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Kate is passionate about contributing to public debate on a wide range of important issues. Here are some of the issues she has touched on in the past.
- Should successful athletes have to pay back the AIS 10 Jun 2009
- Let's give youth voice now for a better future 12 Oct 2008
- Organ donation it's the greatest gift of all 21 Sep 2008
- Is safe sex message falling on deaf ears 31 Aug 2008
- Grassroots funding is key to Olympic glorys 10 Aug 2008
- Easy to overlook big issue of homelessness 20 Jul 2008
- Trailblazer Natasha leaves lasting legacy 29 Jun 2008
- Heavy hitters boost our World Cup hopes 01 Jun 2008
- Youth Forum Discussion Paper 17 May 2008
- We can't take sport for granted 11 May 2008
- Women truly can do anything be anything 20 Apr 2008
- Let the Games begin with all our athletes 30 Mar 2008
- Proud past but future a challenge for women 09 Mar 2008
- Young people will be heard at highest level 17 Feb 2008
- Our nation has changed dramatically in three weeks 16 Dec 2007
- Mobile Phone Towers 23 Sep 2007
- Bradken Foundry 01 Jul 2007
- Full Fees 03 Jun 2007
- Eating Disorders 17 Dec 2006
- Iraq 27 Jul 2006
- Electoral Laws 26 Jun 2006
- Dental 08 Jan 2006
- Make Poverty History 18 Sep 2005
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
Media Releases
2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 200806 Jun 2012 - Wage Connect Working for South Australian Job Seekers
THE HON KATE ELLIS MP
Minister for Employment Participation
Minister for Early Childhood and Child Care
MEDIA RELEASE
6 June 2012
Wage Connect working for South Australian job seekers
Minister for Employment Participation, Kate Ellis today met with fellow South Australians who are now in work or who have recently hired new staff with assistance from the Australian Government's new Wage Connect initiative.
Ms Ellis hosted a function in Adelaide to hear first-hand from employers, employees and employment service providers about how the new program is helping unemployed Australians and businesses.
"Since the Wage Connect subsidies began on 1 January this year, more than 6000 unemployed people have been helped into paying jobs, including 439 people in South Australia.
"In fact the program has been so successful we've already beaten our original target of helping to place 5000 of Australians in work by 30 June 2012."
Wage Connect provides a wage subsidy of around $5700 over 26 weeks to eligible businesses which employ people who have been receiving income support for two years and have had no or minimal work experience in that time.
"It was wonderful to meet with both bosses and their new staff members, and hear the stories of workers and employers about how the initiative is working," Ms Ellis said.
"Wage Connect helps offset wage and training costs for the first six months of employment.
"That makes it easier for businesses to take on and train up people who have been unemployed for some time," Ms Ellis said.
The Australian Government has allocated over $94 million to support the program, with 35 000 Wage Connect places available over four years.
Job seekers and employers interested in participating in the Wage Connect program should speak to their employment services provider.
Interested employers who would like to learn more about Wage Connect can visit www.deewr.gov.au/wageconnectsubsidy or contact a local employment services provider on 13 17 15.