Disability Employment Services (DES) Reform 2018 Enhancing the Links June 2018

What is Disability Employment Services (DES)? Enhancing the Links

Disability Employment Services (DES) For people whose disability, injury or health condition is assessed as their main barrier to employment Two Services: Disability Management Service (DMS) – job seekers who require assistance to find employment, and who may need occasional support at work Employment Support Service (ESS) – job seekers who need assistance to find employment, and who require long-term Ongoing Support in the workplace Enhancing the Links

DES Providers Delivered by a mix of large, medium and small, for profit and not-for-profit organisations Provide tailored employment assistance Build relationships and linkages with employers and other stakeholders Connect participants to skills development options Provide ongoing support in the workplace Help participants meet mutual obligations Enhancing the Links

Who is Eligible for DES? Job seekers who: assessed as requiring DES support aged at least 14 but not yet attained Age Pension qualifying age are at or above the legal working age in their state or territory have a future work capacity with intervention (within 2 years) of at least 8 hours per week are an Australian resident (some exceptions apply) are not studying full time not working at or above their Employment Benchmark hours Enhancing the Links

Changes to DES from 1 July 2018 Enhancing the Links

Key DES Changes from 1 July 2018 Aim is to increase economic and social inclusion of people with disability Changes include: Greater participant choice and control Greater competition and contestability between providers Strengthening link between provider revenue and performance Trialling possible extension of DES to additional final year school students Enhancing the Links

Increased Participant Choice and Control Greater choice of provider Choice of providers from across Employment Service Area boundaries Flexible modes of contact Improved ability to transfer between providers Enhancing the Links

Improving Competition and Contestability Between Providers Initial five-year term for panel of providers Subsequent grant application processes Removal of market share arrangements Funding follows the participant Enhancing the Links

Strengthening Link between Provider Revenue and Performance Rebalancing from approx. 60:40 service fees to outcome fees to approx. 50:50 split Risk-adjusted funding model: Some participants require more support, some less, to get employment Participants assigned funding level based on likelihood of achieving employment outcome Provider revenue more dependent on success in getting people into work. Enhancing the Links

Strengthening link between Provider revenue and performance In addition to 13 and 26-week Outcome Fees: 4-week outcome payment replaces Job Placement Fee Paid when participants work benchmark hours for at least three weeks, over a four week period 52-week outcome payment Paid when participants remain employed for 52 weeks Enhancing the Links

DES and Younger Job Seekers Enhancing the Links

Importance of post-school education 93% of all new jobs will require post-school education Source: ABS, Education and Work, May 2015, 15 to 74 years; Department of Jobs and Small Business, Skill Projections, five years to November 2020 Enhancing the Links

Eligible School Leavers (ESL) in DES Provides early streamlined access to DES for final year school students with significant disability Job seekers can directly register with a DES provider Job seekers are not required to undertake an ESAt Receive support to begin to address barriers to open employment and transition to post-school work Enhancing the Links

Students undertaking ASBATS or State/Territory Transition to Work programs or NDIS SLES Students choosing to undertake Australian School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (ASBATs): do not need to be in their final year of school must be undertaking an ASBAT that has a modified curriculum or delivery to accommodate the student’s disability. Young people who are in the final six months of an approved state/territory transition to work program or NDIS SLES supports. Enhancing the Links

School Leaver Trial Evaluate expanding eligibility for DES to students with less significant support needs in their final year of school Determine if DES support increases the number who successfully transitioning from school to work, without any adverse affects on their educational attainment. The School Leaver Trial will not alter current ESL arrangements Enhancing the Links

Useful Information and Links JobAccess website (jobaccess.gov.au) DSS website (dss.gov.au) DES Program changes from 1 July 2018 DES Grant Agreement Enhancing the Links

Questions ?? Enhancing the Links