New internship program for young job-seekers launched at RMW Joinery Peakhurst
Raymond Wiki, who has a cabinet making business at Peakhurst, has been “burnt” many times by fickle, young workers.
“You take them on as apprentices, set them up with tools and TAFE, and then one day they just don’t show up,” he said.
After numerous such experiences, Mr Wiki, who owns RMW Joinery, thinks a new federal government job internship program could be a winner.
Treasurer Scott Morrison and Minister for Employment, Michaelia Cash, officially launched the Youth Jobs PaTH program at Mr Wiki’s factory in Norman Street on Monday.
The program provides assistance to employers to take on a worker, aged 17 to 24, as an intern for between four and 12 weeks.
Employers receive a payment of $1000 to help with the costs of hosting an intern, but do not have to pay wages or insurance.
The intern receives a small, fortnightly incentive payment from the government on top of their Newstart allowance.