Welcome to the JobSearch blog for employers!
Here we will highlight new or updated services and events, announce changes to the system, explain and clarify issues, and respond to the needs of employers.
15 June 2010
Employing mature age job seekers and mature age workers
As an employer you may not be aware that JobWise is a specialist website supporting mature age employment. It provides information and support for employers, mature age job seekers and mature age workers.
The Mature Age Practical Guide, available from the website, helps employers to implement human resource strategies into their workplace to attract and retain mature age employees. This guide is aimed at owners and operators of small to medium sized businesses and provides practical advice and resources to businesses at all stages of implementation of mature age employment practices.
If you are interested in more information on mature age employment, and the many benefits for employers, visit the
JobWise website.
17 May 2010
National Career Development Week 17 – 23 May
National Career Development week is an annual week of celebration to highlight the importance of career development for individuals and employers.
Find out about the rewards for your business by investing in your staff. The National Career Development Week wants to encourage Australians to take active ownership of their careers and get the life they love. Career development programs have a positive correlation to the quality of working life, job satisfaction, professional development and productivity – great news for employers!
Research also shows higher productivity, low levels of staff turnover and economic growth are just some of the benefits associated with instilling a career development culture in the workplace.
6 May 2010
Wage subsidy for employers of Indigenous Australians
The Indigenous Wage Subsidy (IWS) is an incentive paid to employers when they employ an eligible Indigenous job seeker on an ongoing basis.
As an employer, you are eligible to receive a subsidy of up to $6,600 over 26 weeks for a full-time ongoing job of at least 35 hours per week, or up to $3,300 for a part-time job of at least 15 hours per week, over 26 weeks.
Career Development Assistance of up to $550 can also be paid to employers who pay for accredited training, licences or tickets within 26 weeks of commencement of the new employee.
Employers must apply for the IWS within 28 days of the person starting the job. Application forms are available from the Indigenous Employment Line on 1802 102 (freecall) or go to the Indigenous Wage Subsidy website.
9 April 2010
National 2009-10 Work-Life Balance Awards announced
The National Work-Life Balance Awards recognise businesses and government and community organisations that are leading the way in delivering policies, practices and initiatives that help people balance their work and family commitments.
This year’s awards winners were selected by a judging panel that included representatives from Diversity Council Australia, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Business Council of Australia, the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Centre for Work + Life (University of South Australia).
The 2009–10 winners:
Probuild Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd (VIC) (National Winner)
Minter Ellison Perth (WA)
Playgroup Association of Queensland Inc. (QLD)
Norwest Child Care Centre Pty Ltd (NSW)
Landgate (WA)
Take A Break Away Pty Ltd (ACT)
Special commendations:
Disability Attendant Support Service Inc. (DASSI) (VIC)
Transport Accident Commission (VIC)
Woodside Energy Ltd (WA)
The Wrigley Company (NSW)
SageCo Pty Ltd (NSW)
For more details and pictures of the winners and finalists, visit the Work-Life 2009-10 Work-Life Balance Awards website.
11 March 2010
Centrelink jobs expos - Keep Australia Working
The Centrelink jobs expos are part of an Australia-wide strategy called 'Keep Australia Working', supporting Australian jobs and industry.
The main objectives of this exciting program, which commenced in late 2009, are to promote information about real jobs, job and career pathways, and information about training opportunities.
The first Centrelink Jobs Expos for the year were held during February in Bankstown NSW and Elizabeth SA. They were a great success with over 250 employers exhibiting and over 10, 000 job seekers attending. The next expos will be held in Lismore NSW on 19 March and Wollongong NSW on 25 March.
The expos are a great opportunity for employers to promote and effectively fill job vacancies for all job types - a real 'jobs marketplace'. Full details of the expo program for April and May 2010 is available on the Centrelink website.
If you are an employer and interested in being an exhibitor at a Centrelink jobs expo in your region, contact the Centrelink Business Hotline on 13 11 58 or email business.hotline@centrelink.gov.au.
