Jobs Victoria Employment Network
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Jobs Victoria Employment Network?
Jobs Victoria Employment Network (JVEN) is a program that will provide additional resources in communities across Victoria to assist unemployed people into work. The focus will be on assistance to jobseekers who are disadvantaged in the labour market. The program will support job growth across the State and assist Victorians take up these new job opportunities.
Why is the JVEN program necessary?
The University of Melbourne found in its Review of Victoria’s employment programs that they were fragmented, lacked scale and coverage, and were not coordinated. This has left many Victorians who are disadvantaged in the labour market with little or no assistance to gain employment. It was also found that Commonwealth employment services were not effective for some disadvantaged jobseekers who have complex vocational and non-vocational barriers to employment. The review found that there is a role for the Victorian Government in the delivery of employment assistance, particularly to disadvantaged jobseekers who are not well-serviced by Commonwealth programs.
When will the JVEN operate?
JVEN is expected to commence from August 2016. JVEN will need to complete by 31 May 2020.
Organisational eligibility
What type of organisations are eligible to apply to operate JVEN?
To be eligible for funding under the JVEN, organisations must be an incorporated body/association with an Australian Business Number (ABN), have a significant organisational presence in Victoria and have sufficient dedicated resources to manage the proposed services.
Applications are encouraged from organisations with appropriate experience in supporting unemployed Victorians into work. However, organisations with contracts to deliver employment assistance under the Commonwealth’s jobactive program will only be considered for funding in areas outside the Employment Region/s for which they have a jobactive contract. For example, if an organisation is funded to deliver jobactive services in the Barwon region, they may only be considered for delivery of JVEN outside the Barwon region.
Why are you encouraging applications from consortia?
Applications from consortia of organisations are strongly encouraged. Consortium proposals have the potential to meet the needs of different cohorts of jobseekers across a region, and can also bring a depth of skills and experience. However, consortium applications need to identify a ‘lead organisation’ with whom the department will contract.
Are Skills and Job Centres and Work and Learning Centres eligible to apply for funding under JVEN?
Agencies funded by the state government are eligible for funding under JVEN as long as they can demonstrate that their proposal does not duplicate existing services.
Our Skills and Jobs Centre conducts industry engagement. Will this duplicate what the Workforce Specialists will do in JVEN?
The Jobs Victoria Workforce Specialists will be working with employers who have vacancies and labour needs. Part of this engagement is likely to relate to the need for skills training, and the JV Workforce Specialists will work collaboratively with Skills and Jobs Centres to avoid duplication.
Are employers eligible to apply for this funding?
Yes, employers can apply for funding under JVEN. Proposals will need to meet all the selection criteria e.g. demonstrating experience of employment service delivery to disadvantaged jobseekers. They will also need to demonstrate that their proposal will deliver services to jobseekers beyond their normal business operations and recruitment activities.
JVEN and jobactive
How can jobactive providers be involved in the JVEN program?
jobactive providers are encouraged to work collaboratively with JVEN providers to complement employment assistance to clients who are registered with jobactive but would benefit from additional support through JVEN. Protocols for referral of clients between JVEN and jobactive, and for complementary service delivery, will be developed. jobactive organisations that deliver other services (e.g. training) may be subcontracted by a JVEN provider for these other services (see below).
Can jobactive providers be members of a JVEN consortium led by another organisation?
Organisations with contracts to deliver employment assistance under the Commonwealth’s jobactive program will only be considered for JVEN funding in areas outside the Employment Region for which they have a jobactive contract. This applies whether the organisation is applying as a stand-alone organisation or as a member of a consortium.
However, a JVEN provider can purchase services from an organisation which has a jobactive contract, where the services purchased are not employment placement activities (e.g. education and training services or settlement services). This proposed delivery model should be described in the JVEN application, clearly explaining how the services to be delivered are separate from the jobactive services provided by that organisation. We may require that sub-contracting arrangements are reflected in the funding agreement between the department and the JVEN provider. These arrangements would be subject to normal audit processes.
In summary, the involvement of organisations that have a contract with the Commonwealth to deliver jobactive services is limited to:
- Provision of employment placement services in regions outside their jobactive delivery region/s
- Provision of services that are delivered independent of their jobactive/employment services functions – such as education, training or settlement services – in any location.
Can organisations that deliver services for a jobactive provider on a sub-contracted basis apply for JVEN funding? For example, the organisation is delivering employment case management and post-placement support for a particular group of clients such as young people.
