Annual Report 2012
Represent, Support, Resource
Table of Contents
Chairperson’s Report
3
CEO’s Report
5
2011-12 in Review
6
Major Headlines Over the Past Year
6
Promoting and Strengthening the DES Program
8
Policy and Operations
10
Learning and Development
14
Membership 16 Events 19 The Year Ahead 2012-13
20
Board of Directors 2011-12
22
About Disability Employment Australia
23
Cover image: Employment Options (Spinal Injuries Association) has assisted Jarrod Moncur in obtaining more than $120,000 from the Workplace Modifications Scheme which enabled him to return to work following his accident.
2 Disability Employment Australia
Donna Faulkner Chairperson
Chairperson’s Report
“It gives me great pleasure to reflect on the past year as Chairperson of the Board of Disability Employment Australia—together we have covered a lot of important ground, and have worked hard to ensure the sustainability of the sector moving forward.” Donna Faulkner, Chairperson.
The Board, in their commitment to our members, have again held both meetings and Leaders’ Forums in six states this year. Meetings were often combined with membership functions, where members were provided with opportunities to meet and speak face-to-face with Board Directors. Our August 2012 Conference was attended by 576 delegates from approximately 184 organisations. The glamorous Gala Dinner saw 260 guests wine and dine the night away behind masquerade masks. During the evening, I had the pleasure of welcoming two colleagues into Disability Employment Australia’s third annual ‘Hall of Fame’. Phil Tuckerman AM and Brian Howe AO were recognised for making significant contributions to enhancing the lives of people with disability through open employment. In the past year, the team at Disability Employment Australia has grown, resulting in
increased quality and range of member services. This has had a positive impact in attracting and maintaining members. Research and consultation with both members and DEEWR has contributed to shaping Disability Employment Services in Australia today. Given the growth of Disability Employment Australia, the Board are considering options for relocating the office to another site in the Melbourne CBD. I look forward to providing our members with an update soon. I would like to acknowledge everyone who has contributed to the success of our work this year. In particular, the members who contributed to the range of working groups, papers and submissions—we all know this takes significant time and commitment. I thank our CEO, Lynette May and her team for an outstanding year and my fellow Directors for their commitment in confronting
the challenges in the way that they have. I farewell and pay my gratitude to outgoing Directors Garry Hooper, John Lysaught and Kerry Jones who have all taken on new roles which will no doubt challenge them in new ways. I congratulate my fellow Directors who diligently continue to align the direction of the Board with our commitment to building a governance-focused skills-based Board to ensure the sustainability of Disability Employment Australia and the sector into the future. Last but not least, I thank you—our members—who have contributed significantly to the success of Disability Employment Australia. It is our unique history, philosophy and principles that continue to drive the loyalty, commitment and integrity for our sector—we need you!
Annual Report 2012 3
“The 2011-12 period has been somewhat frenetic for the Disability Employment Services (DES) sector in Australia – we have come a long way, but it is clear that the journey is only just beginning.” Lynette May, CEO.
Brenda Kerr is a psychologist and works as a Job Capacity Assessor for Centrelink. She is a mother of two and has recently written a book that she is pitching for publication. Brenda was supported in her employment by Employment Options, a service of Spinal Injuries Association. 4 Disability Employment Australia
Lynette May CEO
CEO’s Report We have seen the number of participants in the program plateau at around 155,000. And while providers have found their feet in the new program, staff have been required to remain alert to frequently changing guidelines. Notwithstanding, the sector has made a very concerted transition effort from DEN and should be proud of what it has achieved. Last year, I pledged to deliver professional and relevant services. The No to 80% campaign was an example of a new and innovative approach for Disability Employment Australia. This high calibre campaign attracted over 1000 individual supporters and the public support of 116 (mostly member) organisations. Tellingly, over 800 emails were sent to MPs. The quality of our submission to the resulting Senate Inquiry received compliments from all quarters. The well-researched evidence-based presentation coupled by our strong position and logic of argument had a significant impact. The RFT is proof of that. Our relationship with government, politicians and other industry bodies has evolved and we are now increasingly seen as an essential partner in the disability agenda. As a result of our work in the policy space, we have a wealth
of positive recommendations encapsulated in the Senate Inquiry’s report. In addition, we have reports from the Inquiry into Mental Health and Workforce Participation and the Advisory Panel on Employment Services Administration and Accountability. Together, these form high-level official documents attesting to the need for a Specialist Employment program. Consequently, it is evidenced that the DES program requires a different treatment to JSA, alongside the recognition that it is a rights-based program. In sum, this year has been important for the sustainability of the Disability Employment Services program. We are mandated to support the DES sector, and have done so by providing timely and relevant education and resources throughout this challenging year. Our success is demonstrated by participation rates at the conference, forums and educational sessions—all of which have surpassed previous experiences. In my role as CEO, I work to ensure we have a strong and growing membership. This was achieved with numbers reaching 152 at the end of the financial year. The 2011-12 year was very positive for the Disability
Employment Australia team— largely due to the high level of support and involvement from members. We know the coming year will bring even more challenges to test us and the sector. The tender outcome will change the demographics of the sector. We will see a new contract with different nuances. Among the shifting landscape, opportunity is presented by an increased focus on employer engagement and individualised servicing, alongside a modified performance framework. Disability Employment Australia will continue to provide leadership, support and resources to the sector in a timely and informed manner. We invite our members to work with us to ensure we understand your business, program and workforce needs, so that we can more effectively support the sector into the future. And finally, I would like to thank the Disability Employment Australia team, the Board of Directors and most importantly, our members for their support and patronage. Together, we witnessed a prosperous year and can look forward to achieving much in 2012-13.
