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
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