Welfare ReviewSubmissionTemplate
PillarOne:Simplerandsustainableincomesupportsystem
ChangestoAustralia'sincomesupportsystemovertimehaveresultedinunintendedcomplexities,inconsistenciesanddisincentivesforsomepeopletowork.Achievingasimplerandsustainableincomesupportsystemshouldinvolveasimplerarchitecture,afairratestructure,acommonapproachtoadjustingpayments,anewapproachtosupportforfamilieswithchildrenandyoungpeople,effectiverentassistance,andrewardsforworkandtargetingassistancetoneed.
Simplerarchitecture
Page42to52oftheInterimReportconsiderstheneedforasimplerarchitecturefortheincomesupportsystem.TheReferenceGroupproposesfourprimarypaymenttypesandfewersupplements.Theprimarypaymenttypesproposedare:aDisabilitySupportPensionforpeoplewithapermanentimpairment andnocapacitytowork;atieredworkingagepaymentforpeoplewithsomecapacitytoworknoworinthefuture,includingindependentyoungpeople;achildpaymentfordependentchildrenandyoungpeople;andanagepensionforpeopleabovetheageatwhichtheyaregenerallyexpectedtowork.
InshapingthefuturedirectionsforasimplerarchitecturetheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Whatisthepreferredarchitectureofthepaymentsystem?
Shouldpeoplewithapermanentimpairment andnocapacitytoworkreceiveaseparatepaymentfromotherworkingagerecipients?
Howcouldsupplementsbesimplified?Whatshouldtheybe?Whataretheincrementalstepstoanewarchitecture?
TheIsolatedChildren'sParents'AssociationofAustralia(ICPAAust)representsfamilieslivinginruralandremote regionsofAustralia.Ourgoalistoachieveequityofeducationalopportunityforallgeographicallyisolatedchildrenandthusensuretheyhaveaccesstoacontinuingandappropriateeducationdeterminedbytheir aspirationsandabilitiesrather thanthelocationoftheir home.Dueconsideration mustbegiventofactors which affect the delivery of and accessto education by these children, factors which do notnecessarilyneedtobeconsideredwithinthecontextofmetropolitaneducation.
Whatisthepreferredarchitectureofthepaymentsystem?
Inthepast,!CPA'sinvolvementwith thewelfareandincomesupportsystemhasbeenwhenyoungpeopleleavehometo attenduniversityandattempt toaccessfinancialsupportthrough YouthAllowance(YA)toassistwithmeetingthecostsofmovingandlivingoftengreatdistancesfromhome.Althoughnotawelfareorincomesupportpayment,largenumbersof!CPAmembersutilisethevitalAICallowancewhentheirchildrenstudybydistanceeducationand/orboardawayfromhomefortheirsecondaryyears.
AssistanceforIsolatedChildren'sallowance
TheAssistanceforIsolatedChildren's(AIC)allowancehaspreviouslybeendealtwithbytheDepartment ofEducationandadministered byCentrelink.Asthe referencegrouppointsout onpage67oftheInterimReport,theAICschemeisnotanincomesupport allowancebutratheranallowancewhichassistsfamilieswithoutofpocketexpensesthatarenotimposedonfamiliesabletoaccessfacetofacepublicschoolingfromhomeonadailybasis.
TheAICschememustberecognisedforprovidingassistanceinmeetingthespecificanduniqueneedsofanichegroup to overcomethe disadvantagesthat geographicalisolation presentsin the effort to accesseducation.Itisforthisreasonthattheallowanceisdifferenttomanyotherallowances.Itdoesnotprovideassistancetoaddressmultiple orlongtermsocialandwelfareissuesandhasnocorrelation toprovidingapathwaytolongtermdependence;rather,theAICisprovidedtoassistwithaccessingeducationduringthecompulsoryyearsofschooling.
Attempts torationaliseparallelallowancespaidtofamilieswithchildrenbeingeducatedawayfromhome,suchasAICBoardingAllowanceandABSTUDY,mayintendsimplicity.!CPA'sviewhoweveristhatthiswouldfurthercomplicatetheschemeandtheadministration oftheAICallowance,whichmanyjurisdictionsalsorelyontoidentifystudentsinneedoffurtherstateassistanceduetogeographicalisolation.
