Call for Encouraging Entrepreneurship facilitators

THE Australian Government is calling for organisations and individuals to apply to be one of three new Encouraging Entrepreneurship Facilitators.

From December, Entrepreneurship Facilitators will operate in three priority regions that are experiencing high levels of youth unemployment—Cairns, the Hunter region (including Newcastle) and Launceston— to help young Australians start their own small business.

Minister for Employment, Senator Michaelia Cash, said the pioneering initiative will provide practical support to young people who want to turn a business idea into a real-life, self-employment enterprise.

"Self-employment and entrepreneurship provide real opportunities for young people who are unemployed, but only a small number take up this option,” Minister Cash said.

Ms Cash said Entrepreneurship Facilitators in priority regions will help provide practical support to assist local young people develop their ideas into successful businesses.

"The Turnbull Government is supporting entrepreneurship and self-employment among young people as we fundamentally believe that the best form of welfare is a job,” Minister Cash said.

"Entrepreneurship is a powerful option for overcoming unemployment; however, only a small number of job seekers pursue this pathway.”

Encouraging Entrepreneurship Facilitators is part of the Government’s Youth Employment Package that was announced in the 2016-17 Budget. Entrepreneurship Facilitators will:

• promote entrepreneurship and self-employment
• encourage young people to develop new business ideas
• assist potential young entrepreneurs in accessing assistance to support and establish their own business
• link potential entrepreneurs to existing programs, including the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS).

Applications are sought from organisations and individuals with strong and relevant regional knowledge and a commitment to youth business development.

The Department of Employment will host an information session for potential applicants via a webinar on 21 October 2016.

For more information on Encouraging Entrepreneurship Facilitators and/or how to apply, call 1300 733 514 or visit:https://www.employment.gov.au/employment-services-procurement-information

Applications close at 5pm AEDT on 3 November 2016. 

ends