New Employment Services
The Australian Government announced it would be introducing new, simpler and more effective employment services nationally to commence on 1 July 2009. The new services will provide opportunities for job seekers to train in areas of skill shortage. There is also a greater emphasis on helping employers find work ready job seekers.
Employment services review background
A brief overview of guiding principles that informed the employment services review.
Discussion papers and consultation sessions
In May 2008 the Australian Government released two discussion papers as part of the move to new employment services, to be launched on 1 July 2009.
Exposure draft and purchasing arrangements
The Exposure Draft of Purchasing Arrangements for the new Employment Services was released on Friday 1 August 2008.
- Release of the Exposure Draft
- Information sheets:- published with the release of the exposure draft on how the changes will affect different audience groups
- Modelling of the new Employment Services at the national level
- Consultation Sessions
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Feedback
DEEWR Employment Systems Group launches new IT Systems Consultation web pages
As part of the Department's strategy to maximise stakeholder input for the new Employment Services Information Technology (IT) system, new IT systems consultation web pages were launched on 25 August 2008.
These new pages are the key communication tool used by DEEWR to keep you informed of what is happening in relation to the IT systems consultation process. All relevant documentation, including information currently on the DEEWR workplace purchasing web site or DEEWR provider websites will be transferred to these new pages.
We invite you all to save these new pages as favourites and regularly look at them.
Should you have any feedback or require any clarification about any information on the web page please email IT.Consultation@deewr.gov.au.
The main IT Systems Consultation web page can be found at http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Publications/employmentservicesit/
Innovation Fund
The Innovation Fund will provide funding for projects to overcome barriers to employment for the most disadvantaged job seekers, including Indigenous Australians, people with mental health conditions, the homeless or those at risk of homelessness, and people from jobless families or who are living in areas of entrenched disadvantage. From 1 July 2009 the Government will be providing $41 million over three years for Innovation Fund projects.
On 5 December 2008 the Government launched the Guidelines for Innovation Fund Projects. Further information on this program and the Guidelines for Innovation Fund Projects is available from the Innovation Fund page.
Employer Brokers
Employer Brokers will co-ordinate and target the efforts of employment services providers to meet the needs of individual employers and secure employment outcomes for job seekers. From 1 July 2009 the Government will be providing funding of $6 million over 3 years for Employer Broker activities.
On the 5 December 2008 the Government launched the Guidelines for Employer Broker Activities. Further information on this program and the Guidelines is available from the Employer Brokers page.
Draft Code of Practice and Service Guarantees for new Employment Services
Feedback is sought on the draft Code of Practice and Service Guarantees for the new Employment Services 2009-12. The Government is committed to ensuring the delivery of high quality employment services for job seekers and employers. To achieve this, employment service providers will be required to operate in accordance with the highest standards of professional and ethical conduct. As outlined in the Request for Tender for Employment Services 2009-12 Purchasing Arrangements, any person with an interest in the delivery of employment services in Australia, including job seekers, current employment service providers, potential employment service providers and employers are invited to submit comments on the draft Code of Practice and Service Guarantees.
Draft Charter of Contract Management for the new Employment Services 2009-12
An initial draft of the Charter of Contract Management is now available for consideration. For further information relating to the Charter, including consultation, please refer to the Charter of Contract Management page.
Referring job seekers to appropriate servicing is an important part of the effective operation of the new Employment Services system. To this end, the Australian Government is conducting a Review of the Job Seeker Classification Instrument (JSCI); the tool that is used to stream job seekers to appropriate levels of servicing in Job Network and in the new Employment Services system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Questions and Answers relating to the Request for Tender Employment Services 2009-12
Increasing Indigenous Employment Opportunity
The Minister for Employment Participation, the Hon. Brendan O’Connor MP, and the Minister for Housing, Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon. Jenny Macklin MP, released a discussion paper on proposed reforms to the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) program and Indigenous Employment Program on Monday 6 October 2008. The paper is titled Increasing Indigenous Employment Opportunity.
A series of national consultations sessions seeking feedback on the proposed Indigenous employment model will commence on 20 October.
The Increasing Indigenous Employment Opportunity discussion paper and details of sessions can be obtained at www.indigenous.gov.au or by calling 1802 102.
Employment Services Reform Bill 2008 - second reading speech, 24 September 2008
On Wednesday, 24 September, the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, Minister for Employment Participation tabled the Social Security Legilsation Amendment (Employment Services Reform) Bill 2008 in Parliament delivering the second reading speech. The Bill faciliates a number of legislative amendments to support the new Employment Services, including changes to job seeker compliance arrangements.
More Information
For more information about the employment services review email the DEEWR mailbox.