Thank you for such a warm welcome. 

Can I just say what a great pleasure it is to be here this morning and to have the chance to talk directly with the people who deliver our services on the ground. 

Before I get started, I’d like to pay my respects to, and acknowledge, the traditional owners of the land we’re meeting on—the Kulin nation.  

And I’d like to thank all of you for being here and participating in one of the most important events in the employment services calendar—the 2008 National Employment Services Association conference.

As you know, the Rudd Government is seriously committed to improving Australian employment services—and I want, today, to talk to you about our far-reaching plans for the future.  

The feedback we received from you has informed the development of our new employment services system. 

Since the launch of the discussion paper, I have continued to talk to providers, employers and job seekers about the new system before the final touches are put in place before the request for tender later this year. 

The last of the consultation sessions is in Alice Springs on 6 June and the final day for written submissions is 12 June. I encourage those of you who haven’t already done so to send in your responses. 

To put it bluntly we knew an extensive review of the current Job Network had to happen in order to boost employment participation and help to continue to grow our economy. As you all know, the Job Network has now been in place for 10 years. It has been a long 10 years, and is long overdue for a major overhaul. Over the past decade Australia has changed significantly. Our economy has experienced unprecedented growth on the back of a significant resources boom has changed significantly. Our economy has experienced unprecedented growth on the back of a significant resources boom This has in turn seen unemployment levels to fall to record lows and the participation rate climb. However it has become increasingly apparent that not everyone is sharing the spoils of Australia’s modern day gold rush.

The proportion of long-term unemployed has in fact increased over the past decade while there have been up to 27 000 of our most disadvantaged job seekers still waiting to get into the Personal Support Program.  This shows the current Job Network system is failing our most disadvantaged job seekers. It is failing them because it cannot provide the services they need to get job ready, to take up one of the thousands of jobs which are currently available.  And at the same time I am constantly hearing that employers are struggling to maintain the profit base of their businesses because they can not find the staff they need.  And yet, the Rudd Government’s vision is not just about finding staff for employers. It is not just about finding jobs for the unemployed and it’s not just about ensuring Australia’s prosperity by addressing the skills shortages we face.  Each one of these elements is individually important but the real value lies in the sum of the whole.  By creating a better range of employment services we can achieve each and every one of these elements AND at the same time create a better, more productive and more inclusive Australia, for all Australians.

Sounds good doesn’t it? But how are we going to actually achieve this? Today we are at a crossroads. As a first step we need urgently to address and fix the employment services system. We have clearly heard the current system isn’t working for job seekers or employers. And it isn’t working for you—our providers. Job seekers are telling us that the Job Network is confusing, complex and doesn’t give them the support they need. They say they feel like they are ‘forced’ into stop-gap jobs with no prospects.  Under our new system every job seeker will have their own Employment Pathway Plan with their personalised mix of services, training and work experience  to develop skills for the workplace, and address vocational and non-vocational barriers to employment.  Meanwhile employers are telling us that they can’t easily find out what support is available to them from the Government. They don’t see you—our providers.  They don’t see or understand how the Job Network works. What they do see is a myriad of organisations trying to ‘get people off their books’.  And they have also told us that they don’t think we fully understand their needs, or their particular industry.  

Under our new system you will be fundamental in linking employers and job seekers. You will also be actively encouraged to use your local labour market knowledge to identify areas of opportunity. There will also be real support for training job seekers and skilling them in areas of employer demand in your local area through an additional 238 000 training places for job seekers at a cost of $880 million. 

Providers will be the vital link between job seekers and jobs, employers and the staff they need. It will be you that connects the job seeker to the employer in a meaningful and sustainable way. We need your assistance in helping Australia’s job seekers reach their full potential—and placing them in jobs that lead to careers. These jobs will help more Australians become active members of our society. These jobs will lead to meaningful social inclusion.’s job seekers reach their full potential—and placing them in jobs that lead to careers. These jobs will help more Australians become active members of our society. These jobs will lead to meaningful social inclusion. 

Over the course of the last five or so months I’ve been doing a lot of listening. I think that the new employment services model we are proposing reflects this.  The Rudd Government is in the business of ideas, and we are most definitely open to yours.  During our employment services review, and our consultations to date, we have listened to you and taken your ideas on board.

You have told us that the system is too complex, too laden with administration. You have told us that the strict rules and guidelines inhibit innovation.  We have listened. We are getting rid of the red tape. We have designed the new employment services model to be flexible. Importantly, we have designed the new model under one contract. This will allow you—our providers—to spend your time on your core business, getting people ready for work and finding them meaningful employment. 

The Government also wants an on-going working relationship with providers, which is why we will put in place a Charter of Contract Management. The Charter will oversee what we hope will be productive and fruitful relationships between the Government and those who deliver employment services. 

By working together to develop and implement a system that is relevant to Australia today, I believe that we can make a real difference. today, I believe that we can make a real difference. We can get people into real and meaningful work.  We can find staff for our employers.  We can address the skills shortages which will otherwise put our future prosperity at risk.  Together, we will build a stronger, more stable economy.  Together we will build a truly socially inclusive Australia where all Australians can share in our nation’s prosperity. where all Australians can share in our nation’s prosperity.  The role providers play in helping to increase our nation’s productive output is too little highlighted but let me assure you the Government recognises and values the great and important work that you do.  Before closing, I want to thank and congratulate you—our providers—not only for the work that you do, but for your valued and valuable input into the development of our new employment services system.  So it is timely, I think, that I now open the floor up for your questions and comments.  Thank you.