Chapter 19. Self-Employment Assistance

Supporting Documents for this Chapter:

• Self-Employment Assistance program factsheetsign-in required (sign-in required)

19.1. Chapter OverviewCopy citation · §19.1

This Chapter outlines the requirements for Providers about the Self-Employment Assistance program.

Participants can be referred to Self-Employment Assistance with all payments for the delivery of services made by the Department to the Self-Employment Assistance Provider upon delivery of the relevant element.

19.2. BackgroundCopy citation · §19.2

Self-Employment Assistance is a Complementary Program, administered by the Department, which provides eligible Participants with a broad range of services that help them to start and run a small business.

There are 6 core Self-Employment Assistance Services delivered by Self-Employment Assistance Providers.

• Exploring Self-Employment Workshops that help Participants learn about small business, help them generate and validate a business idea, and decide whether self-employment is a good fit for them. These workshops are delivered over 25 hours and are generally conducted over the course of 1 to 2 weeks.

• Small Business Training that provides Participants with access to free accredited small business training. This training may range from accessing a skillset through to a full Certificate IV qualification.

• Business Plan Development offers advice and assessment that helps Participants to develop a viable business plan and gauge the viability of their business idea.

• Small Business Coaching provides Participants with up to 12 months of business mentoring and support. Additionally, for those who are eligible, they can receive Self-Employment Allowance for up to 39 weeks and Self-Employment Rental Assistance for up to 26 weeks.

• Business Health Checks help existing business owners to identify opportunities to further develop their business to ensure they remain successful.

• Business Advice Sessions provide eligible Participants with flexible advice and support on a range of small business-related issues.

Participants are given the flexibility to access the elements of the program most relevant to their needs and, subject to eligibility requirements, may access any of the above services in any order.

For more information about Self-Employment Assistance, refer to the Self-Employment Assistance program factsheetsign-in required (sign-in required).

19.3. Role of ProvidersCopy citation · §19.3

Provider responsibilities in relation to Self-Employment Assistance, which must be in accordance with the Deed and these Guidelines, include:

• ensuring that any Participant who expresses an interest in self-employment is made aware of Self-Employment Assistance

• providing interested Participants with the contact details of relevant Self-Employment Assistance Providers and either:

  • referring the Participant to the Self-Employment Assistance Provider in the Department’s IT Systems, or

  • suggesting the Participant contact the Self-Employment Assistance Provider directly, to allow the Self-Employment Assistance Provider to self-refer the Participant to their program

• ensuring that Participants accessing Self-Employment Assistance are supported to do so, including through the setting of appropriate Mutual Obligation Requirements

• working collaboratively with all local Self-Employment Assistance Providers to ensure Participants are given relevant and accurate information about the program.

(Deed Reference(s): Clause 135)

19.4. EligibilityCopy citation · §19.4

Participants may be eligible to access Self-Employment Assistance regardless of whether they:

• already have a business idea or existing business

• receive Income Support Payments

• have Mutual Obligation Requirements

• are available full-time or part-time.

Participants that intend to access Self-Employment Assistance Small Business Coaching should be advised that to do so they must:

• be 18 years of age or old, and

• not have accessed Self-Employment Assistance Small Business Coaching in the previous 12 months.

Participants must meet a range of eligibility criteria that relate to both the status of the Participant, and the nature of their business or business idea (if applicable).

Self-Employment Assistance Providers are responsible for determining Participant eligibility for Self-Employment Assistance, so the Provider must refer questions about eligibility for Self-Employment Assistance to the relevant Self-Employment Assistance Provider.

19.5. Referrals to Self-Employment AssistanceCopy citation · §19.5

There are 2 ways for a Participant to be referred to Self-Employment Assistance Services on the Department’s IT Systems.

19.5.1. Provider referralsCopy citation · §19.5.1

Participants can be referred by their Provider to Self-Employment Assistance through the Department’s IT Systems.

Following the Provider’s referral, the Self-Employment Assistance Provider will contact the Participant to confirm their eligibility and discuss which elements of Self-Employment Assistance Services the Participants wishes to access.

