Employment Initiatives
Goal, output, Division, alignment
Divisional Structure
Context
Description of services
Key outcome measure(s)
Performance
Under-skilled and disadvantaged jobseekers
Industry Employment Programs
Commitment by DEIR to Queensland Government's response to National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006-2011
Industry specific training
Employment Assistance Package for Cyclone Larry victims
Indigenous and youth initiatives
Looking ahead
Divisional structure
Context
Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative was introduced in October 1998 when the unemployment rate in Queensland was 8.4%. The initiative focused on raising the competitiveness of the most disadvantaged jobseekers in the labour market. To 30 June 2007, 175,615 disadvantaged jobseekers had been assisted under the initiative resulting in 124,103 jobs.
As a result of the changing labour market including substantial employment growth, strong economic activity and the effects of an ageing population, the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative was phased out during 2006-07 and replaced by the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative as outlined in the Queensland Skills Plan (PDF, 754 KB) released in March 2006.
Queensland has continued to prosper in this strong economic climate. The unemployment rate in June 2007 was at a record low of 3.4%. Despite this, there were still 76,3001 Queenslanders currently jobless and an estimated 108,000 Queenslanders who are employed but would like more hours of work. Some groups of people still experience higher than average unemployment rates due to varying reasons including a lack of skills or recent work experience or because they face other barriers. Skilling Queenslanders for Work will help address these issues by maximising workforce participation and improving the skills and productivity of people who want to work.
It is estimated that there are some 937,000 working age Queenslanders not in the labour force. Of this number approximately 214,000 people want to work. By lifting Queensland’s participation rate relative to comparable but higher performing OECD countries this would add approximately 140,000 people to the labour force. Skilling Queenslanders for Work focuses on maximising workforce participation ensuring Queensland maintains its high growth state.
As a result of machinery-of-government changes, the Employment and Indigenous Initiatives Division of the former Department of Employment and Training became part of the newly formed Department of Employment and Industrial Relations in October 2006. The Worker Assistance Program formed part of the Department of State Development.
Description of services
Employment and Indigenous Initiatives provides:
- policy advice on employment issues including a specific focus on disadvantaged groups in the community
- a range of services to help Indigenous Queenslanders enter or progress in the workforce
- funding for organisations to deliver programs to assist unemployed and underemployed people to become work-ready for secure sustainable employment
- raising awareness of employers and the community of the effects of an ageing population and its implications for the future supply of labour.
The initiative has a number of key stakeholders including:
- state government departments, statutory authorities, local government authorities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Councils, and committees
- community based not- for- profit organisations
- education and training providers
- unions, industry and employer bodies
Key outcome measure(s)
Queensland’s unemployment rate is at an all time low of just 3.4% in June 2007. A year earlier, the unemployment rate in Queensland was 4.7%. The Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative has achieved great success over the last nine years by assisting those who are most disadvantaged in the labour market to find jobs. The initiative has also assisted in helping to reduce the unemployment rate in Queensland, particularly long-term unemployment. Queenslanders who have been out of work 12 months or longer stands at 13.8% well below the Australian figure of 16.9%. Since commencement of the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative in October 1998, more than 124,000 people have secured employment as a direct result of their participation under the various employment programs.
These results alone are excellent but even more satisfying is the sustainability of individuals in employment. The most recent 12 month destination surveys of participants showed that employment outcomes continue to improve with 64.2% of people from the Work Placement program and 62.7% from the Employment Assistance program in employment 12 months after completing their program. The 12 month destination surveys of trainees under the initiative found that 89% of trainees obtained employment either with the agency where they undertook their training or with another employer.
Performance
In 2006-07, employment programs transitioned from the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative to a new labour market response, Skilling Queenslanders for Work. Since the commencement of the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative in October 1998 to 30 June 2007, more than 175,615 disadvantaged jobseekers had been assisted which resulted in 124,013 jobs being created. During 2006-07 the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative provided funding to assist 21,423 jobseekers.