Thefactthat theAICallowancehasremainednon-meanstestedformorethanforty yearsistestimonytogovernments'recognitionthat,inourcountry,withapopulationspreadovervastandinplaces,veryremoteareas,theyacceptthefactthattraditionaleducationalservicesarenotabletobeprovidedtoallstudents.SchemessuchastheAICarethe mostcosteffective wayfor government to overcome the challengeofeducationdeliveryduetogeographicalisolation.
YouthAllowance
ICPAconcurswith thenotion raisedintheInterim Reportaroundthe needfor asimpler architecture forincomesupport.Studentswhoarenotabletoaccessappropriatefacetofacetertiary studieswhilestilllivingathomeoften experienceinequitiesintheir attempt toaccessfinancialassistancetorelocateinordertoundertakestudy.Thisisparticularlyevidentwith theRelocationScholarship.StudentsreceivingdependentYouthAllowanceareabletoaccesstheRelocationScholarship,whileotherswhoarereceivingindependentYouthAllowanceandmustrelocate,receivenoassistancetodoso.
Thefinancialimpactthatrelocationhasonboththestudentandfamiliesintheirtransition touniversityishighlightedinourTertiaryAccessResearch,May2013 report,conductedbyRuralPressMarketingServiceson!CPA'sbehalf.Thissupportsourlobbyfor aTertiaryAccessAllowancewhichourorganisationseesasproviding apart solution to this on-goingissueof lackof financialsupport to enableaccessto tertiaryeducation.
Theconcernraisedbyourmembersinaccessingassistancefortertiary studentswhomustliveawayfromhomehasintensified overthe yearsasthe demandfor higherskilledemployees hasgrown,alongwithgovernmentexpectationsthatstudentsshouldparticipateinsomeformoftertiary education.Forambitiousandmotivated youngpeople unableto accesstheir chosencourseonadailybasis,the current incomesupport systemisfartoo complex,fragmented andinefficient; coupled with the unpredictability of anyassistancebeingreceivedthismeansfartoo manyyoungruralpeoplearedeferring andnotreturning tostudyatallorsimplydonotevencontemplate studyingatthetertiary level.Ineffecttheiraspirationsarebeingdrivenanddictatedbytheirabilitytoaccessfinancialassistancewhiletheystudy.
Whiletherehasbeenanincreaseinparticipation inhighereducationoverthelastfewyears,studentsfromruralandremote areascontinuetobeunder-represented intertiary studies.Overcomingthebarrier thatdistancehasonyoungruralpeople'sambitionsmustbeaddressed.Thisgroupofstudentsshouldbetargetedanddealtwithdifferently frommainstreamstudents.
Recommendation:
Inordertoovercomeanyunintendedconsequences,themanagementandoperationoftheAICschemeinitsentirety mustbereturnedtotheDepartmentofEducation,whichisbestplacedtorecognisethesignificanceofthisscheme.Consequently,thiswouldleadtosimplifyingthearchitectureofthepaymentsystem.
Recommendation:
ThebasicAICallowancemustremainnon-meanstestedinrecognitionoftheadditionalcostsimposedonfamilieseducatingchildrenwhocannotaccessfacetofaceschoolingfromtheirhome.
Recommendation:
Studentsisolatedfrom tertiary educationduetolocationmustberecognisedasaseparatedisadvantagedgroup.
Recommendation:
Thosestudentswhomustrelocatetoaccesstertiary educationhaveapredictable,straightforwardpathwayto financialassistance.Thesestudents shouldbeconsideredfinancially independent oftheir parentsoncourseenrolment.
Recommendation:
ATertiary AccessAllowance,equalto the RelocationScholarship,shouldbepaidto students who mustrelocatefromruralandremoteregionsandarenotinreceiptofdependentYouthAllowance.
Howcouldsupplementsbesimplified?What shouldtheybe?
