Media Release by Senator the Hon Amanda Vanstone

Specialised help for our most vulnerable

Today I am pleased to announce the 144 organisations that will deliver the new Personal Support Programme (PSP) from July 2002 (see attachment). By 2005 this new programme will have helped over 70,000 vulnerable Australians overcome their significant barriers to gaining employment.

Specialist officers within Centrelink will assess and refer people eligible for the programme to appropriate PSP providers. The PSP seeks to bridge the gap between short-term crisis assistance and employment-related assistance. It will provide assistance to people with serious and sometimes multiple non-vocational barriers to employment. Many of the organisations selected to deliver the PSP will offer specialist counselling in areas such as mental health problems, drug and alcohol dependency, homelessness, domestic violence and family relationships breakdown.

The response to the tender has been fantastic. The successful organisations are made up of a diverse range of services that have the experience and knowledge to help people who are at risk at becoming disengaged from our community.

Some of the more prominent providers include Mission Australia, Centacare, Salvation Army and Uniting Church-Wesley Mission, as well as major regional providers like JobNet in Tasmania and SA Baptists.

The Personal Support Programme will be delivered from 413 sites across Australia. From Tungentyere in Alice Springs, Wendy Holder in Tasmania, Odessey House in Melbourne, Wyong Neighbourhood Centre, Adelaide Central Mission to the North Perth Migrant Resource Centre.

Importantly, 45 per cent of the new services will be in rural and regional areas. This will be a great boost for many communities, like the Torres Strait, Kununurra and the Snowy Mountains who, for the first time, will be able access this level of support.

The Howard Government is committed to a practical and sustainable welfare system that gives extra help to the most vulnerable in our community. The Personal Support Programme will help rebuild the lives and improve the wellbeing of tens of thousands of Australians.

The Personal Support Programme replaces the old Community Support Programme. With 144 organisations on board, the PSP will help more people, provides better coverage and more choice for participants.

New South Wales

Sydney

  • Blue Mountains – Mission Australia, Options Community Enterprises Ltd
  • Canterbury/Bankstown – Centacare Australia Ltd, Marrickville Community Training Centre Inc, Mission Australia, Vietnamese Community in Australia-NSW Chapter Inc, workdirections Pty Ltd
  • Central Coast – Centacare Australia Ltd, Mission Australia, Wyong Neighbourhood Centre Inc.
  • Central West – Job Futures Ltd, Mission Australia, Sydney Counselling Centre Pty Ltd, The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) for Wesley Mission
  • Fairfield/Liverpool – Break Thru Personnel/Sydney Rehabilitation Services (BTP/SRS), Centacare Australia Ltd, Fairfield Community Resource Centre Limited, Mission Australia, Ostara Australia Limited, STARTTS Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture & Trauma Survivors, The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) for Wesley Mission, Vietnamese Community in Australia-NSW Chapter Inc
  • Hawkesbury – Hawkesbury Skills Incorporated
  • Inner City/Eastern Suburbs – Break Thru Personnel/Sydney Rehabilitation Services (BTP/SRS), Centacare Australia Ltd, Jewish Care, Mission Australia, Options Community Enterprises Ltd, Sydney Counselling Centre Pty Ltd, The Salvation Army (New South Wales) Property Trust, Turning Point Employment Services Ltd, Waverley Action for Youth Services Inc
  • Inner West – Marrickville Community Training Centre Inc, Options Community Enterprises Ltd, Sydney Counselling Centre Pty Ltd, The Salvation Army Employment Plus
  • Macarthur – Centacare Australia Ltd, Job Futures Ltd, Mission Australia
  • North Shore – Mission Australia, Options Community Enterprises Ltd, Sydney Counselling Centre Pty Ltd
  • Northern Beaches – Mission Australia, Ostara Australia Limited
  • Outer West – Break Thru Personnel/Sydney Rehabilitation Services (BTP/SRS), Emerge Australia Limited, Mission Australia, The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) for Wesley Mission, workdirections Pty Ltd
  • St George Sutherland – Centacare Australia Ltd, Hurstville Enterprise Association for People Services Inc, Marrickville Community Training Centre Inc, Ostara Australia Limited

