The Queensland government has announced a funding program that would allow partner entities to trial workforce solutions.
The $20 million Workforce Connect Fund’s first round is now open for applications, said Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer on Tuesday.
The funding program— a crucial component of the new Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032— is aimed at building a strong and diverse workforce in the state. It is also included in Queensland’s $70 million Action Plan for 2022-2025.
Over the next two years, the new fund will invest in projects that develop and implement innovative strategies and services that support the attraction and retention of employees, the Queensland government said Tuesday.
“A key priority for the Palaszczuk Government is creating good secure jobs in our traditional and emerging industries so we’re already working to the demand for those jobs,” Farmer said.
Queensland has reported record low levels of unemployment, which emphasises the need to ensure that the industry is capable of filling job vacancies, Farmer noted.
“We want to enable all Queenslanders to secure the work they want, support employers to develop inclusive work practices and grow a more diverse workforce,” the minister added.
The new Workforce Connect Fund will also allow small businesses to apply for grants of up to $5,000 for new and innovative human resources solutions to support their businesses.
Applications for the first round of the grants will remain open until 25 November. The level of the funding will depend on the nature of each project and will be capped at $1 million per project.
