APRIL 21, 2015: Assistant Minister for Employment Luke Hartsuyker and I paid a visit to Resthaven on Quarry to meet with facility manager Maryanne Edwards and Restart program employee Beryl Cameron.I arranged for Mr Hartsuyker to visit the region to highlight how the Government’s employment initiatives could deliver better services to both job seekers and employers.Under the Restart program, eligible employers receive up to $10,000 to hire mature-age job seekers who have been unemployed and on income support for six months or more.The Government is committed to helping people in our region find jobs and I would encourage other local employers to consider the Restart programme. You not only provide an older worker with an opportunity to retrain and continue to work but your business will also get the benefits that come from hiring experienced workers.Mr Hartsuyker said the Coalition Government wanted to reconnect older Australians with the rewards of work in order to increase productivity and build a stronger economy.“Our ageing population means that we need to become a more productive nation and the contribution of older workers is becoming more crucial to the workplace,” Mr Hartsuyker said.“The benefits of recruiting and retaining older workers are clear. They bring a wealth of skills, experience and maturity to the workplace.“We know that older workers can remain unemployed for long periods if they lose their job. Restart is helping to break down barriers older Australians face when looking for a job by providing practical financial support to employers.“I join George in acknowledging Maryanne and Resthaven for their commitment to hiring local workers, and I especially want to congratulate Beryl on her new job,” Mr Hartsuyker said.Restart is a component of the Government’s new $5 billion jobactive employment services system which will commence nationwide on 1 July 2015.You can find out more at www.employment.gov.au/restart