Explore, start or strengthen your Business with
Self-Employment Assistance
Ready to turn your passion into a business, or perhaps you’re a small business already in operation and seeking guidance? We can help.
Self-Employment Assistance with My Pathway provides flexible mentoring and support to entrepreneurs, sole traders and micro business owners. Best of all, our services are Federally Funded, so they are at no cost to you! *Subject to eligibility.
From launching your idea to adapting or scaling your operations, we’ll help you create a clear path toward lasting success.
Wherever you are in your entrepreneurial journey, My Pathway works with you to design the right level of support you need to grow and achieve your aspirations.
Empowering your self-employment starts here!
Self-Employment Assistance Program can help:
► The Explorer
► The Starter
► The established operator
Flexible business support options
The choice is yours.
Select from any of the six Self-Employment services, or select them all.
Understand the steps to Self-Employment and access opportunities to further develop and pursue your business ideas. Workshops run over one week (25 hours) and are facilitated online with guest presentations from subject matter experts.
Small Business Training provides access to free accredited training. Choose between short courses or more comprehensive Certificate III or IV courses in Entrepreneurship and New Business.
This activity meets Income Support Payment mutual obligations for up to 8 weeks.
Business Advice Sessions offer one on one tailored advice and can include anything from staff recruitment, digital marketing, product development or innovation. Delivered over the course of one hour, you have the option to access two sessions each year.
Business Health Checks can help existing businesses find ways to improve their commercial viability, including strategies to develop and grow your business. These are delivered over 3 hours and available once per year.
Assists eligible business owners with a strategic approach to prepare or update a business plan that addresses areas for improvement, strategies for growth and forecast business cash flow for the next 2 years.
Provides professional business mentoring for 12 months, offering guidance and ongoing support to address challenges, assess viability, review direction and strategy, and identify ways to mitigate risks. Additional eligibility applies for this service.
Did you know?:
If eligible for Small Business Coaching, you may be able to access a $300 reimbursement to assist with a qualifying business expense (such as business insurance) and/or income support (allowance for up to 39 weeks and rental assistance for up to 26 weeks).
For participants on Jobseeker payments, coaching offers the ability to transfer to Self-Employment Assistance payments for a period of nine months.
Who can Access Self-Employment Assistance?
Self-Employment Assistance aims to support new business start-ups and strengthen existing businesses. It is offered as part of Workforce Australia, which is a fully-funded initiative of the Australian Government. You do not need to be on income support payments to access the business support options available.
Eligibility
General
- Must be at least 15 years of age, or 18+ for small business coaching
- Lawfully able to work in Australia
- Not an overseas visitor on a work holiday or studying in Australia
- Not be enrolled in full-time secondary education
- Special eligibility for retrenched workers, veterans, and family members of serving Australian Defence Force personnel
- Not an undischarged bankrupt
Existing businesses
- An existing micro-business (less than 4 employees other than the owner)
- In need of support to continue sustainable commercial operations over the next 12 months
- Operating under an independent business structure
- Be lawful, withstand public scrutiny and be controlled, managed and physically located in Australia
Small business Coaching
To access Small Business Coaching you must have an eligible business idea or existing business that meets the following:
- Be either; a new business or a micro-business (up to 4 employees) at risk of not operating commercially
- Be assessed as viable by your My Pathway Self-Employment Assistance representative
- Have an independent business structure
- Be lawful, withstand public scrutiny and be established, located, and operated solely within Australia
- Be structured so you will maintain a controlling interest over the business through your time accessing the Services.
The My Pathway difference
My Pathway will help you gain access to a strong community of professional and social networks, built over more than a decade of experience within the Employment Services industry.
Join our Success Stories
My Pathway has helped more than 2000 self-starters and existing business owners to get off the ground and thrive.
You could be next.
‘My Pathway helps me to clarify all the steps I need to take to get the results I need’
Brett Smith, Mystic Union
Connect with our Mentors
Starting or growing a business can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Mentors provide an invaluable resource and lifeline in business, especially when starting out or facing challenging situations. Our mentors represent proven business expertise, strong networks and are uniquely qualified to provide guidance, fresh perspectives, and tailored support to help you accomplish it all.
We’re invested in you and share your passion and energy for success.