Hunter and North Coast Region

  • Coffs Harbour – Enterprise and Training Company of Coffs Harbour Limited, Ostara Australia Limited, workdirections Pty Ltd
  • Grafton – Tursa Employment & Training Inc
  • Hastings – Centacare Australia Ltd, The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) for Wesley Mission
  • Hunter – Life Activities Incorporated, The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) for Wesley Mission
  • Kempsey – Centacare Australia Ltd, Mission Australia
  • Lower Hunter – Lake Macquarie Clubhouse Incorporated, Life Activities Incorporated, Options Community Enterprises Ltd, The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) for Wesley Mission, Westlakes Community Training Services Inc
  • North Coast – Ballina Skills Development Centre Inc., Tursa Employment & Training Inc, workdirections Pty Ltd
  • Richmond – Ballina Skills Development Centre Inc., Tursa Employment & Training Inc
  • Taree – Mission Australia
  • Tweed – Tursa Employment & Training Inc, Tweed Training and Enterprise Company Limited
  • Upper Hunter – Job Futures Ltd, Joblink Plus Ltd

Illawara and South Eastern NSW Region

  • Eurobodalla – Job Futures Ltd., Oasis Pre-Employment Network (OPEN) Incorporated
  • Lower South Coast – Job Futures Ltd, Mission Australia
  • Queanbeyan – Centacare Australia Ltd, Job Futures Ltd, The Salvation Army Employment Plus
  • Shoalhaven – Centacare Australia Ltd, Oasis Pre-Employment Network (OPEN) Incorporated, The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) for Wesley Mission
  • Snowy – Job Futures Ltd
  • Southern Highlands – Mission Australia
  • Southern Suburbs – Centacare Australia Ltd, Mission Australia
  • Southern Tablelands – Mission Australia
  • Wollongong – Access Community Group Ltd, Centacare Australia Ltd, Mission Australia, Ostara Australia Limited, The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) for Wesley Mission

Riverina Region

  • Central Murrumbidgee – RELATIONSHIPS AUSTRALIA CANBERRA & REGION INC, Riverina Community College Inc, The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) for Wesley Mission
  • Hume – Continuing Education Centre Albury Wodonga Ltd, Ostara Australia Limited
  • Murray Darling – MADEC
  • Sturt – Griffith Skills Training Centre Incorporated, Ostara Australia Limited, Riverina Community College Inc

Western NSW Region

  • Central Eastern – Central West Community College Limited, Mission Australia
  • Far West – The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) for Wesley Mission
  • Gwydir Namoi – Joblink Plus Ltd, Mission Australia, Newtrain Incorporated
  • Keepit – Job Futures Ltd, Joblink Plus Ltd, Newtrain Incorporated, Peel Valley Training Enterprise Incorporated
  • North East – Centacare Australia Ltd, Joblink Plus Ltd
  • Orana – Narromine Community Skills Project Incorporated, The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW) for Wesley Mission
  • Oxley – Joblink Plus Ltd
  • Parkes – Forbes Employment and Training Service Incorporated, Mission Australia
  • Patterson – Mission Australia, OCTEC Incorporated

Australian Capital Territory

  • Australian Capital Territory Region – Centacare Australia Ltd, Mission Australia, Ostara Australia Limited, The Quest Group Pty Limited, Caloola Farm

Northern Territory

Northern Territory Region

  • Darwin – Centacare Australia Ltd, Darwin Skills Development Scheme Incorporated, Mission Australia, Turning Point Employment Services Ltd
  • Alice Springs – Centacare Australia Ltd, Job Futures Ltd
  • Katherine – Centacare Australia Ltd, Mission Australia

