Community Max
Community Max supports the completion of projects that benefit the community or the environment and that would not otherwise be done, while creating jobs for young people.
About Community Max
Community Max provides a wage subsidy for six months for young people to help complete community-based projects.
Community Max projects could include projects such as renovating public buildings marae or public spaces, or improving access to local environment such as parks and reserves. It provides an opportunity for young people to build skills and work experience while contributing to the community.
Community Max subsidies are paid for up to six months, and are targeted to help prepare young people for further opportunities in the workforce.
Expansion of Community Max
Community Max was introduced on 3 August 2009 and the initial 3,000 places were quickly taken up in 500 community based projects throughout the country.
From 1 July 2010 Community Max will be increased to an additional 1500 places to address high unemployment amongst young people.
The expansion will involve four regions where Māori youth unemployment is highest – Northland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and East Coast.
Community Max criteria
To qualify for Community Max funding, your project must:
- be of benefit to the community or the environment
- not displace existing staff or contractors
- be additional to the normal work of the organisation (eg a teacher aide position is generally not additional to the normal work of a school)
- be non-commercial
- be at least 26 weeks in duration and
- provide 30 hours work per week.
Registering a Community Max project
You’ll need to contact the Work and Income Employer Line on 0800 778 008. We’ll need to confirm that your project meets the Community Max criteria.
Payment
Community Max provides a wage subsidy for young people for 30 hours a week. The wage subsidy will be equivalent to the minimum hourly wage, and will cover a total of 26 weeks.
Community Max also includes a training component, which will be funded for up to $1,250 for each young person.
Funding to cover supervision expenses will also be provided where there are six or more Community Max workers employed within your project. This will be paid at $12.75 per hour.
Supervision expenses may include (but are not limited to):
- financial costs to the employer for taking on an additional staff member to provide supervision (this can be a Work and Income client or another person chosen by the employer)
- the cost to the employer for using existing staff to supervise Community Max workers.