EMPLOYMENT participation levels of people with disabilities are not showing significant improvement, a new national report finds.
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Reform Council, in a report released today, paints a bleak picture about barriers to securing employment and social participation.
Blast and damn it – why doesn’t anybody ask why? This country has gone from world leader to motherless last in the relative wealth of people with disability and well down the league ladder when to it come to participation (21st out of 29)
It hasn’t got any better since 2006-2009, that's the period this report covers (guaranteed) and the figures don’t tell the real story of the lack of participation and wasted resource caused by the non or partial employment of people that have a disability.
All the while disability employment services are set against each other in a mad race to the lowest common denominator this position will NOT change. This program used to cooperatively work in the interests of people that had a disability, sharing information, support for job seekers and workers and operating wholly in the interests of the service user (I know, I was there).
Nowadays, its speed to placement and any job will do. Driven by fear and afraid of reprisal people are scared to speak out and each service either gets into the mud or risks poor performance ratings and possible oblivion. The debate has been hijacked and emotive words like ‘high performing’ or low performing used as tools of manipulation rather than genuine reflections of skill and dedication.
I will happily take anyone that wishes on a tour of fabulous, client focussed single ‘starred’ services that genuinely care for our most disadvantaged fellow Australians.
It won’t change until the performance measurements that decide who lives and who dies in the cut throat competition of employment services is hauled back and someone asks again, ‘what do people that have a disability want.
Don’t say ‘NDIS for employment’ because, should the scheme ever role out nationally, the productivity commissioner has recommended employment services be excluded
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Your Comments Peter Smith from Melbourne wrote on 15 Jun 2012 10:55:44 AM No question that until we put the focus back on the client and not the funding, we're just spiralling down to the lowest common denominator. When agencies talk about they're only client being DEEWR and not the person with a disability then what hope does the client have.
Time for DEEWR to stop talking about being a person centred program and actually walking the talk. The DES providers need to put their self interest aside and speak up collectively on behalf on the client. I appreciate thats hard when there's someone waiting to take your business away based on the holy grail of star ratings, but what about the person with the disability and what they want and think is a good service. Lets focus on careers for our clients not short term jobs for the sake of "stars".
Martin Wren from NOVA Employment wrote on 15 Jun 2012 3:00:39 PM Don't know whether I should be commenting on the 'comments' but spot on Peter
Martha Siede from Claremont Meadows wrote on 15 Jun 2012 4:07:19 PM There also needs to be a good look at physical access to work via public transport, footpath and workplace accessibility as well. You can't just get someone a job, they need to be able to get to work, move around the office and get back home intact
Previous Posts
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....
Not so bad! Taken from: Today's Guardian at 4.09pm Tuesday 7th November 2017:
www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/jun/23/russia-and-the-us-have-the-worst-employment-gaps-for-disabled-people
In a world full of discouragement there’s always a space for good news....
Informed Choice
The NDIS mantra is 'choice and control'
To be valuable, choice needs to be informed.
Since 2010:
Average Sydney Disability Employment Services placement rates are 34....
Hard Job
It's voting time at "Focusonability" - with a record number of films entered, a tremendous effort by more than 100 High Schools and 19 countries competing in the International section it was always going to be a hard job to pick a winner....
Choice & Control
The NDIS slogans around choice and control demonstrate the importance of consumer involvement in both the choice and control of supports they need.
However, in order to be valuable, choice needs to be informed by accurate data such is this: http://www....
Belfast
Last week (14-16) it was my privilege to attend the 1st World Supported Employment Conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
"Employment for All - A Global Perspective" brought workers from around the globe (primarily Europe) to discuss best practice in supported employment....
Quality and the Stars Quality and the Stars
There have probably been few people more openly critical of the Disability Employment Service (DES) Star Ratings than me.
The Stars, ranging from 1 to 5 are supposed to give some insight into whether a service is a poor or high performing program....
DEA Forum
Attended the Disability Employment Australia (DEA) forum in Canberra. THis is a regular get together that offers disability employment services tha chance to be kept up to date from our funding body and also listed to expert speakers on topics associated with the goal of seeing as many people as possible find and keep suitable employment....
Greatest Asset
NOVAs greatest asset is its staff. I suspect you would struggle to find the CEO of any organisation state their staff are not vital and at the core of business reputation and results....
A corner turned?
We are presently holding events to promote employment for people with disability - nor surprise there, that's our job.
What has been a surprise is the willingness of employers to come along and listen and more importantly, to consider adopting inclusive employment practices across their organisations....
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