EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
Welfare to Work – Employer Demand and Workplace Flexibility Strategy
Commencing in 2005-06 the Employer Demand and Workplace Flexibility Strategy aims to increase workforce participation for priority groups in key industry sectors through a range of measures including improving employer awareness of the benefits of hiring people with disabilities, parents, mature age job seekers and very long term unemployed and of the flexibility of workplace arrangements which are available to them.
The strategy will increase employment opportunities for priority groups and assist business in regional areas to meet labour and skill shortages and the challenges of current and future demographic changes, such as an ageing population, and improving productivity through the implementation of flexible working arrangements.
Job Network
Job Network is a national network of private and community organisations assisting the unemployed, particularly long–term unemployed people, to find jobs.
Job Network has a strong presence in regional Australia with 600 sites located outside major metropolitan centres. In the last 12 months, the Job Network has placed almost 290,000 people in jobs in regional Australia, an increase of 40 per cent over the previous year.
Job Network servicing arrangements have been adapted to suit regional and remote locations and different labour market conditions. The Active Participation Model remains the basis of these services, with additional tailored services being made available to suit local circumstances. These arrangements are available to assist job seekers in areas such as the Kimberley in Western Australia, the Top End in the Northern Territory and Ceduna in South Australia.
The Australian Government also provides Harvest Labour Services to assist rural industries to find labour to harvest crops, including the recruitment and placement of workers in harvest jobs such as fruit picking.
The New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) assists eligible unemployed people to establish and manage viable new small businesses. NEIS providers in some regions are paid higher fees recognising the additional barriers faced by people in these areas and ensuring a high quality NEIS service for participants in regional Australia.
Work for the Dole
Work for the Dole provides work experience opportunities for unemployed people in their local communities. In 2005-06 there will be 64,000 Work for the Dole places available.
In December 2002, the Prime Minister announced an extension to the Work for the Dole programme specifically aimed at assisting communities seriously affected by drought. Drought Force activities allow local unemployed people to volunteer on drought-affected properties. These activities encourage people to remain in their community and support the local economy. Through more than 300 projects in regional areas across Australia, over 700 job seekers have participated in Drought Force activities.
Employment Innovation Fund
The Employment Innovation Fund, announced in the 2003–04 Budget, funds small projects which support initiatives that tackle employment or labour market related problems. The main objectives of the fund are to trial ideas that promote innovative, community-based action on employment; address specific employment and labour market problems; and alleviate the social consequences of unemployment. Introduced in July 2003, the fund provides up to $100,000 per project out of a total funding pool of $4 million over four years to 2006–07. The fund has been used to address local community or specific demographic labour‑related issues. Examples of these are:
- Yachad East Kimberley Regional Accelerated Learning for Workplace Readiness Project — which aims to introduce the Accelerated Learning concept to remote communities in the East Kimberley region.
- Indigenous Agriculture and Horticulture Project — which will develop a model for Indigenous job seekers in the Goulburn Valley region’s orchard industry.
- Special Support Programme — which will establish an outreach service in the Broken Hill region for Indigenous ex-offenders.
Job Placement, Employment and Training Programme
The Job Placement, Employment and Training (JPET) Programme is an employment preparatory programme which assists young people across Australia, particularly those in regional and rural Australia.
Funding of $19.9 million will be provided for this programme in 2005-06, assisting around 14,000 young people.
The JPET programme assists young people aged 15–21 years to overcome multiple personal and social barriers that severely limit their capacity to:
- Take up education, study or vocational training.
- Find and keep work.
- Benefit from employment assistance.
- Participate socially in the life of their communities.
JPET focuses primarily on assisting young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The programme also assists young offenders, refugees, wards of the state, or those who are particularly disadvantaged because of geographic isolation, and those who face multiple personal and social barriers that severely limit their participation in employment and the community.
JPET is delivered by a network of service providers with experience in assisting disadvantaged young people who can draw on, and work collaboratively with, existing support services and networks within their local community.
Transition to Work
Transition to Work (TTW) aims to help parents who have been out of the labour force for over two years improve their confidence and skills in order to return to work. TTW assistance includes practical help such as skills assessment, help with training, job applications and résumé creation and career counselling.
To be eligible for TTW, job seekers must be searching for work and have not worked in paid employment for more than 15 hours a week for more than 13 weeks during each of the past two years. Job seekers do not have to be on income support to be eligible.
Green Corps — Young Australians for the Environment Programme
Green Corps is an Australian Government youth development and environmental training programme for people aged 17–20 years. Green Corps allows young people to volunteer their commitment to conserve, preserve and restore Australia's natural environment and cultural heritage.
In 2005-06, $24.5 million will be allocated to the programme.
Each Green Corps project involves ten young people taking part in a range of activities and experiences over a 26–week period. Participants receive an allowance and take part in projects mostly located in regional and remote areas of Australia.
Green Corps participants gain improved career and employment prospects through accredited training and personal development opportunities in areas such as leadership and teamwork. Participants are also provided with an opportunity to develop improved connections with the community.
Disability employment services
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations administers a range of services to assist people with a disability to gain and maintain employment.
Disability open employment services assist job seekers with disabilities who have significant and ongoing support needs by providing training, job placement and on-the-job support. In 2003-04, open employment services helped nearly 50,000 people with moderate to severe disabilities find and keep work in the open employment market or in self-employment. Nationally there are 229 organisations providing open employment services from 326 outlets.
From 1 July 2005, disability open employment services will move to 100 per cent implementation of a new case-based funding model. The changes are designed to improve employment outcomes for job seekers and to ensure that people with a disability receive services that best meet their needs. The new model will include a number of elements to ensure that customers with disabilities in rural and remote locations are effectively assisted.
Small business OHS advisers’ network
The Australian Government will spend $7 million over the next two years delivering a programme to provide advice to small business employers on improving safety and meeting their legal obligations in the workplace.
The small business advisers will provide both educative and advisory services and will operate nationally across all industry sectors and in urban, rural and regional areas.