The Experience Pays Awareness Strategy was successfully launched and supported by a state-wide media campaign which commenced in early 2007. The strategy aims to raise awareness and encourage the adoption of age-friendly recruitment and workplace management practices with an allocation of $6 million over three years. The advertising campaign has been successful in engaging its audience with strong take-out of the key message to recruit, retrain and retain mature age workers. The strategy promotes best practices in the recruitment and retention of older workers and links eligible mature age people with information and referral services. Other components of the strategy included the appointment of eight Industry Liaison Officers, located with key employer and union groups, who are working closely with employers and individuals in relation to recruiting, retraining and retaining mature age workers.
Under-skilled and disadvantaged jobseekers
Under-skilled and disadvantaged jobseekers were specifically targeted under a number of community employment programs including: Community Jobs Plan – Work Placement; Community Jobs Plan – Employment Assistance; Back to Work: Parents and Carers and Employment Assistance Service for Prisoners Post Release.
As at 30 June 2007, Employment Initiatives:
- Incorporated the learnings from the eight Community Jobs Plan pilots into the framework that underpins the guidelines for Skilling Queenslanders for Work. The guidelines support the delivery of more flexible customised employment and training assistance measures that are better able to respond to the individual needs of jobseekers.
- Approved $34.8 million under the Community Jobs Plan to assist 8,162 long-term unemployed, mature aged and other disadvantaged jobseekers with targeted job placements, job search assistance and training.
- Committed $1.9 million for the Employment Assistance Service for Prisoners Post Release Program to assist 2,100 offenders prior to, and following release, to achieve work readiness and gain sustainable employment. An external evaluation of the program resulted in a positive review and Cabinet Budget Review Committee endorsement to continue the program after July 2007.
- Approved 23 projects across the state to assist 1,317 unemployed parents and carers obtain work. The Back to Work: Parents and Carers program provides customised assistance, which may include work experience, nationally recognised training, job search, a contribution to childcare, transport and work-related clothing costs. A wage subsidy is also available to eligible employers who employ a participant from the program.
- Under an agreement between the Australian and Queensland Governments, the Queenslanders Working Together initiative has been funded since 2003. A range of strategies under the initiative offer specific support to mature age and parental jobseekers and other associated target groups, including women in post-release from prison and jobseekers in rural and remote areas. In 2006-07, 13 projects were approved to assist 792 disadvantaged jobseekers. Projects funded have a high component of accredited vocational education and training and are delivered with specific industry focus including aged care, horticulture, retail, information technology and hospitality training.
Industry Employment Programs
The department has achieved significant outcomes through collaboration with industry and other stakeholders especially at a local level. Job programs which focus on providing employer engagement and capacity building opportunities have proven particularly beneficial for industries and other stakeholders. During 2006-07, the department:
- Created 2,089 additional apprenticeship and traineeship places to be employed from funds leveraged through the Building and Construction Industry Training fund by supporting up-skilling, cross-skilling, and research and development within the building and construction industry.
- The Training in Communities program targets Queenslanders who experienced difficulty competing in the labour market or who were marginalised from learning or training opportunities. Those targeted included disadvantaged unemployed people and existing workers who were under-employed or were vulnerable in the workforce due to technological change or industry restructure. To 30 June 2007, contracts for accredited training and other assistance were approved to assist 6,134 disadvantaged Queenslanders with a total investment of $6.6 million.
Commitment by DEIR to Queensland Government’s response to National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006-2011
The Department of Employment and Industrial Relations has committed $5 million over five years under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative to assist 100 people with a mental illness each year prepare for the workforce.
During 2006-07, $1 million was approved for projects to provide a range of employment and training options for people living with a mental illness. These projects were delivered in various locations such as Caboolture, Capalaba, Beenleigh, Southport, Wacol, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Roma and Townsville. Participants experiencing disadvantages in gaining employment due to mental health issues were placed with host organisations and were offered work placements, ongoing individual support and job search training and assistance. As at June 2007, 62% of the 102 people assisted have either been retained in employment by their host organisations or have found alternative employment. Others have gone on to further study, voluntary work, job search or are pursuing personal issues.
