The Victorian Government are proud to introduce the Back to Work Scheme which will come into effect on 1 July 2015.

Victorian businesses can now receive a Victorian Government Back to Work employer payment of up to $2,000 when they hire an eligible job seeker.

Eligible job seekers include people aged 15 to 25 years who have been looking for work for three months or more, out-of-trade apprentices, retrenched workers or someone who has been looking for work for 12 months or more.

All Victorian businesses, including some interstate and overseas employers, who hire an eligible Victorian employee, are able to access the Scheme, providing they have a good workplace safety record. Government bodies are ineligible.

Employers who hire eligible employees after 1 April 2015 will be able to make a claim from 1 July 2015. Claims can be accessed after an employee has been in an ongoing role for three months, while out-of-trade apprentices qualify immediately.

Applying for your Back to Work employer payment is simple and straightforward. No paper work is required to submit the claim though supporting evidence should be retained for five years.

For more information about the Scheme, please contact your local Victorian Government Business Office on 13 22 15, visit backtowork.vic.gov.au or call the State Revenue Office on 13 21 61.