Tonight on ABC's 4 Corners program there is an expose on the systematic abuse of job seekers that has been fact for more than 16 years.
Disability Employment is being dragged into similar disrepute as no action is taken to prevent further distortions similar to those (read the back posts) I have been going on about since this blog started.
Don't know what's on the 4 Corners show but recommend everyone that is concerned about helping Australia's most disadvantaged citizens find real work, stop and take a look.
Example I have raged against and on record since 2005:
Question to Minister at agency forum: 'Minister, doesn't this scheme encourage providers to break jobs into small parcels of employment? In return it seems they will receive 5 times the funding and 5 times the recognition in Star Ratings?
Response from Minister (to me) ' I think we can rely upon the integrity of service providers'.
His words brought laughter from the audience and they have brought misery to those trapped in the ineffective employment programs that have taken the shine from what were formerly world class disability employment programs.
By international standards we now perform poorly.
It does NOT have to be this way.
My words aren't a call to shoot the incumbents!!
Ministers Scott Morrison & Mitch Fifield look after Disability Employment Services.
Disability Employment Programs aren’t making much of a difference in the lives of people with disability.
To then say; ‘therefore these Ministers are to blame’ is an easy follow-on.
The problem is, they ain’t!
I don’t want this to sound like a party political broadcast and here’s the facts:
Mr Morrison has only been in this role a short while and both he and Senator Fifield strike me as really keen to make a difference, willing to go out of their way to assist in the process of change and sincerely keen to find out what works.
They have inherited a serious problem: the commoditisation of people in a process that feeds on misery.
Present fact:
Service provider ‘A’ places person with disability into full time employment, freeing them from stigma of welfare and providing business owner with invaluable business asset - integrated effective worker.
Provider ‘A’ scores ‘1’
Service provider ‘B’ takes same position, carves into 5 x 8hrs jobs and uses Commonwealth funds to subsidise employment for a little over 6 months. Employer (at best) feels good about being able to help. At a little after 6 months Service Provider ‘B’ assists employer to recycle workers and gain entitlement to further subsidy.
Provider ‘B’ scores 5 and has 5 more on the way.
That’s 5 times the money (that’s OK, it’s just manipulation of an ill-considered contract by bunglers). They take that money and clench it tightly to their chests, bleating that the Commonwealth should do more to promote their ‘service’.
What’s worse is that this sort of behaviour has a destructive effect that goes beyond merely crushing morale – Provider ‘B’ scores 5 times as much in the ‘Star Ratings’.
This means at next contract time ‘A’ is under threat and ‘B’ gets rewarded.
I’ve been going on about this for years – no one listens.
The disaster we have now we have brought upon ourselves.
Our Ministers are reasonably new. Rather than engage in a blame game we need to set Key Performance Indicators that mean real change for unemployed people who have a disability – that’s exactly the same as anyone else wants; a real job with prospects of security, personal development and growth. Enough money to escape the stigma of poverty or at least make a meaningful difference in day to day matters.
Set the markers for judging performance at the return delivered and that includes promotion of the skills and abilities of people with disability – surely there’s no need for charities to stash millions and millions of dollars in assets – use these instead to promote the cause??
I don't think these programs have bad leadership at a Ministerial level, and now these gentlemen have a chance to make positive change that brings real improvements in people's lives.
Would you like a face-to-face meeting with Martin via Skype? Click the button below to make an appointment
Subscribe to this Blog - blog.novaemployment.com.au Copy the link above and paste it into your favourite Reader to subscribe to an RSS feed of this blog. To watch a short video explanation of RSS and how it helps you save time reading the web click here
Your Comments There are currently no comments on this article
Previous Posts
Best Ever II
Following from last post:
NOVA Employment has operated for 30 years. Comparing all results from previous years, February 2020 has been our most successful to date - Following on from January that's 2 in a row and every indication March will also be a record breaker....
Best Ever
NOVA Employment posted another 'best ever' result for the first month of 2020.
Despite the most dreadful natural disasters and with many businesses closed for the holidays, the NOVA team delivered more new workers than in any previous January results, beating past 5 years average by 25% and previous (2017) 'best ever' numbers by 5%....
Depressing cracked record!
A good friend will occasionally pull me up with the reminder that I have a tendency to rant, 'rave on slop jaw' if I remember correctly....
