EMPLOYER DEMAND AND WORKPLACE FLEXIBILITY STRATEGY

1
Funding Opportunities for Developing Effective
Labour Market Solutions
2
DEWR Portfolio

• Efficient and effective labour market assistance
• Higher productivity, higher pay workplaces
• Increased workforce participation

3
Indigenous

• Indigenous Economic Development Strategy
• Priorities include expanding job opportunities,
  focus on private sector and increasing business
  involvement.
• Structured Training and Employment Project (STEP)

4
Workforce Participation Agenda

• Australias changing demographics
• Projected changes in demand and supply of labour
  pool
• Projected skills in demand
• Employment opportunities and industry growth

5
Research

• Workforce Tomorrow Adapting to a more diverse
  Australian labour market
• DEWR report released November 2005
• www.workplace.gov.au
• Identified 7 key industries

6
Target industries

• Retail
• Manufacturing
• Health and community services
• Property and business services
• Building and construction
• Accommodation, cafes and restaurants
• Mining

7
Welfare to Work package

• 3.6 billion to help all Australians able to
  participate in the workforce to do so.
• Will also help address employers labour and
  skill needs as result of demographic change.

8
Welfare to Work package

• Focus on
• Mature aged (50)
• Parents
• People with a disability
• Very long-term unemployed (gt36 mths)
• Evidence to say they make committed and reliable
  employees

9
Employer Demand and Workplace Flexibility
Strategy - components

• Targeted and improved industry and workplace
  engagement strategies
• Training for employers to manage an ageing
  workforce
• Strategies to increase employment of workers with
  a disability

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1.Targeted industry and workplace engagement
strategies

• Demonstration projects
• Workplace flexibility strategies
• Labour market information portal
• Better Connections workshops
• Labour and skills shortage surveys

11
Funding Models

• Employer Demand Demonstration Projects
• Employment Innovation Fund
• Mature Age Industry Strategy
• Work for the Dole Programme

12
Employer Demand Demonstration projects funding

• Small grants for innovative employment and
  retention strategies in targeted industries that
  can be showcased nationally
• Any interested party can apply for funding

13
Funding guidelines - EDDP

• Welfare to Work target client groups
• 7 identified industries
• Employer led
• lt100,000
• lt12 months
• No ongoing/additional funding
• Innovative
• Sustainable
• Measurable outcomes
• Can be promoted to broader audience
• Demonstrate strong commitment from stakeholders

14
Recent Projects

• Australian Retailers Association
• Train 150 job seekers, including work experience
  and mentoring
• Clubs Victoria
• Train 100 job seekers including work experience
  and lead into traineeships
• SpiritWest
• Train 35 job seekers, including work placement,
  mentoring and licensing

15
Employment Innovation Fund

• Discretionary funding programme for organisation
  to develop innovative approaches to specific
  labour market issues and open employment
  opportunities
• Innovative projects that provide best practice
  models for application within industry sector

16
Funding guidelines - EIF

• Promote innovative, community-based action on
  employment
• Address specific employment and labour market
  problems
• Alleviate the social consequences of local
  unemployment
• lt100,000
• lt12 months
• No ongoing/additional funding
• Sustainable
• Measurable outcomes
• Can be promoted to broader audience
• Demonstrate strong commitment from stakeholders

17
Recent Project

• Hornery Institute Aurora Development Targeting
  high risk disadvantaged job seekers by engaging
  in a pre-employment training programme and linked
  to traineeships and apprenticeships
• For further information visit www.workplace.gov.au
  or email eif_at_dewr.gov.au

18
Mature Age Industry Strategy

• Announced in 2004-05 budget
• Industry based employment strategy focusing on
  recruitment and retention measures for mature
  aged job seekers and workers
• Mature age 45
• Also targeting non welfare recipients

19
Funding guidelines - MAIS

• lt100,000
• lt12 months
• recruitment, retention or retraining
• No ongoing/additional funding
• Sustainable
• Measurable outcomes
• Can be promoted to broader audience
• Demonstrate strong commitment from stakeholders

20
Recent Projects

• Eastlink Employment of 120 mature aged job
  seekers during the construction of the freeway
• Lady Gowrie Childcare Initiative Retention
  project aimed at keeping 20 mature aged childcare
  workers in the industry by providing further
  training to upgrade qualifications
• www.jobwise.gov.au

21
Work for the Dole Sponsors

• Work for the Dole provides work experience
  opportunities for community based projects
• Host sponsors work with community work
  coordinators to develop activities which are
  responsive to community needs

22
Work for the Dole Sponsors

• Not for profit organisations and government
  organisations are eligible to become project
  sponsors
• Work for the Dole projects can include
• Restoration and beautification projects
• Assisting schools
• Working in community shops
• Working with the aged

23
Work for the Dole Sponsors

• For a list of Community Work Coordinators visit
  www.workplace.gov.au
• Call the sponsor hotline 13 62 68

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Features of successful projects

• Employer driven
• Employment service provider commitment
• Strong marketing and communication strategy
• Selection of appropriate clients
• Pre-employment training
• Employer input to training
• Work experience
• Sustainable funding
• Measurable employment outcomes

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Further information

• Information kit
• Project summary handout
• Visit key websites
• www.workplace.gov.au
• www.jobwise.gov.au
• Network with local service providers
• Contact DEWR