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
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International Day of People with a Disability
International Day of People with a Disability
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Our Ryan Goodwin has done a great job of selecting some of the great entries from NOVA's 'Focusonability' short film festival - we love the Festival and hope that you'll love these films, gathered from around the world....
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Good! - Now they've left us, let's look at reality - when the going gets tough, many people suffer and dis-proportionally, people with disability suffer more....
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....
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