Disability Employment Policy The current state of play…

1. Disability Employment PolicyThe current state of play… People with Disabilities: Participation & Payments Forum Melbourne February 3rd 2005 Lucy Macali Executive Officer, ACE

2. Introduction How is disability employment assistance currently delivered? Open Employment Services Policy changes over the past 12 – 18 months Emerging tensions How to keep informed

3. Disability Employment Assistance • Open Employment Services • Job Network • Specialist Job Network Providers • Supported Employment • Business Services • CRS Australia

4. Jobseekers with a disability assisted in 2002-03 35,892  CRS Australia 38,887 Open Employment Services* 48,455  Job Network * * * Approximate figure * * DSP recipients only

5. Open Employment Services • Not for profit organisations that have provided a range of services to both job seekers and employers for 20+ years • Small number of private providers • Approximately 330 ‘outlets’ nationally • Funded to support people with a disability in finding and keeping meaningful employment

6. What do Open Employment Services do? • Vocational guidance and support • Support in managing disability-related issues before and after starting work • On-the-job support to assist in settling into a new job • Off-site support for those who do not disclose their disability

7. Employer Services • Recruitment and selection assistance • On-the-job training with new employees • Follow-up support • Re-training of employees should they move from one duty to another or a new skill is required • Advice and training to co-workers about issues related to employing people with disabilities

8. Service Specialisation • Most Open Employment Services are ‘generalists’ (57%) • 23% intellectual disability specialists • 10% psychiatric disability specialists • 4% physical disability specialists • 5% other

9. Open Employment Services also deliver: • Job Network services • Personal Support Program • Work for the Dole • Accredited Training • School to Work Transition • Traineeships

10. What do jobseekers think? “I like all the professional help they have given me, and the moral support” “Friendly, supportive, encouraging, interested in me as a person (not just a statistic), patient and understanding in times of ill health or confusion”

11. What do employers think? “Our local Open Employment service found us a staff member who is focused, motivated, values the job and has access to the level of support needed to do the job. All of this takes pressure off me.” (Market Research Proprietor, NSW)

12. The Job Network • All Job Network providers have the opportunity to assist jobseekers with a disability • 2% of DSP recipients are registered with Job Network (not reflective of the total no. of jobseekers with a disability assisted by JN) • 12 specialist disability Job Network Providers (37 sites nationally) • Government & industry currently looking to improve JN disability employment practice and systems

13. Recent Changes • Case Based Funding • Welfare Reform Agenda • Active Participation Model • DSP Pilot • Federal Election 2004 • Transfer to new department

14. Case Based Funding • Funding according to individual need • Income linked to performance • Variable • Trialed over a number of years • Qualified support for model from industry

15. Welfare Reform ‘Over the last few decades, we have experienced unprecedented economic and social change. We are now part of a dynamic world economy, where to prosper, we need to embrace change and adapt to new realities. I don’t want to be misunderstood here. We should be under no illusions. The globalisation of the economy is an irresistible phenomenon that no Australian government should seek to deny. Indeed, it would be counterproductive to do so’. Senator Jocelyn Newman, former Minister for Family and Community Services, September 1999

16. Australians Working Together (2001-02 Federal Budget) • Personal Support Program • Transition to Work • Working Credit • Language, Literacy and Numeracy Supplement • Additional funding for Open Employment Services

17. Active Participation Model • Introduced July 2003 • ‘Activity is the key’ • ‘More help for those in need’ • Job Seeker Account • Service Guarantee • Underpinned by mutual obligation

18. The DEWR DSP Pilot • Increased participation in Job Network by DSP recipients; • Increased awareness by DSP recipients, disability and community groups of the benefits of labour market participation and Job Network services; • Identification of best practice and appropriate servicing options to assist people with a disability; and • Identification of best practice to connect non activity tested job seekers to Job Network

19. DSP Pilot Findings • The majority of people with a disability want to work, but may not be aware of what assistance is available to them • A major disincentive to looking for work is fear of losing the pension and associated benefits, in addition to a lack of awareness of currently available work incentives • Under current arrangements, there are insufficient guarantees of a return to pension if the person loses their job • Many jobseekers have had negative experiences with employers, generating from a lack of employer awareness of disability and discrimination issues

20. Criticisms of the Pilot • Trial participants not reflective of all Job Network Members • How much of the pilot’s (interim) findings can be applied to the entire Job Network? • At what cost? • Capacity of the Job Network to meet jobseeker demand? • Interface with existing services

21. Federal Election 2004 DEWR will focus on ‘providing intensive assistance, training and work experience to those who receive welfare payments with the goal of enabling them to participate in the workforce to the full extent of their capacity and family responsibilities.’ PM Oct. 22nd 2004 Mr Peter Dutton MP appointed Minister for Workforce Participation.

22. The Move to DEWR • Open Employment Services transferred from the Department of Family & Community Services to the Department of Employment & Workplace Relations in October 2004 • Business Services did not transfer

23. ‘New Days, New Ways’ • Government determined to align all employment assistance from July 2006 • ‘Next Steps for Open Employment Services’ discussion paper released Jan 2005 • National consultation underway • Industry preparing for major changes and possible rationalisation of services • New partnerships being formed

24. Initial Industry Responses to Discussion Paper • Support for current funding model (‘no change’) • Little support for a Job Seeker Account for Open Employment Services • Insufficient government acknowledgement of current service model

25. Unknowns • Impact of new IT system from July 2005 • Performance expectations under DEWR • Arrangements post July 2006 • Application of Active Participation Model • Introduction of involuntary jobseekers

26. Emerging Tensions • Impact on Disability Service Standards • Maintaining access for people with high support needs • Service viability in an increasingly competitive environment • Establishing effective gateways to assistance • Ensuring jobseekers with a disability are aware of their employment service options

27. How to increase participation? • Address unmet need for employment assistance • Increase the capacity of Open Employment Services • Work collaboratively with Australian industry • Provide easier access to funding for workplace modifications and other tools

28. How to keep informed www.jobable.gov.au www.acenational.org.au (become a ‘Friend of ACE’) www.acrod.org.au