Remote Jobs | NIAA
Source: https://www.niaa.gov.au/our-work/employment-and-economic-development/remote-jobs
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:19
Remote Jobs | NIAA
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Remote Jobs
Back to
Employment and Economic Development
Listen
The government is committed to improving employment outcomes for people living in remote Australia and has replaced the
Community Development Program (CDP)
with the Remote Australia Employment Service (RAES) and the Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) program.
The RJED program is creating 6,000 new jobs until 2030 with good pay and conditions, like superannuation and leave. The RAES started on 1 November 2025 and supports job seekers to build their skills and address barriers to employment.
The main goal of the RJED program is to assist income support recipients move into paid employment through the creation of new jobs that support community priorities. The RAES aims to help people prepare for work and create pathways for job seekers to move into work. The design of RJED and RAES builds on the success of
job trials
and reflects feedback from consultation.
For job seekers
For employers
For employment services
Creating opportunities in remote communities
The RJED program and the RAES will improve job opportunities and employment services for people living or working in
RAES regions
.
The RJED program is about creating new jobs that communities want and need which can be flexible around personal, family and community obligations. Jobs can be part-time, full-time or casual.
It works by interested employers applying for funding to pay for wages and equipment so they can create new jobs and hire local people.
So far, around 1,700 jobs have been approved for funding through the program.
The RAES supports people who are currently looking for work, or may need help to become job-ready, with the skills and resources they need to take up job opportunities – including those created through the RJED program.
Working with communities
The CDP was replaced in consultation with remote community members, job seekers, peak bodies, First Nations peoples, CDP providers, CDP participants and other key stakeholders with an interest in remote employment.
Over the past few years, the government has heard from thousands of people in more than 200 remote communities about the best way to replace the CDP. This has led to creating a jobs program that remote communities needed, supported by employment services that help young people and job seekers get ready for work.
Consultation – November to December 2025
To help improve the application process for future RJED grant rounds, we invited organisations and the public to complete a short anonymous survey. The survey was open from 1 November to 1 December 2025 and asked about applicants’ experiences with the grant application process.
You can read more in the
Feedback from the Grant Application survey
Consultation – March to April 2025
Between 27 March 2025 and 21 April 2025, the NIAA published the draft RAES Grant Opportunity Guidelines (GOGs) for information and feedback.
The draft GOGs built on information already shared in previous consultations. They set out proposed elements of the new service such as the provider payment model, eligibility criteria, assessment criteria and the grant selection process.
In response to your feedback, we have implemented the following changes to the final GOGs:
extended the grant period from 22 months to 32 months
adjusted the timing of the first payment milestones for the Employment Placement Support payments to be paid at 4-weeks of continuous employment
added an additional payment milestone for the Employment Placement Support payments at 52 weeks of continuous employment
split the Employment Outcome Fee payments and the 52-week milestone Employment Placement Support payment with 60% to go to employers of RAES participants and 40% to RAES providers
preferenced First Nations organisations.
You can read more in the
Remote Australia Employment Service Draft Grant Opportunity Guidelines consultation report
.
Consultation – April to July 2024
In 2024, the NIAA engaged with more than 200 remote communities and 3,100 people.
We heard that a new jobs program and employment service should provide:
skills and support to complete paperwork for employment
continuous on-the job training
ongoing tailored mentoring and coaching
long-term sustainability of jobs
employment that supports local cultural needs.
You can read more in the
Replacing the Community Development Program – second phase of community consultations report
, the
consultation summary on a page
or watch the short video that follows.
Consultation – February to May 2023
In 2023, the NIAA engaged with more than 100 remote communities and 2,250 people about ways to design and deliver a program to replace the CDP.
We heard that a new program and service to replace CDP should:
be planned and led by communities
recognise roles carried out in the communities
take a new approach for young people
support local jobs for local people
include a form of reciprocity
be flexible to invest in local priorities
assist people unable to work right now.
You can read more in the
Replacing the Community Development Program consultation report
, the
consultation summary on a page
or watch the short video that follows.
First Nations Reference Group
A First Nations Reference Group helped with the design of the RJED program.
