NOVA only works with people who have disability - we are elitist, no disability - can't come in.
The following numbers represent some of NOVA's recent achievements:
1410 positions show earnings from $18,201 to $37000 plus. This means that 46% of the positions we obtain for our JS either take them off benefit or significantly reduce it.
2569 or 85% of placements made at NOVA are for employment of over 15 hours, 1060 placements or 35% are for employment over 30 hours.
The 'benchmark' for people in receipt of DSP is employment of 8hrs or more.
Graeme Innes, former disability discrimination commissioner said at a recent Press Club speech that disability employment services were failing.
Have a look at the number above and you can start to see why.
This organisation has acted in the interests of participants and employers by aiming high - the maximum amount of work that the person wants to do/can do.
Presently, we are savagely penalised for this.
This occurs in 2 ways; first of all breaking jobs into minimum components (8hrs) is highly rewarding both in terms of money paid out by the Commonwealth (2 x 8hrs positions pays twice as much as 1 x 16) and recognition in the ridiculously named 'Star Ratings' (you get double for the 2 minimum hour positions).
Take this to the extreme (and this is actively encouraged) a 40hrs a week position is broken into 5 x 8 and the service provider gets as much as 5 times the reward as would have been received for taking someone from DSP recipient to independent tax payer.
Now, if you want to get really smart you offer employers a 100% wage subsidy for 28 weeks (- couple more than 6 months, misses quality checks) you can simply skim off the substantial profit in the pretty much certain knowledge your 'worker' won't lose their job - their labour is free.
The labour market is tight, stuff like this distorts it,, creates a rise in part-time and casual employment, devalues the worth of people with disability, keeps people out of real employment and is generally dreadful.
When will this nonsense end? Who knows, governments of both political persuasion are failing to properly value and protect people with disability from exploitation.
In the numbers achieved above the workers have been found jobs that (at least) reduce the cost of welfare. Employers have been asked to actually pay for the labour they have hired. Commonwealth incentives may have been used, although frequently not, and NOVA has received fair pay for these efforts.
However, it would have been far, far more in our interests to break the jobs down, portray people with disability as objects of pity, offer 100% wage subsidies and generally improve the 'participation' numbers.
This part of employment services is NOT under review.
Shame.
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