From 1 July, the new employment services, Job Services Australia, provides you with services and support that are more appropriate for you. If you experience one or more barriers to getting a job, such as disability or a mental health condition, Job Services Australia can give you specialised assistance tailored to your individual circumstances.
Tailored services for your individual needs
Consultants at your local Job Services Australia provider will work with you one-on-one to develop your own Employment Pathway Plan - your own combination of job search, training and other assistance to help you find and keep a job, or participate in work experience or other training.
Specifically your local Job Services Australia provider can help you with:
- an assessment of your current skill levels and personal goals
- professional skills development, work experience and training
- job search assistance, including help with résumés and interview techniques
- support addressing personal issues and other barriers to employment.
To help deliver some of these services, your Job Services Australia provider will have access to a new Employment Pathway Fund, which they may use to purchase a broad range of assistance to provide training and other support to help you find and keep a job.
A focus on training and skills development
As a registered job seeker with Job Services Australia, you may also have the opportunity to train or
re-skill through the Productivity Places Program. The Productivity Places Program is specifically designed to help you develop skills in areas of industry demand, that is, in industries and occupations where job opportunities currently exist.
Job Services Australia also offers opportunities for you to participate in a broader range of work experience opportunities, including community-based Work for the Dole and Green Corps (environmental and heritage) activities or work in a social enterprise.
You will receive a more holistic service, as your Job Services Australia provider will be encouraged to work closely with other community services in your local area. All Job Services Australia providers can deliver specific services to meet your needs if you are a highly disadvantaged job seeker. You may also be given the choice of attending a specialised Job Services Australia provider, for example, a disability or mental health specialist, that operate in many locations across Australia.
Specialised services for people with disability or mental health conditions
If you are a person with disability or mental health conditions and have special workplace support needs, you may be eligible for the Disability Employment Network or Vocational
Rehabilitation Services. Centrelink or your Job Services Australia provider can talk to you about your eligibility and refer you to have your eligibility assessed if needed.
A Disability Employment Network member can help you with specialised assistance and provide ongoing support to help you find and keep a job. Disability Employment Network is delivered by a network of organisations - both large and small - around Australia.
A Vocational Rehabilitation Services provider can provide assistance and support if you have an injury, disability or health condition and need assistance to find or keep a job. Vocational
Rehabilitation Services providers develop individual programs that focus on your strengths and abilities, and the barriers you face in getting employment.
For more information about how Disability Employment Network members or Vocational Rehabilitation Services providers can help you, or to locate your local service call a JobAccess Adviser on 1800 464 800 or visit the Job Access website.
If you have a disability or mental health condition and are already in employment, you may also be able to receive assistance through the JobAccess service. For more information call a JobAccess Adviser on 1800 464 800 or visit the Job Access website.
Other initiatives to help people with disability and mental health conditions
The Australian Government values the contribution people with disability make to Australian society. In keeping its commitment to promoting social inclusion and improving the nation's productivity, the Government has reviewed the current disability employment and related services.
Building on from Job Services Australia, the Government is spending $1.2 billion on new and improved employment services specifically for people with disability.
From 1 March 2010, all job seekers with disability will have access to a specialised disability employment service that will replace the previous Disability Employment Network. Like Job Services Australia, the new disability employment services will have stronger links to training and skills development. Employers will have access to assistance to provide workplace modifications and interpreting services.
The new disability employment services have also been developed after significant consultation with stakeholders including industry bodies, community and advocacy groups and individuals. This will substantially improve the assistance for job seekers with disability, their families and carers, employers and employment services providers.
Information on this review process will be regularly updated leading up to the start of the new disability employment services on 1 March 2010.
New programs to provide job opportunities
The Government will invest $6.8 million in a pilot program to trial an employment incentive that will provide job opportunities for 1000 Disability Support Pension (DSP) recipients. The Disability Support Pension Employment Incentive Pilot will encourage employers to create more employment opportunities for people with disability and give DSP recipients a chance to demonstrate their skills. Through the pilot, employers will be able to access wage subsidies after the job seeker has remained in work for 26 weeks. The pilot will begin on 1 March 2010.
The Government is also introducing better and fairer assessment procedures for the DSP.
From 1 July 2010, DSP assessment will be simplified to fast-track more people who are clearly eligible, due to the nature of their disability or illness, enabling them to receive financial support more quickly. In cases that are not clear cut, applicants will receive a thorough eligibility assessment from a Senior Job Capacity Assessor.
Centrelink can help you with determining your eligibility or other income support matters and can refer you to employment assistance through Job Services Australia if you are eligible.