Annual Report 2012 5
2011-12 in Review July 2011
Social Media Debut We made our social media debut on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube and LinkedIn. Throughout the year we have built up an engaged audience and have encouraged the DES sector to take up the social media challenge to good effect. No to 80 Campaign Online Launch The campaign to oppose wide-spread tendering integrated online elements and garnered wide support from the sector and beyond. The campaign was influential in securing a Senate Inquiry regarding DES-ESS procurement. Bid Management Professional Development Workshops A series of national workshops provided knowledge and resources for members to create effective responses to the Request for Tender.
September 2011
October 2011 November 2011
Association for Supported Employment in New Zealand (ASENZ) Lynette May, CEO, attended the ASENZ conference in Palmerston North, and strengthened strategic international relationships. Diversity@Work Sponsorship Disability Employment Australia sponsored the Disability@Work Awards. National Leaders’ Forum The November Leaders’ Forum took place in Canberra and was followed by the AGM. There was a focus on quality outcomes, the new NDIS context and employer opportunities. Employers Guide to Partnering with Disability Employment Services Booklets were distributed to providers nationwide and were supported by a multi-state information tour and webinar.
»» The Productivity Commission released the Disability Care and Support Report recommending an NDIS in July 2011 »» The Senate’s hearing for the Inquiry into the Administration and Purchasing of Disability Employment Services took place in October 2011
Major headlines over the past year
»» The Senate’s Report on the Inquiry into the Administration and Purchasing of Disability Employment Services was released in November 2011 »» PricewaterhouseCoopers released Disability Expectations: Investing in a better life, a stronger Australia in November 2011 »» The Mental Health Commission was formed in January 2012, and a Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention will be released in November 2012
6 Disability Employment Australia
December 2011
March 2012
Case Management Workshops A series of national workshops tailored to the DES sector built the capacity of members in employment services case management. National Leaders’ Forum The March Leaders’ Forum took place in Perth, with a focus on the RFT Exposure Draft and tender preparation. Tender Strategy and Compliance Workshops We partnered with Shipley Asia Pacific to deliver a one-day workshop to support member organisations in preparing their bid strategies and tender proposals.
May 2012
Christy Lynch National Tour A national tour brought international expertise to the sector, and built capacity in terms of informed policy decisions and the frontline placement of people with intellectual disability in open employment.
June 2012
Employers Guide Online Module The online module built the capacity of DES providers to develop long-term sustainable partnerships with employers. Employer Liaison Capability Framework The Framework was developed in partnership with the Australian Human Resources Institute to increase the capacity of DES employment consultants to engage with large employers.
»» The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) released Employ Outside the Box: The rewards of a diverse workforce in February 2012 »» The Request for Tender (DES-ESS) was released in May 2012 »» The Inclusive Employment 2012-2022: A vision for supported employment paper was released in May 2012 »» The Government announced it would accelerate the implementation of multiple state launch sites for NDIS as part of the May 2012 budget announcements »» The Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission (ACNC) was formed as an interim agency in July 2011
»» Multiple changes were made to the Disability Support Pension • September 2011: Non-DSP eligible applicants were referred to Employment Services (DES) with compliance requirements • January 2012: New impairment tables were released, reducing DSP eligibility • July 2012: DSP recipients under the age of 35 were required to attend a series of information meetings with Centrelink • July 2012: Payment eligibility was extended for DSP recipients working up to 30 hours per week, from 15 hours
»» The New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) was introduced for DES on the 1st of July 2012
Annual Report 2012 7
Promoting and Strengthening the DES Program Behind everything we do is the belief that people with disability should have access to the open labour market—real jobs for real pay. Throughout the year we have met with a number of politicians, including the Hon Kate Ellis—Minister for Employment Participation; the Hon Sussan Ley MP—Shadow Minister for Employment Participation; the Hon Senator Mitch Fifield—Shadow Minister for Disabilities, Carers and the Voluntary Sector; Senator the Hon Jan McLucas—Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers; Senator Rachel Siewert—Green’s spokesperson on Disability and member of the DES Senate Inquiry; and Senator Chris Back— Chair of the DES Senate Inquiry. We have also engaged with the Hon Bill Shorten as Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. We met regularly with a range of Government departments, including the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) and the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC). We have built or strengthened strategic working partnerships with fellow peak bodies and other key stakeholders, such as National Disability Services (NDS), Jobs Australia (JA), People with Disability (PWD), Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), Australian Network on Disability (AND), Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) and the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI).