Queensland

Brisbane Region

  • Gold Coast – Centacare Australia Ltd, Gold Coast Drug Council, LGA Group Pty Ltd, Mission Australia, QC-MOVE, Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma Inc., Schizophrenia Fellowship South Queensland Inc, Sisters Inside Inc
  • Ipswich – Australian Red Cross Society – Queensland, Lifeline Community Care, Mission Australia, QC-MOVE, Sisters Inside Inc
  • Logan – Assisting Collaborative Employment Support Services Incorporated (ACCESS INC), Australian Red Cross Society – Queensland, Beenleigh Housing & Development Company Ltd, Centacare Australia Ltd, Mission Australia, QC-MOVE, Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma Inc., Sisters Inside Inc
  • North Brisbane – Australian Red Cross Society – Queensland, Centacare Australia Ltd, Epic Employment Service Inc, Mission Australia, Options Community Enterprises Ltd, QC-MOVE, Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma Inc., Sisters Inside Inc, Stepping Stone Clubhouse Inc.
  • Redcliffe Caboolture – Centacare Australia Ltd, Epic Employment Service Inc, LGA Group Pty Ltd, Mission Australia, Sisters Inside Inc, workdirections Pty Ltd
  • South East Brisbane – LGA Group Pty Ltd, Mission Australia, QC-MOVE, Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma Inc., Sisters Inside Inc, The Baptist Union of Queensland trading as Community Workforce Solutions
  • South West Brisbane – LGA Group Pty Ltd, Mission Australia, Mt Gravatt Training Centre Inc, Ostara Australia Limited, QC-MOVE, Queensland Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma Inc., Sisters Inside Inc., Stepping Stone Clubhouse Inc.
  • Sunshine Coast – Community Solutions Inc., Epic Employment Service Inc, Mission Australia, Sisters Inside Inc, workdirections Pty Ltd

Central and Northern Queensland Region

  • Cairns – Centacare Australia Ltd, Far North Queensland Personal Support Services, Innisfail CYSS Incorporated, Ostara Australia Limited, Turning Point Employment Services Ltd
  • Gladstone – Employment North Ltd
  • Mackay – Centacare Australia Ltd, Industry Education Networking Pty Ltd,
  • Mt Isa – Centacare Australia Ltd, Mount Isa Skills Association Incorporated
  • Rockhampton – Centacare Australia Ltd, The Salvation Army, Turning Point Employment Services Ltd
  • Tablelands – Tablelands Job Training Inc
  • Torres Strait – Far North Queensland Personal Support Services,
  • Townsville – Mission Australia, Roman Catholic Trust Corporation for the Diocese of Townsville, Turning Point Employment Services Ltd

Southern Queensland Region

  • Bundaberg – BUNDABERG SKILLS CENTRE INC, Gympie SkillCentre Inc., Schizophrenia Fellowship of Southern Queensland Inc Bundaberg Clubhouse,
  • Fraser Coast – Centacare Australia Ltd, Gympie SkillCentre Inc, Training Employment Support Service Inc
  • Gympie – Gympie SkillCentre Inc., Mission Australia, South Burnett Community Training Centre Inc
  • Toowoomba – Centacare Australia Ltd, Mission Australia, Toowoomba Clubhouse Association Inc.
  • Warwick – Mission Australia

South Australia

Adelaide Region

  • Adelaide Metropolitan – Adelaide Central Mission Inc, Baptist Community Services (SA) Inc, Centacare Australia Ltd, Community Bridging Services (CBS) Inc, Heta Incorporated, Offenders Aid & Rehabilitation Services of South Australia Inc., Ostara Australia Limited, SA Career Consultants Pty Ltd, Service to Youth Council Inc.
  • North Eastern Adelaide – Baptist Community Services (SA) Inc, Relationships Australia (SA) Incorporated
  • North Western Adelaide – Mission Australia, Port Adelaide Central Mission Inc.
  • Northern Adelaide – Anglicare SA Incorporated, Baptist Community Services (SA) Inc, Career Systems Incorporated, Para Worklinks Incorporated, Relationships Australia (SA) Incorporated, Workskil Incorporated.
  • South West Adelaide – Baptist Community Services (SA) Inc, Career Systems Incorporated, LGA Group Pty Ltd, Workskil Incorporated,
  • Southern Adelaide – Adelaide Central Mission Inc, Anglicare SA Incorporated, Career Systems Incorporated, Offenders Aid & Rehabilitation Services of South Australia Inc., Workskil Incorporated

