(This is a 'follow on' from my post of a fortnight ago)
One of the most rewarding parts of my job has been watching former job seekers now workers progress through their apprenticeships and traineeships and NOVA has a long tradition of aiming high (and that’s what these positions represent) in finding suitable employment for people with a disability.
This month we have an extra 5 such job starts, all full time positions and, based on my experience every one of these will last the period of the apprenticeship and each will provide a great skills base for a future career.
I am bemused by the Federal Government’s poor recognition of these great outcomes (2x8 hr positions beat a full time apprenticeship, despite having no impact upon welfare dependency – go figure and no, the Minister, Kate Ellis, still hasn’t replied to my rants!).
Here’s the real deal: If we truly value and recognize the intrinsic worth of people that have a disability we will aim high (ask any NOVA staffer about the training they receive to do just this). Apprenticeships and Traineeships are a first class start to any career – 2 of my kids completed such – and form a solid base for future success.
What is needed is NOT extra subsidies. What is needed is people in charge who actually appreciate what can be achieved by people that have a disability and set up appropriate reward systems that encourage service providers to pursue high end employment outcomes*.
NOVA’s record in achieving Apprenticeships and Traineeships demonstrates what can be achieved when staff training, organizational values and collective belief in the ability of people who have a disability come together.
Aim high and quality outcomes can be readily achieved. Aim low and deny opportunity to people with a disability to demonstrate their skills and remove a great means of building careers.
Thank you to every member of my staff that started their job seekers in work as Apprentices and Trainees this month.
Well done
*For our overseas readers that may need a hand to understand some of this is the fact that present recognition and reward s for Australian service providers encourage part time casual and low value job outcomes. Our government then scratches itself and poses questions about the casualisation of the Australian workforce. Why is this happening? Because the reward system set in place effectively send program providers in search of part time and casual positions because these can disproportionally influence the recognition providers receive.
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