Minister for Employment Participation, Kate Ellis was joined by Federal Member for Lindsay, David Bradbury, today to announce new funding for a high performing Nepean employment services organisation to run an innovative new pilot program.

More than 80 disadvantaged job seekers in Western Sydney will get extra assistance to build skills and get into work with more than $180,000 invested from the Australian Government.

“The Australian Government has committed new funding of $4.7 million to some of the best performing employment services across the country to run these pilot programs,” Ms Ellis said.

“By funding employment services that are already achieving strong results to trial new and innovative approaches to getting people into work – other services from around the country will be able to learn from their experience.”

PVS Workfind has been provided funding to run the pilot having been identified as a high performing employment services provider.

They will partner with Australian Business Limited, a local Australian Apprenticeship Centre, to create new opportunities for employment and training for highly disadvantaged job seekers in the Nepean area.

This pilot will help participants to link up with local employers to provide job placements leading into apprenticeship and traineeships.

“Like PVS Workfind, the Australian Government knows that having a decent job is about so much more than collecting a weekly pay packet,” Ms Ellis said.

“By connecting unemployed Australians with a support network of community and service providers we can ensure a sustainable relationship with the world of work rather than just a job that only lasts for the short term.”

Federal Member for Lindsay, David Bradbury, said he was pleased to see a local service provider being recognised as one of the highest performers in Australia. 

“PVS Workfind provides a fantastic service to our local community and I am delighted that they have been recognised for their hard work and excellent results.

“This funding boost will be of great benefit to jobseekers in our local community, providing them with better access to the support and skills they need to enter the workforce.

“I look forward to working closely with PVS and taking what they learn from this pilot to Canberra so that the whole country can benefit from their expertise and experience,” Mr Bradbury said.

The Job Services Australia (JSA) pilot program is designed to enhance employment service provision to job seekers with multiple disadvantages, including those with a lack of recent work experience, mental health issues, drug and alcohol dependency and homelessness.

A total of 20 pilots will be run by high performing JSA providers in identified areas of disadvantage across the country and will assist around 2000 disadvantaged jobseekers.

These pilots, in conjunction with a range of other measures in the Building Australia’s Future Workforce package, will strengthen employment services across Australia and maximise the employment outcomes for disadvantaged communities.

For further information on the Job Services Australia Demonstration Pilots program:

http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/JSA/EmploymentServices/Pages/jsapilots.aspx