The JCA Review has found that the current JCA model is soundly based on Australian and international best practice, is generally well supported by stakeholders and has many positive features. As noted in the Introduction, the OECD commends Australia’s approach to work capacity assessments to other countries.
Stakeholder views are extensively quoted throughout this paper. In general, stakeholders consider that current JCA arrangements are soundly based, but have identified a range of practical issues, mostly relating to complexity and inflexibility of current policy and program settings.
These practical issues relate both to the JCA and Job Capacity Account programs themselves, and to the broader income support and employment services arrangements which they support. DHS is currently working with stakeholders and other agencies on these issues, including reviewing training, guidelines, systems and processes. As a result of this work, new quality assurance and performance measurement frameworks were introduced from 1 July 2008.
The report also contains extensive analysis of the appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency of current arrangements, and finds that both contracted JCA service providers and the JCA and Job Capacity Account programs are generally performing well against current Key Performance Indicators and measures of quality and effectiveness.