COVID-19 QLD: Business, Individuals – Back to Work in Agriculture Incentive Scheme

This program aims to encourage eligible Queenslanders to meet short-term labour shortage demands in agriculture, as part of Queensland’s Economic Recovery Strategy: Unite and Recover for Queensland Jobs to help accelerate the state’s recovery from COVID-19. It seeks to attract and assist Queenslanders, including job seekers, who do not currently work in agriculture, to mobilise to available seasonal jobs in regional Queensland.

The key objectives of the scheme are to provide:
- Support to farming and food processing businesses in targeted regional areas experiencing significant labour shortages as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and limited available local workforce.
- New job opportunities for Queenslanders, including job seekers, and support for them to access these available jobs by assisting with costs (such as accommodation and transportation) associated with relocating to rural and remote locations.

The scheme will initially target seasonal agricultural employment in the Wide Bay and Darling Downs regions.

Up to a total of $1,500 will be made available for eligible employees. Payments are made directly to the eligible employee in two parts:
- Initial payment of $500 after completing two weeks of continuous employment.
- Second and final payment of $1,000 after completing an additional six weeks of continuous employment (i.e. a total of eight weeks employment to be eligible for the full $1,500).

Employment can be with different eligible employers, physical locations or farms in the eligible regions in recognition that seasonal workers can work with multiple employers depending on available work.

A total funding pool of $700,000 is available.

Applications for Wide Bay and Darling Downs opened on 2 October 2020 and applications for all other areas across Queensland will open on 3 December 2020. The Scheme will close once all funding has been allocated or 30 June 2021, whichever comes first.

Eligible applicants must:
- Be a permanent resident of Australia and the principal place of residence is in Queensland.
- Have relocated from their usual place of residence: being the address in Queensland where they live as an owner, tenant or boarder, or where they reside with their family.
- Have worked in paid employment in an eligible region for an eligible employer:
a) For two consecutive weeks (for the initial payment) and an additional six consecutive weeks (for the second and final payment).
b) Under an employment offer that was made on, or after 2 October 2020 to work in the Wide Bay or Darling Downs regions; or under an employment offer that was made on, or after 3 December 2020, anywhere in Queensland.
c) In one of the following job roles: on-farm planting, maintenance, harvest, grading or packing of crops; off-farm grading or packing of horticultural fresh produce; on-farm breeding and caring of livestock (including shearing and aquaculture activities); time-critical primary food processing of fresh, perishable produce.
- Hold a deposit account with an Australian commercial bank or other institution.
- Demonstrate employment with eligible employer/s. An eligible employer is an employer that:
a) Is an agribusiness, registered labour hire firm or contractor directly involved in agriculture.
b) Holds an Australian Business Number (ABN).
c) Holds a current WorkCover policy.

Applicants are strongly advised to seek confirmation from employer/s that they comply with requirements of other relevant legislation including workplace health and safety and industrial relations.

The main assessment criteria include whether the applicant complied with these guidelines including:
- Eligible employee
- Eligible employer/s
- Eligible job
- Eligible region (i.e. Wide Bay and Darling Downs) during the pilot period
- Completion of required periods of employment
- Timeframes for submitting applications
- Supporting evidence and documentation