This commitment aligns to the National Action Plan on Mental Health endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) on 14 July 2006 under which one of the outcomes is to increase the ability of people with a mental illness to participate in the community, employment, education and training, including through an increase to stable accommodation.
Year of the Lifesaver
To support the 'Year of the Lifesaver', Surf Life Saving Queensland was funded a total of $520,000 under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative of which $100,000 was approved for a six week Skills for Life Program. This Community Jobs Plan – Employment Assistance project will provide 100 participants with job preparation assistance and the opportunity to undertake formal training to qualify them to go on patrol as voluntary and paid lifesavers. Employment outcomes for participants will include a lifeguard at public aquatic facilities, water parks and beaches or as a wave runner vessel operator.
Multicultural Employment Strategy
More than 3,600 Queensland refugee and migrant jobseekers have been assisted into the Australian workforce over the last three years through the Multicultural Employment Strategy, a state government initiative. The strategy was developed and implemented in 2004 to address the needs of jobseekers from non-English speaking backgrounds particularly refugees, newly arrived migrants and Temporary Protection Visa holders.
Multicultural organisations throughout the state are being funded to deliver a range of projects including paid work placements, employment assistance, training and Australian workplace culture workshops. These projects are helping refugees and migrants who, through circumstances beyond their control, struggle to integrate into Australian life and find work.
So far, over $9.6 million in funding has been approved under the strategy to support projects like the Logan Employment African Project (LEAP), run by ACCES Services; the Host Employment and Training (HEAT) project, run by Bridgeworks Employment and Training; Refugees Ready for Work run by the Construction Training Centre; Job Track run by Townsville’s Migrant Resource Centre and in Innisfail, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries ran the The Hmong Community Support Project.
These are just a few of the successful projects the State Government is supporting through the Multicultural Employment Strategy to help refugees, migrants and other jobseekers from non-English speaking backgrounds.
Industry specific training
The Department of Employment and Industrial Relations, through the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative is continuing to assist industry to provide industry specific training to address skills shortage areas. Two industry groups were approved funding under the initiative in 2006-07:
- The Australian Industry Group was approved funding of $179,000 to assist 120 mature age long-term unemployed people with training to address the availability of skilled labour as the second highest issue impacting upon manufacturing businesses; and
- The Australian Manufacturing Technology Institute Ltd was approved funding of $100,000 to provide 60 unemployed people with industry relevant training in the metal manufacturing industry. This is part of a national pilot project run in conjunction with the federal government, registered training organisations and industry.
Training in Communities funding was provided to assist the diving industry meet safety issues addressed through increased regulatory requirements that were introduced in 2005. The former departments of Employment and Training; and Industrial Relations developed the Strategy for Training of Occupational Divers. The strategy has received a commitment of over $2.8 million in state government funding with Employment and Industrial Relations contributing $324,000 for the employment of a training coordinator and associated activities and with Education, Training and the Arts providing funding of $2.49 million to train around 600 occupational divers.
Employment Assistance Package for Cyclone Larry victims
The department responded to the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Larry through the continued implementation of the $18.6 million Cyclone Larry Employment Assistance Package (CLEAP) over two years. The package included a range of employment assistance measures designed to help clean up the massive damage and importantly, keep local people in jobs and in their communities.
The assistance provided has proven extremely successful with over 1,000 local people receiving employment and training within local community and government organisations. The CLEAP, which operated over 2005-06 and 2006-07, committed $13.8 million to Community Jobs Plan projects. Without this package, displaced workers may have left the region in search of other employment opportunities which would have had a detrimental effect on the local economy.
The banana industry was the most affected in the region with estimates suggesting 95% of banana crops had been blown down or damaged. Just prior to Cyclone Larry hitting North Queensland, it was estimated the banana industry employed between 3,000 and 4,000 people.