South Australia Country Region

  • Ceduna – Baptist Community Services (SA) Inc
  • Fleurieu/Kangaroo Island – Career Systems Incorporated, Workskil Incorporated
  • Gawler – Baptist Community Services (SA) Inc, Ostara Australia Limited
  • Kadina – Ostara Australia Limited, Port Pirie Central Mission Inc
  • Murraylands – Career Systems Incorporated, Lutheran Church of Australia (South Australia and Northern Territory District), Offenders Aid & Rehabilitation Services of South Australia Inc.
  • Port Augusta – Centacare Australia Ltd, Community Bridging Services (CBS) Inc, Ostara Australia Limited
  • Port Lincoln – Baptist Community Services (SA) Inc, Ostara Australia Limited,
  • Port Pirie – Community Bridging Services (CBS) Inc, Port Pirie Central Mission Inc
  • Riverland – RivSkills Inc, The Salvation Army (Vic) Property Trust
  • South East – JF & AL Pegler Pty Ltd ATF JF & AL Pegler Family Trust, Lutheran Church of Australia, (South Australia and Northern Territory District), Ostara Australia Limited
  • Southern Adelaide Hills – Baptist Community Services (SA) Inc, Career Systems Incorporated, Lutheran Church of Australia (South Australia and Northern Territory District).
  • Whyalla – Baptist Community Services (SA) Inc, Ostara Australia LImited

Tasmania

Tasmania Region

  • Hobart – Anglicare Tasmania Inc, Centacare Australia Ltd, JobNet Tasmania, Mission Australia
  • Launceston – Anglicare Tasmania Inc, JobNet Tasmania, Wendy Holder Psychologist
  • West and North West – Anglicare Tasmania Inc, Centacare Australia Ltd, JobNet Tasmania

Victoria

Melbourne Region

  • East – Eastern Access Community Health Inc., Employ-ease Pty Ltd, K.Y.M. Employment Services Incorporated, K.Y.M. Employment Services Incorporated, LGA Group Pty Ltd, Mission Australia, The Salvation Army (Vic) Property Trust – Employment Plus
  • Inner East – Australian Community Support Organisation Inc., Centacare Australia Ltd, Disability Employment Action Centre (DEAC) Inc, Hanover Welfare Services, LGA Group Pty Ltd, Micado Pty Ltd, Options Community Enterprises Ltd, Youth Projects Incorporated, YWCA Victoria
  • North – Brotherhood of St Laurence, Hanover Welfare Services, LGA Group Pty Ltd, Life Care Services Association Incorporated (LCSAI), Merri Housing Service Inc, Migrant Resource Centre North East, Mission Australia, Odyssey House Victoria, Ostara Australia Limited, WorkPlacement, Youth Projects Incorporated.
  • North West – Brotherhood of St Laurence, Job Futures Ltd, JobCo Employment Services Inc, Migrant Resource Centre North East, North Western Support Services, Orana Family Services (Uniting Care), Ostara Australia, St Vincent de Paul Society Limited, WISE Employment Ltd, Youth Projects Incorporated
  • Peninsula – ASCENDENCE PTY LTD, Australian Community Support Organisation Inc., Brotherhood of St Laurence, Ostara Australia Limited, Wayss Ltd
  • South – Eastern Regions Mental Health Association Inc Registered Assoc No A2158, Echo Australia Incorporated, Job Futures Ltd, LGA Group Pty Ltd, Southern Health, Southern Mental Health Association Incorporated, Springvale Community Aid and Advice Bureau
  • South East – Centacare Australia Ltd, Echo Australia Incorporated, Ostara Australia Limited, South Eastern Region Migrant Resource Centre Inc.
  • South West – Centacare Australia Ltd, Job Futures Ltd, Karingal Inc, LGA Group Pty Ltd, Migrant Resource Centre North East, Westgate Community Initiatives Group Inc.
  • West – Karingal Inc, Migrant Resource Centre North East, Mission Australia, Western Metropolitan Youth Employment Project Inc, Westgate Community Initiatives Group Inc.