2 March 2010
Launch of new Disability Employment Services (DES)
The Government’s new $1.2 billion Disability Employment Services (DES) was launched yesterday by Senator Mark Arbib, Minister for Employment Participation.
The new arrangements mean more help for employers to recruit and retain employees with disability. A key feature of DES is its capacity to support and manage an employee’s condition in the workplace, along with providing ongoing support for as long as it is needed.
DES providers offer a range of free services to employers of people with disability, injury or health condition and can also assist employers to access a range of financial support and incentives.
For more information about out how DES can help your business employ or retain a person with disability, go to
the DEEWR website.
To find your local DES provider, go to our find a provider page.
27 January 2010
2010 now well underway
Its back to work and back to school for many this week. We would like to welcome everyone to the JobSearch website in 2010. The year looks set to be very busy for the JobSearch business management team, with lots of new information going up on the website and vacancy numbers steadily increasing across all Australian online job boards.
Whether you are new to JobSearch or have been using our services in the past, we wish you the very best for a successful year in 2010.
Remember, please contact the Employer Hotline 13 17 15 for assistance in using the JobSearch website and placing your advertisements.
10 December 2009
Apprentice Kickstart
Employers are urged to act quickly to capitalise on the extra funding on offer at the moment to take on a new apprentice under the Apprentice Kickstart program. The commencement bonus for employers who take on a traditional trades apprentice from now until the end of February 2010 has more than tripled.
The bonus for a new apprentice has increased from $1500 to $4850 in their first year. In addition, employers will receive $2350 when they employ a 15 to 19 year old apprentice in an eligible trade and then receive a further $2500 after they complete nine months.
The bonus will be available to employers who hire an apprentice between 1 December 2009 and 28 February 2010 or until 21,000 apprentices have commenced in traditional trades hardest hit by skills shortages identified on the National Skills Needs List.
You can find more information on the Australian Apprenticeships website.
25 November 2009
Social Inclusion Week and The National Street Party 2009
Social Inclusion Week is taking place this year for the first time. It is a call to action for all Australians to realise the benefits of engaging with their fellow citizens and communities. It is about showing that as a community we are able to look after ourselves as well as looking after those who need assistance, for whatever reason. It is also about tackling isolation and loneliness.
Dr Jonathan Welch – known to most of us as the Founding Music Director for the Choir of Hard Knocks – has launched the Social Inclusion Week project this year as a chance to focus on how we all benefit when we feel connected, supported and cared for.
“Through my work in communities with charities and other organisations, I'm convinced that there is nothing more important right now than to take a stand about building community connections - we simply have to care, connect and support each other more in our society.”
A range of events will be held throughout the week including community walks, free barbeques, open air markets, live performances and, of course, street parties. You can either host a party, or attend one in your area. You can search for a events and parties on the website.
Social Inclusion Week runs from 23-29th November.
To learn more, register a party or search for local activities, check these websites:
http://socialinclusionweek.ning.com/
http://www.nationalstreetparty.com.au/
http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au/Pages/SIWeekCountdown.aspx.
27 October 2009
Keep Australia Working Jobs Expos
Keep Australia Working is the Government’s strategy to protect jobs and support business in the current economic environment.
Keep Australia Working key areas include:
- nation building economic stimulus plan
- helping business
- helping workers
An important part of the strategy is the Keep Australia Working Job Expos which are being held around the country in regions hardest hit by the global recession. The Expos bring together employers with job vacancies to fill and job seekers who come prepared with their resumes in hand.
Sydney’s first Keep Australia Working Jobs Expo in Liverpool last week featured around 120 exhibitors bringing with them more than 500 jobs. A similar Expo was held in Tasmania the week before with the result that 200 job seekers walked away with a job on the spot.
Sydney’s first Keep Australia Working Jobs Expo in Liverpool last week featured around 120 exhibitors bringing with them more than 500 jobs. A similar Expo was held in Tasmania the week before with the result that 1000 resumes and applications changed hands and 200 jobs are expected to eventuate.