Terms of Reference
Context
As a first step to deliver the commitment to replace the Community Development Program (CDP), the Federal Government has announced the establishment of a Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program (RJED) in the second half of 2024 to provide people in remote communities with real jobs, proper wages and decent conditions.
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap and its four priority reforms will provide the foundation for the co-design of the Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program. Shared decision-making is fundamental to the co-design of the new Program which is specifically for First Nations people and has its origins in the CDEP initiated by First Nations people in the 1970s. The four Priority Reforms are:
Formal partnership and shared decision making
Building the community-controlled sector
Transforming government organisations
Shared access to data and information at a regional level
The RJED aims to:
Create 3,000 new jobs in remote communities for CDP participants
Include a complementary Community Jobs and Business Fund for projects, capital and equipment in support of the creation of jobs under the program
Connect with opportunities in the private and public sectors to bring the economy to remote communities and generate long term permanent jobs
Include a focus on young people to improve their employment opportunities once they have finished school.
As not everyone will be ready to go into a job, a remote employment service will still be needed. CDP services will continue through an extension of CDP provider arrangements until 30 June 2025.
Scope and Purpose
The FNRG will provide advice to Government on the design and implementation of the RJED. Matters to be considered are:
Policy design and implementation for the RJED and a new remote employment service, including the development of program guidelines;
Generate ideas on new approaches to reflect the difference in employment opportunities between remote and non-remote regions;
Advice on best practice approaches to consultation and engagement for the RJED and a new remote employment service that reflect the commitments in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap;
A monitoring and reporting system which promotes improvements that are cognisant of the myriad of different and diverse demographics within Indigenous Australian, especially concerning the RJED and a new remote employment service; and
Progress and outcomes of existing community trials and the learnings for policy reform.
Relevant Commonwealth reforms and initiatives, such as Workforce Australia reforms, Remote Australia Working Group recommendations, and others could inform remote employment design. FNRG will receive relevant updates.
Term
The FNRG will be effective from March 2024, and operate until the group considers that the scope and purpose have been fulfilled.
Membership
A group of member organisations will be invited to nominate First Nations representatives to participate in the FNRG. Organisations will include, but not be limited to, the following criteria: being an Indigenous business, community controlled organisation, a training organisation, or a CDP provider, and the geographical locations that current CDP participants live in.
A select number of CDP providers to nominate representatives with lived experience of engaging with remote employment services.
Meetings and Working Methods
The FNRG will be co-chaired by the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ms Josephine Douglas and Mr Matthew Clarke.
Co-chairs will conduct meetings, lead on the forward workplan, and agree meeting agendas.
The quorum for FNRG will be fifty per cent of the membership, plus one.
Decision making will be by consensus with respect to the advice provided to the Government.
Standards of conduct including conflicts of interest declarations will be detailed in the Member Organisation Agreements.
Some member organisations may be current funding recipients under the CDP or upcoming grant rounds for the RJED and/or a new remote employment service. If there is a declared conflict of interest, the NIAA Secretariat for the FNRG will record the details in a register and manage in compliance with the ‘FNRG Conflicts of Interest Policy’ to ensure any competitive advantage is minimised.
Representatives of member organisations must declare any private interests or relationships that could influence or could be perceived to influence advice provided by the FNRG, or advice provided to the NIAA, in the conflict of interest declaration form at any time for the duration of the Term.
The declaration or updating of conflicts of interest will be a standing item at FNRG meetings. Conflicts of interest declared during a FNRG meeting will also be recorded in the meeting minutes and added to the conflicts of interest register managed by the NIAA Secretariat for the FNRG.
The FNRG can request through the co-chairs to invite individuals with specialist expertise or representatives from Commonwealth Agencies to participate in or present information on specific policy issues at meetings.
The NIAA will provide a Secretariat for the FNRG which will aim to circulate relevant papers at least five days prior to meetings.
Information provided to representatives and meeting discussions should remain confidential.
The FNRG may choose to issue a communique following a meeting.
Member Organisations will be supported with travel and other arrangements (including sitting fees) for representatives’ attendance at meetings as outlined in the Member Organisation Agreements.
These Terms of Reference will be reviewed by the FNRG every six months.
