The $20 million Workforce Connect Fund opened for round one applications on Tuesday (4 October) and is a key component of the new Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022–32, designed to build a strong and diverse workforce and is part of the $70 million initiative in the strategy’s first Action Plan (2022–25).
Over 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.
For example, peak bodies will be able to connect to industries to new groups of potential jobseekers who haven’t traditionally been a source of employees or to deliver new innovative coaching or mentoring services that help retain employees.
The government said all projects must have a strong focus on connections and community engagement.
Under the Workforce Connect Fund, small businesses will also soon be able to apply for grants of up to $5,000 for new and innovative human resources solutions to support their businesses.
It is anticipated that industry-based workforce advisers will be established in the coming months, and then be able to start working with small businesses to identify these solutions and assist small businesses to apply for these grants.
The first round of Workforce Connect Fund grants opened to industry and community peak bodies in Queensland on Tuesday (4 October) and will remain open until 25 November 2022. To find out more about the fund visit: https://desbt.qld.gov.au/employment/workforce-connect-fund.
The level of funding will depend on the nature of each project and will be capped at $1 million per project.