Organisations that deliver some component of jobactive services on a sub-contracted basis for a jobactive provider will be able to apply for JVEN funding, whether in their own right or as a consortium member. However, the applications will need to clearly describe how the JVEN services will be additional to the jobactive services.
Are Disability Employment Services (DES) considered in the same way as jobactive?
DES services are not excluded from applying for JVEN. However, they will need to demonstrate that their proposed JVEN services would not duplicate existing DES services.
Why are jobactive providers ineligible to apply for JVEN funding but organisations delivering other employment services are eligible?
JVEN has been designed to provide additional and complementary services to disadvantaged jobseekers in Victoria. An important aspect of the JVEN is that it will not duplicate Commonwealth-funded or other existing services to Victorian jobseekers.
jobactive providers are ineligible to apply for JVEN funding because of the difficulty in establishing clearly that the JVEN funding is not duplicating or replacing jobactive assistance.
jobactive is the largest and most comprehensive employment service in Victoria, delivering services to a broad range of unemployed people including young people, single parents, retrenched workers and older jobseekers. Most jobactive clients are in receipt of income support and are referred by Centrelink, but others participate voluntarily. It is therefore more difficult to clearly delineate jobactive services from other employment services. DEDJTR would be unable to establish the additional services to jobseekers using JVEN funding. By contrast, Disability Employment Services and Transition to Work services are more narrowly defined (e.g. for people with temporary or permanent disabilities and young people aged 15-21 years).
However, all organisations applying for funding under JVEN will need to demonstrate clearly how their proposal is additional and complementary of existing services.
Will there be a referral process for jobactive clients to participate in JVEN? If yes, will a financial contribution from the jobactive provider be required and will both the jobactive and JVEN provider be able to claim an employment outcome for the participant?
The Employment team will work with the Commonwealth Department of Employment to develop a referral process and protocols for collaborative service delivery by JVEN and Commonwealth employment services. Successful JVEN providers will be advised about these arrangements before commencement of services.
The Program Guidelines state the JVEN will not duplicate existing services but clients of jobactive services will be eligible for support under JVEN if they have complex barriers to employment. How will duplication of services be avoided?
Jobseekers who are clients of jobactive (Streams B or C) or other Commonwealth services will only be able to access the JVEN if they are referred by another Victorian Government funded service (e.g. a DHHS program or Corrections service) or are part of a priority target group such as disengaged young people from culturally diverse communities.
Duplication of services will be avoided because organisations will only refer a jobactive client to JVEN after they have make an assessment of their client’s needs and concluded that they will benefit from additional services through JVEN. Further, JVEN providers will be encouraged to liaise with the client’s jobactive case manager to develop a complementary service delivery plan.
Work For The Dole Activities?
An organisation has a contract for the delivery of Work for the Dole Coordinator Services in Western Melbourne Region. From the Federal government’s perspective they are considered a ‘jobactive’ although they do not work with job seekers. They work with hosts and the jobactives in Western Melbourne Region to identify, organise and support the delivery of work for the dole activities.
In terms of JVEN is the organisation considered a ‘jobactive’ thus impacting on their ability to submit an application?
The department does not consider organisations delivering work for the dole activities to be Jobactive.
What are the priority target groups?
Priority target groups are groups of Victorians who are identified as having particular labour market barriers that require additional assistance but may not be currently engaged with other programs. Disengaged young people from culturally diverse communities in Melbourne have been identified as one such group. Additional funding has been provided through the Department of Premier and Cabinet to deliver additional assistance to this target group.
Jobseeker eligibility
Who will be eligible for assistance under JVEN?
The program will provide assistance to Victorian jobseekers who are either long-term unemployed (six months plus) or at risk of long-term unemployment and lack adequate support through other services. The following jobseekers will be eligible for assistance:
- Unemployed people who face labour market disadvantage and need assistance to gain employment but are ineligible for full Commonwealth employment services (i.e. people who are only able to access jobactive services as a volunteer). This will generally be people who are unemployed but not in receipt of income support payments; and
- Disadvantaged jobseekers who are eligible for full Commonwealth job services but have complex barriers to employment and are either referred by other State Government services (e.g. youth justice clients, young people in out-of-home care) or are designated as a priority target group.
What about people who are registered as ‘volunteers’ with jobactive and are only eligible for Stream A services for a short time?