Recommendation:
InordertosimplifysupplementsICPArecommendsahigherbasepayment forstudentslivingawayfromhomethatrecognisestheonerousandcumulativecostsstudentsfacewhentheymoveawayfromhometoaccesstertiarystudy.
What aretheincrementalstepstoanewarchitecture?
Bysupportingtheneedsofstudentswhomustrelocatetostudyatthetertiary level,governmentwouldbedirecting investment for ashort term to thosewho havethe desireandambitions to becomeengaged,productivemembersofoursociety.Thiswouldensurelong-termgainandeffectlong-termstructuralchangeintermsofproductivityincreasestoruralareas.
Recommendation:
Thefirststepstoanewarchitecturemustbetomeettheshorttermneedsofstudentswhomustrelocatetostudyatthetertiarylevel.
Fairratestructure
Page55to60oftheInterimReportconsiderschangesthatcouldbeconsideredtoratesofpaymentfordifferentgroups.InshapingthefuturedirectionsforafairerratestructuretheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Howshouldratesbeset,takingintoaccountcircumstancessuchasage,capacitytowork,single/couplestatus,livingarrangementsand/orparentalresponsibilities?
AssistanceforIsolatedChildren'sDistanceEducationTeachingAllowance
ICPAwouldliketodrawattention totheuniquecircumstancesthatimpactonfamilieslivinginremoteregionsandaparent'scapacitytoundertakepaidemploymentwhentheonlyaccesstoeducationfortheirchildrenistostudybydistanceeducation.WhiletheAICallowancewasinitiated tomeettheneedsofthesefamiliesandtheallowanceremainsvitally important inassistingfamilieswith thesecosts,itfailsto recognisetheenormousresponsibilityit placesonfamiliesto ensureacompetent distanceeducationtutor ispresentineachhomeclassroomonadailybasis.Ifaparentundertakestheroleofdistanceeducationtutor itimpactsseverelyontheircapacitytoearnanincomeandtoparticipatefullyincomplexruralbusinesses.
Whiledistanceeducationservicesarewellstructuredanddistanceeducationcentresablystaffed,itisclearthatdistanceeducationprovisionisfoundedontheassumptionthatallchildrenhavereadyaccesstoapersonabletoteachthemtheprograminthegeographicallyisolatedclassroomonadailybasis.Thispersonisthedistanceeducationtutor,whomustbeavailableandabletoprovidethepractical,day-to-daypreparation,supervisionandsupportrequiredfortheeffectivedeliveryofadistanceeducationprogram.
Theroles women undertake in the operation of family agricultural businesseshavechangedand grownincreasinglycomplexovertheyears.Withtheresponsibilityofthedistanceeducationtutorpositionoftenfallingonthemother,fulfilling thispositionfurther compoundsherworkload.Thiscanplaceincreasedpressureonotherfamilymembersandmaynecessitatetheemploymentofadditionalstaff.
Dueconsiderationmustbegiventotheencumbranceonapproximately1500familiesingeographicallyisolatedareasfor whom distanceeducation isthe only meansto educatechildren. Thevital role of the distanceeducationtutor shouldberecognisedthroughthepaymentofaDistanceEducationTeachingAllowancewhichacknowledgestheessentialworktheyperform.
Recommendation:
ThattheFederalGovernmentintroducesaDistanceEducationTeachingAllowanceforfamiliesinreceiptoftheAICDistanceEducationallowance in financial recognition of the essentialwork distanceeducation tutorsperform.
YouthAllowanceforTertiaryStudents
Forstudentsrelocatingfrom ruralandremoteareastolargercentresfortheir studies,qualifyingcriteria forYouthAllowanceshouldrecognisethat therearesignificantlimitations onastudent's abilitytoworkduetostudyload.Semesterbreaksandreturning homedonotalwaysproduceincreasedemployment opportunitiesduetorelativelyshortworkingperiodsprovidedbysemesterbreaksandisolation,andsmalltownspresentingfewworkopportunities.Studentslivinginremoteandregionalareasdonotexperiencethesamecircumstancesasthoselivinginurbanareasandmustbetreatedasadifferentgroup.
