Regular readers will know that I am not a great fan of Australian Disability Enterprises, our flash term for sheltered workshops, where appalling acts of abuse such as this:http://www.perthnow.com.au/business/news/disabled-workers-pay-of-2-an-hour-predatory/story-e6frg2qu-1225894657597 occur.
This abuse is presently happening at sheltered workshops across the country.
We are to blame (this is all of us) since we have allowed the economic rationalists and ideologically driven mandarins of Canberra to determine policy and these bastards have little interest in disability issues, no knowledge of the support needs of their client base and care even less.
Just look at the pathetic rationale in the article and catch the even more disgusting response from the funding body: "A spokesman for the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs said Ms Smith had the right to request a reassessment of her wage with CRS but had failed to do so". - So now we know. It's Karen's fault.
This woman has a disability. She is powerless against her employer. She will be unaware of her rights and even less able to action them.
I think if you are going to be totally mean spirited you should at least have the courage to stand up in the face of media scrutiny and attempt to tough it out.
Seriously a win for Karen and that's great and what about the folk that aren't in the media spotlight? There are many folk that either have their hours cut (incidentally, bet you quids this is what happens to this lass now) or are 'reassessed' to suit their hosting organisations cash flow or business needs.
For many years I have strongly suggested that the contradictory instructions given by government to Australian Disability Enterprise operators to both make a profit (at all costs) and continue to provide inclusive and client focused service be changed.
It's a simple question that goes to the heart and purpose of this program:
Do ADE's (save time) exist to provide employment for people with higher support needs or are they to be stand alone businesses?
If they are for people with high support needs then fund places and allow the mainly charitable institutions that work in this sector to carry out their missions.
If they are not then some suitable vocational alternative needs to be created.
In this question the answer should be obvious and this issue should end.
However, there is a second question:
Are ADE's a means of transition to open (and better paid) positions?
Presently it is either impossible to achieve this movement as persons cannot be registered with 2 programs at once. Therefore rather than the old, "work in sheltered employment until an open employment service finds you work/ return should you lose your open employment job", the present system says, 'leave your security and cross your fingers the open employment service 1. Finds you work quick and 2. You stay there.
There's a Parliamentary committee presently discussing the issues around ADE's. The majority of participants are CEO's of sheltered workshops.
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
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....
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....
Subscribe to this Blog