IMPLEMENTING CHANGE: A NEW LOCAL AGENDA FOR

JOBS AND GROWTH In co-operation with the EU Presidency, Irish Government and Pobal

26-27 March 2013, Dublin-Kilkenny, Ireland

9th Annual Meeting

PLENARY SESSION II: LOCAL EMPLOYMENT STRATEGIES IN RURAL AREAS

Sally SinclairCEO, National Employment Services Association, Australia

Regional, Rural and Remote Employment

Strategies – the Australian Experience

Presented by: Sally Sinclair, CEO

National Employment Services Association

27 March 2013OECD LEED 9th Annual Meeting - Dublin

NESA is an industry association and the peak body for the Australian employment and related services industry

Australia has a fully outsourced employment services delivery model

NESA represents and advocates on behalf of contracted providers to ensure that we achieve: Continuous improvement to design, delivery

and performance of employment services for stakeholders, and

A sustainable and vibrant industry.

NESA is the voice of the Australian employment services industry

Personalised, individualised services Targeted resources – geographical areas, target

groups, specific eligibility, demand-led initiatives Partnerships & collaboration – wrap around

servicing, co-location, case co-ordination Outcomes focus Social inclusion Matching skills and labour demand and supply Communication – government websites, use of

intermediaries and employment services provider networks

Key Elements of Policies & Programs

The contracting arrangements of Australian employment services support a dynamic and responsive policy environment. The purchaser maintains the right to vary DEEDs and supporting guidelines to include new initiatives and respond to changing circumstance and priorities throughout the contract period.Complementary Programmes:Targeted Industry Support Structural Adjustment Packages

Cohort Focused Initiatives Mature Age Workers Early school leavers Long term unemployed – Wage Connect Subsidy Program Indigenous Employment Program

Responsive Policy & Service Framework

Geographically Targeted Initiatives Local Connections to Work Priority Employment Areas

o Local Employment Coordinatorso Jobs and Skills Expos

Disaster Response Packages Connecting People with Jobs Regional Development Authorities

o Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Coordinators

Skills Focused Initiatives Apprenticeship Kick Start Initiative

Responsive Policy & Service Framework

Geographic Remoteness at a GlanceGeographic Remoteness at a Glance

ActivationAccess to employment assistance All unemployed and significantly underemployed people

of working age are eligible to receive assistance through Australian Employment Services.

Early engagement All new income support claimants are connected to

employment services on first contact with Centrelink Appointment with employment services providers

scheduled for a time within 2 working days through an electronic diary

Granting of income support subject to commencement with employment services provider

Additional direct registration pathways for voluntary (non activity tested) job seekers

Activation – Mutual ObligationAustralia has strong mutual obligation policies that promote the responsibilities of job seekers in return for unemployment benefits

Foundation Activity and participation requirements: Be actively looking for paid work and/or be participating

in another approved activity, and Be willing to take any suitable job that you are capable of

doing, including full-time, part-time and casual jobs.

Requirements are recorded in an Employment Pathway Plan Job search requirements Referrals to employment services providers Paid work Referrals to specialist assistance, and Other approved activities that job seekers will undertake

to improve their chances of finding work.

Australian Employment Services Framework

Centreli

nkSocial Security

Employment Services Gateway

Job Seeker ComplianceFramework

Complementary Programs

National Employment Services Data BaseNational Performance Assessment Framework

Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations

Policy & Program Administration, Development & ImplementationPurchasing & Contract Management

New Enterprise Incentive Scheme, Harvest Labour Services, Experience + Youth Connections, Language, Literacy & Numeracy, Indigenous Employment Programs

Long Term Unemployment Risk AssessmentJob Seeker Classification Index Factors

Tailored Service Provision

More intensive assistance for those at relatively more risk

Tailored Service Provision

Job Placement Services

• Job Search Support• Employer Services • Job Search Facilities• Skills Assessment

IndividualCase

Management

• Employment Pathway Plan•Community Linkages •Access to resources to support interventions•Post Placement Support

Work Experienc

e

• Range of Activities• Work for the Dole• Training• Volunteering• Work Trials

Complementary ProgramsNew Enterprise Incentive Scheme, Harvest Labour Services, Experience +, National Green Jobs Corps, Youth Connections, Language, Literacy & Numeracy, Indigenous

Employment Programs

Flexible, Tailored Service Model enables integrated wrap around service assistance to address individual needs and local circumstances

Flexible pool of funding to purchase assistance to help job seekers get and keep a job, such as:

Vocational & Employability Skills Training Work related clothing and safety equipment Licences & certificates Short term travel costs Relocation costs to commence employment Other personal support services, including dental,

health and housing assistance Employer Assistance – Wage subsidies, on-the-job

training and mentoring for job seekers.EPF credits are attached to job seeker commencement but not to the job seeker.A notional bank and reimbursement model

Employment Pathway Fund

3 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)o KPI 1 – Efficiencyo KPI 2 – Effectivenesso KPI 3 - Quality Assurance Framework

KPIs 1&2 assessed on the basis of performance measures and weightings = Star Ratings

KPI 3 ensures providers deliver the services contracted and that job seekers receive quality services

Star Ratings are used by: job seekers to assess the comparative performance of providers in

their local area providers to measure their contractual performance DEEWR to measure performance and allocate business share to

providers Statistical regression analysis used to allow comparison of provider

performances across Australiao Job seeker characteristicso Labour market characteristics

Period of performance assessment six monthly milestone periods that conclude at the end of June and December

Performance Framework

New Remote ModelKey features of the Remote Jobs and Communities Program: Remote Employment and Participation Activities Individualised, tailored assistance Participation Account

o Funding to address vocational and non-vocational barriers Remote Youth Leadership and Development Corps (Youth

Corps) o Tailored mentoring and training support

Community Action Plan (CAP) o Employment, economic and community development goalso Local stakeholder partnerships

Workforce Development Strategyo Regionally focused and demand-led strategieso Employer collaboration to address skills and labour

shortages Community Development Fund (CDF)

o Initiatives to build community capacity

New Remote Model

OVERVIEW MAP OF 59 REMOTE REGIONS Overview of Map of 59 Remote Regions

The National Broadband Network will: Provide high-speed broadband access to all Australian

homes and businesses through a mix of three technologies:o Optic fibreo Fixed wirelesso Next generation satellite

93% of Australian homes, schools and businesses will have access through optic fibre

Optic fibre is capable of providing broadband speeds of up to one gigabyte per second

All Australian homes and businesses to be connected to national broadband by the end of the10 year roll out

National Broadband Network – Future Strategies

Some Resources Department of Education, Employment &

Workplace Relationshttp://deewr.gov.au/

Priority Areashttp://deewr.gov.au/priority-employment-area-initiative

Demography and Populationhttp://www.sarrahtraining.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=143626

Families in regional, rural and remote Australiahttp://www.aifs.gov.au/institute/pubs/factssheets/2011/fs201103.html

Some Resources

NESA

Level 8, 20-22 Albert RoadSouth Melbourne, VIC 3205

Australia

Phone: +613 9624 2300Email: nesa@nesa.com.auWebsite: www.nesa.com.au

Contact DetailsContact Details