Manyruralfamiliesdonothaveaccesstomainstreameducationandmustsendchildrenawaytoboardforthesecondaryyears;thishasanenormousflow-on impactonafamily'sabilitytosupportstudentsstudyingawayfromhomeatthetertiary level.Ourresearch(TertiaryAccessResearch,May2013),indicatedthat62%ofourmembers with three ormore children strugglewith the costsofsecondaryeducation,letalonesupportingtertiarystudents.
Familiesindicatedthatthefinancialimpactthishasissevere,withcostbeingasignificantconcernfor88%ofmembersintermsofthecostofrelocationandfor93%intermsoftheongoingcostsoflivingawayfromhome.Ofthosemembersabletomeettherelocationandlivingcosts,only26%ofICPAmembersindicatedtheywereabletomeetthisexpensewithoutgovernment financialsupport.Theabilitytosustainthisparentalfinancialcommitment,(thereportedaveragecostisinexcessof$350.00perweek),forthedurationofastudent'sentirecourseisalsoseenasasignificant issuefor 34%of students,with 74%of thesestudents reporting thatdefermentisbeingchosenforfinancialreasons.Ofnoteisthatofthosestudentswhoinitiallydeferred,morethan20%eventuallywithdrew fromtheircourseofstudy.
Recommendation:
Thehighlivingcostsforstudentswhomustliveawayfromhometoaccessanappropriate tertiary courseisasignificantdeterrent andthesestudents mustbeabletoaccessincomesupport intheir ownrightoncetheyhaveenrolledintheirtertiarycourse.
Commonapproachtoadjustingpayments
Page60to64oftheInterimReportconsidersacommonapproachtoadjustingpaymentstoensureamorecoherentsocialsupportsystemovertime.InshapingthefuturedirectionsforacommonapproachtomaintainingadequacytheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Whatmightbethebasisforacommonapproachtoadjustingpaymentsforchangesincostsoflivingandcommunitylivingstandards?
Adjustingpaymentstoensureamorecoherentsocialsupportsystemovertimeshouldaimtomaintainthelivingstandardsofpeoplerelyingonincomesupportpayments.Paymentsshouldbeincreasedinlinewithbroaderchangesincommunity livingstandards.TomaintainrealvalueanincreaseequaltotheConsumerPriceIndex(CPI)wouldbeasensibleapproach,andinsomecircumstancestheuseofCPIsub-indexes,e.g.theeducationsub-indexinrelationtoeducationcosts,wouldbethemostequitablemeansofdealingwiththisissue.Forfamilieslivinginremote areaswhosechildrenarerequired toliveawayfrom hometocompletesecondaryyearsofschooling,thecostsfamiliesmustbearareunsustainable.ICPAmembersarguethattheAICBoardingAllowance,whichisindexedtothegeneralCPI,isnotkeepingpacewithrealincreases,withthe
educationalincreasesbeingalmostdoublethecurrentCPIformanyyears.
Recommendation:
Rentassistanceandotherpaymentsaffectingstudents,shouldbeindexedtotheCPI,ensuringitisinlinewithbroaderchangesincommunitylivingstandards.
Recommendation:
Considerationmust begivento the realincreaseswhen educating children awayfrom home.TheAICboarding allowance should be indexed in line with the CPIeducation sub-index in order to maintaincomparativeassistance.
Supportforfamilieswithchildrenandyoungpeople
Page65to68oftheInterimReportconsidershowthepaymentscouldbechangedtoimprovesupporttofamilieswithchildrenandyoungpeople.InshapingthefuturedirectionsforsupportforfamilieswithchildrenandyoungpeopletheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Howcanwebettersupportfamilieswiththecostsofchildrenandyoungpeopletoensuretheycompletetheireducationandtransitiontowork?
Inwhatcircumstancesshouldyoungpeoplebeabletoaccessincomesupportintheirownright?
Asanorganisationfocusedonachievingequitable outcomesfor allgeographicallyisolated children byensuringthey canaccesscontinuing andappropriate education services,determined bytheir aspirationsratherthanthelocationoftheir home,ICPAbelievesstronglythat theseinequitiesmustbeaddressedaschildrenaspiretofurthertheireducationinthetransitiontowork.
