Australian Government Directory of Services for Older People 2012-2013
Employment services and support
Table of contents
Corporate Champions
Corporate Champions are employers who make a public commitment to move toward better practice in employing mature age people. Corporate Champions receive a package of tailored support to help them achieve the better practice standards outlined in the ‘Investing in Experience’ Employment Charter.More information on the Corporate Champions program is on the Experience+ website.
Website: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations at www.deewr.gov.au/experienceplus
Disability or mental health conditions - specialised services
The new Disability Employment Services providers offer improved services for job seekers with a disability, injury, or health condition; their families and carers; and employers.Disability Employment Services providers are organisations contracted by the Australian Government in more than 1900 sites across Australia. They provide a wide range of services and support to help you find and maintain sustainable employment.
Disability Employment Services providers will work with you to develop an Employment Pathway Plan, tailored to your individual needs. This will set out the services and assistance that you will receive, to help you find and stay in a job. Once placed in a job, Disability Employment Services providers will continue to support you for 26 weeks, or longer if required.
You or your employer may also use the following services or be eligible for the following programs.
JobAccess - a one-stop information shop about employing people with disability, designed for employers, employees, jobseekers and service providers. JobAccess information includes:
- disability at work
- tools and solutions to remove workplace barriers
- government support for employment of people with disability
- recruiting people with disability
- making workplaces accessible
- assistance for your current employees with disability
- financial assistance with assistive technology and wages
- disability awareness training for your staff
- Auslan interpreting.
Supported Wage System - provides an industrial relations mechanism that enables the payment of a productivity-based wage to people who cannot work at full productivity.
Phone: 1800 464 800 (Disability Employment Services)
13 28 50 (Centrelink services)
Website: Department of Human Services Disability Employment Services at www.humanservices.gov.au/disabilityemployment
Employment Assistance Fund
The Employment Assistance Fund helps people with disability and their employers by providing financial assistance for work-related equipment, modifications and services. The Fund provides assistance which improves access to employment, work productivity and independence for people with disability.The Employment Assistance Fund aims to adjust the workplace to suit people with disability, including those with mental illness. It is available to pay for the cost of special workplace equipment, services and modifications needed to accommodate an employee with disability, including mental illness.
The Fund has the flexibility to provide workplace solutions that meet the individual needs of employers and employees.
Financial assistance is available for solutions including assistive technology, electronic and communication equipment, specialist support for employees with learning disability or mental health condition, Auslan interpreting for job interviews and work-related activities, deafness awareness training and other disability awareness training.
Phone: 1800 646 800 (Disability Employment Services)
Website: Department of Human Services Disability Employment Services at www.humanservices.gov.au/disabilityemployment
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Harvest Labour Services
The Harvest Labour Service (HLS) helps growers to supplement local labour with out-of-area workers where there is an acknowledged shortfall in a local labour market during harvest periods. HLS providers can refer anyone who can legally work in Australia to harvest vacancies. Although harvest work can be physically demanding, it is popular with retired travellers.Phone: 1800 062 332 (National Harvest Telephone Information Service)
Website: Australia JobSearch at www.harvesttrail.gov.au
Indigenous Capital Assistance Scheme
Indigenous Capital Assistance Scheme (ICAS) aims to increase employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It gives eligible Indigenous businesses access to commercial finance and culturally appropriate professional and mentoring support services through a partnership arrangement with Westpac.Phone: 1802 102 (Indigenous Employment Line)
Website: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Indigenous Capital Assistance Scheme (ICAS) at www.deewr.gov.au/icas
Indigenous Employment Program
The Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) supports a broad range of activities that are suited to local Indigenous people and circumstances, focusing on employment, business and other economic development activities. The new IEP is designed to be flexible and responsive to the needs of employers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, Indigenous businesses and their communities.Under the reformed IEP, support is available for activities that will:
- encourage and support employers to provide sustainable employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- encourage and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to take up training and employment opportunities, stay in jobs and enhance their future employment prospects
- assist Indigenous communities, industry bodies and groups of employers to develop Indigenous workforce and economic development
- develop strategies to support local and regional economic growth
- assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to develop sustainable businesses and economic opportunities in urban, regional and remote areas.
Website: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Indigenous at www.deewr.gov.au/indigenous
Job Bonus
From 1 July 2012 a Jobs Bonus of $1000 will be available to employers who recruit an eligible mature age job seeker, aged 50 years and over.Employers must offer a genuine, ongoing employment opportunity that meets the necessary standards for pay and conditions. The Jobs Bonus will be paid after the job seeker has been employed for at least 13 weeks.
