
How do I apply?
Payment of the $1,500 will be made to jobseekers in three instalments provided certain conditions are met:
an initial payment of $500 after at least two continuous weeks of eligible employment in an eligible business with an offer of employment for a minimum period of eight weeks or more
a second payment of $500 after 12 continuous weeks of eligible employment in the same eligible business or with another eligible business
a final payment of $500 after 24 continuous weeks of eligible employment in the same eligible business or with another eligible business.
In addition, job seekers eligible for the first employment incentive payment under the Scheme and have relocated at least 100 kilometres from their principal place of residence to engage in eligible employment are eligible for the Job Start Travel Bonus of $250.
In addition, to be eligible for the first $500 instalment, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
an applicant has not previously received assistance under the Scheme
be an Australian citizen or permanent resident; or entitled, under a visa granted under the Migration Act 1958 (Cwlth), to work in Australia
be at least 18 years of age
has been offered at least eight continuous weeks of eligible employment, starting after 20 May 2021, by an eligible business; and has completed two continuous weeks of the eligible employment.
To find out more about the scheme and how to apply, visit the Queensland government’s Work in Paradise website.
Worker shortages
Businesses around the country are suffering to fill worker shortages as a result of the pandemic.
The most recent Vacancy Report found there were 228,988 available positions nationally. So, there are hundreds of thousands of jobs available, it’s just that there is no-one to fill them.
It started with the brain drain which saw expats and foreign workers head overseas to chase more opportunity and was perpetuated by The Great Resignation which saw employees leave their jobs.
This has left businesses with few options when things began to reopen and they had positions to fill.
Infact, more than half (52 per cent) of Australia’s business leaders have said it’s more challenging to find qualified employees now than pre-COVID.
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