Support if you've lost your job
If you've recently lost your job (including through retrenchment, redundancy or corporate administration) there are a range of employment programs and funded training that can help you get back on track for new employment.
This information lists a range of Australian Government, Queensland Government and community services that may help you to get support and employment assistance.
Career guidance and support
What's Next
What's Next is a useful starting point for people who have been, or may be, retrenched or made redundant. It provides a range of resources and links to available support.
Your Career
Your Career helps you explore different careers and occupations and provides pathways, resources, and support to get you there.
Occupation and industry profiles
Visit the Jobs and Skills Australia website to learn more about industry profiles, future jobs growth and likely wages. You can explore labour market data at national, state and regional levels.
Start a small business
Maybe this is the time to turn your idea into a small business and work for yourself.
Our business readiness health check is a comprehensive way to consider the opportunities and challenges of starting a small business. Read about the key elements of starting a business, including legal and regulatory requirements, resources, business location and start-up costs.
Retrain or upskill
Training and skilling programs
You may be eligible for Queensland Government funded training and skilling programs to gain skills to help you to find work.
Learn more about free and reduced-cost training programs in various qualifications and skill sets.
You can also contact a Back to Work support officer to find out about opportunities for job seekers and those at risk of unemployment to upskill and retrain for jobs across regional Queensland and selected South East Queensland locations.
Apprenticeships and traineeships
Apprenticeships and traineeships allow you to earn while you learn by combining work and study in a vocation or trade. Learn more about apprenticeships and traineeships.
You may be eligible to undertake free apprenticeships in various critical and emerging industries through:
Apprenticeships Info supports apprentices, trainees and their employers throughout their apprenticeship or traineeship. If you are an apprentice or trainee who has been displaced or lost your job, phone 1800 210 210 for support and information on how to continue employment and training.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) transfers your skills and knowledge gained through work and life experiences to current training course requirements, allowing you to reduce the time it takes to gain a qualification.
Financial assistance and income support
Depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible for financial assistance through Centrelink. Visit the Services Australia website or phone 13 28 50.
Centrelink's free financial information service (FIS) provides unbiased information about how to make informed decisions about your finances, which may be beneficial if you've received a redundancy package.
Fair Entitlements Guarantee
If you lost your job because your employer went bankrupt or into liquidation and you are owed certain employee entitlements, you may be eligible for financial help through the Fair Entitlements Guarantee.
Job search
View our information on a range of topics including career advice, finding and applying for jobs, and returning to work.
Workforce Australia
Workforce Australia helps you to start looking for work, find jobs, transition to different industries, or find training, support services and other opportunities to build experience in skills like job application writing, interviews and job searching.
Disability employment service
Job Access offers specialised support to people with disability to access assistance to prepare for, find and keep a job.
Labour hire
Labour hire companies provide temporary staff to employers across a range of industries.
Visit Labour Hire Licensing Queensland to find out more about labour hire companies and register for temporary work.
Your rights and entitlements
Fair Work Ombudsman
The Fair Work Ombudsman can provide advice about eligibility for redundancy and other payments as determined by legislation.
The National Employment Standards (NES) set out the minimum employments standards for all employees.
The NES also includes what redundancy is and what pay may apply on employment termination.
If you think you have not received the right amount of redundancy pay, or your dismissal isn't a genuine redundancy, seek advice from the Ombudsman.
Fair Work Commission
If you lose your job but believe you have been unfairly dismissed by your employer, contact the Fair Work Commission, Australia's national workplace relations tribunal.
Mental health and wellbeing
Look after yourself during stressful times.
Lifeline provides a 24-hour confidential telephone counselling service on 13 11 14. You can also use the Lifeline Service Finder to locate free of low cost health and community services.
Beyond Blue provides immediate support for depression and anxiety by phone on 1300 224 636, or online chat.