Jobs Australia

David Thompson

FIESS 2011 Montreal

Supporting the Community Employment Sector in Australia

David Thompson AM, CEO Jobs Australia and RIPESS Board Member

Supporting the Community Employment Sector in Australia

Jobs Australia:• national peak NGO organisation in Australia • 280+ NGO members• founded in 1989• entirely funded by members and subscribers• demand aggregation a major income source

Supporting the Community Employment Sector in Australia

Jobs Australia:Mission •Jobs Australia supports and represents the interests of non-profit employment and related service organisations that exist to achieve a fair and equitable Australia.Vision •A fair and equitable Australia.

Supporting the Community Employment Sector in Australia

Jobs Australia’s Strategic PrioritiesStrengthening Capacity •Provide assistance and resources that enhance the capacity of members to deliver quality services and outcomes.•Facilitate opportunities for members to enhance and improve their work •Encourage and support workforce capacity•Encourage and assist members to take new directions and adopt innovative approaches to their business, including partnerships and alliances with other members and other parties.•Strengthen member capacity to work with the most disadvantaged individuals and communities•Support indigenous and other member organisations to provide effective training and employment assistance for indigenous people and communities.

Supporting the Community Employment Sector in Australia

The Australian context – national government -funded employment services: unemployment currently 5.3%•Since 1998 – contracted out to public, private and NGO sectors•Public provider failed in 2003•Contested market for delivery of public services in more and more areas•Annual budget for employment services $A 2.2 billion•Jobs Australia members have approximately 50% of “market” – including many smaller and Indigenous organisations – providing assistance to approx. 300 000 unemployed people each year to help them get jobs•NGOs deliver surpluses which they use for other purposes•Social enterprise and social innovation - a new interest from governments and new roles and approaches in employment services

Supporting the Community Employment Sector in Australia

Other Jobs Australia activities and initiatives:Community Sector Industrial Relations Service:Jobs Australia provides employer-side industrial relations and human resource management services to 280+ member organisations and 1200+ other community organisations across AustraliaJobs Australia Insurance Services: demand aggregationJobs Australia bulk buys and resells a comprehensive insurance program for its members and other community organisations - very competitive pricing and terms and significant surpluses to devote to other services and initiativeswww.blanketcover.com.au Jobs Australia Foundation:Since 2004 Jobs Australia has contributed more than $A1.4 million to the Foundation – which delivers an Indigenous Youth Leadership Programwww.jafoundation.com.au

Supporting the Community Employment Sector in Australia

Other Jobs Australia activities and initiatives:

Australian Training Network: provides capacity and capability building services for Jobs Australia member organisations involved in delivery of formally recognised vocational education and training across Australia.

Indigenous Training Network: provides networking and capacity and capability building services for around 100 Indigenous community organisations seeking to address severe disadvantage of many of Australia’s Indigenous people through provision of culturally appropriate education, training and mentoring services. http://www.jaitn.com.au/

Supporting the Community Employment Sector in Australia

Other Jobs Australia activities and initiatives:

Support for COMMACT International:Like RIPESS, COMMACT International an international network of

practitioners of people-centred development – small number of members in Australia, India, the UK, Nepal and a number of African countries. Jobs Australia provides funds and secretariat services.Engagement with RIPESS and other networks:

Building and maintaining effective and influential global networks is essential for the strength and solidarity of social economy movement and its capacity to secure changes in public policies and approachesMuch knowledge, inspiration and influence to be derived from

effective networks and collaborations

Supporting the Community Employment Sector in Australia

Community Sector Banking•Joint venture between 2O NGOs (including Jobs Australia) and a private sector bank in Australia•Delivers banking and financial services tailored to needs of NGOs•Has more than 10% of 43 000 economically significant NGOs in Australia as customers•Engaged in innovative social finance activities including Social Enterprise Development Investment Fund and Community Development Finance Initiative•Making profits and paying dividends to shareholders•http://www.communitysectorbanking.com.au/

Jobs Australia

Visit our web-site www.ja.com.au