If you have recently lost your job, there are a range of employment programs and training subsidies that can help get you on track for new employment.
Career guidance and support
These resources will help you consider your available options and make informed decisions about your next move.
What's Next
If you are facing retrenchment and wondering what's next, this website can help with support for retrenched workers, advice on entitlements and help with your pathway to a new career.
Visit the What's Next website.
Your Career
Not sure what industry or job is for you?
Your Career helps you explore different careers and occupations.
Labour Market Insights
Visit the Labour Market Insights website to learn more about industry profiles, future jobs growth and likely wages.
Queensland Skills Gateway
Visit the Queensland Skills Gateway to find a training course, training provider, occupation information and check what training is government subsidised.
Retraining or upskilling
There are a number of subsidised training and employment programs to help recognise existing skills or gain experience in a new field.
You will have skills from your past employment that may be useful for your next job.
Recognising these will help to show prospective employers how you can successfully transition to a new job.
Back to Work
The Back to Work program provides an opportunity for jobseekers and those at risk of unemployment to upskill and retrain for jobs across Queensland. The program is available in regional Queensland and in selected South East Queensland locations. Incentives of up to $20,000 are provided to employers giving them the confidence to hire new staff.
Contact us to discuss your individual skills and find training that is linked to local jobs.
Subsidised training
The Queensland Government subsidises a range of vocational training to support Queensland residents to:
- gain their first certificate III qualification
- learn new skills by completing a certificate III qualification
- develop higher level skills through a certificate IV or diploma qualification
- recognise existing trade skills and undertake additional training to gain a trade qualification.
Find vocational training and support.
Skilling Queenslanders for Work
This successful program helps job seekers gain the skills, qualifications and experience they need to re-enter the workforce or switch to a new career path.
It funds community-based projects that offer support ranging from assistance with job applications through to earning new qualifications as well as traineeships offering hands on experience. It also provides incentives for employers who recruit program participants.
Read more about Skilling Queenslanders for Work.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) recognises the skills and knowledge gained through work and life experiences to reduce the time it takes to get a qualification.
Start a small business
Perhaps this is time to turn your idea into a small business.
Our business readiness health check is a comprehensive way to consider the opportunities and challenges of starting a small business. Read about the key elements of starting a business, including legal and regulatory requirements, resources, business location and start-up costs.
Find out more about starting a business.
Job searching
In addition to searching on job seeking websites, there are a number of support services available to help you gain employment.
Centrelink
Register with Centrelink to see if there is income support or other assistance to help you get a job.
Workforce Australia and Jobsearch
Workforce Australia providers can help with preparing your resume and assisting you to become employment ready. Subsidies and incentives can also apply. In addition, Jobsearch can help you look for your next job.
Disability employment service
Job Access offers specialised support to assist people with disability access assistance to prepare for, find and keep a job.
Labour hire
Labour hire companies provide temporary staff to employers across a range of industries.
Visit Labour Hire Licensing Queensland.
Checking your rights and entitlements
The Australian Government's National Employment Standards set out what redundancy pay may apply on employment termination.
Seek advice if you think you have not received the right amount of redundancy pay or you have been unfairly dismissed.
Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman can provide advice about eligibility for redundancy and other payments as determined by legislation.
Fair Work Commission
If you lose your job but believe you have been unfairly dismissed by your employer, contact the Fair Work Commission, Australia's national workplace relations tribunal.
Learn more about unfair dismissal from the Fair Work Commission.
Last updated 23 February 2023