The next Expos will be held in Townsville on 8 December and Cairns on 9 December. Another 18 Job Expos are planned to be held around the country in the first half of 2010.
For details check the Centrelink Jobs Expo website.
For information about the strategy browse the Keep Australia Working Final Report (PDF 280KB).
12 October 2009
Indigenous Capital Assistance Scheme
Indigenous businesses are able to access commercial finance, as well as professional and mentoring support services, from the Indigenous Capital Assistance Scheme (ICAS). The ICAS program offers help to Indigenous businesses that may find it difficult to get a loan through normal commercial channels.
Currently Westpac manages the ICAS program in branches that can be accessed in all capital cities and regional areas throughout Australia.
What assistance is available under ICAS?
Financial support for loans ranging from $20 000 to $500 000 is available over three years together with business advisory and mentoring support services.
Financial support includes:
- an interest rate subsidy
- a subsidy on part of the bank’s application and establishment fees
- a professional and mentoring support services subsidy.
Finance is available for:
- business overdraft options
- business development loans
- finance for capital items.
ICAS currently supports a broad range of Indigenous businesses in industries such as tourism, transport, agriculture, construction, retail, trade and accommodation.
You can get more information about how to apply for ICAS by calling the Indigenous Employment Line on 1802 102 or visiting deewr.gov.au/icas.
28 September 2009
Employing people with disability
Every employer has the potential to employ a person with disability.
Australia's Disability Employment Network providers are ready, willing and able to assist you find the right person, prepare your workplace and be an ongoing source of advice and assistance - wherever you may be located.
The Disability Employment Network supports over 55,000 Australians with disability to prepare, secure and maintain employment each year. They achieve these results because they understand both employers and employees and work in the interests of both parties.
Disability Employment Network providers do not charge employers for their services.
ACE National Network Inc is the peak body that represents Australia's Disability Employment Network. Find out how ACE members can help you join the thousands of employers of every size, shape and sector that employ people with disabilities.
For more information, go to ACE website.
15 September 2009
Fair Work for Small Business
A new website has been launched to assist small businesses with information about the Fair Work Act.
Fair Work for Small Business provides educational information in the form of free online webinars, free email newsletters, free online guides and free informative whitepapers. Topics covered include an overview of the many significant changes which the Fair Work Act has made to the national industrial relations system, your compliance obligations under this Act, changes to the unfair dismissal rules, and how collective bargaining applies to your business.
The website is funded by the Australian Government.
http://www.fairworkforsmallbusiness.com.au/home.aspx
7 September 2009
Employer Broker Program
Employer Brokers are a component of the New Employment Services, commencing on 1 July 2009 and ending on 30 June 2012.
Employer Brokers ensure that Employment Services have a strong focus on matching the labour requirements of employers with the needs of job seekers. They will also coordinate and target the efforts of Employment Services providers to better match the labour needs of employers with appropriate job seekers.
The Employer Broker Panel consists of a range of organisations including community groups, industry and employer associations and training organisations.
If you would like to learn more, go to deewr.gov.au.
To find out the contact details for members of the Employer Broker panel follow this link:
Employer Broker Panel Members contact details.
1 September 2009
National Literacy and Numeracy Week
Poor literacy among workers has become both a serious productivity and safety issue. Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows almost half of all working Australians have less than the minimum literacy and numeracy levels required to meet the demands of everyday work.
The theme for National Literacy and Numeracy Week 2009 is Getting the Basics Right, reflecting the fact that literacy and numeracy skills are the keys that unlock the door to the world of work and further education and training opportunities.
A research project, currently funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is aiming to learn more about how workplaces are affected and develop strategies to improve workers’ literacy and numeracy.
National Literacy and Numeracy Week runs from 31 August to 6 September. For more information please visit: www.deewr.gov.au/nlnw
25 August 2009
Employers using JobSearch
Employers who advertise on JobSearch are given an opportunity to send us their feedback once their job has been filled and the vacancy removed from the website. We get some great comments and suggestions and we'd like to share some of last month’s positive observations with you.
