News
31 Jan 2012
Michael Traill
31 January 2012
The Australian Financial Review
When Alex Shead hires employees in the Fair Repairs social enterprise he founded three
years ago, his screening process is different from that of many employers.
He received an application for a maintenance services job from an indigenous
Campbelltown man called Jeff, whose challenging resumé included no record of
permanent employment.
and hired him, which has resulted in Jeff being promoted in the business. In Jeff's
words: "Having a permanent job has changed my life and my family. I am proud to earn
an income and be part of building the business."
Jeff's social and economic turnaround highlights a much broader opportunity to drive
productivity by adopting an inclusive approach to growth and jobs in this country.
Recent data highlights significant growth in indigenous employment rates over the
past 15 years. But there are more than 345,000 Australians stuck in long-term
unemployment.
Many of these people have social exclusion, disability, mental health or addiction
issues that are significant barriers to workforce entry.
We need to focus on the practical steps that enable excluded Australians to step out of
welfare and into work. For this to happen at the scale required needs engagement from
mainstream employers.
Supported transitional paths from exclusion to employment can sit with mainstream
businesses, and not just as a corporate feel-good exercise.
The common elements of successful programs are threefold.
First is a leadership commitment that is reflected in management engagement and
ownership of the program. Second, the recognition of the need for patience. As one
program leader put it: "We balance the fact that there are no excuses for non-performance
on the job . . . with the need to build the personal and job readiness skills
that do take a longer period of time before a trainee reaches full productivity."
Third, is engagement with community and service providers to ensure appropriate
support.
The cost of programs that take the long-term unemployed to employment
opportunities are in the range of $20,000 to $30,000 a head.
The social, economic and productivity benefits in shifting an excluded individual
receiving unemployment benefits or disability pension (or costing the country about
$80,000 a year, if in prison) are compelling. Governments must recognise the need for
flexibility in funding the investment required to access the business and non-profit
partnerships that are driving real employment opportunities for the long-term
unemployed
14 Feb 2011
Read the full article here.