The silence from my colleagues on the reallocation of DES-ESS business is damning.
Fear, indifference or greed?
Not sure but, seeing as I haven't ground my axe on this topic for a while and with some excellent colleagues having lost all or part of their share of business it must be time to beat keyboard.
Here's the deal; on a regular basis 'government' takes to Australian Disability Employment Services with a mantra of 'high-performing' and 'low-performing' as measured against a mystical but I am informed infallible measure of quality, the Star Ratings' - 'Low performing' providers (those swine!) are consigned to oblivion and their business given to 'high-performing' providers (in the interests of transparency NOVA is one of these).
I have repeatedly raised concerns with the process for many reasons but here's the synopsis:
1. People with disability have sufficient smarts to make their own choices about the service they wish to attend and freedom of choice should enable them to receive assistance form a provider they have selected on the basis of their own needs and preferences.
2. The doublespeak about 'better management' isn't born out be historical performance which has either worsened or at best remained stable.
3. The 'Star Ratings' drive providers into a race to the bottom when it comes to service quality toward, nonsensically rewarding quantity over quality - simple example 1x40hrs employment is beaten by 2 x 8hr employment (this is nuts!), there are others.
4. Lost opportunity costs - removing a service provider disrupts the employment prospects of the transferring job seekers and those the receiving provider cares for - no winners!
& so on it goes.....
There's a review of employment services and talk of the failed DES system.
Australian Disability Employment Services are not failing because of a lack of commitment, they are not failing because of poor economic factors or prejudice by employers.
Australian DES is failing systemically - classis example from today: Job seeker approaches NOVA, long term unemployed, over 60, previous stroke other health conditions and just by chance we have the ideal position.
Can this poor sod register with NOVA?
Nope! An arbitrary boundary is drawn from which we may accept referrals and clients and this chap is outside same.
He pleads his case - nope!
We plead his case - nope!
He remains unemployed.
Let's put some faith in the ability of people with disability - let them register with as many agencies as they wish - don't pay services for registration.
Pay for hours gained not minimums but maximum reward for maximum participation.
Pay at post subsidy milestones, not 100% funded minimum hour nonsense.
Every service provider chips in 5% of turnover for general promotion to employers.
Get real about Government promises to employ people with disability.
Meanwhile, to those excellent, committed, skilled and dedicated colleagues forced out of the work they love by an incompetent system, my apologies for not being able to do more - you will be truly missed.
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
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'....
100%
Each year, around about the International Day of People with a Disability (IDPwD) NOVA Employment holds a formal graduation for students that have participated in our pre-employment programs....
Profiting from poverty
Profiting from Poverty
I am genuinely horrified by this disaster: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/02/the-demerit-system-is-ruthless-social-policy-designed-to-keep-the-poor-powerless
I believe that we presently represent the job hopes of around 1500 people, in various stages of their progression to independent employment....
New Contract but no change!
New Contract but no change!
Today marks the first day of a new Disability Employment Service (DES) contract.
There are new players and new rules....
Administrative Overload
'It's nice to be busy' and 'busy is better than idle' and all of my mum's other sayings about work being good for you, and all of them said; we're drowning!
The administrative burden of a new Disability Employment Service contract (starts July 1st) and the mountains of paperwork required for an NDIS dollar (approximately 10X that of the former TTW program) has seen us add 3 extra staff to the admin team and we are still receiving a large volume of enquiries that are causing us some time delay in getting back to folk....
Podcasts I've been learning all about Podcasts (I suspect that this may be a long road!)
However, getting paid to be inspired is not the worst way to spend a Monday afternoon and that is just how my day has gone....
Subscribe to this Blog