Assistance to the banana industry through the CLEAP focussed on four major areas –
- initial clean up of debris and damage to banana farms through Operation Farm Clear
- provision of labour for the short-term
- provision of industry appropriate training for workers
- addressing the longer term labour supply needs.
The department’s efforts to assist local displaced workers are continuing through a partnership with the Australian Banana Growers’ Council Inc, which is one of the strategies resulting from an Employment Summit chaired by Minister Mickel for the Banana Industry in January 2007. A specific outcome was funding of a Labour Coordinator for 12 months to help develop strategies to address the longer term labour supply for the industry. The Coordinator commenced in March 2007 and with support from a steering committee comprising government and industry representatives, a range of strategies are being implemented including:
- linking of Yarrabah residents into training and jobs in the banana industry. Approximately 30 Yarrabah residents are continuing to work on banana farms across Tully and Innisfail as a result of this project. This project will continue into 2007-08 and plans are in place to expand it to other Indigenous communities
- establishment of the Banana Industry Training Pathways project, a joint initiative of this department and the Australian Agricultural College Corporation to provide job ready and industry skills to unemployed people to help prepare them for employment in the banana industry
- school students are being attracted to the banana industry through a range of horticulture school-based traineeships expected to commence in late 2007
- existing workers are having their skills assessed and recognised through a recognition of prior learning process established specifically for this industry.
This package of assistance has been integral to the prosperity for North Queensland by enabling the banana industry – the biggest horticulture industry in the region – the opportunity to clean up, replant and re-harvest within a relatively short period, as well as address the short and long-term labour supply needs of the industry.
Indigenous and youth initiatives
The department aims through innovative initiatives to:
- enable Indigenous Queenslanders to participate in jobs and economic development in their local communities
- skill young Queenslanders for a brighter future for themselves and Queensland.
Programs that have provided assistance include: Indigenous Employment and Training Support Officers; Indigenous Employment and Training Managers; the Indigenous Employment Policy for Queensland Government Building and Civil Construction Projects (20% Policy); services provided by the Wal-Meta Unit; First Start Program; Get Set for Work Program; and Youth Training Incentives.
Queensland currently has approximately 90,000 active apprentices and trainees with the Indigenous proportion being 3.7% (or 3,332). In 2006 Indigenous cancellation rates were 7 percentage points higher than the overall rate. In 2007 the cancellation rate was only 2 percentage points above this rate. Completion rates have also improved for Indigenous apprentices and trainees by 2.8 percentage points to be 0.3 percentage points above the overall rate.
These increased retention and completion rates are due in part to the expansion of Indigenous Employment and Training Support Officers. Under the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative, the number of Indigenous Employment and Training Support Officers was increased from 20 to 40. These officers aim to improve the retention and completion rates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander apprentices, trainees and vocational students. This expansion has enabled more people to access culturally appropriate mentoring and support services and to ensure ongoing participation in the labour market. To 30 June 2007, Indigenous Employment and Training Support Officers provided assistance to 2,352 Indigenous apprentices, trainees and vocational students.
Under Skilling Queenslanders for Work, Indigenous Employment and Training Managers were also expanded from six to 12 manager positions. These officers aim to work closely with Indigenous communities and organisations, individual employers and other key stakeholders to identify employment and training opportunities for Indigenous people and to develop and implement clear Regional Indigenous Employment and Training Plans to access these opportunities.
The Indigenous Employment Policy for Queensland Government Building and Civil Construction Projects "IEP (20% Policy)" aims to maximise potential employment opportunities in relation to Queensland Government building and civil construction projects in the 35 specified mainland and Torres Strait Indigenous Councils across Queensland. The IEP (20% Policy) also aims to address skills shortages in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities by providing vocational skilling for residents through involvement with the projects. A long-term aim is to reduce the dependency of these communities on externally sourced skilled labour for construction and maintenance of community assets by building the residents’ capacity to participate in work teams or Indigenous enterprises. Available data from January 2006 to 30 June 2007 indicates that 378 jobs were created through the IEP (20% Policy) on 51 building construction projects and 93 civil construction projects.
