Survey of job seekers who have experienced job seeker assessments
DEEWR is responsible for evaluating changes to the job seeker assessment process, including the introduction of the new Job Capacity Assessment program and abolition of the Job Capacity Account. These changes are designed to streamline the process for assessing job capacity and improve opportunities for workforce participation by disadvantaged job seekers. DEEWR has engaged a consultant, Campbell Research and Consulting Pty Ltd, to collect baseline data for the evaluation. The consultant will undertake a telephone survey of job capacity assessors, as well as focus groups with assessors and job seekers. Focus groups will be held in
- Brisbane
- Melbourne
- Adelaide
- Cairns
- West and NW Tasmania, and
- Dubbo
and will last between 1 and 2 hours.
More information
If you would like more information about the survey or the other research, phone us on 13 62 68.
Jobs and Training Compact research
As part of the Jobs and Training Compact Evaluation, The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is undertaking a number of research projects.
Evaluation Fieldwork notice
Between March and May 2011 Sweeney Research, on behalf of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations will be conducting face-to-face interviews and discussion groups with people on their experiences with the Jobs and Training Compact (J&TC). This is as a follow-up to some research already conducted by the Employment Monitoring and evaluation Branch between May and November, 2010.
The purpose of the research is to collect follow-up information for the evaluation of the J&TC initiatives on what has changed since the first visit for awareness and usage, the type and quality of assistance delivered and the outcomes of this assistance. Fieldwork is being conducted in the Port Pirie, Ipswich-Logan, the Illawarra, the Gold Coast, Adelaide, Mirrabooka, Northern Tasmania, the South-West Sydney, Hunter Region, Geelong, South-East Melbourne. It is anticipated that two to three researchers will visit each location for up to four days.
Participants in the research will include
- Early School Leavers between the ages of 15 and 24
- managers and participants in job and innovation fund projects
- employers who have and haven’t used the employment services
- local government representatives
- employment service providers
- Centrelink staff
- RTO’s who have used the Structural Adjustment Places
- local employment co-ordinators and
- managers of job fund projects.
The information provided will be kept in the strictest confidence and will only be used to help the department understand how well its employment services are operating. The information provided by job seekers will not in any way affect any income support or employment services they may be receiving.
The Survey of Access Program participants
The Survey of Access Program participants is a telephone survey for those who have commenced in the Access Program in the past 12 months. The survey is part of an evaluation that the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is conducting of the Jobs and Training Compact. It is expected to run from February 2011 to the end of March 2011.
The survey will help us understand the experiences of Access Program participants, including their views on the training, support and assistance provided by the Access Program and the extent to which this may have assisted them.
Indigenous Jobs Fund Projects
This research is being conducted on behalf of the Department by Hugh Watson Consulting between February and April 2011.
Is the information participants provide confidential?
Any information that you provide is totally confidential, and is used for research purposes only. Both the Department and any consultant that we engage to collect the data are bound by Social Security legislation, the Commonwealth Privacy Act, and strict confidentiality principles to ensure your privacy is protected. Of course, your decision to participate does not affect any employment services or payments you may be receiving.
More information
If you would like more information about the survey or the other research, phone us on 13 62 68.
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Stepping Stones: Longitudinal Survey of Income Support and Employment Assistance
About the Stepping Stones survey
The Stepping Stones survey is a longitudinal survey that tracks people’s opinions and experiences of employment services and income support over time. The survey aims to help the Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations understand more about people’s experiences with government assistance. The survey will also be used to better understand the pathways that may lead to paid work and the types of training and support people need when looking for work or preparing for work.
The survey findings will be used to improve employment and income support services available to people who are looking for work, preparing for work and/or receiving government assistance.
What is a Longitudinal Survey?
A longitudinal survey is a survey where the same group of people are followed over time. The Stepping Stones survey will provide information about the importance of government assistance. For example, the survey will help explain the ways in which government assistance helps people to get and keep jobs and whether undertaking study and training helps people to find work.
Who is participating in the survey?
While participation in the survey is voluntary, the survey offers all participants the opportunity to share their experiences of government assistance.
There are three groups, or cohorts, of people participating in the survey. Participants in the first cohort were randomly selected if they had received government assistance, either income support or employment services in early 2009. Cohort 1 will undertake their fifth interview in early 2011.
Participants in the second cohort were selected if they had received government assistance, either income support or employment services, in early 2010. This group will be interviewed for the third time in early 2011. The department is still interested in talking to these two groups to understand their experiences in looking for work, preparing for work and working.
A new group (Cohort 3) is being introduced in early 2011. Participants in the third cohort were selected if they had received government assistance, either income support or employment services, in early 2011.
How is the survey conducted?
Participants in all groups are contacted by phone and each interview is 20 minutes on average.
Who is conducting the survey?
The department contracts the Social Research Centre to conduct the phone interviews.
How is the information used?
The Stepping Stones survey will be used to better understand the pathways that may lead to paid work and the types of training and support people need when looking for work.
The survey findings will help the department to improve employment and income support services available to people who are looking for work and/or receiving government assistance.
Is the information confidential?
DEEWR is bound by Social Security legislation, the Commonwealth Privacy Act (1988), and strict confidentiality principles to ensure privacy is protected. Individuals will not be identified in any reporting of results from the survey, with all information remaining anonymous and confidential. Information provided will not affect any government assistance that job seekers may receive.
Updating details
If you are a participant in the Stepping Stones survey and have recently moved house or changed your phone number, please let us know so that we can contact you in the future.
To update your details, please email steppingstones@deewr.gov.au or phone us on 13 62 68. This toll-free number is attended during business hours (Eastern Standard Time). If you are calling from a mobile phone, please let us know immediately and we will call you back so that any costs to you are kept to a minimum. You can also call this number if you would like further information about the survey. Your participation in this valuable research is greatly appreciated.
More information
If you would like general information about employment services or assistance, please visit the DEEWR website or phone the department’s customer service line on 1300 363 079.
Employer Incentives Survey
The Employer Incentives Survey is designed to measure the effectiveness of government support given to businesses to assist them to employ staff. Employers who received incentives through a range of labour market programs in 2010 will be contacted to undertake a telephone survey. Findings will be used to help improve the types of incentives offered to businesses by government.
DEEWR has engaged a consultant, Market Solutions Pty Ltd, to undertake the research, and fieldwork will take place in May and June 2011. Participation in the survey is purely voluntary, and all information collected will be kept confidential and will be used for research purposes only.
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