Finalised and agreed by the First Nations Reference Group on 10 April 2024.
Membership
The group has economic development experts from across remote Australia and representatives from a range of organisations including:
Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations
National Indigenous Employment and Training Alliance
Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory
Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation
Supply Nation
First Nations Workers Alliance
Cape York Partnership
Empowered Communities
Torres Strait Regional Authority
Ngaanyatjarra Council
Regional Anangu Services Aboriginal Corporation
Nirrumbuk Environmental Health and Services
Independent Researcher.
Meeting Communiqués
6 August 2024
22 July 2024
13 June 2024
7 May 2024
10 April 2024
22 March 2024
7 March 2024
Resources
You can
download these resources
to learn more about job creation and employment services to share with your community.
Factsheet:
What is the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program?
Factsheet:
Remote Jobs and Economic Development program and your Centrelink payments
Poster:
What is the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program?
Poster:
RJED grants now open
Audio messages:
Hear about the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program in 2 minutes in English and Indigenous languages
Audio message:
Hear about the Remote Australia Employment Service in English and Indigenous languages
Conversation guide:
A conversation about creating jobs in your community
Infographic:
New jobs program in remote communities
Infographic:
Change from income support to a job in your community
Factsheet:
Remote Australia Employment Service
Infographic:
Remote Australia Employment Service - Job seeker pathway
Social media tiles:
Promote the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program on your social media
Media centre
Delivering more jobs in remote communities
– Wednesday 18 February 2026
New investments build on progress in Closing the Gap
– Thursday 12 February 2026
New Remote Australia Employment Service begins
– Saturday 1 November 2025
Delivering a new employment service for remote Australia
– Saturday 1 November 2025
Providers selected to deliver new Remote Australia Employment Service
– Friday 24 October 2025
Delivering the dignity of work in remote communities
– Friday 8 August 2025
Grants open to deliver new Remote Employment Service
– Monday 30 June 2025
Open letter from Minister McCarthy on the RAES grant opportunity
– Friday 6 June 2025
650 new jobs for communities in Remote Australia
– Saturday 12 April 2025
Opportunity for employers to create jobs in remote Australia
– Tuesday 4 February 2025
New Remote Employment Service to help job seekers build skills and strengthen communities
– Friday 13 December 2024
Grants now open for new $707 Million Remote Jobs Program
– Wednesday 11 December 2024
Remote Australia's untapped potential
– Wednesday 16 October 2024
Have your say on remote jobs
– Tuesday 18 June 2024
First Nations Reference Group for Remote Jobs and Economic Development program
– Thursday 7 March 2024
Next steps on Closing the Gap: delivering remote jobs
– Tuesday 13 February 2024
Putting remote employment issues on the table
– Wednesday 31 August 2022
Subscribe
Are you interested in this remote employment reform?
Add your details below if you would like to get updates by email.
If you can't receive emails, you can call your
local NIAA Regional Office
on 1800 079 098 for updates.
If you need more information, you can email
remote.jobs@niaa.gov.au
You can read previous issues of our newsletters below:
March 2026
February 2026
January 2026
December 2025
November 2025
August 2025
July 2025
June 2025
April 2025
February 2025
January 2025
December 2024
October 2024
July 2024
May 2024
For more information about how the NIAA protects your personal information, read our
Privacy Policy
or contact
privacy@niaa.gov.au
.
Consent to record information in Campaign Monitor
The NIAA will use your personal information in this form to provide you with email updates about remote employment.
Providing the requested information is your choice. If you choose not to provide us with your email address, we will not be able to a send you updates.
If you choose to receive our updates:
NIAA will provide your personal information to the third party service provider, Campaign Monitor, for the purposes of sending emails and other related communications to you.
Campaign Monitor is an overseas multinational entity. They will send and store your information on overseas servers. Australia’s
Privacy Act 1988
may not protect your information. You may not be able to seek redress under it.
You can find out more about how personal information is handled by Campaign Monitor in their
Privacy Notice
and
Terms of Use
.
You can unsubscribe from our updates at any time by replying Unsubscribe to our updates.
By selecting “I agree to be emailed” below you agree to your information being recorded in the Campaign Monitor system.
