$16 million disability employment trial
Federal Minister for Community Services, Larry Anthony, today announced 100 areas from Rockhampton in Queensland to Joondalup in Western Australia had been selected to take part in the new phase of a $16 million trial which will help people with disabilities find work.
The Federal Government has allocated an extra $6 million for the expansion of the trial of case based funding for disability employment assistance, which has already seen the allocation of $10 million in funding for existing trial areas, Mr Anthony said.
“Under this trial, Centrelink officers sit down with individual job seekers and assess what their needs are and how we can support them in their search for work.
“The assessment will determine which employment service can best help each individual.”
Mr Anthony said that of the 100 towns and suburbs selected for phase two of the expansion, 59 were in rural and regional areas.
“Each town will not only meet the needs of people in the immediate area but also job seekers with disabilities in the surrounding district.
“This initiative is in keeping with the Howard Government’s continued push to address the needs of Australians living in rural and regional areas by providing access to services only previously available in the cities.”
Mr Anthony said the inclusion of these additional regions meant employment services in most regions in Australia would now have an opportunity to participate in the trial.
“Since the start of the trial in November last year, up to 2000 job seekers with disabilities had accessed employment assistance in 15 regions across Australia,” Mr Anthony said.
“People with disabilities are proven to be loyal, reliable and highly productive and there are still many Australians with disabilities who can offer a great deal to employers – these people deserve every chance to find work.
“This government is determined to do all it can to give jobseekers with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the workforce.”
For funding allocations to the states under the $6 million expansion and a table listing all the areas selected please see attachment A and B
Attachment A
Funding allocations:
- New South Wales – $2,000,000
- Victoria $1,310,000
- Queensland $1,595,000
- South Australia $420,000
- Western Australia $455,000
- Tasmania $150,000
- Northern Territory $30,000
- Australian Capital Territory $40,000
Attachment B
Details of the trial regions for Phase 2 of the Case Based Funding Trial:
| Regions | CSCs |
|---|---|
| East Coast NSW | Corrimal Dapto Shellharbour Wollongong Nowra Chatswood Northern Beaches Hornsby Rockdale Sutherland Hurstville |
| Western Sydney NSW | Cabramatta Revesby Ingleburn Baulkham Hills Merrylands Mt Druit Ryde St Marys Hawkesbury Lithgow |
| South West NSW | Bega Goulburn |
| Hunter NSW | Armidale Cessnock Charlestown Kurri Kurri Maitland Mayfield Nelson Bay Newcastle Tamworth Toronto Wallsend |
| Central Coast NSW | Gosford Wyong |
| Western NSW | Moree Broken Hill |
| Gippsland VIC | Morwell Sale |
| Hume VIC | Shepparton Wangaratta |
| North Central Melbourne VIC | Broadmeadows Epping Moreland Camberwell Glen Waverley Knox Ringwood |
| West Rural VIC | Corio Geelong Horsham Warnambool |
| Brisbane North Qld | Chermside Fortitude Valley Mitchelton Nundah Nambour Redcliffe Strathpine Caboolture Maroochydore Caloundra |
| Wide Bay QLD | Gympie Harvey Bay Maryborough Bundaberg |
| North QLD | Aitkenvale Townsville Mt Isa |
| Central QLD | Rockhampton Gladstone Mackay |
| West Moreton/South West QLD | Ipswich Toowoomba Warwick |
| Gold Coast/ Logan QLD | Biggera Waters Southport Nerang Palm Beach Beenleigh Woodbridge |
| SE and Central Rural SA | Berri Gawler Mt Gambier Mt Barker Murray Bridge Victor Harbour |
| Western Adelaide SA | Torrensville Kilkenny Port Adelaide |
| North West TAS | Burnie Devonport |
| Kimberly WA | Broome |
| Northern Perth WA | Innaloo Joondalup Mirrabooka Warwick Grove |
| Southern WA Central WA North WA |
Albany Bunbury Northam Kalgoorlie Geraldton |