Media Release - Wage Connect finds jobs for more than 1000 Australian homeless

Date published : 16  August  2012 

THE HON KATE ELLIS MP
Minister for Employment Participation 
Minister for Early Childhood and Child Care
 
MEDIA RELEASE
 
16 August 2012                                                                                                             
 
Wage Connect finds jobs for more than 1000 Australian homeless
 
 

More than 1000 Australians who were homeless or at risk of homelessness have found a job this year, thanks to the Australian Government's $94 million Wage Connect initiative. Minister for Employment Participation Kate Ellis said Wage Connect, part of the Building Australia's Future Workforce package, supports businesses to employ disadvantaged job seekers. "Since I launched Wage Connect in January it has already helped over 9,000 people into paying jobs, with over 1,000 of these being homeless," Ms Ellis said. "I'm pleased to see that this innovative Government program is supporting so many Australians to get them into work. "Wage Connect provides job seekers with the opportunity to gain financial independence and also the dignity and self respect that paid employment brings, getting them back on their feet." "These wage subsidies are improving our country's productivity through greater workforce participation, but also transforming the lives of unemployed Australians and their families," Ms Ellis said. "I am proud to be part of a Government that has an ambitious agenda to improve the care, services and support that is provided for people who may be homeless, and am pleased that the program is helping Australia's most disadvantaged."

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