The Wal-Meta Recruitment Services delivered cultural awareness training to 805 public sector employees across 16 government agencies. The unit also delivers career advancement training to Indigenous public sector employees. Of the 71 participants undertaking the leadership style programs in 2006-07, 57 completed the program with an accredited qualification. Wal-Meta Recruitment Services assisted 95 Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders to obtain employment in the Queensland public sector.
The First Start program to support entry-level training for young and disadvantaged jobseekers with little or no work experience allocated 1,900 additional traineeship places through a budget of $22.8 million provided subsidies to Queensland public sector agencies and not-for-profit community organisations to employ trainees. To 30 June 2007, 1,058 trainees have been reported as employed. A further $3.6 million was allocated for the final year of the employment of public sector apprentices in skill shortage occupations.
The department is committed to supporting the new Senior Phase of Learning which requires that students who completed year 10 in 2006 are involved in the new compulsory participation phase in 2007. This means that young people are required to take part in education and training for a further two years or until they have gained a Queensland Certificate of Education; gained a Certificate III or IV vocational qualification or have turned 17 years of age. Young people are able to leave education or training to enter the workforce during this period as long as they are working at least 25 hours a week.
As part of the new compulsory participation phase of education and training, the department approved $17.2 million to support employment and vocational skilling options for young people. The department:
- Approved $6.4 million to eligible public sector employers as well as private sector employers in rural and remote areas; for Indigenous people and Australian South Sea Islanders; in skill shortage trades through the Youth Training Incentive Program. This resulted in 2,069 school-based apprenticeship and traineeship places for young people undertaking senior secondary education.
- Committed $10.8 million for 2,247 places under the Get Set for Work program. The program provides employment preparation for 15-17 year olds who are either early school leavers or otherwise at risk of disengagement from learning and who, without assistance, are likely to face lifelong difficulties in gaining and sustaining employment; and within this program specifically approved $0.32 million to assist 230 young unemployed people aged 14 years 9 months to 18 years sentenced to community-based orders.
Looking ahead
New employment programs
Skilling Queenslanders for Work, which replaced the Breaking the Unemployment Cycle initiative, formally commenced on 1 July 2007. The initiative provides more intensive case-management approaches to support people who are the most vulnerable in the labour market to gain sustainable job ready skills and employment outcomes. In 2007-08, under Skilling Queenslanders for Work, $81.75 million will be spent to assist approximately 17,000 Queenslanders.
As part of Skilling Queenslanders for Work, a new employment access strategy - Participate in Prosperity - targeted at individuals and communities in, or at risk of, persistent poverty will be piloted in 2007-08. Targeting individuals disadvantaged in the labour market also assists in addressing social exclusion and alleviating poverty.
Participate in Prosperity seeks to address the increasing workforce participation and sustainability of employment for individuals and families with multiple issues through the integration of human services into a single agreed intervention plan.
Research shows that poverty is strongly linked to personal factors and geographic location. Without intervention, individuals in certain geographic locations have little chance of securing employment. As the disadvantaged are disproportionate users of state government services, this places ongoing pressure on services such as health, public housing and social support. In 2007-08, $3 million will be allocated to a pilot program to link the support available from human services with employment assistance.
Queensland Skills Plan
A stocktake of the implementation of the Queensland Skills Plan is proposed as there has been considerable change in the Queensland labour market including increased migration, a boom in the resources sector and increased infrastructure development and planning. There have also been considerable learnings in the implementation of specific actions. These changes and experiences support the need for a review and revitalisation of the actions that should underpin the next phase of the Queensland Skills Plan for the period 2008-10 to ensure Queensland maintains its strong economic position. The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative and the Experience Pays Awareness Strategy will form part of the review.
1 June 2007 labour force figures.
Last updated 21 July 2009
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