Unemployment On Welfare Reform Agenda
10 July 2014 at 11:29 am
Welfare Not for Profit Anglicare Australia will present new research on the needs of long-term unemployed to the first Roundtable on the Interim Report on Welfare Reform at the Department of Social Services in Canberra on Friday.
Anglicare Australia will join other major welfare Not for Profits including UnitingCare, the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul in the first of two roundtable discussions on the Federal Government’s interim review into Australia’s welfare system.
The new research, commissioned by Anglicare Australia, shows that people out of work for the long term need individual skills and capability development to help them find and sustain a job, rather than simply being matched to job vacancies.
“Beyond Supply and Demand addresses issues at the heart of the McClure Welfare review, how to shift the focus of working age welfare to getting more people into work,” acting Anglicare Australia Executive Director Roland Manderson said.
“There is a lot of comment in the media suggesting people don’t try hard enough. Our evidence is that real jobs and individual support makes the difference.
“Beyond Supply and Demand is a research paper on our network’s evidence of what works for people excluded from the workforce.
“Its findings are that we are most effective when we recognise the person – and their goals and ambitions – at the centre of exclusion and acknowledge their circumstances, and the barriers and challenges they face.
“It’s what we call a ‘life first’ rather than ‘work first’ approach.
“Most Australians have hopes and preferences for their future, and many have important attachments to their families and local communities. People out of work are no different. They want a ‘normal’ life too; a job and their own home. And it is our job to see they get the chance.”
Beyond Supply and Demand was written for Anglicare Australia by the Australian Centre for Community Services Research at Flinders University.
The Government’s review into welfare payments has been headed by former Mission Australia CEO Patrick McClure.
The following Interim Report documents are available at www.dss.gov.au/welfarereform
