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.
I am grateful because my employment has, over the 40+ years to date, given me my home, my possessions, my friends, fed my kids, paid my bills and even, through the privilege of taxes, contributed to our great nation.
The young men and women NOVA supports also have a desire to work - they want the things I have enjoyed.
Sadly, this NDIS thing is getting in the way - it's funding nonsense (person with disability announces that his plan includes a 2 week cruise with him, mum, cousin and sister - apparently that's OK, because they are his carers!) and even worse it's taking existing workers out of their paid employment and sending them to recreational and social alternatives.
Example: Several years in employment, working 4 days 1 week, 5 days the next - happy!
NDIS plan contains social and personal development options that cost Australian taxpayers thousands and worse cause workers family to seek a reduction in work hours (these are getting in the way) for their son so he can 'develop increased maturity'.
Does no one oversee this?
The biggest losers of all are the young men and women leaving school this year, things seem to be more confused than last and the brilliant NSW Transition to Work program has been replaced by a bunch of 'services' that are taking participants money, NOT developing employability (if you've never done it yourself how can you instruct others?) then asking NOVA to find work.
Thanks, but no thanks.
NOVA is an excellent Transition program. It's one of 2 responsible for 2/3rds of all open employment outcomes in NSW.
School leavers possess some good employment skills - they are used to getting up on time, getting to school on time, listening and learning and carrying out tasks as requested.
6 months in a day wasting program and these skills are gone. Not only are useful skills unlearned useless 'skills' are acquired.
Transition programs are finite, preparation for employment takes a certain amount of time and a high degree of skill on the part of service staff.
That's being denied people leaving school this year.
Next Wednesday I will hand nationally recognised certificates to 74 of the ninety odd 'class of 2017' - 16 more couldn't get time off work to attend.
All of them are employed.
I suspect, unless someone sorts this looming NDIS disaster, that this will be the last fully employed group.
Here's a catchy slogan:
'Employment First'
The social stuff will flow from this and you know what? Participants might just get the privilege of paying for it themselves.
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