8 Disability Employment Australia
Disability Employment Australia has presented at a range of conferences and other events throughout the year regarding Disability Employment Services. These have included: the Mental Health Association of NSW; a Chinese government delegation at the Australia - China International Association; at the Melbourne release of ACCI’s Employ Outside the Box; the Canberra Network of Employment and Training Agency; the Disability Employment SA Symposium; and at the Ark Conference, ‘Workplace Diversity in Australia’. Lynette May built relationships with our counterparts in New Zealand at the Association of Supported Employment in New Zealand’s (ASENZ) conference in May 2011. We have also attended a range of other events or met with organisations, such as the First Peoples Disability Network (Australia), the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Social Inclusion Board; Blind Citizens Australia; and the Mental Health Council. Our strengthening international linkages have seen the sector benefit from the visits of key players in the UK disability employment sector, including Martin Davies, the CEO of Pluss, and cofounder of the British Association for Supported Employment (BASE) and Christy Lynch the CEO of KARE, and founder of the Irish Association of Supported Employment (IASE). Lynette and Donna continue to have regular teleconferences with the executive of the European Union of Supported Employment (EUSE) discussing common issues and contemplating where our strategies can be aligned to take more of an international stance on some of the trends in policy design and procurement.
Over the last year Disability Employment Australia has worked hard to promote awareness of the DES program, and to strengthen our networks to provide a more encompassing service to members.
Tahir is a former Transition to Work client with BreakThru People Solutions. He is now employed by News Limited through the Creative Spirit Campaign. Tahir collects all print media and updates them in the database. He also undertakes mail distribution and other general office duties. Annual Report 2012 9
Policy and Operations
Over the past year Disability Employment Australia has diversified and broadened our consultative processes to ensure that we represent the breadth of our member base.
As well as face-to-face consultations, we have provided more opportunities for teleconferencing. Members are using these services and providing valuable feedback that is informing our position on a variety of policy issues.
Consultations and submissions
Our growing emphasis on substantive policy papers has provided DEEWR with high quality analysis and recommendations. We are consistently backing up our consultative findings with academic research.
Disability Employment Australia presented a verbal submission at the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Education and Employment’s Inquiry in Mental Health and Workforce Participation. We were joined by Donna Faulkner—Board Chairperson, Cherie Jolly and Margaret Liddell from United Care Wesley - Port Adelaide, and mental health advocate, Keith Mahar—providing a strong combined consumer and provider perspective.
Our increased understanding of national and international best practice about procurement practices and delivery is strengthening our position as experts in the disability employment arena. We continue to run a number of special interest taskforces and longer-term reference groups around topical and strategic issues. Outside of our regular informal requests for feedback from members, the reference groups provide expertise and varied points of view that influence and inform our position in key areas impacting DES, such as tender and transition or Job in Jeopardy. We have provided more opportunities for faceto-face consultation through our Policy Officer visiting members in most states over the past year. Our alignment with other peak bodies in the employment, employer and consumer space has also gathered momentum through our roundtable consultations on issues such as post-tender transition. The quality of our submissions and policy advice is evident in the increasing number of requests from Government to contribute material on key issues within the sector. Our policy papers have long-term strategic focuses that set Disability Employment Australia apart. We have a vision for the future and are working towards that goal in everything that we do.
10 Disability Employment Australia
Inquiry into Mental Health and Workforce Participation
We provided demonstrated evidence indicating the need for the Disability Employment Service program to encompass flexibility and capacity to respond to the episodic nature of mental illhealth. The resulting report from the House of Representatives put forward a number of our recommendations including: amendments to Job in Jeopardy; wider promotion of the program particularly in the online space; evaluation of the DES performance framework for qualitative as well as quantitative outcomes. A call was made for evidence-based practice in the program for catering to the needs of people with mental illhealth.
Inquiry into the Purchasing and Administration of Disability Employment Services in Australia Disability Employment Australia campaigned to secure the first ever Senate Inquiry into the Disability Employment Services program. The Senate Inquiry put the program’s procurement process under the spotlight. Our September 2011 submission to the DES Senate Inquiry addressed a number of key sector issues and was a result of a consultation process with our member organisations. Our submission maintained that the integrity of the program is
paramount, and what is best for participants is best for the program. We also campaigned for the sustainability of the program as a specialist rights-based program. The Senate Inquiry’s Report aligned with our position. The Inquiry recommended the delay of the tender, longer-term contracts and the importance of a quality measure in star ratings. As a result, we have secured: a five year contract term for DES-ESS; a review of the performance framework; a consideration of 52 week outcome measures; and additional attention to post-tender transition. In addition, we ensured that the Request for Tender (RFT) was based on human rights principles and distinct from the previous Job Service Australia (JSA) RFT.
Remote and Rural Servicing Discussion Paper In October 2011, Disability Employment Australia submitted a response to the future of remote participation and employment servicing arrangements. Our submission was informed by consultation with our members and recommended a community-based rehabilitation (CBR) model, and single provider arrangements. The ethos of what we recommended was heeded and a single provider model was implemented.
Transition In January 2012, Disability Employment Australia led a collaborative and creative World Café-style consultation with our members and representatives from other employment and consumer peak bodies about transition issues. DEEWR praised the outcomes of our consultation as they provided strategic direction for formulating the DES-ESS transition plan and ensured that participants did not experience major disruptions. Disability Employment Australia paved the groundwork for a considered response to transition issues during the September 2011 Senate Inquiry. The Inquiry recommended that DEEWR provide the release of a caseload transition strategy to coincide with the draft Request for Tender documents.
