I am presently on leave so I have more time for thought and particularly how this organisation (NOVA) might cope with the 'global financial crisis" (I am pushing for a change from GFC to GUYBD which, rather than Global Financial Crisis, stands for Greedy Unregulated Yank Bankers Disaster - although it only really badly affects the poor and disadvantaged so it'll probably stay GFC in our media. It raises an old chestnut of mine (yes, there's a rant coming) - why do we slavishly copy things that have demonstrably failed elsewhere?
The 'gods' of our time are privatisation and deregulation, the reduction of trade barriers and the adoption of a free trade economy.
What and where has this led?
Much as I once yearned for the creation of a workers utopia the present movement was/is (is it still?) supposed to lead to higher employment, greater productivity and a general improvement in the status of the impoverished and disadvantaged in our world - fabby!!
If only....!
What we have is the majority exposed to the greed of the minority. Huge, unimaginable losses driven entirely by greed and corruption - a corruption not only of the laws that were supposed to protect each citizen but a break-down of the oral fibre and integrity of our systems.
$150b(au) loss at the Royal Bank of Scotland. At 60 million people in the U.K. That's $2500 for every man, woman and child. Driven by anger and infuriated by the incompetence behind the leadership that led to this failure the Board of the bank punished the Chief Executive by sending him packing with a multi-million dollar handshake - that'll learn him.
Meanwhile across Western economies ghost towns of unemployed people are created with whole communities now unable to work and reliant upon the pittance provided through government welfare schemes.
On the fringes the most disadvantaged groups including people with disability. As a second wave of job loss rolls across Australia unemployment rises to 6% and far worse in some States (such as the hopelessly mismanaged NSW) and looks set to rise to 10%.
What to do?
Minister O'Connor ( a seemingly decent chap) is apparently prisoner to his department who, as noted in last piece, are mesmerized by the possibility of reducing their work load by reducing the number of service providers. I note the Minister has made some changes to the proposals for reform of Disability Employment Services (Don't cheer, its the removal of madness not the introduction of sanity). It's still not a great mix.
Here's simple and effective reform: pay providers for results and pay them regularly in milestones. Don't regulate who can do what where ('cos that's silly). Do put everyone on a level playing field - not it's O.K. to get qualified later, only recognise those that are qualified (this refers to QA accreditation. Get out of the way and stop the on-going micro-management of the program. Finally, the suggestions for JCA improvement have been devised by a person in a room with no windows and should be quietly abandoned before they ruin lives and reputations.
That'll do - I'm back at work in a fortnight, be nice if this could be on the table by then.
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Previous Posts
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....
Lucky Lucky
I am truly fortunate to work with the very best people in this great nation and we are truly lucky to be part of the best short film festival this side of anywhere!
"Focusonability" voting starts today and there is an even larger number of films (287) than last year....
On the money Sometime over the next week a new Disability Employment Service contract will be announced.
We are moving into a new world of greater consumer choice and greater mobility of job seekers....
Making a tough job tougher!
Making a tough job tougher
It isnt easy to get a decent job and its harder to do so if you have a disability.
NOVA employs around 190 people, an effective and experienced team who are able to draw upon a staff of highly skilled trainers and a support program honed over almost 30 years and tens of thousands of participants....
Your Work There was never any doubt in my mind that I would work. My dad told me I would work and there wasn't ever a suggestion that my future held an alternative option....
Not so bad! Taken from: Today's Guardian at 4.09pm Tuesday 7th November 2017:
www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/jun/23/russia-and-the-us-have-the-worst-employment-gaps-for-disabled-people
In a world full of discouragement there’s always a space for good news....
Informed Choice
The NDIS mantra is 'choice and control'
To be valuable, choice needs to be informed.
Since 2010:
Average Sydney Disability Employment Services placement rates are 34....
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