We represent the sector to government and to the wider public
We represent the sector to government and to the wider public
Strong Representation and Advocacy
Throughout the year, NESA has maintained strong representation and advocacy on behalf of its Members, utilising multiple channels of influence to promote an understanding of the sector, and to progress its position on necessary improvements to programs and the broader employment services sector.
NESA’s tireless representation
of the sector included:
Responses to discussion and industry papers
- jobactive 36 Month Business Reallocation Industry Information Paper
- Issues paper to the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business regarding Employability Skills Training (EST) and Breach Notices
- Seasonal Worker Incentives Trial Evaluation
- Targeted Compliance Framework
- Online Employment Services Trial
- JSCI Online Trial
- New Employment Services Model announcements
- DES Wage Subsidy Arrangements following Grant Direction 1
- Sector Development Fund
- CDP Reform
- CDP Procurement
- Public Interest Certificates, National Work Experience Program, Career Transition Assistance, Quality Assurance Framework, Changes to the Employment Fund
Formal submissions to Government:
- NESA’s Response to the Next Generation of Employment Services
- Response to the ParentsNext Senate Inquiry, including its original trial and subsequent broader rollout.
- NESA’s Response to the Senate Inquiry into The Appropriateness and Effectiveness of the Objectives, Design, Implementation and Evaluation of jobactive
- NESA’s Submission on the Social Security Amendment (Community Development Program) Bill 2018
- NESA’s 2019 Pre-Budget Submission
- NESA’s Submission to the Strengthening Skills: Expert Review of Australia’s Vocational Education and Training System
- NESA’s Submission to the Long Service Benefits Portability Act 2018 (Vic) Consultation
We represented the sector before six government inquiry committees:
- Senate Inquiry into the appropriateness and effectiveness of the objectives, design, implementation and evaluation of jobactive
- Senate Inquiry into the appropriateness and effectiveness of the objectives, design, implementation and evaluation of the Community Development Program
- Senate Inquiry into ParentsNext, including its trial and subsequent broader rollout
- Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee Social Security Legislation Amendment (Community Development Program) Bill 2018
- The National Youth Commission Public Hearing
Representing the Sector
advisory bodies and working groups
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Market Oversight Advisory Group
- Disability Employment Services Transition Reference Group
- DES Taskforce
- National Disability and Carers Advisory Council (NDCAC)
- NDCAC Employment Reform Working Group – Appointed Chair
- Employment Services Expert Advisory Panel including the following working groups:
- Providers and Enhanced Services Working Group
- Job Seeker Activation and Assessment Working Group
- Employer Engagement Working Group
- Digital Services Working Group
- Regional and Local Approaches Working Group
- jobactive Operations and Practice Advisory Group
- jobactive Performance Framework Working Group
- Targeted Compliance Framework – Change Management CEO Working Group
- IT Advisory Group
- Client Services Industry Reference Committee
- Early Adopters Innovation Forum
- Servicing Individuals with Challenging Behaviours Working Group
- Time To Work Employment Service Workshop
9th Remuneration and Workforce Development Survey
NESA is pleased to have conducted the 9th Australian Employment Services Workforce Survey of Remuneration and Human Resource Management Performance, in conjunction with Maguire Consulting.
The survey investigates the nature and levels of remuneration paid to key personnel within employment services organisations in Australia, and reports on human resource management performance benchmarks in areas considered critical to business performance.
This year, we were pleased to receive participation from organisations across all states, with FTE numbers ranging from 1-100 up to 300+, gross revenue ranging from $5m to $50m+, and representing both for-profit and not-for-profit providers. All current employment services programs are represented.
The survey reveals significant trends in staff turnover, salary movements and bonus and incentive payments, and offers calculations on the cost of employment, staff induction and training and staff replacement. HR topics investigated include recruitment and retention, staff learning and development and employee welfare.
Sector Networks
NESA engaged extensively with other influential bodies to enhance the vital work of the employment services sector. These networks provide support for policy positions and strategies to support disadvantaged job seekers and employers.