Measurement of Quality Services for Job Services Australia DEEWR consulted with Disability Employment Australia regarding proposed changes to the
assessment of KPI 3 (Quality) in the JSA system. We recommended that DEEWR needed to define what quality meant and that the definition should lessen duplication with the Disability Service Standards. We also submitted that the service satisfaction of participants and employers needed a voice. The JSA process allowed us to prepare and understand future program assurance activities, how they will be prioritised and relate this to the DES program.
Non-Payable Outcomes In May 2012, DEEWR provided a revised version of the Non-Payable Outcome Guidelines. Disability Employment Australia called for a more principled approach and wrote to the Minister expressing concern with the approach taken by the Department. Our submission on Non-Payable Outcomes recognised that the guidelines were responding to the actions of a small number of providers to the disadvantage of many. We advocated for a risk-managed principled approach and expressed concern over an increased administration burden and reduced flexibility. Disability Employment Australia stated that the KPIs should be reviewed to ensure they drove desired behaviours and that the guidelines be revised after the performance framework review.
Eligible School Leaver Guidelines Disability Employment Australia took the lead in responding to proposed changes to the Eligible School Leaver pathway into the Disability Employment Services program. Our comprehensive submission highlighted problems with the new approach including that the changes appeared to reduce opportunities for early intervention. To inform our position, we consulted extensively with members, parents and schools. The quality of submissions from members focussing on school and community inclusion was impressive. We made a number of recommendations concerning eligibility. We highlighted ambiguity in the guidelines that could potentially be perceived as ‘risk selection’ and supported the original intention of the guidelines regarding students with high support needs. However, we also raised concerns about a return to fractured
Annual Report 2012 11
Policy and Operations continued
eligibility, the ineligibility of some disability types, and undiagnosed young people.
employment broker projects under the Disability Employment Broker program.
Our recommendations assisted DEEWR to clarify ambiguous guidelines and ensure that the objectives were met.
In January 2012, Disability Employment Australia consulted with members and liaised with the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. We recommended funding go to longer-term projects managed by peak industry bodies that did not replicate the National Disability Recruitment Coordinator (NDRC) or DES outcomes.
DES-ESS 2013-15 Exposure Draft Disability Employment Australia’s response to the Exposure Draft had a massive impact on the selection criteria—we received thanks from the Minister for our succinct and considered input. In forming our response, we consulted extensively with members. The introduction, which framed the Exposure Draft and the draft Selection Criteria, was substantially altered as a result of our submission. The human rights element was recognised and reference to both the NDIS and National Disability Strategy were added. We successfully advocated for a longer contract term of five years. There was also significantly more regard shown to the specialist, longterm, complex and multi-dimensional nature of disability.
DES-ESS Request for Tender 2015-2018 Disability Employment Australia developed a paper for members that detailed our commentary and insights following the release of the RFT. The paper examined current trends and future focus of the program by analysing the changes between the Exposure Draft and the RFT.
Independent Inquiry into Insecure Work in Australia Disability Employment Australia was invited to provide a submission to the Australian Council of Trade Unions’ (ACTU) Howe Inquiry into Insecure Work in Australia. This was made on two fronts. We submitted that competitive tendering is not well suited to DES and is contributing to insecure work for the sector. Disability Employment Australia now has a stronger relationship with the ACTU, and the Inquiry’s report has been used extensively to highlight perceived conflict between the labour market and DES Outcome Guidelines.
Disability Employer Broker Grant Guidelines As part of the Building Australia’s Future Workforce Package, the Government announced $1 million in 2012-13 to fund up to ten disability
12 Disability Employment Australia
National Disability Recruitment Coordinator (NDRC) submission Disability Employment Australia consulted extensively with members on the future of the NDRC. The results of this process have not yet been released. We recommended that the NDRC play a different role in creating demand for people with disability as employees. This recommendation was based on evidence that the recruitment function has not been well-received by members. We proposed that the NDRC would be more effective on the demand-side of the market and should be employer-focused rather than play a recruitment role between DES and employers.
Advisory Panel on Employment Services Administration and Accountability (APESAA) Following the NOUS reports and persistent lobbying regarding the administration burden on both DES and JSA, an advisory panel was established to identify any further unnecessary administration in employment services. Disability Employment Australia submitted a very well-received paper in January 2012. We consulted with Lisa Fowkes, former Job Futures CEO, Dr Ann Neville from Australian National University, other employment peak bodies, and a number of our members. Our paper sketched out a vision for the future of DES within a human rights framework. We advocated for a more simplistic and streamlined process for program administration. The paper laid out our initial concept of DES in the context of the NDIS. It also recommended industry standards and a licensed accreditation system without star ratings as the most suitable procurement method for the DES program.
External Working Groups
also acts as a think tank for starting, piloting, and progressing disability employment initiatives in the APS.
Disability Employment Australia works with DEEWR and other bodies to inform industry views, and influence policy and procedure making processes.
Disability Support Pension Advisory Group
These collaborations, including our representation on a number of key government advisory groups, have been particularly pertinent during the lead up and follow on from the inception of the DES program in 2010.
The Disability Support Pension (DSP) Advisory Group is run by FaHCSIA. It was formed to oversee the development of the impairment tables. It is now focused on monitoring the impact of changes to the DSP.
Disability Employment Australia now has a critical role to play in monitoring how the DES program is implemented to ensure that the program achieves outcomes consistent with the objectives of the Disability Services Act 1986 and the Disability Service Standards.
Employment Partnership Committee (EPC)
DES Reference Group
Disability Employment Services Performance Framework Review Working Group (DESPFRWG)
The DES Reference Group is convened by the Minister and operates through DEEWR. It gathers general feedback and information from the sector. Through our position on this group, Disability Employment Australia represents member views and experiences to DEEWR.
The EPC considers strategic employment participation policy issues and explores opportunities for improved approaches to programs and initiatives.
In August 2012, DEEWR commenced the formal review of the DES Performance Framework. Disability Employment Australia sits on the DESPFRWG and has played an active role in both calling for, and leading, the review.
DES Operational Working Group The Operational Working Group addresses the dual service priorities of meeting operational requirements and client needs while balancing these with meeting contractual obligations. The group is convened by DEEWR. We represent members by collating their feedback, and submitting it to be addressed by the working group.
Information Technology Advisory Group DEEWR established this group in the transition phase of the new DES program. It now continues with revised Terms of Reference as a platform to advise providers of changes and to invite feedback from the sector regarding the ESS IT system.
Contract Management and Performance Framework Working Group The Contract Management and Performance Framework Working Group largely focuses on Job Services Australia (JSA) and Quality Measures in JSA KPI3.
APS Disability Employment Reference Group The Australian Public Service (APS) Disability Employment Reference Group is a joint initiative between Disability Employment Australia and the Australian Public Service Commission. The group represents human resources managers at government agencies and aims to enhance the APS’s employer relationship with DES providers. It
Operations Support There has been a notable decrease in requests for individual operation support regarding the contract and associated guidelines this financial year. This reflects the sector’s increased familiarity with the program and understanding of the contract. Instead, operations queries have centred on practice and compliance issues. As we have direct access to DEEWR, issues that need to be escalated can be dealt with efficiently. If the responses to issues are relevant to the sector as a whole, we share them with members through our Operations Bulletin. There has been a focus on refining operational policies such as Wage Connect and the Enhanced Wage Subsidies this year. Disability Employment Australia has clarified details for members regarding apprenticeships, traineeships and job placements, as well as medical evidence for program summaries and Employer Services Assessment (ESAt) and Job Capacity Assessment (JCA) guidelines. We continue to receive positive feedback from members about the high quality operation support we provide.
Annual Report 2012 13
Learning and Development
Over the last year, Disability Employment Australia has paid close attention to up skilling the sector’s employer liaison capability.
We have forged a strong strategic partnership with the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI). We have leveraged AHRI’s expertise in human resources to develop employer liaison training tailored to the DES employer liaison function. We have also developed a free online module to assist providers to develop long-term sustainable partnerships with employers. As the peak body for DES, we met sector need in the lead up to the RFT by providing professional tender strategy courses with both Bid International and Shipley Asia Pacific. We also linked DES tender teams to providers delivering individualised tender strategy and writing services.
New Appointment Paula Payne started in April 2012 as the new Capability Development Manager. Paula is tasked with formalising and delivering a tailored learning and development program for the Disability Employment Services sector.
Training Courses Bid Management Professional Development Workshops To build sector capacity and assist in creating effective responses to the Request for Tender, we engaged Donna Eiby from Bid Management International to provide world-class training tailored to the DES sector. Training was targeted at different levels with three separate courses, including one-day executive and management units and a five-day operational unit. The courses were run during July to September 2011 in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne and attracted over 80 attendees.
14 Disability Employment Australia
Case Management Workshops This one-day program covered the foundations of case management for the Disability Employment Services sector. It examined a range of approaches from the requirements of the DES consultant and the perspective of the DES participant. The program was delivered in Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth during November and December of 2011, and to in-house providers in Queensland and Western Australia.
Tender Strategy and Compliance Workshops With the release of the draft Employment Services Support Request for Tender in March 2012, we engaged Shipley Asia Pacific to deliver workshops to support member organisations preparing their bid strategies and tender proposals. There was overwhelming support for the initial two Perth one-day workshops and an additional workshop was held in Sydney to meet demand. In total, nearly 90 people attended during March and April 2012.
Capacity Development Initiatives The Employers Guide to Partnering with Disability Employment Services: Booklet Evidence demonstrates that Australian employers want better alignment between DES and their organisation’s recruitment processes. The Employers Guide booklet took the first step in answering this need. The booklet was a joint project with the Australian Network on Disability (AND), and was funded by the Australian Government’s Innovation Fund.
We printed 5000 copies of the booklet and accompanying DVD. These were distributed to approximately 2000 DES sites. A PDF of the Guide is available for download online. To promote the key concepts behind the booklet to Disability Employment Services, Lynette May and AND’s CEO, Suzanne Colbert undertook a nationwide tour.
The Employers Guide to Partnering with Disability Employment Services: Online Module Following the sector’s positive reception of the Employers Guide booklet, an online module was developed. This module builds the capacity of DES providers to develop long-term sustainable partnerships with employers. The online module was funded by DEEWR and is supported by a series of video interviews with DES consultants. guide.disabilityemployment.org.au
Employer Liaison Capability Framework Recent research by the Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) identified that employers generally have little awareness of Disability Employment Services. The Employer Liaison Capability Framework was developed in partnership with AHRI’s strategic human resources expertise to increase the capacity of DES employment consultants to engage with large employers. The framework is supported by a training program, Speaking to Business: An HR Perspective for DES, which will be rolled out nationally in the 2012-13 financial year. The project was funded by the Australian Government’s Innovation Fund.
Hannah Parkes was assisted in finding her first job—at McDonalds—by STEPS Group Australia in Noosa. Photo credit: Andrew Seymour, Noosa Today. Annual Report 2012 15
Membership
A4E Pty Ltd Ability Options Limited Ability Tasmania Group Inc Achieve Australia Limited
Disability Employment Australia is first and foremost a membership organisation. We exist to represent, support and resource our members to deliver high quality Disability Employment Services.
Australian Community Support Organisation (ACSO) Advance Employment Inc Advance Personnel (Canberra) Inc Advanced Personnel Management Anglicare Tasmania Inc Annecto Inc Artius Asteria Services Inc Auswide Projects Autism Association of Western Australia Inc Barkuma Inc Bendigo Access Employment Inc Bizlink Inc
New appointment Patricia Borton started in February 2012. Patricia provides support to Disability Employment Australia’s membership and to the Disability Employment Australia team as Office Manager and Executive Assistant.
BlueLine Employment Break Thru People Solutions Campbell Page Career Contact Inc Cassowary Coast Employment Group Inc CatholicCare Direct Employment Cerebral Palsy League of Qld
Members of Disability Employment Australia
Choice Solutions Inc
On 30 June 2012, we had 152 members.
Community Axis
Coffs Harbour Employment Support Service Inc Communicare Inc Community Bridging Services Inc (CBS) Community First International CVGT Australia Dandenong Valley Job Support Inc Darwin Skills Development Scheme Inc Deaf Services Queensland Deaf Society of NSW (The) Direct Recruitment Distinctive Options EACH Employment Services Echo Australia EDGE Employment Services E-Focus Enterprise & Training Company Ltd EPIC Employment Services Inc Eworks Employment Solutions Finding Workable Solutions Forrest Personnel Inc Gateway Employment Geraldton Personnel Inc Gipps TAFE Employment and Transitional Training Centre (GETT Centre) Gold Coast Employment Support Service Inc
16 Disability Employment Australia
Great Southern Personnel Inc
Personnel Group (The)
Greenacres Disability Services
Personnel Placement Consultancies
Headway Support Service
Personnel West
Hedland Personnel Inc
Pioneer Employment Service Inc
Heta Incorporated
PVS Workfind
Highlands Support Services Inc
Red Cross Employment Services
Hinchinbrook Employment Services Association Inc
ReSolutions Employment
Hotham Personnel Incorporated
Ruah Workright
House With No Steps
Salvation Army Employment Plus (The)
Hume Employment Service Limited
SCI Workforce
Ideal Placements
SkillsPlus Inc
Interwork Limited
SMP Fremantle
Intework Inc
South Burnett Jobmatch Association Inc
Job Centre Australia Limited
Spastic Centre of NSW (The)
Job Solve (ACT) Inc
Spinal Injuries Association
Jobmatch Employment Agency
St. Laurence Community Services Inc
Jobsupport
Stanthorpe Training Centre Inc
Key Employment Association
Stepping Stone Clubhouse
Kimberley Personnel Inc
STEPS Disability QLD
LEAD Employment
SYC
Leading Directions
Sydney Counselling Centre
Limestone Coast Work Options Inc.
Tableland Employment Agency Inc
Link Personnel
The Ascent Group Australia Ltd
Macarthur Disability Services
The Lorna Hodgkinson Sunshine Home
Mach 1 Australia Inc
The MS Society of SA and NT Inc
MADEC
The ORS Group
Mai-Wel Limited
Uniting Care Wesley - Port Adelaide
Maranoa Regional Council
Uniting Care Wesley Country SA Inc
MAS National
UnitingCare Community Employment Service
MatchWorks
Verto
MAX Employment
Victorian Deaf Society
MAX Software Solutions
Vision Australia
Mental Illness Fellowship Victoria
Waminda Services Limited
Minda Inc
Wesley Uniting Employment
Mission Australia
Western District Employment Access
Nexus Human Services Nortec Employment and Training
Western District Supported Employment Service Inc
North Queensland Employment
Western Port Employment Support Service Inc
North West Employment Group
Western Vocational Association Inc
Northcott Disability Services
Westgate Community Initiatives Group Inc (WCIG)
NorthStar Specialist Employment Services
Westside Community Services Limited
Nova Employment
WISE Employment Ltd
OCTEC Inc
Work Solutions Gippsland
ON-Q Human Resources
WorkFocus Group
OnTrack Employment
Worklink Employment Support Group Inc
Open Minds
Workpower
Options Victoria Inc
Workscope Inc
Ostara Australia
Workskil Inc
Outlook Employment
Workskills Illawara
Peel Valley Training Enterprise Inc
Worktrainers Limited
PEP Employment
Your Employment Success
Royal Society for the Blind
Annual Report 2012 17
Disability Employment Australia prides itself in delivering relevant high quality events that motivate and inspire delegates in their roles as Disability Employment Service providers.
Lloyd was a Transition to Work client with BreakThru People Solutions. He is now employed at Droga 5 and undertakes general office duties, including filing, tea and coffee rounds, cleaning and general administration. Lloyd is now the face of the Creative Spirit campaign—a joint BreakThru and Droga 5 initiative to assist creative agencies engage people with disability in employment. 18 Disability Employment Australia
Events New Appointment
Christy Lynch National Tour
Autumn Brown joined the Disability Employment Australia team in February 2012 as Events Manager. She is tasked with delivering professional events to the sector in the form of our Annual Conference and twice yearly Leaders’ Forums. Autumn also provides logistical support for our training program.
Christy Lynch, an international advocate for competitive open employment for people with intellectual disability, toured Australia in May 2012. The tour attracted over 100 attendees and was sponsored by Disability Employment Australia, the National Council of Intellectual Disability and Down Syndrome Australia.
National Leaders’ Forums Canberra, 8-9 November 2011 The November Leaders’ Forum was held in Canberra over a day and a half, and was attended by 112 delegates. The program featured John Walsh from PricewaterhouseCoopers on the NDIS and the implications of a person-centred servicing model for DES. Jenny Lambert from the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented a well-received employer-focused session. Our Annual General Meeting and board elections were held after the first day of the forum.
The tour included a one-day forum in Melbourne. It brought people with intellectual disability to the front of mind for senior staff responsible for designing or influencing policy and service models. A series of workshops tailored for employment consultants were delivered in Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Sydney. The sessions focused on the skills required to successfully place and maintain people with intellectual disability in open employment.
Perth, 14 March 2012 The March Leaders’ Forum was held in Perth and reached capacity with 138 delegates. The one-day program focused on the upcoming DES-ESS Tender and the transition process. A highlight was the well-received World-Café style session, with all delegates actively contributing to the Exposure Draft consultation process. The Forum was followed by two RFT preparation workshops run by Shipley Asia Pacific.
Annual Report 2012 19
The Year Ahead 2012-13
With such a successful and productive year already behind us, 2012-13 promises to deliver more of the same high quality leadership and support that our members expect from the go-to peak body for Disability Employment Services.
Australia’s Disability Employment Conference 2012 Australia’s Disability Employment Conference was held in August of 2012, however much of the preparatory work occurred in the 2011-12 financial year. The 2012 conference was the biggest yet, with 576 attendees from over 180 organisations coming together at the Grand Hyatt in Melbourne on the 8th and 9th of August. The conference was very well-received by delegates, speakers, sponsors and exhibitors. Program highlights included international speaker Martin Davies on the UK experience, and former AFL player and mental health advocate, Heath Black on his personal journey to recovery. Two innovative panel sessions took centre stage in the two-day program. The ABC’s Barrie Cassidy facilitated the Inclusion as a Business Imperative panel, featuring the Hon Bill Shorten MP, alongside Professor Brain Howe, Maria Tarrant from Business Council Australia and Serge Sardo from AHRI. The Listen to Me panel session provided the opportunity for delegates to listen to the frank and sometimes confronting opinions of four individuals as they talked about their experience of the DES program. The Hon Kate Ellis MP addressed delegates and launched a number of new initiatives. Senator Chris Black also spoke. A masquerade-themed Gala Dinner was held at the Plaza Ballroom with 260 delegates letting their hair down and socialising with colleagues from across the country. The conference was preceded by three workshops on the 7th of August 2012. The halfday workshops on change communications in the context of DES-ESS transition, and the UK’s disability employment experience were well received. The pilot training program of the joint AHRI and Disability Employment 20 Disability Employment Australia
Australia Employer Liaison Capability Framework, Speaking to Business: An HR Perspective for DES was delivered over a full day by renowned trainer, Carol Webb.
Hall of Fame The Disability Employment Australia Hall of Fame recognises excellence and life-long commitment to the evolution of disability employment in Australia at a multi-state, national or international level. This is the third year that individuals have been recognised for their contribution to a key legacy in the Disability Employment Services or broader disability sector. The two 2012 recipients were announced at the Disability Employment Australia Conference Gala Dinner in Melbourne, on the 8th of August. Professor Brian Howe AO was acknowledged for his contribution to the wider disability sector through his political career, and in his current position as Professorial Associate in the Centre for Public Policy. Phil Tuckerman AM was acknowledged for his direct contribution to the DES sector, evidenced through his commitment to successfully enabling people with intellectual disability to enjoy the dignity of paid work in the open labour market over the past 26 years.
