Up to 80 job seekers in the Geelong area who are experiencing mental illness will be offered assistance to move from supported employment to open employment, thanks to $160,000 from the Australian Government’s Innovation Fund.

Minister for Employment Participation, Kate Ellis today announced the new funding, which will support the Pathways to Open Employment project. The project will be run by Pathways Rehabilitation and Support Services Limited with social enterprise organisation, Clearwater Business Services (CBS).

“The Australian Government believes we can do better than a lifetime spent on income support for Australians who have the capacity to work but may face particular barriers to entering the workforce,” Ms Ellis said.

“We know that the benefits of work extend far beyond a mere pay packet. A good job brings with it dignity, purpose and a sense of connectedness to the community.”

“Innovation Fund projects like this one are testing out new and exciting approaches to assisting highly disadvantaged job seekers to get the experience they need to find and keep a decent job,” Ms Ellis said.

Local members Richard Marles and Darren Cheeseman praised CBS as a highly successful cleaning and gardening business which has been servicing Geelong for 12 years.

“As part of this innovation fund project CBS will set up a work crew to support and boost the skills of job seekers through vocational training and education so that they will be in a good position to gain ongoing employment here in Geelong,” Mr Marles said.

“The project will use a skilled ‘transition’ worker who will assist project participants as they develop their skills and work with them until they are ready to enter our community’s employment market,” Mr Cheeseman said.

Minister Ellis said that the project also aims to provide participants with access to accredited and non-accredited training.

“This initiative will enhance the existing successful social enterprise, CBS, with the capacity to both support and move people with mental illness from fully supported employment to integrated employment and then into open employment,” Ms Ellis said.

“All participants will also have access to a ‘wrap-around’ service providing them with psychosocial and specific education, training and employment support to meet their individual needs.”

The $41 million Innovation Fund contributes to achieving the Australian Government’s Social Inclusion Agenda by supporting innovative strategies to assist disadvantaged job seekers find and retain employment.

Further information on the Innovation Fund can be found at: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/JSA/Pages/InnovationFund.aspx