Under the current Job Network contract, Job Network providers receive an advance payment four times a year, for servicing new job seekers and providing ongoing servicing to existing job seekers who are not in Job Search Training or customised assistance (separate service fees are paid for these). In this way, the Quarterly Service Fee is an important resource to ensure job seeker get the quality help they need.
DEEWR calculates the amount of Quality Service Fee to be paid in advance each quarter based on a formula that takes into account current caseloads, historical trends, and forecasted future job seeker flows.
In light of increases in the Job Network caseload, the Government has announced it will increase the Quarterly Service Fee payment to ensure that the increased number of job seekers requiring assistance will continue to receive quality services and assistance from the Job Network, at the time they need it.
This extra funding will be included in the scheduled Quarterly Service Fee payment to be made on 1 April 2009.