The government made changes to the Work Bonus from 2022. The changes give older Australians greater flexibility to work and earn more without affecting their pension.
This is also an opportunity for the visitor economy to help meet labour shortfalls.
The Minister for Social Services announced temporary changes on 22 November 2022. The changes became permanent from 1 January 2024.
The Work Bonus provides an incentive for pensioners over the Age Pension age to work. It allows them to keep more of their pension when they earn income from working.
Find out more about the Work Bonus on the Services Australia website. Information includes eligibility criteria and how the temporary changes are applied.
THRIVE 2030, Australia’s visitor economy strategy, notes that recruiting people from under-represented demographics – such as older people – is an effective way to address labour shortages.
Mature-aged workers offer many benefits to employers. They:
In overseeing THRIVE 2030, Austrade has worked to help tourism businesses to address workforce shortages. Encouraging tourism businesses to consider employing older workers has been part of these efforts.
Businesses looking for help with hiring staff can also find out about Australian Government support programs on the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) website.
Read how older Australians are returning to the workforce:
Read more about the benefits of employing mature-age workers on the DEWR website.
THRIVE 2030 is Australia’s national strategy for the long-term, sustainable growth of the visitor economy.