• System step — Providers can issue a referral to Self-Employment Assistance through the Referrals screen in the Department’s IT Systems by selecting the relevant Self-Employment Assistance Provider.

19.5.2. Self-Employment Assistance Provider self-referralsCopy citation · §19.5.2

Participants may also directly approach a Self-Employment Assistance Provider to discuss Self-Employment Assistance prior to being referred to the program through the Department’s IT Systems. If the Self-Employment Assistance Provider assesses the Participant to be eligible and suitable, the Self-Employment Assistance Provider will complete a self-referral in the Department’s IT Systems and refer the Participant to their own services.

• System step — Providers can confirm that the Participant has been referred to Self-Employment Assistance Services by viewing the contract referral in the Referral History screen in the Department’s IT Systems.

19.6. Mutual Obligation Requirements for Participants accessing Self-Employment AssistanceCopy citation · §19.6

All of the Self-Employment Assistance Services will contribute to a Participant’s Mutual Obligation Requirements.

• System step — Providers may confirm that a Participant has been placed in an activity by a Self-Employment Assistance Provider by viewing the Activity Placement screen in the Department’s IT Systems.

The Self-Employment Assistance Provider is responsible for ensuring that a Participant accessing Self-Employment Assistance services is participating appropriately. Where a Self-Employment Assistance Provider determines that a Participant in one of those activities is not participating appropriately, they will exit the Participant from relevant Activity, advise the Provider of their decision and refer the Participant back to the Provider for continued access to Workforce Australia Services.

19.6.1. Exploring Self-Employment WorkshopsCopy citation · §19.6.1

Participants accessing Exploring Self-Employment Workshops can gain points under PBAS when they participate in the Activity. The TCF will not apply for non-attendance at the Workshops, however, it will apply if Participants fail to meet their Points Requirement.

19.6.2. Business Plan DevelopmentCopy citation · §19.6.2

Participants accessing a Business Plan Development session can gain points under PBAS per approved Business Plan.

19.6.3. Small Business TrainingCopy citation · §19.6.3

Participation in Small Business Training meets the Points Requirements and Mutual Obligation Requirements of Participants for up to 8 weeks and they will not have a Job Search Requirement at the same time. Participants will be required to record their attendance at training to meet their requirements. For this 8-week period, Participants who continue to satisfactorily participate in Small Business Training cannot have their Income Support Payment suspended due to a Mutual Obligation Failure.

Small Business Training can also be undertaken where the Participant would otherwise have Work for the Dole as the Mandatory Activity Requirement.

More details on PBAS and activation are in the Job Plan and Mutual Obligation Requirements Chapter.

19.6.4. Business Health CheckCopy citation · §19.6.4

Participants who access a Business Health Check can gain points under PBAS for each session they participate in, which they can access twice in a 12 month period.

19.6.5. Business Advice SessionCopy citation · §19.6.5

Participants who access a Business Advice Session can gain points under PBAS for each session they participate in, which they can access once in a 12 month period.

19.7. PaymentsCopy citation · §19.7

19.7.1. Progress PaymentsCopy citation · §19.7.1

Progress Payments are available to claim when the Participant’s circumstances have been changed during participation in Workforce Australia Services such that they are more prepared to gain and maintain Employment or self-employment.

For example, completion of an Exploring Self-Employment Workshop may contribute towards a Progress Payment as a vocational intervention.

Small Business Training may contribute towards a Progress Payment as a vocational intervention, or result in a Progress Payment for undertaking Education, depending on the outcome of the Participant’s participation.

For Progress Payments, Providers must refer to and comply with the requirements specified in the Provider Payments and Vacancies Chapter.

19.7.2. Outcome PaymentsCopy citation · §19.7.2

Providers may be eligible to claim 4, 12 and 26 Week Partial Outcomes, and any associated Very Long Term Unemployment Bonus if applicable, for Participants who Exit the Provider’s Caseload upon the Participant’s Self-Employment Assistance Commencement.

For more information, please refer to the Provider Payments and Vacancies Chapter.