Release type: Joint Media Release

Date:

Support for job seekers in western Sydney

Ministers:

The Hon Kate Ellis MP
Minister for Employment Participation
Minister for Early Childhood and Child Care
The Hon Julie Owens MP

Minister for Employment Participation Kate Ellis and Federal Member for Parramatta Ms Julie Owens announced today that ORS Rehabilitation and Placement Services Pty (ORS) has been selected as part of the Job Service Australia Demonstration Pilot program.

ORS will receive $200,000 in new Government funding to trial enhancements to current service arrangements for disadvantaged job seekers in the central western Sydney area of Parramatta.

"By funding employment services that are already achieving strong results to trial new and innovative approaches to getting people into work - other services from around the country will be able to learn from their experience,” Ms Ellis said.

The ORS pilot will help homeless job seekers and those at risk of homelessness.

Part of the pilot will see ORS staff working from the Parramatta Mission drop-in centre once a week providing vocational and non-vocational advice, assistance and support.

"By connecting unemployed Australians with a support network of community and service providers we can ensure a sustainable relationship with the world of work rather than just a job that only lasts for the short term."

Federal Member for Parramatta, Julie Owens said that she was proud that an organisation in her local community had been recognised with this new funding.

"Our Government has committed new funding of $4.7 million to 20 high performing employment services to run these pilot programs,” Ms Owen said.

“In my electorate there are too many people who are doing it tough and have been struggling to find work over a long period of time. It’s great to hear that there will be new and innovative programs available to help them get back into the workforce.”

"Like ORS, the Australian Government knows that having a decent job is about so much more than collecting a weekly pay check,” Ms Ellis said.

These pilots, in conjunction with the Australian Government’s Building Australia’s Future Workforce package, will strengthen employment services across Australia and help job seekers in identified areas of disadvantage.

For further information on the Job Services Australia Demonstration Pilots Program: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/JSA/EmploymentServices/Pages/jsapilots.aspx