Community Max Factsheet
June 2010
Community Max Information for Sponsors
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
Expansion of Community Max
From 1 July 2010 Community Max was increased to an additional 1,500 places to address high unemployment amongst our young people and will be available in the following regions:
- Northland
- Bay of Plenty
- Waikato
- East Coast
What is 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 such as 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.
Is my project eligible?
In order to receive 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
- provide 30 hours work per week.
What support will I receive?
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 (GST exclusive), and will cover a total of 26 weeks.
Community Max also includes a training component, which will be funded for up to $1,250.00 (GST inclusive) 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 (GST exclusive) 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.