Overthelastdecadeorsothedemandfor higherskilledandeducatedworkers byemployershasgrownconsiderably.Forfamilieswhosechildrenneedto relocateto accesstertiary studiesintheir transition towork,thisincreaseddemandrequiresthemtobesupportedfinanciallythroughthisperiod.
ICPAannualconferencesarenowdominatedbythefrustrations anddisappointmentexperiencedbyfamiliesattempting toaccessfinancialsupportfortheirchildrentransitioningtotertiary studies.TheBradleyReviewarguedstronglythatstudentslivinginremote regionswhocontinuetobeunder-represented atuniversitymustberecognisedasaseparatedisadvantagedgroup.
Thecurrentfragmented,inefficient and.highlycomplexincomesupportsystemisnotofferingthecertaintythatfinancialassistancewillbeavailableforstudentswhoneedtorelocate.Theneedsofthisdisadvantagedgroupmustbeacknowledgedasagenuinebarrierandaddressedifwearetoencouragestudentstotakeonhighereducation.
Whyshoulditcostmoreforruralstudentstoattenduniversitythanthoselivingclosetoinstitutions? Whyshouldyoungpeoplebepenalised,possiblyfortherestoftheirlives,becauseofwheretheirparentslive?
Inwhatcircumstancesshouldyoungpeoplebeabletoaccessincomesupportintheirownright?
Whiletherecommendation oftheBradleyReviewtoreducetheageofindependencehasbeenastepintheright direction, greater consideration must begivento rural and remote students who remain underrepresentedandwho.mustrelocatetostudytheirchosencourse.
ICPAhasarguedformanyyearsthatstudentswhomustrelocateinordertoaccessthemostappropriatetertiarycoursefortheirneedsandaspirationsshouldbeabletoaccessincomesupportintheirownrightandmustbeconsideredindependent oftheirparentsforthepurposeofaccessingfinancialassistanceoncetheycommencetheirtertiarystudies.
Implementingthissimpleandpracticalmeasurewouldovercomesomeofthemisconceptionsaroundfamilieswhoderiveincomefromthelandintermsoftheirhavingtheabilitytodrawdownonassetsforthepurposeofmeetingeducationalaccesscosts.Afamilywhoseincomeisderivedfrom agriculturefrequently hasanassetbasewhich excludestheir students from accessingwelfare payments becausefarming assetsaredeemed to beoverthe cut-off limit, evenif their income isnil or negative.Farmsareoften not able,practically or legally,to havesmallsectionssoldoff in order to enable families to support children ineducation.Manyyoungpeoplechoosetonotgoontotertiary educationbecausetheyhaveyoungersiblingsatboardingschoolsandwishtoplacelessfinancialpressureontheir families,whichseessituationswheremultiplefamilymembersaredisadvantagedbyarcaneandinequitableregulations.
Recommendation:
Studentswhomustrelocateinordertoaccesstheirtertiarycoursemustbeabletoaccessincomesupportintheirownrightandmustbeconsideredindependentoftheirparentsforthepurposeofaccessingassistanceoncetheycommencetheirtertiarystudies.
Effectiverentassistance
Page68to71oftheInterimReportconsidersRentAssistanceandsuggestsareviewtodeterminetheappropriatelevelofassistanceandthebestmechanismforadjustingassistancelevelsovertime.InshapingthefuturedirectionsforRentAssistancetheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
HowcouldRentAssistancebebettertargetedtomeettheneedsofpeopleinpublicorprivaterentalhousing?
Studentsrelocatingtoaccesstertiarystudies,whocannotaccessuniversityaccommodation,findthemselvescaughtup in the viciousprivate rental market. Accommodation in largecities isvery competitive andextremelycostly.
ICPAagreesthat the rate paidasRentAssistancehasnot kept pacewith the increasesin rental costsexperiencedbystudentsreceivingincomesupport. Asaconsequence,incomesupport recipientshavetocovermoreofthecostsofrentfromtheirincomesupportpayments,whichreducestheincomeavailableto
coverothercostsofliving.