Skip to main content
Remote Jobs
Back to
Employment and Economic Development
Listen
The government is committed to improving employment outcomes for people living in remote Australia and has replaced the
Community Development Program (CDP)
with the Remote Australia Employment Service (RAES) and the Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) program.
The RJED program is creating 6,000 new jobs until 2030 with good pay and conditions, like superannuation and leave. The RAES started on 1 November 2025 and supports job seekers to build their skills and address barriers to employment.
The main goal of the RJED program is to assist income support recipients move into paid employment through the creation of new jobs that support community priorities. The RAES aims to help people prepare for work and create pathways for job seekers to move into work. The design of RJED and RAES builds on the success of
job trials
and reflects feedback from consultation.
For job seekers
For employers
For employment services
Creating opportunities in remote communities
The RJED program and the RAES will improve job opportunities and employment services for people living or working in
RAES regions
.
The RJED program is about creating new jobs that communities want and need which can be flexible around personal, family and community obligations. Jobs can be part-time, full-time or casual.
It works by interested employers applying for funding to pay for wages and equipment so they can create new jobs and hire local people.
So far, around 1,700 jobs have been approved for funding through the program.
The RAES supports people who are currently looking for work, or may need help to become job-ready, with the skills and resources they need to take up job opportunities – including those created through the RJED program.
Working with communities
The CDP was replaced in consultation with remote community members, job seekers, peak bodies, First Nations peoples, CDP providers, CDP participants and other key stakeholders with an interest in remote employment.
Over the past few years, the government has heard from thousands of people in more than 200 remote communities about the best way to replace the CDP. This has led to creating a jobs program that remote communities needed, supported by employment services that help young people and job seekers get ready for work.
Consultation – November to December 2025
To help improve the application process for future RJED grant rounds, we invited organisations and the public to complete a short anonymous survey. The survey was open from 1 November to 1 December 2025 and asked about applicants’ experiences with the grant application process.
You can read more in the
Feedback from the Grant Application survey
Consultation – March to April 2025
Between 27 March 2025 and 21 April 2025, the NIAA published the draft RAES Grant Opportunity Guidelines (GOGs) for information and feedback.
The draft GOGs built on information already shared in previous consultations. They set out proposed elements of the new service such as the provider payment model, eligibility criteria, assessment criteria and the grant selection process.
In response to your feedback, we have implemented the following changes to the final GOGs:
extended the grant period from 22 months to 32 months
adjusted the timing of the first payment milestones for the Employment Placement Support payments to be paid at 4-weeks of continuous employment
added an additional payment milestone for the Employment Placement Support payments at 52 weeks of continuous employment
split the Employment Outcome Fee payments and the 52-week milestone Employment Placement Support payment with 60% to go to employers of RAES participants and 40% to RAES providers
preferenced First Nations organisations.
You can read more in the
Remote Australia Employment Service Draft Grant Opportunity Guidelines consultation report
.
Consultation – April to July 2024
In 2024, the NIAA engaged with more than 200 remote communities and 3,100 people.
We heard that a new jobs program and employment service should provide:
skills and support to complete paperwork for employment
continuous on-the job training
ongoing tailored mentoring and coaching
long-term sustainability of jobs
employment that supports local cultural needs.
You can read more in the
Replacing the Community Development Program – second phase of community consultations report
, the
consultation summary on a page
or watch the short video that follows.
Consultation – February to May 2023
In 2023, the NIAA engaged with more than 100 remote communities and 2,250 people about ways to design and deliver a program to replace the CDP.
We heard that a new program and service to replace CDP should:
be planned and led by communities
recognise roles carried out in the communities
take a new approach for young people
support local jobs for local people
include a form of reciprocity
be flexible to invest in local priorities
assist people unable to work right now.
You can read more in the
Replacing the Community Development Program consultation report
, the
consultation summary on a page
or watch the short video that follows.
First Nations Reference Group
A First Nations Reference Group helped with the design of the RJED program.
Terms of Reference
Context
As a first step to deliver the commitment to replace the Community Development Program (CDP), the Federal Government has announced the establishment of a Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program (RJED) in the second half of 2024 to provide people in remote communities with real jobs, proper wages and decent conditions.
