The new employment services aims to increase the focus on the needs of the most disadvantaged job seekers and enable them to receive services that are more appropriate for them.
The JSA services provides assistance to a broad range of clients, all of whom are experiencing some form of social isolation as a result of unemployment.
The assistance provided is on an individual needs basis, aimed at finding meaningful and sustainable employment. This includes resume preparation, pre-employment training, training in job search skills such as interview techniques, and lobbying employers on behalf of our clients.
The JSA programs deliver support to job seekers who have multiple non-vocational barriers to employment, e.g. drug and alcohol, homelessness and domestic violence issues. On a daily basis ACSO case managers are meeting with job seekers to create action plans and implement strategies to overcome their barriers to employment.
Each job seeker can work with ACSO to develop their own combination of job search, training and other assistance to address barriers to employment. Under the new system, ACSO has been able to establish a Specialist Homeless Employment Service.
As well as job search support and work experience, job seekers will have greater access to training and skills development and other help at a time better suited to their needs.
Job seekers will work with ACSO to develop their own Employment Pathway Plan. This is an individually tailored plan which takes into account the job seeker’s needs and sets out which services and training will best help the job seeker to find and keep employment.
To receive help, job seekers will generally still be required to register with Centrelink and have an assessment. This will determine the level of assistance the job seeker should receive. The most disadvantaged job seekers will receive the most assistance.
To read more, see the Job Services pamphlet.
For more information on referrals and fees, see the Employment Counselling Service page.
Peter is 32, and has 9 brothers and sisters. At the time of contact with ACSO’s Employment Services, he had no friends, and significant isolation had been a long term factor. Peter doesn’t see his father, and lives in a shed at his mother’s house. As a very young child he was abused at school, and then physically abused by his drug affected brother most of his childhood. His parents’ unstable relationship and employment history meant constant moves, and significant bullying in a variety of schools into which he was unable to assimilate.
As a teenager he ran away from home, and engaged in criminal activity both to survive and in order to have the resources to buy friendships. It was not long into this period that he began a long struggle with substance abuse and depression.
In 2006 Peter was referred to PSP, and referrals were made enabling him to address significant barriers to employment, including homelessness, substance abuse, depression and anxiety, and the emotional impact of abuse. Because of long waiting lists, Peter took action himself in dealing with his addiction. He regularly rang support services to request their assistance. He read many self-help books from the library. These also helped him develop computer skills, and he enrolled himself in various free courses. Throughout this time Peter was encouraged, supported and guided by the ACSO PSP programme, enabling him to continue to progress and not lose hope.
Finally he has been given the opportunity to enrol in a pre-apprenticeship course which will enable him to secure affordable accommodation.
In 2007 Peter won a national achievement award for his efforts towards personal development and improvement.
