Title: Australias employment services assisting disadvantaged job seekers
1Australias employment services assisting
disadvantaged job seekers
WAPES World Congress 28-29 May 2009 Dubrovnik,
Croatia
2Outline of todays presentation
- Current Labour Market situation in Australia
- Overview of Employment Services Model
- Services for Specific Job Seekers
3The Australian economy had been strong up to
September 2008, however it is not immune to the
global recession - the economy has since slowed
sharply and unemployment is forecast to rise
Unemployment rate (1978-2009)
The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate
increased from a low of 3.9 in February 2008 to
5.4 in April 2009
The unemployment rate is forecast to rise to 8 ½
by June Quarter 2011
Source ABS Labour Force, Australia, April 2009
(cat. no. 6202.0), trend data.
4Employment services in Australia a little history
- 1946 - 1998 Commonwealth Employment Service
(CES) - Government run PES - 1997 - 1998 established Centrelink and tendered
for Job Network - 2008 Review of Employment Services
- 2009 1 July - Implementation of Job Services
Australia
5Cost per Employment Outcome () has decreased
since the introduction of Job Network in 1998
6Overview of Job Services Australia
7The Australian Governments Social Inclusion
agenda helped inform the review of employment
services
- More needed to be done to assist the most
disadvantaged job seekers find sustainable
employment. - The review of employment services was guided by
principles such as - Early intervention tailored to job seeker needs
- Job seekers who are struggling the most get the
most intensive assistance - An increased emphasis on skills training and
- Minimising administrative red tape
8Providers have the flexibility to develop
individually tailored assistance based on the job
seekers level of disadvantage
- 4.9 billion over 3 years from 1 July 2009
- Integrated services
- Free accredited training places
- No waiting for services demand driven
- Four employment assistance streams based on job
seeker needs
9Overview of the Model
10Job Seeker Classification Instrument (JSCI)
- The JSCI is a sophisticated profiling tool to
classify job seekers according to their level of
disadvantage in the labour market. It determines
which stream job seekers enter. There are 18 JSCI
factors
Geographic Proximity to a Labour Market Access
to Transport Phone Contactability Disability/Medic
al Conditions Stability of Residence Living
Arrangements Ex-offender Status Personal
Characteristics
Age and Gender Recency of Work Experience Job
Seeker History Educational Attainment Vocational
Qualifications English Proficiency Country of
Birth Indigenous Status Indigenous Location
11Job Capacity Assessment (JCA)
- JCA identifies appropriate services for people
with disabilities, special needs or other
personal factors. - Depending on the results of the JCA, job seekers
may be referred to Stream 4 services, or other
forms of assistance such as Disability Employment
Services.
12Job Services Australia
- Steam 1
- Work ready
- Initial interview develop a resume and
provision of local labour market advice. - Assisted by Centrelink during first 3 months
- After 3 months undergo a skills assessment then
an intensive activity - 11 in the Employment Pathway Fund
- Up to 781 in service fees up to 12 months
- 385-440 in Job Placement fees (no outcome fees
paid in Stream 1 for first 12 months)
- Stream 2
- Moderate barriers to employment
- Providers work more intensively with job seekers
to provide assistance tailored to their needs - 550 in the Employment Pathway Fund
- Up to 885 in service fees for 12 months,
including at least monthly contacts - 385-2800 in Job Placement and Outcome fees
- Stream 4
- Complex and/or multiple non-vocational barriers
to employment - Integrated assistance which combines
pre-employment and employment activities tailored
to individual needs - Up to 1650 in the Employment Pathway Fund
- Up to 2736 in service fees (up to 18 months)
- 385-6600 in Job Placement and Outcome fees
- Stream 3
- Moderate-high barriers to employment
- Providers work intensively with job seekers to
provide assistance tailored to their needs. - 1100 in the Employment Pathway Fund
- Up to 1120 in service fees for 12 months,
including at least monthly contacts - 385-6600 in Job Placement and Outcome fees
13Some features of Job Services Australia include
- an Employment Pathway Plan
- an Employment Pathway Fund
- 319 000 free training places
- providers rewarded for working closely with
employers - a 41 million Innovation Fund
14Job Services Australia can respond to changing
labour market conditions
- Demand driven
- Balance between service fees and outcomes fees
- Potential for contract variations
- Price incentives
- Technology that facilitates responsiveness
15Performance Management FrameworkKey Performance
Indicators
- KPI 1 Efficiency (Ratings)
- KPI 2 Effectiveness (Ratings)
- KPI 3 Quality (e.g. job seeker and employer
feedback)
16Performance Management FrameworkPerformance
Measures and Weights
17Performance Management FrameworkCalculation of
Ratings
- New Star Rating Approach 5 bands
- Provider ratings will account for differences in
caseload and labour market conditions. - The number of factors within the regression model
will be reduced to the minimum necessary to
enable valid comparisons to be made. - No longer a fixed distribution.