“It's a great service to the community and it is free. There are no complaints from an employer perspective. Finding an ideal candidate is challenging for an advertised position. Overall great service.”
“Huge response, thank you.”
“Excellent, fast way of recruiting staff.”
“Great service from the Australian Government.”
“Think this a wonderful service for small businesses. We will definitely be using the service again. Thank you.”
The Employer Hotline 13 17 15 provides general assistance with using JobSearch. You can also use the hotline to register and advertise your jobs.
30 July 2009
Fair Work Australia
The new national workplace relations tribunal, Fair Work Australia, was launched on 1 July 2009. Fair Work Australia is an independent body with the power to carry out a variety of functions relating to a broad range of workplace matters.
Fair Work Online and the Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Online website provides easy access to the up-to-date information you’ll need as an employer. You can also access advice about your workplace rights and responsibilities from the Fair Work Ombudsman. Use the link below to browse the website, or call the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94.
Fair Work Online - www.fairwork.gov.au
Fair Work Infoline: 13 13 94 (Mon – Fri 8.00am – 6.00pm local time)
3 July 2009
Job Services Australia
The Australian Government’s Job Services Australia was launched on 1 July 2009. It replaces the previous employment service, Job Network, with a new tailored approach.
Job Services Australia heralds a major change to how employment services will work with you as an employer. You will have more tailored assistance to help you find the right staff and meet your employment needs.
Job Services Australia is designed to be flexible and responsive to employer needs, skills in demand in local communities and changing economic times.
Your local Job Services Australia provider can identify the requirements of your business and ensure job seekers are trained and ready to meet your needs, at a time when you need them.
For more information on how Job Services Australia can help you as an employer, visit the employer page on the new
Job Services Australia website.
1 July 2009
Australian Employment Covenant Employers
Interested in committing to the Australia Employment Covenant (AEC)?
AEC jobs are listed on JobSearch, and can be searched for specifically by job seekers.
As an AEC Employer you commit to:
- guarantee jobs (previously approved by Employment Covenant) to Indigenous job seekers who successfully complete training in accordance with your company's training specifications
- provide entry level training specifications to Government funded training providers for your available jobs
- assign Indigenous participants who you employ with a workplace mentor
- ensure that your workplace culture and practices are supportive of the recruitment, retention and development of Indigenous employees
- ensure that your workplace practices and terms of employment are non-discriminatory of Indigenous employees
- raise awareness of the AEC in your workplace.
The AEC Team and the Government will assist and support you, your mentors and your new workers through a network of online education, case studies, networking forums, guide books and the fiftythousandjobs hotline.
Phone the Fifty Thousand Jobs Hotline 1300 346 325 or visit the website, www.fiftythousandjobs.com.au.
18 May 2009
Managing your vacancies on Australian JobSearch
When you fill a vacancy, or it becomes out-of-date, it is your responsibility as the ‘owner’ of the vacancy to remove it from JobSearch. There are a couple of ways to do this. You can either:
- Contact the Employer Hotline on 13 17 15 and request the operator to remove your vacancy. The Employer Hotline is available weekdays 8am ‘til 8pm to help lodge and manage your vacancies.
Or
- Use your personal profile pages on JobSearch to remove advertisements you no longer need displayed:
- Go to jobsearch.gov.au and log in with your username and password
- Select My jobs from the left hand menu
- Delete the vacancy you no longer want advertised from your jobs list.
Thank you for keeping your vacancies current on JobSearch.
1 May 2009
Hints and Tips - Truncated job descriptions?
If you are having trouble with the text of your job ad looking a little out, it could be because you are cutting and pasting from another document (such as a Word document). Sometimes you can inadvertently bring in some formatting from the other document that interferes with the flow of text in your ad.
To keep your job vacancies descriptions on JobSearch reading they way they should, type your description directly in to the forms on JobSearch screens. This will ensure that any potential candidates are not confused and possibly lost to you while they are reading through your ad.
