Host Employer FAQs - Digital Jobs Program
General Business Queries
Employers must:
- Be one of the following entity types:
- a company incorporated in Australia
- an incorporated trustee on behalf of a trust
- an incorporated association
- a partnership
- a joint (consortia) application with a lead organisation
- a [registered charity or] not for profit organisation
- a publicly funded research organisation
- an Australian local government body
- an Australian state or territory government body.
- Operate in Victoria (meaning the internship opportunity/ies to which your application relate, must be located in Victoria)
- Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Have current WorkCover Insurance (or equivalent) for an unlimited amount that shall include liability under statute or common law
- Be registered with Worksafe
- Have met all industrial relations obligations as an employer in accordance with the National Employment Standards
- Have not had any working conditions breaches in the last five years
- Comply with the Fair Work Act, 2009
Employers must:
- Employ the participant directly, for a minimum duration of 12 weeks full time, or equivalent (e.g. half time at 6 months).
- Offer the participant full time working hours, or negotiate a part time arrangement if it is agreeable to the participant.
- Meet all industrial relations obligations as an employer in accordance with the National Employment Standards.
- Pay the participant at least the relevant minimum wage.
- Ensure that the participant will undertake work that:
- provides them with an opportunity to learn and apply digital skills
- is broadly relevant to the subject area they have studied, or complements those skills
- is ideally project or product based with defined deliverables.
- Provide the participant adequate support, including:
- the assignment of a supervisor and the provision of contact details
- an appropriate induction and onboarding phase, providing relevant briefings on safety standards, site access, normal hours of work, emergency details and other elements as appropriate
- a minimum 10 hours a week of staff time (~25 per cent of FTE) dedicated to supervising the participant and towards their learning and development (i.e. by the supervisor and/or other employee(s))
- Supply the participant with necessary equipment and resources for undertaking the internship.
- Report any work health and safety incidents regarding the participant to the Delivery Partner within two working days.
- Conduct reporting as required by DJPR or the Delivery Partner.
- Internships, for purposes of this program, are paid entry level positions. They are intended to provide the participant with an introduction to the business and/or industry, and allow them to apply and learn digital skills in the context of the host business’s operations and current projects.
- Internships under the Digital Jobs program must be at least 12 weeks in duration and pay at least the minimum wage.
- Your business will be provided a $5,000 wage subsidy.
- Participants in the Digital Skills program have significant work and life experience and typically have valuable transferrable skills for a digital role.
- Participants will have completed a high standard, industry backed intensive short course in digital skills, relevant to your operation/current projects.
- Participants have been selected through a competitive process and screened for aptitude in a digital career.
- Participants have access to a mentor supplied by the program, who can assist them with their professional development.
The Victorian Government is investing $64 million over four years in the Digital Jobs program.
This program seeks to upskill Victorians aged over 30 and support them to transition into digital jobs. The Victorian Government recognises the wealth of knowledge, experience and skills that mid-career Victorians bring to the workplace, and particularly seeks to support women and people living in regional Victoria or those whose jobs have been affected by COVID to participate in the program. By building a strong workforce of Victorians with digital skills, the program also aims to support Victorian businesses seeking to build their digital capability or looking for workers with digital skills.
Throughout the four year program, up to 5,000 Victorians are expected to complete the program.
Registration Process
- Check your business is eligible
- Check your business is able to comply with the employer obligations
- Apply here www.au.hudson.com/digitaljobs
Contact the helpdesk at Hudson on 1300 172 949 or digital jobs@hudson.com
- Your application will be assessed and you will receive an email either approving or rejecting your application, typically within ten business days.
- You may be contacted to request further information (e.g. evidence of insurance policies) before your application is fully assessed.
- Successful applicants will be registered in the Employer Register. You will then be eligible to be matched with an intern, based on the information you supply about the type role(s) you have available and the skills you are seeking.
Internship Matching
- You will provide information about the role(s) your business has available, and the type of skills you are looking for.
- Hudson will use this information to look for participants who are studying the relevant skills and would be suitable.
- Hudson will provide you with a shortlist of three participants to choose from for each role you have available. The exception is government employers, where participants will be allocated directly.
- There is no guarantee that suitable candidates will be available every round, and therefore that your business will be allocated a shortlist. If your business misses out on an intern, you will be prioritised for later rounds.
- Internship matching for Round 1 will occur throughout August and September 2021. Matching occurs during the participants’ training period.
- Internships for Round 1 are expected to commence from early October.
- See also ‘How does the matching work?’
- Once you receive your shortlist(s), you may assess the shortlisted participants through your business’s preferred means (e.g. interviews).
- You are expected to accept at least one of the shortlisted participants (if you do not accept one from the shortlist, there is no guarantee that you will be provided with other choices).
- Your business will then enter an internship agreement and employ the chosen participant for a minimum of 12 weeks.
Five business days from the point of receiving the shortlist.
There is no limit to the number of interns your business may take, so long as your business is able to meet all obligations with respect to each internship.
In rare cases, participants might choose to opt out of the internship. Best efforts will be undertaken to provide your business with a suitable replacement.
Yes, you may elect the number of participants you wish to take each round that you apply. Though there is no guarantee that you will be allocated the number you have elected.
Yes, employment opportunities beyond the 12 week period are strongly encouraged. Noting that the subsidy is a flat $5,000 no further subsidy is available for employing the participant longer than the 12 weeks.
Internship Role
Round 1 internships are expected to commence early Oct.
- Your business must be able to offer full time hours, if this is the participant’s preference.
- However, if a part time schedule is mutually agreed, that is acceptable so long as the total internship duration amounts to the equivalent of 12 weeks full time.
- You must pay the intern at least the applicable minimum wage. This will vary across sectors and businesses. Seek guidance from fairwork.gov.au.
- You may opt to pay them above the minimum wage.
- Your business may determine what entitlements are provided to the intern, however you must comply with all applicable employer obligations and regulations under the relevant industrial relations system.
- The following resources may assist:
- If your business has complied with all obligations, you will be entitled to a part wage subsidy for the duration that the intern was employed with your business.
- Depending on timing and availability, you may be able to receive a replacement intern. You can also opt to be considered for later rounds.
- The type of work undertaken by the intern is up to the business, so long as it is meaningful and allows them to apply or learn relevant skills.
- Participants will typically have basic technical skills in a relevant subject (having completed an intensive 12 week course). They will also typically have at least ten years’ experience in another field and strong ‘soft skills’. Therefore participants may be expected to do technical work that is entry level, but are likely to have other skills that can be utilised during the internship in other ways.
The internship may be in person or online, or a bit of both, so long as your business is able to comply with your obligations and the arrangement is mutually agreed.
- You may raise the issue with Hudson.
- If the issue cannot be resolved and the intern departs, you may be assigned a replacement. If a suitable replacement isn’t available, your business may be considered for later rounds.
- If your business has complied with all obligations, you will be entitled to a part wage subsidy for the duration that the intern was employed with your business.
Does my business have any obligation towards the intern after the 12 week internship is complete?
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- No.
- Your business may opt to keep the intern as an ongoing employee or, for example, act as a referee, however there is no obligation to do so.