Media Release by Senator the Hon Anne Ruston

Grant round now open to support Cashless Debit Card participants become job ready

Joint Media Release with:

  • Senator the Hon Anne Ruston
    Minister for Families and Social Services
    Minister for Women’s Safety

     

    Senator Matt O’Sullivan
    Senator for Western Australia

     

The Cashless Debit Card Support Services competitive grant opportunity is now open which will deliver on the first stage of the Morrison Government’s Job Ready Package.

The Job Ready Package will strengthen local support services and connect participants to employment opportunities across the four Cashless Debit Card sites in Ceduna in South Australia; East Kimberley and the Goldfields in Western Australia; Bundaberg and Hervey Bay in Queensland.

The new grant opportunity also delivers on the Government’s investment in support services in the NT to assist income management participants to transition from the BasicsCard to the Cashless Debit Card.

Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said the Job Ready Package would ensure unemployed Australians had additional support to stabilise their lives and improve their financial management.

“The Morrison Government is committed to helping Cashless Debit Card participants to upskill, become job ready and get on pathways to employment,” Minister Ruston said.

“It will also support participants in the NT to boost financial and digital literacy skills, gain control of their finances and be on pathways to self-reliance, empowerment and employment.”

Senator for WA Matt O’Sullivan said the Job Ready Package aimed to support vulnerable and disadvantaged people through local community-driven solutions that strengthen economic participation. 

“I consulted out on the ground in these communities and there is a clear need to facilitate stronger engagement between employers and Cashless Debit Card participants to identify and increase employment opportunities,” Senator O’Sullivan said.

“This grant opportunity can help support both employers and CDC participants to improve recruitment and retention of CDC participants in employment. 

“It can also be used to boost services to help participants navigate the system as well as build their skill base to ensure they are job ready.”

The Cashless Debit Card Support Services open competitive grant opportunity closes on 25 October 2021. 

More information about this grant opportunity is available on the Community Grants Hub website.