Keith Pitt congratulates new jobactive organisations

Federal Member for Hinkler Keith Pitt today announced the six organisations that will deliver improved employment services to jobs seekers and businesses in Bundaberg, Childers and Hervey Bay.

A new $5 billion employment services model, known as jobactive, will replace Job Services Australia from July 1.

Mr Pitt said the Job Services Australia system introduced by Labor was no longer meeting the needs of job seekers and employers.

“Under Labor, employment services were allowed to focus on process rather than results, churning job seekers through training for training’s sake,” Mr Pitt said.

“Service providers will no longer receive payments for ‘job placements’ alone.

“There will be clearer incentives for providers to help job seekers keep a job, by better preparing them to meet the needs of local employers.

“The new model will reward seasonal work outcomes, because data shows that people who accept a few short-term employment opportunities are substantially more likely to gain a full time position.”

Speaking at Impact Community Services in Bundaberg, Mr Pitt congratulated Job Futures Ltd, Advanced Personnel Management, MAX Employment, NEATO Employment Services, Sarina Russo Job Access and Mission Providence on being selected through a competitive tender process. Impact will deliver the services on behalf of Job Futures in Bundaberg and Childers.

“Organisations were assessed by the Department of Employment in terms of their capacity to meet the needs of local job seekers, their past performance and their organisational and management arrangements,” Mr Pitt said.

Job Futures CEO Matt Little said Impact had a strong track record of improving the lives of unemployed people, through sustainable opportunities to work.

“We’re thrilled that together Impact and Job Futures have been selected to continue their efforts in the Bundaberg region,” Mr Little said.

“We believe that creating social and economic opportunities for an individual creates enormous knock-on effects for families, workplaces and local economies, which are self-amplifying.

“As a not-for-profit, we invest back into the communities in which we work to provide more services. It’s more than employment services; it’s community activation!”

Impact Chief Executive Tanya O’Shea said today’s announcement was a fantastic outcome for Impact, which highlighted the amazing work the organisation’s employment services do every day supporting their clients into employment.

“We look forward to providing the people of Bundaberg, Gin Gin and Childers with the same quality service under jobactive, to help them achieve their employment endeavours,” Ms O’Shea said.  

Mr Pitt said Hinkler providers would receive additional resources from Government, in recognition of the added challenges they and their local job seekers face in regional Queensland.

“My number one priority since being elected has been helping Hinkler residents secure employment,” he said.

“The Coalition Government has introduced a range of measures to support job seekers and we’re giving businesses incentives to create jobs.

“Work for the Dole is being rolled out nationally, following its success in Bundaberg and Hervey Bay. Work for the Dole coordinators will work with local community organisations to identify activities and places.”

In coming months, local job seekers will receive advice on which organisation will assist them with looking for work after 1 July, 2015.  In the meantime, job seekers should continue to work with their existing Jobs Services Australia provider.

Further information is available at www.employment.gov.au/employment-services-2015 by telephoning 1300 733 514.

Media contact: Larine Statham 0427 653 814  

• Businesses can access up to $10,000 to employ mature age job seekers
• Young job seekers who find a job and stay off welfare for 12 months will receive $2500, and a further $4000 at 24 months
• Receive up to $9000 relocation assistance to take up a sustainable ongoing job
• 15-25 hrs compulsory Work for the Dole each week for most job seekers under 50
• Trade Support Loans of up to $20,000 for apprentices, with a 20% discount for successful completion
• Wage subsidies of up to $6,500 for businesses that employ long-term welfare recipients, young or indigenous jobs seekers
• $476 million Industry Skills Fund for staff training to help businesses expand
• Green Army volunteers gain a qualification while helping clean up the environment