18Performance Management FrameworkPublication of
Ratings
- Outlet and ESA level ratings.
- Overall and individual Stream ratings.
- Provider Outlet ratings released publicly every 6
months - Ratings calculated every 3 months and all
provider Outlet and ESA ratings released on the
Secure Site for information of providers. - Providers own National Percentile Ranks available
every 3 months.
19Comprehensive Compliance Assessments
- Differentiates between a job seeker intentionally
not meeting their obligations and a job seeker
who is experiencing exceptional circumstances. - Providers report non compliance to Centrelink
- Automatic triggers for Comprehensive Compliance
Assessment - 3 No Show No Pay failures or 3 failures for
missed appointments within six months - If wilful non-compliance then 8 weeks non-payment
period unless job seeker re-engages
20Services for Specific Job Seekers
21The assistance provided to job seekers with a
disability
- Delivery of individual interventions
- Job search services
- Job creation and design services
- Support to find employment
- Advice and training to employers and co-workers
- PLUS
- Ongoing support in the workplace once the job
seeker has been placed in employment
22The Australian Government funds a variety of
services to assist employers employ job seekers
with a disability
- Workplace Modifications
- Supported Wage System
- Wage Subsidy Scheme
- Auslan for Employment
- JobAccess
23The new Disability Employment Services will
include
- Access for all eligible job seekers
- Two distinct programs within DES
- Simplified eligibility criteria and fee structure
- A strong outcome focus
- Flexible options for ongoing support in the
workplace - Employment Assistance Fund (EAF)
24New Disability Employment Services
25The Indigenous Employment Program assists in
creating employment opportunities for Indigenous
people
- The Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) focuses
on creating opportunities for Indigenous people
through the provision of a flexible package of
assistance including - Structured Training and Employment Projects and
Employment Related Services - Corporate Leaders for Indigenous Employment
Project - National Indigenous Cadetship Project
- Wage Assistance and
- Aboriginal Employment Strategy.
- The IEP has been reformed to ensure that the
program continues to meet the needs of Indigenous
Australians and integrates with recent reforms to
mainstream employment services. - 778.8 million will be allocated over five years
for the reformed IEP.
26Australian Employment Covenant aims to achieve
employment for 50 000 Indigenous people
- An industry led initiative which is helping close
the employment gap between Indigenous and
non-Indigenous Australians - A three way commitment that involves employers,
the Australian Government, and Indigenous people - Employers - provide employment and mentor support
to job ready and training ready Indigenous
Australians - The Australian Government - supporting the
recruitment of Indigenous job-seekers and
pre-employment training and - Indigenous people - commit to accept and remain
in employment once trained.
27Additional measures to reduce the impact of the
global recession on the labour market
28Additional Assistance and Training Securing
Apprenticeships
- 9.7 million to assist apprentices and trainees
who have lost their jobs continue with their
qualification. - Wage subsidy and completion bonus to employ
out-of-trade apprentices or trainees. - 3.8 billion over four years to streamline the
Australian Apprenticeships Incentive Program - 5500 pre-vocational training and support places
for vulnerable job seekers
29Additional Assistance and Training Jobs and
Training Compact
- Training, support and local initiatives for those
affected by the global recession - Training Supplement
- Additional support for
- Redundant Workers
- Local Communities
- Young People
30Additional Assistance and Training Redundant
Workers
- Enhanced support for redundant workers
- Stream 2 services from 1 July 2009
- 20 000 structural adjustment training places
under PPP - 5888 Language, Literacy and Numeracy Program
places
31Additional Assistance and Training Jobs Fund
and Local Employment Coordinators
- 650 million Jobs Fund
- Local Jobs Stream
- Get Communities Working Stream
- Infrastructure Employment Projects
- 20 million Local Employment Coordinators
- Ensure rapid response redundant workers
- Facilitate partnerships to stimulate local
economy and jobs - Align efforts of all levels of governments
32Additional Assistance and Training Youth
- Lift Year 12 or equivalent attainment rate to 90
per cent by 2015 - Every young Australian under 25 given a school,
apprenticeship, training or higher education
place. - Education and training most important
precondition for income support for under 21 year
olds
33(No Transcript)