The Taskforce on Strengthening Government Service for Job Seekers has produced a Report in accordance with its Terms of Reference.

Overall, the Report finds that very positive results are being achieved by Australian government services for job seekers. However, it also notes the high number of people who are long term unemployed at the same time as Australia is facing a re-emergence of labour and skills shortages.

The Report recommends substantial expansion of the highly successful Local Connections to Work (LCTW) initiative as a place based solution for deeply disadvantaged locations. It also recommends that joint interviews involving Centrelink and Job Services Australia be introduced for highly disadvantaged job seekers and those failing to engage, in locations where LCTW does not operate.

The Report calls for improved assistance for newly unemployed job ready (“Stream 1”) job seekers to help prevent them becoming long term unemployed, through Centrelink Job Seeker Workshops during their first 13 weeks of unemployment. Centrelink Job Seeker Workshops have recently commenced operating in eight Centrelink Customer Service Centres. Other recommendations include more Centrelink Jobs and Skills Expos, and introducing Employment Coordinators to work closely with large employers in key industry sectors to meet their labour needs.

• Taskforce Report Strengthening Government Service Delivery for Job Seekers
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