THE AHA HAS SECURED A MAJOR WIN FOR HOSPITALITY EMPLOYERS IN REGIONAL WA, THROUGH THE EXPANSION OF AN ACCOMMODATION SUBSIDY FOR WORKERS WHO TAKE UP A JOB IN HOSPITALITY OUTSIDE OF PERTH.
– THIS SUBSIDY HAS NOW CLOSED –
On 3 March 2022, the Regional Workers Travel and Accommodation Support Scheme was extended to tourism and hospitality workers in WA’s regional areas and the program is now open to new applicants. Last year the AHA(WA) met with Minister Templeman, who was Minister for Tourism at the time, proposing the Government expand the Regional Workers Travel and Accommodation Support Scheme to the hospitality industry. We are pleased to have secured the support of Government and encourage regional employers to promote this initiative to prospective employees in job advertisements and through your existing channels. The availability of a substantial accommodation and travel subsidy will make employment opportunities in regional areas significantly more attractive to applicants.
WHAT IS THE SCHEME?
The Scheme provides accommodation and travel allowances for eligible and approved applicants who gain employment in the hospitality industry in the regions. The funding is accessible if you are a person living in Australia who meets the following criteria:
•has the right to work in Australia and has relocated more than 100kms for employment; • has taken up employment in an eligible job role since 3 March 2022; and • has been employed for at least 2 consecutive weeks (14 days) by the same employer in regional WA.
FUNDING AMOUNTS
Eligible applicants can receive an allowance of $40 per night ($280 week) for each night living away from home. The number of weeks applicants can receive funding through the scheme depends on whether or not they are on a Working Holiday Maker Visa. Applicants can receive:
•up to a maximum of 12 weeks (84 nights) for those with a right to work in Australia that are not Working Holiday Makers; or
• up to a maximum of 6 weeks (42 nights) for Working Holiday Maker visa holders.
A one-off travel allowance is also available, based on the region in which applicants take up employment. Travel allowances are:
•$150 in the Peel, South West, Great Southern, Wheatbelt, Mid-West and Goldfields-Esperance regions;
• $350 in the Gascoyne or Pilbara regions; or
•$500 in the Kimberley region.
The expansion of this scheme is the product of the work the AHA has undertaken to respond to labour and skills shortages across WA. This initiative complements other initiatives we are working on, such as interstate and international campaigns to attract workers to the State and a dedicated Tourism and Hospitality Jobs Portal, which will launch in the coming months.
For more information on the Scheme, please click here.
– THIS SUBSIDY HAS NOW CLOSED –
