DES Providers Webinar DES Guideline Changes 3.00 PM Tuesday 14 January 2014

Presented by: Matt Gardiner Director, DES Programme Management (Participants)

What we will be covering in this Webinar Changes to the following DES Guidelines:  Eligible School Leaver  Direct Registration (including the Direct Registration Form)  Transfer  Job in Jeopardy  DES Wage Subsidy

Guideline updates Overview  Updated guidelines were published on the DES Provider Portal on 9 January  Consultation with industry peaks and state/territory offices.  Overall feedback was supportive.

Eligible School Leaver and Direct Registration Guidelines Why have we updated the ESL and Direct Registration Guidelines?

Results of the ESL Targeted Programme Assurance Project Project conducted in two phases o 22 providers with the largest number of ESL commencements between 5 October 2012 and 31 January o High recovery rate o Guidelines changes and provider education required o Further targeted program assurance later in 2014

Results of the ESL Targeted Programme Assurance Project (cont) Phase One results: o Around 70% were considered ineligible and marked for recovery or identified as requiring additional information due to insufficient/unacceptable evidence o Around 23% met the requirements o Around 7% were out of scope and excluded

Results of the ESL Targeted Programme Assurance Project (cont) Phase Two o Requested further evidence for commencements requiring additional information. o Providers given 28 days to respond o Evidence received for majority of commencements o Commencements identified for recovery

ESL Guidelines - Main changes a definition of “Significant Disability” (p.1) Employments Outcomes for full time students (p.4) information about Direct Registration (Section 1, p.8)

ESL Guidelines - Main changes (cont.) Registering and Commencing former transition to work participants (Section 2, p.9) Final year of school (Section 2, p.10) Australian School Based Apprentice ships and participants and Traineeships (ASBATS) (Section 2, p.10) Transfers (Section 2, p.11)

ESL Guidelines – Documentary Evidence Section 3 “Documentary Evidence to Support ESL Eligibility” (p.11) has been expanded to clarify requirements. Guidelines clearly set out Documentary Evidence requirements for: Directly registering ESLs Demonstrating that a job seeker has a significant disability Demonstrating that a job seeker can work a minimum of eight hours per week.

ESL Guidelines – Documentary Evidence (cont.) Key changes o Guidelines now clarify what form evidence should take:  Primary evidence – primary source document such as a signed and dated letter or official .  Proformas with tick boxes are not acceptable o Specific guidance on the Direct Registration Form o Information about disability funding for students in non-government schools (Attachment B).

ESL Guidelines - Main Changes (cont) To support clarification of the Documentary Evidence requirements: checklist which sets out specific requirements for each aspect of ESL eligibility (Attachment C). proforma paragraphs that providers can use to when requesting evidence from schools (Attachment D).

Other Guidelines Direct Registration Guidelines Direct Registration Form Transfer Guidelines

Job in Jeopardy (JiJ) Assistance Guideline update January 2014

Guideline Amendments Clarification of eligibility criteria Documentary evidence Service expectations

Eligibility Two key updates : The employer must be of the view that their employment is at risk of losing their employment due to the impact of their injury, disability or health condition. The person must be assessed by the DES provider as requiring the assistance available through DES to maintain their Employment and likely to require Ongoing Support.

Documentary Evidence The Employer Form In the absence of the Employer - evidence of employment, a signed statement of how their condition is impacting on their ability to do their job and why they consider their employment to be at risk. Recent evidence of the nature of the injury, disability or health condition

Service Expectations Appropriate assistance to address individual needs and ensure employment can be maintained. Employment Pathway Plan must accurately reflect assistance being provided.

DES Wage Subsidy Guidelines Updates

DES Wage Subsidy Guideline Updates Why have we updated the Wage Subsidy Guidelines? Wage Connect Subsidy index increase Removal of reference to Connecting People with Jobs Clarification on Agreement creation and Wage Connect operation

DES Wage Subsidy Guideline Updates Wage Connect subsidy Index increase Increased from $5912 to $6047 from 1 July Connecting People with Jobs subsidy Removal of references to ceased programme Process Flow added – Outlines steps required to create, finalise and claim a DES wage subsidy in the Departments IT system

DES Wage Subsidy Guideline Updates Policy Clarification – Outlining importance of entering and finalising Wage Subsidy Agreement within 28 days of job commencing – Information on requirements to support wage subsidy placements when DES participants transfer between providers – Clarification on Wage Connect calculation when Unpaid Absences, reduction in hours or Workers Compensation occurs.

Red tape reduction New arrangement – only one update quarterly Other changes – Outcome Guidelines – Documentary evidence – Records Management