- Financial Inclusion Action Plan Advisory Group
- Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Business Women Champions of the Heart
- University of Melbourne
- Brotherhood of St Laurence
- Australian National University
- ARC Blue Consulting Group
- Ernst and Young
- Health Benefits of Good Work (RACP)
- Career Education Association of Victoria (CEAV)
- National Youth Employment Body
- Associations Forum
- Concentrix
- National NEIS Association
- European Commission
- Flemish Office for Employment and Vocational Training
- German Public Employment Service
- Dutch Public Employment Services
- OECD
- OECD LEED Forum on Local Development
- World Association of Public Employment Services (WAPES)
- International Council for Career Development Public Policy (ICCDPP)
Policy Support
Policy and
operational assistance
In 2018-19 we provided policy and operational assistance to providers across all programs.
NESA Policy Forums
We delivered a range of provider forums to consult with and support Members. These policy forums and Special Interest Groups (SIGS) included:
- jobactive Taskforce
- DES Taskforce
- IT Reference and Reports Working Group
- CDP Special Interest Group
NESA thanks Members, the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, the Department of Social Services and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) for their support and participation in these policy forums.
Policy Help Desk
NESA supported Members responding to inbound requests for assistance and conducted outbound call campaigns to gather member views on key issues, including:
- The Future of Employment Services
- DES Implementation
- ParentsNext
- Employability Skills Training
- Wage Subsidies
- Targeted Compliance Framework
- Public Interest Certificates
- Business Reallocation
- Quality Assurance Framework
- Work for the Dole
- Seasonal Worker Incentives Trial
- Career Transition Assistance
- Employment Fund
Keeping Members Informed
We delivered regular communications and provider forums throughout the year.
Website
nesa.com.au is the hub of our public outreach, and details all of NESA’s activities, structure, publications and contact details. It is a constantly evolving showcase of all our activities and includes member-exclusive areas containing policy documents and submissions.
Social Media
Our comms team is also active on social media, making regular updates on Facebook [NESALtd], Twitter [@nesa01] and LinkedIn.
Newsletters
Our communications team maintain five regular electronic communications:
Leadership Bulletin
The Leadership Bulletin from the desk of NESA CEO Sally Sinclair, goes to members’ leadership teams, to keep organisational management informed of high level policy and operational issues as well as NESA advocacy, representation and initiatives.
Job Matters
Job Matters is our public fortnightly media, reports and published research roundup. It is also a forum for our industry partners to keep in touch with our readership.
Capability Matters
Capability Matters is our public fortnightly Professional Development calendar, highlighting our ever evolving range of capacity-building workshops, coaching programs and webinars.
Professional Development
Targeted Professional Development bulletins, which are public announcements of up-coming capacity-building opportunities.
Industry Events
Industry Events announcements, in which we let our public readership know about Forums, Special Interest Groups (SIGs) and Conferences that NESA is organising.
Acknowledging Excellence
Every year it is with great pleasure that we acknowledge the great work done by allied organisations, providers, employment consultants, employers and job seekers themselves through the NESA Awards for Excellence.
The NESA Awards for Excellence
The NESA Awards for Excellence acknowledge the outstanding effort, innovation and successes of individuals and organisations across the employment services sector.
ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR - Supported by the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
Josephine Willcox
Nominated by My Pathway
(Award accepted on Josephine’s behalf by Janette Burrows)
“…I know that I can achieve anything with persistence and at least one person to believing in me. I want to be able to provide that belief for others in tough situations.”
Employment Consultant of the Year - Supported by NESA
Deidre Hindmarsh
Nominated by Sureway Employment and Training
Deidre has shown outstanding imagination and success in matching even the most challenging clients to new professional pathways, her own diverse experience allowing her to understand that finding the right fit is the key to success.
Innovation in Disability Employment (Team) - Supported by the Department of Social Services
Tradco
NOMINATED BY THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF THE BLIND
The training and mentoring systems put into place, as well as the simple adjustments to workplace methods and even to job design to support visually impaired employees are a fine example of how breaking traditional moulds does not require huge outlay, and can have very positive results.