Recommendation:
ICPAsupportsthe2009HarmerReviewwhichconcludesthat:
"[A}separateindexthatmoreappropriatelyreflectschangesinthecostofprivaterentwouldhave merit [andcould]bebased onthe actualrents paidbyincome support recipientstoobtainagoodmeasure ofthe actualchanges experiencedinthe particularsegment ofthe
marketinwhichthisgroupoperates."
Rewardsforworkandtargetingassistancetoneed
Page72to78oftheInterimReportconsiderschangestomeanstestingforimprovedtargetingtoneedand
betterintegrationoftheadministrationofthetaxandtransferssystemstoimproveincentivestowork.InshapingthefuturedirectionsforrewardsforworkandtargetingassistancetoneedtheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Howshouldmeanstestingbedesignedtoallowanappropriaterewardforwork?Atwhatincomeshouldincomesupportcease?
Whatwouldbeasimpler,moreconsistentapproachtomeanstestingincomeandassets?
ICPA'sresponsetothisquestionrelatesdirectlytotheinequitiesthat meanstestingiscausing.Particularlywhenthereareanumber oftestsapplied,manyfamiliesaredeniedthefinancialassistancenecessarytoovercome barriers to relocating students agreat distance from home,eventhough it isaccepted bygovernmentthatthesefamiliesincurgreatercosts.
ItisICPA'sviewthatthiscomplicatedsystemofapplyingmultiple meanstestsisaresultofmisconceptionsaroundtheassumptionthatfarmingfamiliesareabletodrawndownonahighassetbase.Affectedassetsarefrequentlyhighlyilliquid and,additionally,arevitalintherunningofthebusiness.Inmanycasesagriculturallandoperatesunderlandtenuresystemsthatpreventparcelsofthatlandbeingsoldoff.Whileinthecaseofotherallowances,suchastheAssistanceforIsolatedChildrenallowancepaidtothosewhocannotaccessfacetofaceeducationinthecompulsoryschoolingyears,governmentrecognisesthateducationalservicesarenotabletobeprovidedtoallstudentsandcontribute tomeetingthesecosts.Itisinequitableandillogicalthatthisapproachdoesnotcontinuetoflowthroughtotertiarystudy,whichisnowwidelyrecognisedasbeingasvitalapartofeducationasearlychildhood,primaryandsecondaryeducation.
WhenastudentappliesfordependentYouthAllowance,theincomeandassetsofthefamilyareassessedtodetermineifparentsareabletofinanciallysupporttheirdependentchildren.Thereare3partstothetest:
1.FamilyAssetsTest.
2.ParentalIncomeTest.
3.FamilyActualMeansTest.
ICPAarguesthat thissystemdoesnottakeinto accountactualfamilyandbusinesscircumstancesortrulyreflectafamily'sabilitytopay.Businessesinruralandremoteareas,particularlyfamilyfarmingones,operatein anasset-richbut income-poor environment. Thecurrent seventyfive percent exemption needsto beincreasedtoamorerealisticlevelsothat ruralandremotefamiliescanaccessfinancialhelptosendtheirchildrenawayfortertiarystudies.
Theassetsthatformavitalpartoftheoperation oftheseprimaryproduction businessesaregenerallynotdisposablenor likelyto beconsideredbyafinancier asacceptableto drawdown onforthe purposeofmeetingtheeducationneedsofchildren.Thesecircumstances,whencoupledwithcommunity expectationsthatprimaryproducersmustbeself-supportingthroughperiodsofdroughtandcommoditydownturn,wouldrequireinvestmentinassetsthatcouldbeliquidatedwhenthereislimitedornoincome.Inaddition,parentalageisignored,whereitmaybethatparentshaveaccumulatedassetsovertheirworkinglifetocontributetowardsretirement;neitherdoesassettestingtakeintoaccounttheenormousout-of-pocket costsfamilies,whofacelimitedoptions,arepayingforchildrenboardingawayfortheirsecondaryyears.
Thecurrentsystemdoeslittletoovercometheneedforassistancetoliveawayfromhomeandsupportsourrecommendation forstudentstobeconsideredindependent intheir ownrightiftheyneedtorelocatefortertiarystudies.
