This can be a complicated question depending on the benefits you are currently receiving.  In general, if you are currently in receipt of a government benefit payment such as Jobseeker, Youth Allowance or a Parenting Payment Partnered you will be eligible to move across to the NEIS Allowance. The NEIS Allowance is a separate government payment that is equivalent to the single, 22 or over, no children rate of Jobseeker Payment.

The advantage of being able to move across to the NEIS Allowance during your participation in NEIS is that the NEIS Allowance is not affected by the level of income earned through your NEIS business. If you are in receipt of a government benefit payment such as a Disability Support Pension or Parenting Payment Single you will have the option to remain on these payments if you wish while participating in NEIS.

As benefits payments tend to be highly individualized, please notify us about the payments you are currently receiving. This will allow us to discuss your ongoing eligibility for them as part of your application to the NEIS program.

Yes, participants can use the hours spent on setting up their NEIS business towards their Mutual Obligation Requirements and Annual Activity Requirements. Once commenced on to the 12month NEIS Program, NEIS participants will no longer be required to look for work.

Prior business experience is certainly an asset towards starting your own business venture and is something that is looked upon favourably as we assess your application. We do however encourage all applicants to participate in the pre-NEIS training offered, as we have found through our 20 years’ experience as a NEIS provider that it provides all of our participants with the strong, practical grounding for the establishment of their business venture within the current environment.

As an RTO we do have an established Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process in which things such as real-world experiences can count towards educational credits. We will also recognise all certifications awarded for nationally recognised training from another RTO. The feedback we have received from previous participants however is that the short nature and practical content of our pre-NEIS training has provided the best avenue to starting a business regardless of previous experience.

The NEIS program is a free, government funded and accredited program that will give you all the advice you need to start your own business. Business Foundations also provides a team of business advisors to help you with any questions you may have over the first year of your business. The money spent on a paid training program could be better reinvested into your own business.

We would like to help you start your business as quickly as possible. We do though, want to ensure that you are set up for success. We give careful consideration to your application and your business idea. If necessary, we will have you talk to one of our business advisors to refine your idea if there are elements that need refinement. We will also provide you with free training that will provide you with all the relevant, practical knowledge you will need to be successful in your business.

Our three-week pre-NEIS training helps you define your business plan that will guide your business through its first year. We then work with you to refine your business plan so that you are prepared for your best possible start. From your point of application to starting your business we expect that it can be anywhere between 6 – 12 weeks. It usually depends upon how quickly you can complete your business plan.

The NEIS program will support you in starting up your own business and become financially independent. This is in addition to providing an allowance to support you financially in the early stages of your business. The NEIS program will equip participants with the knowledge and training to work towards creating a profitable and successful business.