Phone: 13 17 64 (Experience+ Hotline)
Website: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations at www.deewr.gov.au/experienceplus
Mature Age Participation - Job Seeker Assistance Program
From 1 January 2013 the Mature Age Participation - Job Seeker Assistance program will offer job seekers aged 55 years and over intensive support and a peer-based environment where they can develop their information technology skills, undertake job-specific training and prepare for work.The program will be delivered in selected areas or industries where it will best meet individual, employer and community needs.
More information will be available closer to the implementation date.
Phone: 13 17 64 (Experience+ Hotline)
Website: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations at www.deewr.gov.au/experienceplus
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New Enterprise Incentive Scheme
Eligible job seekers who are interested in starting and running a small business can access assistance through New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS).NEIS provides accredited small business training, business advice and mentoring for eligible job seekers, as well as ongoing income support for up to 52 weeks.
To participate in NEIS, job seekers must be registered with a Job Services Australia provider or a Disability Employment Services provider. To be eligible for NEIS Assistance, job seekers must also:
- be at least 18 years old
- be registered for income support (Age Pension recipients are not eligible)
- agree to hold and maintain a controlling interest in the business during the period they are receiving NEIS Assistance
- be available to participate in NEIS training and work full-time in the business (or fewer hours, if eligible)
- (in the case of parents with part-time participation requirements) be available to participate in NEIS training and work at least 20 hours a week in the business.
Phone: 13 62 68 (Job Seeker Hotline)
Website: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations at www.deewr.gov.au/neis
On the job Support
On the job Support ceased for new applicants on 30 June 2012. However, the program will continue to assist current claimants according to the current program guidelines until 30 June 2014.On the job Support helps workers aged 55 years and over whose job is at risk due to their health condition, injury or disability. It provides tailored face-to-face support and training to help workers keep their job.
On the job Support is delivered through Disability Employment Services - a network of providers specialising in assisting people with health conditions, injury and disability.
On the job Support could include:
- a workplace assessment
- workplace modifications or special adaptive equipment
- advice about job redesign
- training.
Website: Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations at www.deewr.gov.au/experienceplus
Rehabilitation - former military personnel
If you have been medically discharged from the Australian Defence Force (ADF) because of a compensable injury, a whole-of-person rehabilitation program may help you return to a higher level of functioning and employment. You are also eligible if you are a former ADF member who has been in civilian employment but, because of your compensable injury or illness, you are finding it difficult to continue in employment. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs can develop a rehabilitation program for you. The vocation component of your program may include:
- vocational assessment
- evaluating your functional capacity
- an assessment of daily activities
- short-term vocationally-based training
- on-the-job training
- work training placements
- résumé preparation
- providing job seeking skills
- job seeking services.
1800 555 254 (veterans - regional callers)
Website: Department of Verterans' Affairs at www.dva.gov.au
Stream Services
Job Services Australia is the Australian Government's gateway for job seekers to access training, skills development and work experience.Job Services Australia providers are organisations contracted by the Australian Government to offer personalised help and services targeted to job seekers’ needs. They provide access to training opportunities and work experience to help job seekers find and keep a job.
Under Job Services Australia, services are provided in four Streams. The most ‘job-ready’ job seekers are in Stream One, and the most disadvantaged job seekers are in Stream Four. Services in each Stream are tailored to the individual needs and circumstances of each job seeker.
Common services under all Streams include:
- conducting an initial interview with the job seeker
- maintaining regular contact with the job seeker
- working with the job seeker to develop an Employment Pathway Plan (EPP)
- using the Employment Pathway Fund to purchase a broad range of assistance to help the job seeker access the right training and other support to find and keep a job.
- providing ongoing training and development activities that meet the skills needs of employers and help the job seeker to obtain sustainable employment
- delivering tailored services to the job seeker for the duration of their Work Experience Phase.
- an interview with a Job Services Australia provider
- assistance with developing a résumé and lodging it on the Australian JobSearch website
- information on local employment opportunities
- information on skills development and training through the Productivity Places Program
- access to JobSearch computer facilities in employment service provider offices and the Department of Human Services Service Centres.
Department of Human Services at www.humanservices.gov.au
Veterans’ Vocational Rehabilitation Scheme
The Veterans’ Vocational Rehabilitation Scheme (VVRS) is a voluntary scheme run by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs that helps veterans who need special assistance to obtain or hold suitable employment. It offers a variety of services including:
- professional vocational assessment to determine your opportunities
- advice on job seeking
- assistance with updating or upgrading your skills
- advice or support if your job is at risk
- assistance with finding work.
1800 555 254 (veterans - regional callers)
1300 551 918 (Local Veterans’ Affairs Network offices)
Website: Department of Verterans' Affairs at www.dva.gov.au