Recommendation:
Thatstudentsfromruralandremoteareas,whohavetorelocatefromhometoattendtertiary education,beautomaticallyeligibleforIndependentYouthAllowanceonceenrolled.
PillarTwo:Strengtheningindividualandfamilycapability
Reformsareneededtoimprovelifetimewellbeingbyequippingpeoplewithskillsforemploymentandincreasingtheirself-reliance.Tostrengthenindividualandfamilycapabilitychangesareproposedintheareasofmutualobligation,earlyintervention,educationandtraining,improvingindividualandfamilyfunctioningandevaluatingoutcomes.
Mutual obligation
Page80to85oftheInterimReportconsidersmoretailoredandbroadeningofmutualobligationandtheroleofincomemanagement.InshapingthefuturedirectionsformutualobligationtheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Howshouldparticipationrequirementsbebettermatchedtoindividualcircumstances?
Howcancarersbebettersupportedtomaintainlabourmarketattachmentandaccessemployment?Whatisthebestwayofensuringthatpeopleonincomesupportmeettheirobligations?
Inwhatcircumstancesshouldincomemanagementbeapplied?
Earlyintervention
Page85to88oftheInterimReportconsidersriskedbasedanalysistotargetearlyintervention andinvestmentandtargetingpoliciesandprogrammestochildrenatrisk.InshapingthefuturedirectionsforearlyinterventiontheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
HowcanprogrammessimilartotheNewZealandinvestmentmodelbeadaptedandimplementedinAustralia?Howcanthesocialsupportsystembetterdeliverearlyintervention forchildrenatrisk?
EducationandTraining
Page89to90oftheInterimReportconsiderstheneedforastrongerfocusonfoundationskillsinbothschoolsandvocationaleducationandtraining,andontransitionsfromschooltowork.InshapingthefuturedirectionsforeducationandtrainingtheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Whatcanbedonetoimproveaccesstoliteracy,numeracyandjobrelevanttrainingforyoungpeopleatriskofunemployment?
Howcanearlyintervention andpreventionprogrammesmoreeffectivelyimproveskillsforyoungpeople?Howcanafocuson'earnorlearn'foryoungAustraliansbeenhanced?
Improvingindividualandfamilyfunctioning
Page90to93oftheInterimReportconsiderscosteffectiveapproachesthatsupportemploymentoutcomesbyimprovingfamilyfunctioningandtheprovisionofservicesespeciallytopeoplewithmentalhealthconditionstoassistthemtostabilisetheirlivesandengageineducation,workandsocialactivities.Inshapingthefuturedirectionsforimprovingindividualandfamilyfunctioning,theReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Howcanservicesenhancefamilyfunctioningtoimproveemploymentoutcomes?
Howcanservicesbeimprovedtoachieveemploymentandsocialparticipation forpeoplewithcomplexneeds?
Evaluatingoutcomes
Page93oftheInterimReportconsidersimprovedmonitoringandevaluationofprogrammesaimedatincreasingindividualandfamilycapabilitytofocusonwhetheroutcomesarebeingachievedforthemostdisadvantaged.InshapingthefuturedirectionsforevaluatingoutcomestheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Howcangovernmentfundingofprogrammesdevelopingindividualandfamilycapabilitiesbemoreeffectivelyevaluatedtodetermineoutcomes?
PillarThree:Engagingwithemployers
Employersplayakeyroleinimprovingoutcomesforpeopleonincomesupportbyprovidingjobs.Reformsareneededtoensurethatthesocialsupportsystemeffectivelyengageswithemployersandhasanemploymentfocus.Thesereformsincludemakingjobsavailable,improvingpathwaystoemploymentandsupportingemployers.
Employmentfocus-makingjobsavailable
Page95to100oftheInterimReportconsiderswhatinitiativesresultinbusinessesemployingmoredisadvantagedjobseekers.InshapingthefuturedirectionsformakingjobsavailabletheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Howcanbusiness-ledcovenantsbedevelopedtogenerateemploymentforpeoplewithdisabilityandmentalhealthconditions?