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap and its four priority reforms will provide the foundation for the co-design of the Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program. Shared decision-making is fundamental to the co-design of the new Program which is specifically for First Nations people and has its origins in the CDEP initiated by First Nations people in the 1970s. The four Priority Reforms are:
Formal partnership and shared decision making
Building the community-controlled sector
Transforming government organisations
Shared access to data and information at a regional level
The RJED aims to:
Create 3,000 new jobs in remote communities for CDP participants
Include a complementary Community Jobs and Business Fund for projects, capital and equipment in support of the creation of jobs under the program
Connect with opportunities in the private and public sectors to bring the economy to remote communities and generate long term permanent jobs
Include a focus on young people to improve their employment opportunities once they have finished school.
As not everyone will be ready to go into a job, a remote employment service will still be needed. CDP services will continue through an extension of CDP provider arrangements until 30 June 2025.
Scope and Purpose
The FNRG will provide advice to Government on the design and implementation of the RJED. Matters to be considered are:
Policy design and implementation for the RJED and a new remote employment service, including the development of program guidelines;
Generate ideas on new approaches to reflect the difference in employment opportunities between remote and non-remote regions;
Advice on best practice approaches to consultation and engagement for the RJED and a new remote employment service that reflect the commitments in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap;
A monitoring and reporting system which promotes improvements that are cognisant of the myriad of different and diverse demographics within Indigenous Australian, especially concerning the RJED and a new remote employment service; and
Progress and outcomes of existing community trials and the learnings for policy reform.
Relevant Commonwealth reforms and initiatives, such as Workforce Australia reforms, Remote Australia Working Group recommendations, and others could inform remote employment design. FNRG will receive relevant updates.
Term
The FNRG will be effective from March 2024, and operate until the group considers that the scope and purpose have been fulfilled.
Membership
A group of member organisations will be invited to nominate First Nations representatives to participate in the FNRG. Organisations will include, but not be limited to, the following criteria: being an Indigenous business, community controlled organisation, a training organisation, or a CDP provider, and the geographical locations that current CDP participants live in.
A select number of CDP providers to nominate representatives with lived experience of engaging with remote employment services.
Meetings and Working Methods
The FNRG will be co-chaired by the Minister for Indigenous Australians, Ms Josephine Douglas and Mr Matthew Clarke.
Co-chairs will conduct meetings, lead on the forward workplan, and agree meeting agendas.
The quorum for FNRG will be fifty per cent of the membership, plus one.
Decision making will be by consensus with respect to the advice provided to the Government.
Standards of conduct including conflicts of interest declarations will be detailed in the Member Organisation Agreements.
Some member organisations may be current funding recipients under the CDP or upcoming grant rounds for the RJED and/or a new remote employment service. If there is a declared conflict of interest, the NIAA Secretariat for the FNRG will record the details in a register and manage in compliance with the ‘FNRG Conflicts of Interest Policy’ to ensure any competitive advantage is minimised.
Representatives of member organisations must declare any private interests or relationships that could influence or could be perceived to influence advice provided by the FNRG, or advice provided to the NIAA, in the conflict of interest declaration form at any time for the duration of the Term.
The declaration or updating of conflicts of interest will be a standing item at FNRG meetings. Conflicts of interest declared during a FNRG meeting will also be recorded in the meeting minutes and added to the conflicts of interest register managed by the NIAA Secretariat for the FNRG.
The FNRG can request through the co-chairs to invite individuals with specialist expertise or representatives from Commonwealth Agencies to participate in or present information on specific policy issues at meetings.
The NIAA will provide a Secretariat for the FNRG which will aim to circulate relevant papers at least five days prior to meetings.
Information provided to representatives and meeting discussions should remain confidential.
The FNRG may choose to issue a communique following a meeting.
Member Organisations will be supported with travel and other arrangements (including sitting fees) for representatives’ attendance at meetings as outlined in the Member Organisation Agreements.
These Terms of Reference will be reviewed by the FNRG every six months.
Finalised and agreed by the First Nations Reference Group on 10 April 2024.
