During the creation of a submission to the Australian Senate I have been reminded of some of the aims and objectives the Disability Services Act.
Specifically that Disability Employment Services should “assist persons with disabilities to achieve positive outcomes, such as increased independence, employment opportunities and integration in the community'.
How best to achieve these aims?
Through the provision of full time, award wage work in community based settings - real jobs like yours (if you are so engaged) and mine. It is in full time employment that the maximum possibility to become independent and enjoy the things other workers enjoy occurs.
So why would you encourage less? Why would you reward small, part time and casual positions that don't reduce dependency? Why would you ignore the break up of full time employment into portions that do neither encourage independence or participation?
Beats me - but that is what the present system for measuring success in disability employment services does (and I have been writing about this now for more than 6 years.
It was 6 years ago that the then new funding body unveiled its methodology (the comprehensible bit) for assessing performance.
I have documented my question from that meeting: ' surely this system encourages service providers to break full time work into part time since 2 part time jobs appear to beat 1 full time? Why wouldn't service providers turn full time jobs into even smaller (the benchmark was and is as low as 8 hours employment a week) 'outcomes' in order to gain income and improve their apparent performance?.
The reply was classic: " I think we can rely upon the integrity of service providers"
Brilliant!
The whole thing has now been placed before a Senate review committee and I know that you should never hold an inquiry where you aren't assured of the outcome but nevertheless, perhaps we can see a return to measuring the achievements of programs like NOVA against the Disability Service Standards and the 1986 Disability Services Act rather than the present and highly distorted "Stars"
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Your Comments James from Sydney wrote on 7 Sep 2011 4:48:59 PM The problem is we have a government that is disinterested in genuinely looking after people with disability and doesn't care to ask what we might want.
Jsmall from Linden wrote on 8 Sep 2011 4:12:22 PM The people that manage this system should be held responsible for devaluing the ones they are supposed to care for. The department of employment should not subsidise business and especially should not do so by giving vulnerable people the impression that they are worthless. If a person can do the job then they should be paid by their employer. If the person cannot do the job then they need to be found more suitable work.
Deon from Wallsend wrote on 11 Sep 2011 11:37:43 AM Meaningful work measn getting enough to pay my bills. I don't want to work in a sheltered workshop I want a real job for as much as I am worth
Previous Posts
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....
Changing Attitudes
One of the hardest things to do is change a person's attitude - if they are favourably disposed to you, all's well and good - if someone holds a contrary view it's an uphill battle to change a mindset....
Retention Retention, Retention!
Just when you thought things couldn't get any better, something comes along that causes you to stop and to reconsider the way your business is conducted....
Properly Caring
Much is made about the easy life enjoyed by people on welfare - we've all seen the 'news' items that show flagrant abuse of the system with welfare recipients engaged in employment or other activities that conflict with the obligation to inform Centrelink of change in status or simply as a means of defrauding the Commonwealth....
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....
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