Eastern Victoria Region

  • East Gippsland – Mission Australia, Options Community Enterprises Ltd, Quantum Support Services Inc.
  • Goulburn Valley – Mission Australia, The Salvation Army (Vic) Property Trust
  • Kiewa – Continuing Education Centre Albury Wodonga Ltd
  • Ovens – Hume Employment Service (VIC) Inc, North East Support and Action for Youth Inc
  • West and South Gippsland – Centacare Australia Ltd, Quantum Support Services Inc, Relationships Australia (Victoria) Inc, The Salvation Army (Vic) Property Trust

Western Victoria Region

  • Bendigo – Centacare Australia Ltd, LGA Group Pty Ltd, Midland Support Services Incorporated, Options Community Enterprises Ltd
  • Eureka – Centacare Australia Ltd, Maryborough District Health Service – Community Health Service, The Salvation Army (Vic) Property Trust
  • Geelong – Australian Community Support Organisation Inc., Centacare Australia Ltd, Create (Geelong) Incorporated, Job Futures Ltd
  • Grampians – Community Axis Incorporated.
  • Hampden – Western District Employment Access Inc
  • Mid Murray – MADEC, The Salvation Army (Vic) Property Trust
  • Sunraysia – Centacare Australia Ltd, MADEC
  • Western District – Western District Employment Access Inc

Western Australia

Perth Region

  • Central – Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Services Inc (ASeTTS), Centacare Australia Ltd, Mission Australia, Ostara Australia Limited, Pep Employment Services (Inc)
  • East Metro – Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Services Inc (ASeTTS), Centacare Australia Ltd, HCSG (Hills Community Support Group Inc), Mission Australia, The Salvation Employment Plus
  • Kwinana/Rickingham – Job Futures Ltd, Mission Australia, South Metropolitan Youth Link Inc,
  • North Metro – Job Futures Ltd, Mercy Community Services Inc, Mission Australia, North Perth Migrant Resource Centre Inc, Ostara Australia LImited
  • South East Metro – Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Services Inc (ASeTTS), Communicare Inc, Job Futures Ltd, Ostara Australia Limited, South Metropolitan Youth Link Inc.,
  • South West (WA) – Agencies for South West Accommodation Inc., Asstock P/L; Shoreside Holdings P/L and Wescolt P/L, Job Futures
  • South West Metro – Association for Services to Torture and Trauma Services Inc (ASeTTS), Job Futures Limited, Mission Australia, Ostara Australia Limited

South Western Australia Region

  • Dale – Job Futures Ltd, Mission Australia

Greater Western Australia Region

  • East Kimberley – Job Futures Ltd
  • East Pilbara – Mission Australia
  • Esperence – Asstock P/L; Shoreside Holdings P/L & Wescolt P/L
  • Goldfields – Asstock P/L; Shoreside Holdings P/L & Wescolt P/L, Centacare Australia Ltd
  • Karratha – Job Futures Ltd
  • Lower Great Southern – Asstock P/L; Shoreside Holdings P/L & Wescolt P/L, The Turning Point Project
  • Mid West and Gascoyne – Centacare Australia Ltd, Mission Australia
  • Midlands Wheat Belt – Job Futures Ltd
  • South West – Agencies for South West Accommodation Inc., Asstock P/L; Shoreside Holdings P/L & Wescolt P/L, Job Futures Ltd
  • West Kimberley – Centacare Australia Ltd