If you'd like some more tips on writing successful job ads, see our post 20 March 2009.
3 April 2009
Starting out with JobSearch
Welcome to employers looking to use JobSearch for the first time. These questions and answers might offer some help.
What do I have to do to use the services?
You have to register with Australian JobSearch as an employer. To do this select Login or register from the left hand menu and click on Employer registration. You can also phone the Employer Hotline 13 17 15 for assistance. Online help is available from the grey bar at the top of each page throughout the site.
Do I need an email address?
To register on JobSearch online you will need to have a current email address. After registering online, you will receive an email that will allow you to activate your registration. This will also allow you to use JobSearch services such as find staff and application tracker. Having a valid email address will allow you to take full advantage of JobSearch services and make it easier for job seekers to contact you in response to a vacancy.
Where do I begin?
To advertise a job or find staff for your organisation, you need to be registered. Go to Login or register from the left hand menu. Employers register free.
Alternatively, you can contact the Employer Hotline 13 17 15 for assistance.
Following registration, you will receive an Employer ID number and have access to advertise a job and find staff.
20 March 2009
Writing effective job ads
The best way to write a job advertisement is to keep it short, keep it simple, and keep it to what the person reading the ad wants to see.
A good job advertisement should:
• Attract the attention of appropriately qualified job seekers
• Attract relevant interest and answer any initial questions that a job seeker may have
• Create the desire to apply for what looks like a great job opportunity
• Provide a clear way to respond
If your job ad fails to give what the job seeker wants or expects, it will fail to attract job applicants.
Your job ad should address the following points:
1. What do you do: What does your company do? Why would someone want to work for you? Job satisfaction is critical to good work performance so paint a picture of your business and your work environment.
2. What is the job: Specify the job title and tasks, including a salary range. Job seekers like to know upfront if the salary is in line with their level of experience and other similar roles being advertised.
Specifics to include:
• details of responsibilities
• experience/skills required
• workplace culture/environment
• training and rewards
• any unique issues about the position and/or company
3. Who are you looking for: What experience do candidates need to have? Does their experience need to be industry specific? Is their a particular quality you require?
4. Flexibility Options: Are you able to offer flexible working arrangements? By offering flexibility, you can tap into return-to-work parents and mature aged workers. Consider the flexibility you are willing to provide for the right person.
Overall, you should follow these copywriting rules:
• Keep it simple and concise
• Space paragraphs to make it easy to read
• Try to keep it on the shorter side, rather than longer
• Always double check for editing mistakes. Nothing looks more unprofessional than sloppy grammar and spelling mistakes.
6 March 2009
Fresh ideas for work and family
The Australian Government has introduced the Fresh Ideas for Work and Family grants program to support Australian small businesses to implement practices that help employees balance their work and family obligations as well as improve employee retention and productivity.
Under the Fresh Ideas for Work and Family program, small businesses will be able to apply for funding to assist them in meeting the set-up costs of implementing family friendly work arrangements.
Read more about fresh ideas for work and family on the
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website.
27 February 2009
Application tracker
Do you know JobSearch now has an application tracker tool?
Application tracker allows employers to manage and respond to applications from job seekers directly through JobSearch.
Managing applications through application tracker
Each application submitted via application tracker has a unique identifying number, allowing you to keep track of applications.
Job seekers send their applications through JobSearch, and are able to upload resumes, cover letters and application documents. Employers then view, print and save these documents and shortlist potential candidates via the shortlist tab.
Responding to job seeker applications
You can respond to applicants by using the optional pro forma text or sending your own message.
Applications will be removed from JobSearch 28 days after the expiry of the vacancy, so you will need to respond to the job seeker before this time.
What do the services cost?
These services are provided free by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to all Australian employers.
For help using JobSearch, please contact the Employer Hotline 13 17 15.
For comments and suggestions for the employer blog, please email us at ajs@deewr.gov.au.