Regular readers will be aware of my running complaint about the present system for measuring the quality of disability employment services. Essentially it is possible for someone to be placed into employment that is paid for by the service fees given to employment services and pocket the profit. The employer pays nothing and the service provider gets a taxpayer funded dividend.
That just incompetent management but here's the kicker, the "Star Ratings" used by government reflect the value of many little placements rather than full time welfare busting proper employment.
I wrote DEEWR (our funding body). I wrote the Minister.
Here's part of Senator Ellis's reply:
“Participants must be placed into jobs at or above their assessed work capacity. While in some cases this may mean that a provider is paid more in outcome fees than the job seeker earns during the outcome period, the substantial fees recognise the difficulty of placing these Australians into sustainable work”
I truly hope nobody believes that.
How demeaning can you get and how much temptation should be dangled in front of any 'for profit' corporation?
Here's the deal; people who have a disability both can and want to work. They want jobs with meaning, that are fulfilling and that directly impact upon their reliance on welfare payments - they do not wish the tag of 'dole bludger' any more than you or I.
Government presently is getting what it is measuring a silly race for numbers that are then given the title of 'quality'
True quality is real employment at a real wage in work of a person's choosing with conditions and opportunities equal to their non-disabled peers.
There has been a drift of people away from working in disability employment services - people leave disillusioned with the direction and priorities of our masters
Can you blame them?
I will print the full content of the Minister's reply when I return to Sydney. I will include the unpublished submission to the Senate Inquiry that preceded my letter to the Minister
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