The Future of Disability Employment Services

1. The Future of Disability Employment Services Tony Waslin Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

2. Government Agenda Review employment services Social Inclusion Increased focus on education /training Address skills shortages

3. What’s happened already? • Review of general employment services • Jan 08–Minister called for submissions June 08 – Release of Discussion Paper • National Mental Health & Disability Employment Strategy May 08 – consultations June 08 – submissions DEN/ VRS contracts extended to February 2010

4. Moving Forward Review of Disability Employment Services Services are separate and distinct Within context of broader review Some issues addressed through broader review Charter of Contract Management Compliance Framework for job seeker Performance Management

5. What we’ve heard? Key themes Complexity Program design - DEN/VRS capped and uncapped fee structures assessment processes Inflexibility Streaming of job seekers Linkages between programs Red tape Administrative burden Contract management, claims for fees

6. Building Solutions Complexity Comment received: “Simplifying program structure and funding will reduce a significant amount of existing red tape.” Question: Would simplifying the structure of the disability employment programs help reallocate resources from administration to job seekers? Do the benefits of a complex fee structure outweigh the costs of administration and assurance?

7. Building Solutions Complexity Comments received: “assessment processes (DPI) and (DMI) should be reviewed and improved.” Question: How can we improve the assessment processes?

8. Building Solutions Inflexibility Comments received: “A job seeker style account should be introduced for VRS and DEN” Questions: Would job seekers get a better deal through an account?

9. Building Solutions Inflexibility Comments received: “speed to placement” performance measures reward short term-outcomes and discourage capacity building.” Questions: How can a performance framework guard against ‘parking’ difficult to help job seekers, while recognising and rewarding getting job seekers into a ‘better’ job (eg. through skilling)?

10. Building Solutions Red Tape Comments received: “The DEN fee structure is overly complex and should be reviewed” Questions: Are the two fee structures and four funding levels for DEN capped and uncapped useful? Would simplifying the fee structure reduce red tape?

11. Building Solutions Red tape Comment received: “There is administrative burden in the overlap between certification under the disability service standards and DEEWR contract management.” Question: How can we reduce red tape, while still ensuring that taxpayer funds are appropriately spent?

12. Building Solutions What other key changes would you like in future arrangements for disability employment services?

13. Next Steps Release of formal Discussion Paper Call for comment and consultations Contact details Website:www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Publications/PolicyReviews/ Email:desreview@deewr.gov.au Telephone: 1800 064 516 Mail: Project Manager Disability Employment Services Review Location 12M12 DEEWR GPO Box 9879 Canberra ACT 2601 Next Steps

14. The Future of Disability Employment Services Tony Waslin Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations