Submission to the Employment Services Reform Discussion Paper

Our submission is informed by our work as part of the Fair Chance Initiative, a partnership between Social Ventures Australia, The Smith Family and the Australian Business Community Network, and our expertise in advocating for and building a fairer employment system.

In this submission we advocate for reformed employment services to be accompanied by a new approach to employers. Over the last thirty years, although there are examples of employers and providers developing effective partnerships, the overall trend is disengagement of employers from the system. The nature of the underlying labour market challenge has also changed. The question is how it can enable participants to move into jobs higher up the skills ladder, while encouraging and supporting employers to invest in creating more inclusive pathways and workplaces.

We recommend that the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations:

• Creates more pathways from income support into secure, meaningful work
• Helps employers identify and remove barriers to hiring and retaining people facing disadvantage
• Improves employment services so people receive the support they need before and after starting work
• Invests in local and industry-led solutions that connect people with job opportunities
• Funds and expand approaches that are proven to improve employment outcomes