Employer Liaison Capability Framework Workshops In order to build the capacity of the sector to meet the needs identified through the joint Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) and Disability Employment Australia Employer Liaison Capability Framework, we are running a series of national workshops from September 2012 to May 2013. Entitled Speaking to Business: An HR Perspective for DES, the workshop series will run over ten sessions with the potential for additional in-house sessions.
DES Performance Framework Review Disability Employment Australia is playing a lead role in the current DES Performance Framework Review. We have consulted with members to formulate our position and are providing information to members and other key stakeholders regarding our position and the progress and outcome of the review.
Connections for Quality Disability Employment Australia is producing an electronic guide to assist providers to make the most of the opportunities that Connections for Quality offers DES providers. The guide is funded by DEEWR. The Connections for Quality website aims to provide DES participants with information about selecting a DES provider.
BASE Conference and UK Study Tour In September 2012, Disability Employment Australia CEO, Lynette May and Chairperson Donna Faulkner, presented two sessions at the British Association of Supported Employment (BASE) conference in the UK.
NDIS Launch Sites Disability Employment Australia’s NDIS Employment Taskforce will work on DES issues surrounding the NDIS, and aims to ensure that the NDIS Launch Agency has open employment and the DES program at the fore of its scope. The taskforce has proposed to government that specific employment trials are undertaken at some of the launch sites.
Leadership Exchange In March 2013, Disability Employment Australia CEO, Lynette May will attend a Leadership Exchange in New Zealand hosted
Dion Reweti is a former Employment Options (Spinal Injuries Association) client who has been successfully transitioned from the service after establishing his own business, Wicked Wheelchairs.
by the International Initiative for Mental Health Leadership.
EUSE Conference and UK Study Tour In June 2013, Disability Employment Australia CEO, Lynette May and the Board Chairperson will attend the European Union of Supported Employment’s (EUSE) conference on disability employment. We have submitted an abstract in the hope we are able to present to this international forum.
Employment Services Review 2015 The employment services review of JSA and DES-DMS will also have implications for DESESS, so it is doubly critical for the DES program. The review has been referred to by DEEWR as a potential major reform of employment services, and Disability Employment Australia is committing significant resources to influence this process. We will work to ensure that the APESAA recommendations remain integral to the review. We will submit that DES specialist employment services should remain separate as well as focus on any changes to the program.
DES Workforce Capability Development Disability Employment Australia recognises that workforce attraction, retention and development will be critical for the sector to meet the increasing demands of DEEWR—the purchaser, and the end users—participants and employers. We will consult with members and develop a Workforce Capability Framework and strategy to meet demands. To support this process, we will be forming new and strengthening existing strategic partnerships to resource and support the sector and ensure a sustainable quality service for people with disability.
Annual Report 2012 21
Board of Directors 2011-12
Donna Faulkner Chairperson Executive Director, Work Solutions Gippsland, Victoria
Kerry Jones Vice Chairperson Manager, Personnel Employment, South Australia
Chris Connor Treasurer CEO, Job Centre Australia Limited, New South Wales
Ross Lewis Board Member CEO, Break Thru People Solutions, New South Wales
Keryl Neville Board Member CEO, LEAD Employment, Australian Capital Territory
John Lysaught Board Member CEO, Forrest Personnel Inc, Western Australia
Garry Hooper Board Member CEO, STEPS Disability Queensland Inc, Queensland
Rick Kane Board Member Policy Advisor, WISE Employment, Victoria
22 Disability Employment Australia
About Disability Employment Australia Disability Employment Australia is the peak industry body for Australia’s Disability Employment Services (DES).
After sustaining paraplegia in a fall, Shaun O’Sullivan was back at work for Boeing six months after he was injured with the assistance of Employment Options, a service of Spinal Injuries Association. Shaun was successfully transitioned out of the service and is now in steady, full-time employment.
We are recognised internationally as the preeminent organisation representing, supporting and resourcing the disability employment sector throughout Australia. As a membership organisation, we exist to represent the interests of Disability Employment Services at a national level to government and a range of other stakeholders, such as consumer and employer groups. Disability Employment Australia supports the Australian Government to deliver high quality employment support to people with disability in Australia. We have a unique responsibility to foster innovation and flexibility of service within the Disability Employment Services program. We support our members to achieve best practice service provision in their role to find employment outcomes for people with disability. We advise, advocate, train, inform and undertake events to strengthen and promote the sector. We believe in the right of every member of society to be included fully in the community, and to have control over their own life choices. Participation in the open labour market is a crucial factor in recognising this goal. We strive to inspire, challenge and celebrate the Disability Employment Services sector.
Represent | Support | Resource
Jacqueline Macdonald was interested in working at Woolworths in Lane Cove. Achieve Australia supported her into a ‘face up’ role where she was responsible for the presentation of items. With further support, Jacqueline now works as a demonstrator where she informs customers of the different products that they are sampling.
Suite 408, 365 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000. Phone: +61 3 8676 0353 Fax: +61 3 8676 0355 Web: disabilityemployment.org.au Email: info@disabilityemployment.org.au
youtube.com/disabilityemployment
bit.ly/DESGroup
twitter.com/disabilityemplt
facebook.com/disabilityemployment