employment
Employment changes
The Federal Government has established a new Disability
Employment Services (DES) provider panel, with the aim of
improving the DES program for job seekers. Chief Executive
of Nova Employment, Martin Wren, shares his views on the
changes and offers tips to people looking for work.
E
barriers, what’s the average time
from signing up to getting a job, how
will you support me to stay in your
program, what’s the average hours
of work for people that you place
into employment, what’s the average
wage, what percentage of people
that you’ve placed in work are still
in work one year later, tell me about
verybody can improve and This is where people with
I don’t deny that’s true for disability may need to do some
DES providers. People with homework before deciding which
your staff training program, and
what’s staff retention like?
Take notes. If the answer to any of
disability seeking work must be provider to use. You have a choice, so these questions is not forthcoming,
able to access services that achieve ask questions. or is uninspiring, exercise caution
meaningful outcomes. That’s
Some good questions to ask
demonstrat ed in hours worked, are: have you much experience in
wages earned and longevity of working with people who face similar
employment.
Having a job can lead to greater
before signing up.
One of the things that would
make a real difference in the number
and quality of employment outcomes
would be for the people seeking
independence. Work offers a place to work, or the service users, to be more
grow, as well as stability, friendships, assertive in challenging the promises
more money in your wallet, routine of the service providers.
and a sense of purpose.
In the National Disability
56
Left: Nova Employment
helped Harry to gain open
employment at Springwood
Motor World. Below: CEO
of Nova Employment,
Martin Wren.
The new contract for DES came
into effect from July 1, with a whole
Insurance Scheme (NDIS) bunch of new organisations starting
environment, where user choice and up that will give consumers even
control enables consumers to vote more choice, but choice and control
with their feet, more and more DES have no value unless they are based
providers are adapting their methods on informed wisdom.
of operation to match service users’ www.novaemployment.com.au
needs. www.jobaccess.gov.au
employment
linkonline.com.au