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.
Would you like a face-to-face meeting with Martin via Skype? Click the button below to make an appointment
Subscribe to this Blog - blog.novaemployment.com.au Copy the link above and paste it into your favourite Reader to subscribe to an RSS feed of this blog. To watch a short video explanation of RSS and how it helps you save time reading the web click here
Your Comments There are currently no comments on this article
Previous Posts
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....
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....
Subscribe to this Blog