The Turnbull Government’s 2018–19 Budget includes the More Choices for a Longer Life package, which invests in a range of jobs and skills measures, including help for older Australians to explore self-employment.
The $189.7 million package includes $17.7 million for an expansion of the Entrepreneurship Facilitators program to 20 additional locations to promote self-employment among older Australians.
Facilitators will offer mentoring and business support, engage with relevant community organisations to increase awareness of the opportunities available through self-employment and refer participants to the most appropriate assistance available in the region, including to the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme.
The three existing facilitators, who have had a focus on young people, have proved to be very successful – providing assistance to over 15,000 people in 18 months.
Federal Member for Flinders, the Hon. Greg Hunt MP was pleased that vast areas of the electorate are set to benefit, with one of the new Entrepreneurship Facilitators to deliver services to local people from areas such as Bayles, Blind Bight, Botanic Ridge, Cannons Creek, Clyde, Cranbourne East, Cranbourne South, Devon Meadows, Junction Village, Koo Wee Rup, Lang Lang, Pearcedale, Tooradin and Warneet.
“The new Entrepreneurship Facilitator will offer locals free mentoring and business support and refer them to assistance in their region, including the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme,” Minister Hunt said.
“Many older Australians are well placed to consider self-employment and I look forward to this initiative helping many Australians turn their business goals into reality.”
“Our stronger economy is creating jobs at record levels, but we must ensure all Australians have the opportunity to participate,” Minister for Jobs and Innovation, Senator the Hon. Michaelia Cash said.
“We recognise the contribution older Australians make to our community, the economic benefits of their experience and, in many cases, their desire to continue working or start their own business.”
The 20 new Facilitators will be selected through a competitive process and start delivering services from January next year.
For more details and a list of the 20 regions the new Entrepreneurship Facilitators will be located in, go to https://www.jobs.gov.au/entrepreneurship-facilitators