Big Win! Saturday night saw a big win for the NOVA team and for people with disability when our Podcast partners NOVA Entertainment- no relationship other than mates - received the following:
BEST ORIGINAL PODCAST - BRANDED
Focus On Ability; Nova Employment & the Nova Entertainment Podcast Team , NOVA Entertainment
BEST ORIGINAL PODCAST - UNBRANDED
Hamish & Andy; Hamish Blake & Andy Lee, PodcastOne Australi
Taken from the web: https://www....
Good Result!
Received the following yesterday morning:
Hi Nova, just wanted to give my feedback in regards to my mother getting a job through you guys and the amazing impact it has had!! The job that mum has received has changed her outlook on everything! She is now much more confident in her self and her abilities....
Welfare Benefits and Health
It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's truer that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power: David Brin
DES providers don't need nor should they have been given the authority to suspend welfare benefits (see above)....
Disgusting!
Disgusting!: https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2019/07/ndis-data-drop-reveals-severe-employment-gaps/
I have spoken previously on, to quote former President Bush, 'the soft bigotry of low expectations' - if you are a member of a marginalised group the public don't expect much and are surprised when anything much is achieved!
I've been in this game for more than 30 years and have been privileged to see literally thousands of terrific men and women leave NOVA To gain (and retain) great jobs....
Goodness me!
Goodness me!
Read this article: https://www.smh.com.au/national/no-lights-no-linen-how-alex-survived-for-six-years-on-newstart-20190717-p5284q....
Changing Attitudes
One of the hardest things to do is change a person's attitude - if they are favourably disposed to you, all's well and good - if someone holds a contrary view it's an uphill battle to change a mindset....
Retention Retention, Retention!
Just when you thought things couldn't get any better, something comes along that causes you to stop and to reconsider the way your business is conducted....
Properly Caring
Much is made about the easy life enjoyed by people on welfare - we've all seen the 'news' items that show flagrant abuse of the system with welfare recipients engaged in employment or other activities that conflict with the obligation to inform Centrelink of change in status or simply as a means of defrauding the Commonwealth....
2 Things
2 Things:
First:
About the middle of February I wrote: i. "NOVA Needs You!
We are presently engaged in a very significant recruitment drive and are particularly keen to hear from folk with disability and/or sales experience to join our team of Employment Consultants - THIS IS NOT AN EASY JOB - you need to be resilient, self sacrificing and have stacks of smarts and even then we only take the best....
We're struggling!
NOVA Needs You!
We are presently engaged in a very significant recruitment drive and are particularly keen to hear from folk with disability and/or sales experience to join our team of Employment Consultants - THIS IS NOT AN EASY JOB - you need to be resilient, self sacrificing and have stacks of smarts and even then we only take the best....
Extraordinary Results
When Government Star Ratings seem designed to celebrate the ordinary, it is a pleasure to be able to share a terrific piece of selfless effort on behalf of others....
Whats wrong with Employment Services II? What's wrong with Employment Services II
My mum used to frequently admonish my brothers and I with the words, 'if at first you don't succeed, try, try again'....
Whats wrong with Employment Services? There's rumours of a shake-up in the Job Active program - word is, the program isn't making a real difference and employers don't like it!
There's plenty of evidence to suggest that, despite the best intent of Government and funding body, the Disability Employment Service (DES) is similarly in the doldrums....
I need you! Comrades
NOVA needs you - we are very keen to enlist new members of our organisation.
Here's what you need: the patience of Job, the strength of the Hulk, the wisdom of Solomon and a selfless devotion caring for the needs of others worthy of Mother Teresa....
Tragic Loss People with Disability lost a true champion last Wednesday with the unexpected passing of a truly great man, the Chief Executive Officer of Inclusion Australia and a dear friend Mr Paul Cain....
Fair Warning
I'm giving fair warning of my intention to expose examples of the current DES-ESS contract's exploitation.
I have written to the Commonwealth expressing my concerns about clear manipulation of the present contract....
Fundamentals
The new contract for Disability Employment Services (DES) will not bring performance improvement.
Government will scratch it's head, blame the economy, blame people with disability, talk about educating employers and spend money on consultations before coming to the conclusion that people with disability must meet more stringent 'mutual obligations'....
Subscribe to this Blog