Title: What is Self-Employment Assistance?

> A free Workforce Australia program that helps you test a business idea, write your business plan, get accredited training and one-to-one advice. It replace

Source: https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/sea/
Checked: 25 September 2026

Advice & supportJob search required

# What is Self-Employment Assistance?

A free Workforce Australia program that helps you test a business idea, write your business plan, get accredited training and one-to-one advice. It replaced NEIS in July 2022 and runs through local providers in 51 regions.

## The key facts

-   Free Exploring Self-Employment Workshops (over 1 to 2 weeks), Business Plan Development and accredited Small Business Training such as the Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business
-   Up to 2 one-hour Business Advice Sessions and one 3-hour Business Health Check every 12 months
-   No job search requirement while you do Small Business Training (up to 8 weeks); other services earn 15 to 25 points
-   From age 15; Australian citizen, permanent visa or nominated visa holder; not an undischarged bankrupt

## What you must do to keep getting it

Job search required

### Job search

Self-Employment Assistance runs alongside your payment, so your Job Plan continues, except during Small Business Training (up to 8 weeks), when you have no job search requirement.

**Your business work can count.** Workshops earn 20 points, Business Plan Development 25, Small Business Training 25 a week, a Business Advice Session 15 and a Business Health Check 20.

### What you must do to keep getting it

-   Tell your employment services provider which Self-Employment Assistance services you start, so they count towards your points.
-   Keep reporting to Centrelink every 2 weeks.

**If you take or turn down a job:** Your payment’s rules still apply: accept any offer of suitable paid work.

## Add this to my plan

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Sources, checked 25 September 2026

-   [dewr.gov.au/self-employment-assistance](https://www.dewr.gov.au/self-employment-assistance)
-   [workforceaustralia.gov.au/individuals/training/activities/self-employment-assistance/services](https://www.workforceaustralia.gov.au/individuals/training/activities/self-employment-assistance/services)
-   [guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/3/11/3/70](https://guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide/3/11/3/70)

This guide explains the official rules in plain words. It isn’t advice about your own claim: your adviser decides. Not a government service. Not financial, tax or legal advice.

Cite this page

"What is Self-Employment Assistance?", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/sea/ (updated 25 September 2026)

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Cite as: "What is Self-Employment Assistance?", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/au/guide/sea/ (updated 25 September 2026)

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