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ACE, the national peak body for disability employment services, today welcomes the launch of new employment services for people with disability.
Key features of the new arrangements include no more waiting lists, more specialist services and the provision of long-term support to people who require it in order to remain connected to the workforce.
The new Disability Employment Services comprise of two programs, Disability Management Services and Employment Support Services. The Job Capacity Assessment process remains the primary gateway to assistance, although jobseekers are also able to approach service providers directly to express their interest in seeking assistance.
New providers will join existing services which have operated under the names Disability Employment Network and Vocational Rehabilitation Services for many years. These services currenty support over 150,000 people with disability prepare for and join the nation's workforce each year.
"There are over 700,000 Australians in receipt of the Disability Support Pension. Huge numbers are motivated to enter the labour market, yet have been deterred from doing so in recent years due to long queues for assistance, red tape and inappropriate service models. The removal of the funding cap on the program is set to lift worforce participation rates for jobseekers with disability in a very real way" said Ms Macali.
The retention of long-term support as a key feature of the new program was particularly welcomed by Ms Macali; "The government has demonstrated its commitment to some of this nation's most disadvantaged and socially excluded people through this initiative - it will go a long way to ensuring that they are able to contribute to our nation's social and economic development in years to come".
The employment rate remians almost 30% lower for people with disability. Specialist disability employment services succeed in maximising each person's potential to participate in an inclusive society by focusing on ability, not disability.
"We believe that the new Disability Employment Services and associated Employer Incentives launched today by Minister Arbib will lead to Australia improving its performance in this area compared to its OECD colleagues and is a practical expression of the government's social inclusion agenda" Ms Macali concluded.
ACE CEO LUCY MACALI IS AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW 0425 725 137
