Investing in the Experience of Mature-age Workers
The Experience+ Training and More Help for Mature Age Workers programs are part of an Australian Government’s initiative to address the skill shortage issue affecting Australia.

With four million Australians reaching retirement age over the next 15 years, astute employers are acting now to keep existing experienced staff and to create workplaces that are more attractive to the ‘baby boomer’ generation.

Recent Australian Industry Group research found more than one-third of companies rate the risk of skill shortages affecting their business as high and they expect skill shortages to get worse in the medium term.

So it makes good business sense to encourage mature-age employees to keep working, not only to avoid skill shortages but to retain knowledge and experience that can be passed onto younger team members. The Australian Government is helping business to achieve this, via the Experience+ Training initiative and the More Help for Mature Age Workers programs.

Employers who support mature-age workers to mentor an apprentice or trainee can access training grants of $4950 per employee under the Experience+ Training initiative. This can also be used to give mature-age workers new skills, which could include doing certificate courses such as project or frontline management.

Under the More Help for Mature Age Workers program employers can also access up to $4400 to help mature-age workers who are 50 and over and who have trade and related relevant skills but no formal qualifications. Targeted industries include: 1.) industries where there are a high proportion of trade occupations, which range from technicians, machinery operators, drivers, labourers, kitchen hands, garden and nursery workers; 2.) other industries who employ workers with trades and related skills. The grant may also apply to small business owners who are in this age group and operate in the relevant occupations.

To keep businesses informed of available support there is the new ‘Investing in Experience’ Tool Kit. For more information, visit www.deewr.gov.au/experienceplus

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