Media Release - Wage Connect delivering new jobs for new Australians

Date published : 27  March  2012 

THE HON KATE ELLIS MP
Minister for Employment Participation 

SENATOR THE HON KATE LUNDY
Minister for Multicultural Affairs

Media Release

27 March 2012

523 Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, who have been unemployed for more than two years, are among the beneficiaries of the Government's new Wage Connect subsidy. The Wage Connect subsidy of around $5700 helps offset wage and training costs for an employer during the first 6 months after they take on a person who is very long term unemployed. Minister for Employment Participation, Kate Ellis said that Wage Connect was achieving positive outcomes for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities. "Current figures show that around one in five of the thousands of Australians who have already benefited from this new program, are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds," Ms Ellis said. "For migrants to our country, a job also brings with it a critical sense of social connectedness to the Australian community. "Without access to paid employment, the very long term unemployed - and most particularly those for who English is a second language - risk life on the margins of our community."

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