Indigenous Self Employment Programme (ISEP) as an approved activity 001-09070100

The program was implemented by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations and was funded through the Indigenous Employment Policy (IEP). The trial operated until 13 May 2005.

Note: this program has closed. However is still ongoing only for participants who have outstanding loans with Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

The ISEP aimed to assist individual Indigenous Australians by:

• providing funds of up to $5,500 (including GST), as repayable loans funding, for non-wage costs in establishing their own small business
• providing financial literacy training
• promoting self-employment initiatives, and
• providing business advice and support

For an individual to be eligible for the ISEP the person had to:

• be of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent
• identify as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, and
• be accepted as an Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander in their community

and

• be a registered job seeker with Services Australia and looking for full time work
• receive a Services Australia allowance or pension
• be 18 years or older and less than Age Pension age while on the ISEP
• not be an undischarged bankrupt, and
• demonstrate a savings capacity over at least a three month period

Many ISEP participants were receiving either JobSeeker Payment (JSP) or Youth Allowance (YA). These ISEP participants had their involvement in the trial acknowledged as an approved activity in their Activity Agreement which satisfied their job search requirements under JSP or YA.

Participation in ISEP was voluntary and could be undertaken concurrently with some complementary programs such as voluntary work.

Hours of participation did not need to be verified as participation in the programme was considered to be sufficient to satisfy the Activity Test.