My mum used to frequently admonish my brothers and I with the words, 'if at first you don't succeed, try, try again'. Cheekily we would reply, 'try striking a match on a jelly'!
Tony Abbott tweets that applying for “one job a day is hardly unreasonable” and many feel he's right - how hard can it be for all these unemployed to do their bit, and surely for all that welfare the working taxpayers should have something they can point to as an example of what recipients are prepared to do in order to share the burden of unemployment.
Umm... Sadly no.
Imagine you own a business within a 250metre radius of your local Centrelink - how many people do you suppose are going to hit you up for a business card or a name so that they can show they have attempted to find work - and that's just those that don't just want to create a fabrication.
Think about the skill sets involved in seeking employment - sales and marketing to approach the employer, presentation, charm, conflict resolution and negotiation skills and you don't even have an interview, when all of these and more need to be demonstrated in order for you to get your opportunity as a general hand!
' Dear Mr A - please note requisite skill sets to gain interview and successfully develop employment opportunity are widely separated from those required to carry our inherent requirements of most jobs any long term unemployed person might undertake'.
This is part of the reason why you come across those poor sods, interviewed by our media who have applied for 932 jobs without coming to the realisation that there's an issue with their technique! - They loyally find a jelly and take their box of matches and industriously swipe away - and nothing short of divine intervention will ever change their status as unemployed.
There are a lot of folk that fall into this category and amongst them people with disability are over represented. Not only do these individuals have to do all those things listed above, they also have to deal with the unspoken questions around disability - the stuff employers might want to ask but fear the thought of becoming labelled as discriminating.
Much easier just to say no.
Instead of blaming and labelling and asking, if not the unreasonable, then certainly the ineffective, how about instead relying on human nature.
Here's the clue: No bastard* wants to be worse off!
A job, any job, makes the worker better off - we have a raft of supports in place to make employment attractive and the greatest incentive of all is human nature. Unemployed people are generally pretty ashamed that they aren't working. Rather than revelling in their freedom from effort they are stressed and anxious about how they are going to pay their next bill, feed their families and keep a roof over their heads - Australians want to work!
I have previously stated that I could not manage emotionally or physically on the pittance paid to the luckless unemployed. My mental health would falter, my confidence evaporate and my resilience desert me - I simply don't have the skills.
So; let's make the assumption that the vast majority of unemployed persons wants to work, there's an inevitable conclusion - NO NEED TO PENALISE!
Long term unemployed people need skilled support and sufficient resources to succeed.
Where's help needed and where would intervention make a difference? No point in overly attempting to match local labour market and training, however beguiling that may sound. Trust me, we tried that and the newly sprung up training organisations simply dudded the Commonwealth, running pointless programs that delivered not much more than a worthless piece of paper noting some level of participation.
We may need to accept that there are a certain number of people who aren't included amongst these would be's if could be's - for this minority accept that they presently won't play, leave out enticements to get on board and concentrate on the keen majority that need our help
Let's make the pathway to employment and the rewards of participation something that encourages and supports a move toward inclusion and participation rather than a minefield of penalties..
For the remaining majority we should consider enrolment in meaningful programs that don't use punishment as a threat but offer personalised support to grow in confidence so that participants can hold their heads high and they don't present as cowed or beaten, but as keen and full of potential (cos this is the reality). Incentivise attendance with extra money for turning up that covers the cost of attendance, presentable clothing and resources for real job applications.
People need and appreciate a support system that doesn't exist to punish them or 'game' a Government contract but rather programs staffed by people who have the rime to get to know their clients as individuals. NOVA Employment Specialists have around 25 jobseekers to support - it's not unusual for the equally dedicated but hopelessly overworked staff of Job Active to attempt to meet the needs of 200 individuals!
More to follow
(Quick note: If you're one of these folk - we (NOVA) are recruiting - you'll earn more and get greater job satisfaction with us - check out our website for details)
* Apologies if my language offends - I call upon the 'Woodful Defence': In 1933, the English cricket captain Douglas Jardine visited the Australian dressing room to complain bitterly to his Australian counterpart Bill Woodful that an Australian player had called him a bastard.
Concerned by this charge Woodfull turned to his team and said: "Right, which one of you bastards called this bastard a bastard?"
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
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....
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....
Subscribe to this Blog