Howcansuccessfuldemand-ledemploymentinitiativesbereplicated,suchasthoseofsocialenterprises?
Improvingpathwaystoemployment
Page101to 107oftheInterimReportconsidersthedifferentpathwaystoemploymentfordisadvantagedjobseekerssuchasvocationaleducationandtrainingandmentalhealthsupportmodels.InshapingthefuturedirectionsforimprovingpathwaystoemploymenttheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Howcantransitionpathwaysfordisadvantagedjobseekers,includingyoungpeople,beenhanced?Howcanvocationaleducationandtrainingintorealjobsbebettertargeted?
HowcanapproacheslikeIndividualPlacementandSupportthatcombinevocationalrehabilitationandpersonal
supportforpeoplewithmentalhealthconditionsbeadaptedandexpanded?
Supportingemployers
Page108to110oftheInterimReportconsiderswhatcanbedonetosupportemployersemploymorepeoplethatareonincomesupportincludingbetterjobmatching,wagesubsidiesandlessredtape.InshapingthefuturedirectionsforsupportingemployerstheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Howcananemploymentfocusbeembeddedacrossallemploymentandsupportservices?
Howcanthejobservicessystembeimprovedtoenhancejobmatchingandeffectiveassessmentofincomesupportrecipients?
Howcantheadministrativeburdenonemployersandjobserviceprovidersbereduced?
PillarFour:Buildingcommunitycapacity
Vibrantcommunitiescreateemploymentandsocialparticipationforindividuals,familiesandgroups.Investmentsbygovernment,businessandcivilsocietyplayanimportant roleinstrengtheningcommunities.Also,accesstotechnologyandcommunityresiliencehelpscommunitiesbuildcapacity.Buildingcommunitycapacityisaneffectiveforceforpositivechange,especiallyfordisadvantagedcommunities.
Roleofcivilsociety
Page112to116oftheInterimReportconsidersthe roleofcivilsocietyinbuildingcommunitycapacity.InshapingthefuturedirectionsfortheroleofcivilsocietytheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Howcantheexpertiseandresourcesofcorporatesandphilanthropicinvestorsdriveinnovativesolutionsfordisadvantagedcommunities?
HowcantheCommunityBusinessPartnershipbeleveragedtoincreasetherateofphilanthropicgivingofindividualsandcorporates?
Howcandisadvantagedjobseekersbeencouragedtoparticipateintheircommunitytoimprovetheiremploymentoutcomes?
Roleofgovernment
Page116to120oftheInterimReportconsiderstheroleofgovernmentinbuildingcommunitycapacity.InshapingthefuturedirectionsfortheroleofgovernmenttheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Howcancommunitycapacitybuildinginitiativesbeevaluatedtoensuretheyachievedesiredoutcomes?Howcantheincomemanagementmodelbedevelopedtobuildcommunitycapacity?
Roleoflocalbusiness
Page121to123oftheInterimReportconsiderstheroleoflocalbusinessinbuildingcommunitycapacity.InshapingthefuturedirectionsfortheroleoflocalbusinesstheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Howcancommunitiesgenerateopportunitiesformicrobusinesstodriveemploymentoutcomes?
HowcanmutuaIsandco-operativesassistinimprovingtheoutcomesfordisadvantagedcommunities?
Accesstotechnology
Page124to125oftheInterimReportconsidersaccesstoaffordabletechnologyanditsroleinbuildingcommunitycapacity.InshapingthefuturedirectionsforaccesstotechnologytheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Howcandisadvantagedjobseekers'accesstoinformationandcommunicationtechnologybeimproved?
CommunityResilience
Page125to126oftheInterimReportconsidershowcommunityresiliencecanplayaroleinhelpingdisadvantagedcommunities.InshapingthefuturedirectionsforcommunityresiliencetheReferenceGroupwouldlikefeedbackon:
Whatstrategieshelpbuildcommunityresilience,particularlyindisadvantagedcommunities?Howcaninnovativecommunitymodelscreateincentivesforself-sufficiencyandemployment?