The New Disability Employment Services
The Department is seeking feedback on the proposed Service Guarantees for the new Disability Employment Services, including Programs A and B, the National Disability Recruitment Coordinator (NDRC) and JobAccess. The Service Guarantees outline the services that Participants can expect from these providers.
Draft Service Guarantee documents are available at the links below:
Program A - Draft Service Guarantee
Program B - Draft Service Guarantee
NDRC - Draft Service Guarantee
JobAccess - Draft Service Guarantee
Please provide your feedback to the DES review inbox by close of business on Wednesday 25 November 2009.
Disability Employment Services 2010-2012 Request for Tender
The Minister for Employment Participation, Senator the Hon Mark Arbib MP has released the RFT for the Disability Employment Services 2010-2012.
Media Releases
21 August 2009 – New employment Services unveiled today
Message from Minister for Employment Participation Senator the Hon Mark Arbib
Update on the Review of Disability Employment Services
Notice to all key stakeholders ( PDF 15KB | RTF 12KB)
Progress on the Review of Disability Employment Services - May 2009
The Government recently completed a review of the employment services for people with disability – Disability Employment Network and Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
On 7 April 2009, the Minister for Employment Participation, the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, announced (7 April 2009 – New Employment Services for People with Disability) details of the new Disability Employment Services to take effect from 1 March 2010.
Minister O’Connor announced on 20 May 2009, the release of the Exposure Draft for the new Disability Employment Services and Employer Incentives Scheme 2010-2012 Purchasing Arrangements.
In the new model existing caps on services will be removed and all job seekers with disability will have access to individually tailored employment services while employers will have access to greater support.
The new services will give job seekers, and their families, greater certainty and allow providers to work with schools, hospitals and allied heath organisations to place job seekers into work.
Exposure Draft
The Exposure Draft and all information including purchasing arrangements, consultation sessions and feedback relating to the Exposure Draft are available at Purchasing.
Invitation to Treat
September 2009 - The latest details on the ITT will be available at Employment Services Purchasing.
May 2009
Prior to issuing the Request For Tender for the new Disability Employment Services and Employer Incentives Scheme 2010-2012, DEEWR will conduct an Invitation to Treat (ITT) for Program B Services. The objective of this element of the purchasing process is to minimise disruption and uncertainty for participants and employers currently receiving services from high performing Disability Employment Network (DEN) Capped providers. The ITT is limited to DEN Capped providers as they provide long term support in the workplace.
Specific feedback has been sought on the ITT Consultation Paper ( PDF 51KB | RTF 109KB) and the Department wishes to advise that the deadline for this feedback has now closed.
Q&As relating specifically to the Invitation to Treat (ITT) developed based on questions raised through consultation sessions and the Disability Employment Services hotline are available.
(PDF 24KB | RTF 44KB)
A power point presentation on the proposed methodology given to the ACE Leaders’ Forum on 20 May 2009 is available. ( PPT 557KB | RTF 27KB)
Background
Following consultations held in early 2008 the Hon Brendan O’Connor, Minister for Employment Participation, announced in May that disability employment services would remain separate and distinct from universal employment services.
In September 2008, Minister O’Connor released a discussion paper which canvassed issues that had been raised regarding the need to improve employment services for people with disability. The Minister called for comment from current and potential service providers and other stakeholders, seeking their views on the future direction of disability employment services.
Submissions in response to this paper closed on 1 October with over 100 being received including feedback and advice from individuals with disability and their advocates, disability employment service providers, employers and disability peak organisations.
Feedback and advice from these submissions as well as suggestions made during consultation sessions and those made directly to the Minister have formed the basis for a proposed new model for disability employment services.
The proposed new model for disability employment services, The Future of Disability Employment Services in Australia, discussion paper is outlined in this second discussion paper released by Minister O’Connor on 3 December 2008.
Disability Employment Services funding level tool reference group
An important component of the new Disability Employment Services will be the development of a Funding Level Tool.
Disability Employment Services – Transition Arrangements
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) is committed to working with all providers to assist them in their preparations for transition. Detailed work is underway to ensure that transition is as smooth as possible for job seekers, employers and employment service providers.
The Future of Disability Employment Services in Australia Discussion Paper
On 3 December 2008, the Minister announced the release of The Future of Disability Employment Services in Australia discussion paper outlining the Government’s proposed improvements to disability employment services.
The purpose of The Future of Disability Employment Services in Australia discussion paper
( PDF 499KB | RTF 188KB ) and the subsequent consultation sessions was to seek views on the proposed model. Submissions to this paper closed on 30 January 2009.
If you would like a copy of this discussion paper in an alternative format, or if you want more information on the Review, you can call 1800 064 516 or email desreview@deewr.gov.au.
Submissions
Submissions to this review closed on 30 January 2009.
All submissions received to the discussion paper, The Future of Disability Employment Services in Australia, are available to be viewed, with exception of those requesting confidentiality.
Consultation Sessions
Consultation Sessions on the Exposure Draft for the new Disability Employment Services were held in June 2009.
- PowerPoint presentation given at each of the previous consultation sessions is available for download ( PPT 557KB | RTF 27KB)
Questions and Answers (Q&As)
Q&As about the Disability Employment Services Review are now available from the Employment Services Purchasing DES Exposure Draft site.
-
Some additional questions relating specifically to the Invitation to Treat (ITT) are now available
(PDF 24KB | RTF 34KB)
These questions and answers have been developed based on questions raised through consultation sessions and the Disability Employment Services Review hotline.
Also the PowerPoint presentation given at each of the previous consultation sessions is available for download.
- Review of Disability Employment Services: September 2008 ( RTF 53KB)
- The Future of Disability Employment Services: December 2008 ( RTF 54KB | PPS 662KB )
Disability Employment Services Performance Framework Industry Reference Group – Report
- Disability Employment Services Performance Framework Industry Reference Group report
( PDF 369KB | RTF 529KB)
An Industry Reference Group was established by the Minister for Employment Participation, the Hon Mark Arbib MP, to provide advice on the performance management framework for the new Disability Employment Services (DES), commencing on 1 March 2010. The report has informed the Performance Framework as detailed in the Disability Employment Services 2010-2012 Request for Tender.
Membership of the Industry Reference Group included the following peak industry associations:
- ACE National Inc (ACE)
- Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO)
- Australian Rehabilitation Providers Association (ARPA)
- Jobs Australia Limited
- National Disability Services (NDS)
- National Employment Services Association (NESA)
The Industry Reference Group focussed on the key performance indicators for the new programs including weightings and the development of a method for measuring the comparative performance of providers in the new programs.
Once tenders have closed the industry peaks will be asked to identify two provider members each to join the group, which will then turn its attention to more technical aspects of the framework. This way it can be assured the results will be practical and achieve the objectives set for the framework.
Contact Details
For information on the Disability Employment Services 2010-2012 purchasing arrangements including the Invitation To Treat, please contact the Employment Services Purchasing hotline on 1300 733 514 or email espurchasing@deewr.gov.au. For all other enquiries please contact the Customer Service Line on 1300 363 079.
Links to discussion papers and other reviews and evaluations
Media Releases