Michael Horn Strategic Development Manager, Research & Policy Brotherhood of St Laurence 7 February 2013

1. Employment Services for the Future Conference University of Melbourne 2013Findings from the Centre for Work and Learning, Yarra demonstration project Michael Horn Strategic Development Manager, Research & Policy Brotherhood of St Laurence 7 February 2013

2. About the project The Centre was jointly funded by DEEWR’s Innovation Fund and the Brotherhood - $3.2 million over three years Multi-level collaboration: DEEWR; Office of Housing; City of Yarra; JSAs Project duration: July 2009 to June 2012 Aim: to increase work & learning outcomes for public housing tenants in the local neighbourhood through an integrated approach with a line of sight to employment

3. Centre for Work & Learning Yarra – Business case 2009 • One third of Victoria’s high rise public housing is in inner City of Yarra • Approx 5,000 public housing dwellings (48% high rise flats) • Only 14% of public housing tenants in Yarra in paid work • Analysis of employment assistance (Job Network): • failing highly disadvantaged job seekers (DEEWR outcomes data & Neighbourhood Renewal survey data) • frustrating local employers through poor preparation and matching of job seekers to job vacancies Source: BSL Innovation Fund Project Proposal 2009

4. Centre for Work and Learning, Yarra What Did We Learn?

5. How the Centre differed from the JSA model JSA Service Model Centre for Work and Learning Compliance driven Voluntary and free (open door) Client can be breached Trusted relationship Case Managers review clients Personalised support Client training driven by $$ BSL training designed to suit job seeker Large caseloads Lower client to advisor ratio Minimal client engagementOutreach to disengaged tenants Employers not sure of client Proactive employer engagement

6. A customised employment service Discussion group for newcomers to Australia English conversation circle Job seeker is linked to Centre services specifically designed to support a positive outcome Community mentor Interview skills training Job club Workplace culture training Computer training

7. Profile of Centre clients 55% male mean age of 33 years: 24% < 25 years; 53% 25-40 yrs; 23% >40 yrs 65% living in public housing; 25% private rental half living in the City of Yarra 98% born outside Australia (74% Africa; 22% Asia) 35% had poor/very poor spoken English (41% written English) 46% on Newstart/YA; 17% Parenting Payment; 4% on DSP 21% not on income support

8. Engagement with Job Services Australia Note: 21% of clients not on income support payments

9. Key deliverables for the Centre (3 years from start-up)

10. Key findings: employment outcomes • Job placement rate: 42% • Employment outcome (at 13 weeks): 31% • Half (52%) obtained work in open labour market; 29% brokered through BSL; 19% traineeships via BSL’s GTO • 53% of those in paid jobs were casual; 40% contract; 7% permanent • Public housing residents: 41% job placement rate and 27% employment outcome rate This outcome rate compared well with national JSA Stream 3 & 4 jobseekers from CALD backgrounds (margin of 3 percentage points)

11. Key findings: service innovation learnings • The majority want to obtain paid work • Dissatisfaction exists with mainstream JSA services • Emerging evidence of training churn and credentialism • More intensive support (at least 2 sessions per month) associated with employment outcomes (1:60 ratio) • Work & Learning Advisors play a vital role in modeling workplace behaviour through a trusting relationship • Local employer engagement critical (both open employment & social enterprises) to provide work opportunities matched to skills • Post placement follow-up important (clients & employer support) • Proactive outreach strategies important to engage ‘hard to reach’ groups on public housing estates

12. Implications for active labour market policy • Review assessment procedures to ensure all barriers to work are considered in allocating disadvantaged jobseekers to JSA Streams • Stronger measures to ensure JSA collaboration with local services (third party providers) • Invest in ‘wraparound’ approaches, including ‘off-benefit’ funding models for ILMs • Strengthen workforce diversity measures and social procurement strategies to support job pathways • Investigate the prevalence of training churn experienced by disadvantaged job seekers • Consider labour market initiatives to support job retention and advancement for entry level workers

13. Implications for social housing policy • Provision of affordable housing with security of tenure is insufficient to enable social and economic participation: 61% of public housing tenants experience social exclusion * • Gap in unemployment rates between public housing areas and surrounding neighbourhoods can be reduced • Silo-centric programs fail to address multi-dimensional challenges faced by many tenants – better integrated approaches at local level do work • Disincentives to economic participation by working age tenants (& applicants) must be addressed – coherent policies across housing, income support and employment assistance required to ‘make work pay’ * BSL – Melbourne Institute Social Exclusion Monitor 2012

14. Thank you References: Azpitarte F 2012, Social Exclusion Monitor Bulletin, April, Brotherhood of St Laurence and the Melbourne Institute. Brotherhood of St Laurence 2012, Centre for Work & Learning Yarra: Evaluation Report, Fitzroy, Victoria. For more information on the Brotherhood of St Laurence and the work of our Research & Policy Centre: please visit www.bsl.org.au