The Honourable Kate Ellis MP is the person responsible for funding of disability employment services. Can you see what’s wrong with the following:
Kate says, “We will continue to enlist the services of existing expert providers under the Disability Employment Services Employment Support Service that are performing at the highest 4 and 5 Star levels. They will be assured of continued funding through to 2015.
Those that are only performing at average (3 Star) or lower levels will be invited to demonstrate their capacity through a procurement process that will be open to other providers. To support providers in preparing for this transition, the existing contract for providers will be extended by 8 months to conclude in March 2013”
That’s right, you've guessed it – there’s no thought to the consequences of the actions indicated above.
This announcement will affect 86% of the people currently serviced by Disability Employment Services. The method used for determining performance is fatally flawed since, as any thinking person would realise there is no actual definition of what constitutes ‘performance’ and the measurement is on a forced scale that means no matter how good every service is approximately 85% can’t be 4 or 5 star services (since ‘performance’ is measured against all other providers).
What does this announcement achieve?
It creates uncertainty for job seekers and sets service providers in a mad race to ensure they are not required to take part in a procurement process. In its present form this process results in the widespread rorting that took place prior to the last tender process. Practices included job carving, creaming and skimming that meant job seekers lost out (and so did the Commonwealth – which is taxpayers like you and me).
An example, and I use a fictitious family restaurant chain that’s completely unlike any presently operating in this country: McBurgerjacks.
A DES provider approaches McBurgerjacks in Western Sydney, simultaneously; in Eastern Sydney another DES provider approaches their local MBJ’s store. The pitch is the same; we have people interested in working in your place, what have you got? Both MBJ’s managers say, ‘a full time position for a keen hard worker’. The DES providers then differ;
Service A brings along their client Dave, who is interviewed, gets the job and begins to work 38 hours a week. As a result Dave is able to get off the pension, spends enough time at work to develop meaningful relationships, and begins to play an active roll in his community as taxpayer and consumer. MBJ’s get a subsidy for the first 3 months of Dave’s employment.
Service B says to MBJ’s hey we have 4 people who would each like to work 8 hours a week – we’ll give you 4 x the job start subsidy and you’ll be helping 4 times the number of people. MBJ’s buys in (it’s costing them exactly nothing), Mandy, Mavis, Margaret and Igor start work, they don’t earn enough to reduce their pension, nor do they spend sufficient time at the store to either develop their careers or build real friendships.
Which service is performing better?
You guessed it, service B gets the ‘Stars’. If they really want to get ahead they rotate the workers out after 4 months or so, maximising their return, making the employer feel good and making an absolute fortune out of the process.
Recently I introduced a change in the way NOVA Employment recognises internal performance. I made a rule that no work under 15 hours a week would count toward staff incentive and work recognition. We still get some 8-15 hour a week positions and I accept that for some workers such time is sufficient. However, NOVA wants each person that comes to us to participate to the greatest extent possible. However, following this decision the number of small, part time jobs dropped dramatically while the number of positions obtained continued to grow. I appreciate my staff getting behind my decision and I would like to acknowledge their skill in ensuring the best possible outcome for people with disability.
Now we need a Minister that’s prepared to do the same. Stop the silly wasteful procurement process that has seen so much damage done to eth career hopes of people with disability. Bring in a fair system that licences employment services and allows consumers choice in their service provider. Let the market decide who gives good service, create an environment in which ‘quality’ can thrive on its own merits and the unworthy are allowed to sink.
Before I finish and on a more practical note – every contract, lease, rental and deal NOVA has is tied to 30th June 2012 – changing the date to give us time is most unwelcome, wasteful and ill considered. This Minister’s decision will result in cost and an administration burden that reduces the services available to job seekers. It certainly won’t improve them.
It’s great to be back!
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 Sarah Faith from Forster-Tuncurry wrote on 10 Jul 2011 7:37:47 AM Welcome back. Even though we haven't met yet!
Previous Posts
Countdown Clock II
What's the countdown clock all about?
It's our closing time and a countdown to the end of a truly remarkable month of extraordinary effort by my staff....
Countdown Clock Regular viewers will have noticed a countdown clock ticking away (above)
What's that all about?
Can't say - you have to wait till 4.30pm (a little earlier for staff)
...
Just the best 3 One thing we all love is a winner which is why there's a smile on my face it will be pretty hard to shift.
There's a nightmare pandemic sweeping the world (carried off my mum), the economy has tanked in a never before seen disaster that's left more than a million Aussies unemployed and the only news seems to be bad news....
More than Money!
If asked, most of us would say we went to work for the money, to pay our bills or support our family.
All true, and yet work means so much more:
Prior to finding a job with NOVA employment Glenn* struggled to keep jobs for more than a few months and was generally working as a dishwasher in restaurants which he found to be quite unsatisfying work....
Life Changers II
How are you in the mornings (or evenings, or nights)? NOVA is an 'old school' Disability Employment Service - we find work in the general community with identical pay and conditions as those enjoyed by people who dont have a disability....
Life Changers Required! Received yesterday:
I was unemployed for 24 years because of my disability. I was looking for a job for the last 2 and half years. With the help of (NOVA Staff) I found suitable job and working in the law company for last one year....
Try us!
Don't know about you but I have felt pretty bruised from all the horrible stuff brought upon us by this damn virus - seeing so many folk losing their jobs is particularly awful and the uncertainty generated for everyone, particularly for workers who have a disability is dreadful to see....
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....
Subscribe to this Blog