Champion Employer of the Year - Supported by the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
Latitude
Nominated by atWork Australia
Latitude deliberately takes on young, inexperienced employees and upskills them, allowing them to develop within the company. They also maintain communication methods that ally closely with the technological reality and experience of their young staff, employing smart phones and social media as an integral part of their staff experience.
Innovation in Indigenous Employment - Supported by the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business
PeoplePlus, Team Maroubra
Nominated by PeoplePlus
Team Maroubra have been involved in a unique project to improve the cultural awareness of young Indigenous men, while providing them with essential skills to pursue a maritime career. In cooperation with Tribal Warrior – a not-for-profit Aboriginal Corporation that aims to strengthen traditional cultural understanding and to develop social and economic security for Indigenous Australians – the Team organised for 10 young Indigenous men to sail from Sydney to Cairns.
Excellence in Collaboration - Supported by Sunsuper
Sodexo, SM TAFE and atWork Australia
Nominated by atWork Australia.
The collaborative initiative is designed for Indigenous Australians with multiple barriers to employment, and includes not only relevant upskilling, but also a health, fitness and well-being program which has proven itself as an effective and life-changing experience for participants.
Facebook Reach
129,000
117 Posts | 1657 Clicks | 688 Post Likes
Twitter Reach
161,000
157 Tweets/Retweets | 101 Clicks | 158 Likes
National Promotion
NESA used multiple channels to promote better understanding and appreciation of Australian employment services through
Stakeholder Engagement
Media Coverage
Social Media
Speaking Engagements
International Promotion
NESA’s work on the international front raises the profile of Australian employment services and service providers in the global arena, which strengthens the position of sector both at home and abroad. The Australian employment services sector continues to inspire governments and employment services bodies throughout the world, and by keeping the international eye on our achievements and successes, we keep the political value of the sector high. It also provides direct opportunities for some of our members to access and develop services in international markets.
Overseas Presentations
by NESA CEO Sally Sinclair
OECD LEED Forum, 18-19 September 2018, Porto, Portugal
NESA CEO Sally Sinclair attended the 14th meeting of the OECD Forum for Local Development Practitioners, Entrepreneurs, and Social Innovators which explored how the megatrends are impacting on jobs, workplaces, and local economic development opportunities. This forum was particularly timely given the emphasis on digitalisation in Australia’s future employment services.
In the opening plenary session Sally chaired a panel of international experts who focused on rethinking local employment and skills policies in a polarising labour market, and she had the opportunity to afford her expertise and share Australia’s experiences.
8th Regional Policy Dialogue on TVET and 10th Annual Expert Meeting of the Initiative on Employment and Skills Strategies in Southeast Asia (ESSSA) – 21-22 Nov 2018, Vientiane, Lao PDR
NESA CEO Sally Sinclair attended this forum to contribute her expertise on employment services and this included moderating a breakout panel session on “Better linking job seekers with employers – Innovative job matching approaches in rural areas.” The two expert panellists were Mr Fr. Rex Carbilledo, SDB, Technical Director of Don Bosco TVET Centre, Mati, Davao oriental, Philippines and Mr Somean Kuoch, Deputy Head, National Employment Agency, Cambodia.
Presentation: Better Linking Job Seekers with Employers Innovative Job Matching Approaches in Rural Areas
The NESA International Innovation Tour
This year, NESA hosted the International Innovation Tour between the 24th and the 30th of March. 15 delegates from 12 different NESA Member organisations accompanied NESA CEO Sally Sinclair, and Principal Policy Advisor Annette Gill on a rich series of visits and consultations with Public Employment Service organisations in Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany.
Participants were unanimous on the value of the experience.
“I feel empowered to continue the policy dialogue on digital services in Australia.”
“[A] big thank you to NESA for the opportunity to participate and learn from the experience of our contemporaries around the world.”