Jobseekers who are ineligible for full services through jobactive, but are registered as volunteers can access JVEN services without a referral from another service as long as they otherwise meet the program eligibility – that is, they are have either been unemployed for six months or more, or are at risk of long-term unemployment without additional assistance.
Is the JVEN program voluntary or mandatory for participants?
As the JVEN program is a State Government initiative, participant involvement in the program is completely voluntary.
Can jobseekers from border areas but resident in NSW or South Australia be assisted under the program?
No, JVEN clients must be resident in Victoria.
JVEN services
Transportation to and from work can be a barrier for a jobseeker to gain employment, is there funding available within JVEN to assist with this?
If you identify that transport is an issue for jobseekers to gain employment then we would encourage you to include this in your application. JVEN funding is not prescriptive and can be used in various ways to address barriers as long as it leads to a sustainable employment outcome for the clients.
Will there be a referral process for participants who access other state government services to enter JVEN?
Yes we will be working with other agencies and departments to develop appropriate referral protocols. Successful JVEN providers will be advised about these arrangements before commencement of services.
Can providers advertise and promote their services?
Yes, we will encourage providers to advertise and promote their services to potential participants. We will be requiring providers to use Jobs Victoria marketing and promotional material.
Can JVEN services include work experience as part of work preparation?
Yes, work experience placements may be used to help jobseekers to increase their work-readiness where the placement complies with Australian industrial legislation and occupational health and safety legislation, is covered by appropriate insurance cover and does not displace existing employees.
Clients who are also jobactive clients may be able to access a work experience placement through their jobactive provider under the Commonwealth’s National Work Experience programme.
What are the incentives for employers to be involved in JVEN?
The JVEN program will bring employers and jobseekers together by understanding what employer needs are, and then supporting jobseekers to become work-ready and meet those needs. We encourage providers to utilise the Back to Work Scheme as a financial incentive for employers to hire long-term unemployed or disadvantaged jobseekers. More details are available at
Am I able to make an application which involves working with long term unemployed people or disadvantaged job-seekers to establish their own businesses and to be self-employed?
No. There are other programs and resources available to help people establish small businesses.
Client funds to assist with barriers – can this include assistance with child care so clients can easily participate within the program and also attend training, work experience and initial work placement?
Client funds to assist with barriers could include child care for a short duration such as described above.
Is there a maximum period a client can participate within the program?
There is no maximum period a client can participate within a program. It is expected that some participants will have more barriers than others and will need more assistance and support than others.
Links with other programs
How do you envisage the program working with other programs including the department’s integrated business and industry development?
The government is investing funds into industry and infrastructure. The Jobs Victoria Workforce Specialists will work with other parts of the government to identify job opportunities arising from infrastructure projects, investment proposals and other business support activities.
Application and assessment
There appear to be a number of stages to the application. Can we print a copy to view outside of the formal application?
Yes. Once you begin the application there will be a ‘view as PDF’ link on the page that can be printed.
How many organisations will be funded in Round 1?
We do not have a specific number of JVEN services in mind.
When will you open Round 2 of funding?
We don’t have a date for the second round of funding as yet, but potentially will use a future funding round/s to fill any gaps in providing services to the targeted cohorts and to geographic locations.
What will not be funded by JVEN?
The guidelines list items that will not be funded, such as capital works/improvements and retrospective services.
Can an organisation submit more than one application?
Yes.
Would you look at a proposal that requests highly targeted, specific funding?
Yes. It is envisaged that the Jobs Victoria Employment Network will include both highly targeted and more broad-based (multi-target group) employment services.
Is there an opportunity for placed based applications based on local networks, and can the department assist with this?
Yes, we will welcome place based applications. Our Workforce Specialists can assist applicants to link with other local organisations if they are interested in developing a consortium.
How will you ensure that JVEN services are assisting the most disadvantaged jobseekers rather than those who are easier to place?
The JVEN model is a flexible one. Providers are encouraged to target services to disadvantaged jobseekers and to tailor their assistance to address the barriers to employment faced by clients. It is expected that funding sought will reflect the resources required to achieve employment outcomes for the target clients. Therefore it is likely that services will be funded at different levels, reflecting the different intensity and/or duration of employment assistance required to achieve an outcome. For example, services to recently retrenched workers who have work skills but need assistance to find new opportunities may be funded at a lower level than assistance to recently arrived refugees who require skills development and significant personal support.