The Hon Kate Ellis MP
Minister for Employment Participation
Minister for Child Care
30 March, 2011


The Australian Government recognises the value of the skills and experience of our country’s mature age workforce and is committed to finding new ways to support mature age workers to remain in the workforce and continue to contribute to our economy.
More mature age Australians will be able to access training and support to help them remain in employment for longer and share their experience, thanks to new initiatives announced today.

Minister for Employment Participation and Child Care, Kate Ellis said that mature age workers regularly report feeling that their experience is undervalued and that employers don’t have the necessary supports in place for them to take the next steps in their careers.
Speaking at the Investing in Experience business leaders’ morning tea in Sydney today, Minister Ellis announced:
An expansion to the $43 million Experience+ program to extend the support available to workers aged 50 years and over, down from a previous minimum of 55 years.
The Experience+ program includes:
- Grants of $4950 for employers of mature age workers to assist workers to participate in training or to up-skill and become mentors or supervisors of apprentices and trainees;
- On-the-job support for mature age workers whose jobs may be at risk due to health condition, injury or disability;
- Free, professional career advice for mature age job seekers and workers; and
- Job transition support to employees in physically demanding jobs in priority employment areas and eligible retrenched workers.

An Investing in Experience Employment Charter, which outlines goals for employers to assist them to achieve best practice in the recruitment and retention of mature age people.
An Investing in Experience Toolkit that has been developed in partnership with the Australian industry Group, which will provide critical resources in supporting employers to implement the Charter and help them better support mature age workers; and
A new Corporate Champions project to be led by the Australian Industry Group and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry that will see companies promoting the benefits of hiring mature age workers to employers across Australia.
Ms Ellis said that the ageing of our population is a significant challenge facing Australia’s workforce and in turn our future productivity.
“This year, the first of the baby-boomer generation becomes eligible for the aged pension. The time for talking about the future ageing of our population is over – it is happening now.”
“The willingness of Australians to work for longer is a strength that we need to harness and ensuring that mature workers are properly supported is central to addressing the challenge of an ageing population.”
“The ageing labour force, combined with skills shortages, means it is more important than ever to encourage experienced employees to stay in the workforce,” Ms Ellis said.

These initiatives form part of the Government’s Experience+ suite of programs delivered under the four-year, $43 million Productive Ageing Package to provide training and support for older Australians who want to stay in the workforce.
The Experience+ program commenced on 1 July 2010 and provides training, career advice, on the job support and job transition support for mature age workers and their employees.

For more information visit www.deewr.gov.au/experienceplus
Media Contact: media@deewr.gov.au
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