Membership
The group has economic development experts from across remote Australia and representatives from a range of organisations including:
Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations
National Indigenous Employment and Training Alliance
Aboriginal Peak Organisations of the Northern Territory
Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation
Supply Nation
First Nations Workers Alliance
Cape York Partnership
Empowered Communities
Torres Strait Regional Authority
Ngaanyatjarra Council
Regional Anangu Services Aboriginal Corporation
Nirrumbuk Environmental Health and Services
Independent Researcher.
Meeting Communiqués
6 August 2024
22 July 2024
13 June 2024
7 May 2024
10 April 2024
22 March 2024
7 March 2024
Resources
You can
download these resources
to learn more about job creation and employment services to share with your community.
Factsheet:
What is the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program?
Factsheet:
Remote Jobs and Economic Development program and your Centrelink payments
Poster:
What is the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program?
Poster:
RJED grants now open
Audio messages:
Hear about the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program in 2 minutes in English and Indigenous languages
Audio message:
Hear about the Remote Australia Employment Service in English and Indigenous languages
Conversation guide:
A conversation about creating jobs in your community
Infographic:
New jobs program in remote communities
Infographic:
Change from income support to a job in your community
Factsheet:
Remote Australia Employment Service
Infographic:
Remote Australia Employment Service - Job seeker pathway
Social media tiles:
Promote the Remote Jobs and Economic Development program on your social media
Media centre
Delivering more jobs in remote communities
– Wednesday 18 February 2026
New investments build on progress in Closing the Gap
– Thursday 12 February 2026
New Remote Australia Employment Service begins
– Saturday 1 November 2025
Delivering a new employment service for remote Australia
– Saturday 1 November 2025
Providers selected to deliver new Remote Australia Employment Service
– Friday 24 October 2025
Delivering the dignity of work in remote communities
– Friday 8 August 2025
Grants open to deliver new Remote Employment Service
– Monday 30 June 2025
Open letter from Minister McCarthy on the RAES grant opportunity
– Friday 6 June 2025
650 new jobs for communities in Remote Australia
– Saturday 12 April 2025
Opportunity for employers to create jobs in remote Australia
– Tuesday 4 February 2025
New Remote Employment Service to help job seekers build skills and strengthen communities
– Friday 13 December 2024
Grants now open for new $707 Million Remote Jobs Program
– Wednesday 11 December 2024
Remote Australia's untapped potential
– Wednesday 16 October 2024
Have your say on remote jobs
– Tuesday 18 June 2024
First Nations Reference Group for Remote Jobs and Economic Development program
– Thursday 7 March 2024
Next steps on Closing the Gap: delivering remote jobs
– Tuesday 13 February 2024
Putting remote employment issues on the table
– Wednesday 31 August 2022
Subscribe
Are you interested in this remote employment reform?
Add your details below if you would like to get updates by email.
If you can't receive emails, you can call your
local NIAA Regional Office
on 1800 079 098 for updates.
If you need more information, you can email
remote.jobs@niaa.gov.au
You can read previous issues of our newsletters below:
March 2026
February 2026
January 2026
December 2025
November 2025
August 2025
July 2025
June 2025
April 2025
February 2025
January 2025
December 2024
October 2024
July 2024
May 2024
For more information about how the NIAA protects your personal information, read our
Privacy Policy
or contact
privacy@niaa.gov.au
.
Consent to record information in Campaign Monitor
The NIAA will use your personal information in this form to provide you with email updates about remote employment.
Providing the requested information is your choice. If you choose not to provide us with your email address, we will not be able to a send you updates.
If you choose to receive our updates:
NIAA will provide your personal information to the third party service provider, Campaign Monitor, for the purposes of sending emails and other related communications to you.
Campaign Monitor is an overseas multinational entity. They will send and store your information on overseas servers. Australia’s
Privacy Act 1988
may not protect your information. You may not be able to seek redress under it.
You can find out more about how personal information is handled by Campaign Monitor in their
Privacy Notice
and
Terms of Use
.
You can unsubscribe from our updates at any time by replying Unsubscribe to our updates.
By selecting “I agree to be emailed” below you agree to your information being recorded in the Campaign Monitor system.