SPEECH OPENING OF THE ROYAL PERTH HOSPITAL NEW WORK -A
OPPORTUNITY Ladies and gentlemen. I must say its nice to be in a hospital to talk to
healthy people: people here because they are being armed against the ills of
unemployment I am especially delighted to see trainees from the Royal Perth
Hospital Youth Program and from the hospital's Jobskills intake in the guest
list. Today we are here to launch Western Australia's first New Work
Opportunity. In so doing I'd like to reflect on what the White Paper on Employment and
Growth means for the unemployed, for employers, and for the community in
general. Working Nation was released some months ago, yet the press, employers,
and the public have not yet realised the full significance of the White Paper.
The extent of the Government's commitment, and what it means for the
unemployed, has yet to be brought home.
The Job Compact creates for the first time a definite end to the
unemployment experience of individuals. This is a significant extension of
the social safety net for unemployed people.
By giving the long term unemployed a job, through either New Work
Opportunities, Jobstart, or the training wage, we are saying that we will not
let the unemployed stay in unemployment indefinitely.
We will help you. The job offer, the central component of the Job Compact,
will replace drifting and lack of motivation with hope and a real chance of
finding permanent work.
This is not something that has happened before.
Solving unemployment is not easy. While most Job Compact jobs will be in
the private sector, we will not be able to place all Job Compact clients with
private employers.
New Work Opportunities provide the chance for local communities to develop
solutions to their regional development and employment problems.
New Work Opportunities are designed to provide work and training to
unemployed people placed on them and to produce social benefits as well as
growth in local communities.
New Work Opportunities are one element of the 160,000 jobs that will be
provided to long term unemployed people under the Job Compact each year.
Working Nation will ensure that the unemployed share in the economic
recovery, The Green Paper Restoring Full Emnployment noted that some 80 per cent
of all long term unemployed people who obtained full time jobs in 1992 did
so through their participation in labour market programs.
This tells us a lot.
If long term unemployed people are going to share in the economic recovery
and find jobs then they need active assistance to do so. This is the basis of
Working Nation.
In keeping with our election promise to not turn our backs on the
unemployed, there will be some 645,000 labour market and entry level
training commencements a year by 1995-96.
Over a four year period from 4 July 1994, we will spend a total of $ 10.3
billion on employment and training initiatives. This represents an enormous
extension of training positions and active labour market assistance.
Government commitment and money, however, is not enough.
To achieve the White Paper objectives we need the commitment of the
community, unions, and employers.
Royal Perth Hosvital
The Royal Perth Hospital's commitment to the unemployed is a tremendous
example for employers.
The Now Work Opportunity is only the latest in a series of employment and
training projects at the Royal Perth Hospital.
It follows the success of the Royal Perth Hospital Youth Program. The youth
program initiative was funded by the hospital. Through it, 20 long term
jobless young people got a foot on the employment ladder.
Most of these young people went on to find permanent employment or to
enrol in full-time study.
This year alone, the hospital has provided 10 unemployed people with
Jobskills, placements. Five of these participants have remained with the
hospital. Royal Perth Hospital has found what many employers find when they hire
long term unemployed: contrary to the myth, the long term unemployed
have a lot to offer to employers.
Of course, we do not expect people who have been unemployed for a long
time to walk straight into a job without any help to make the transition.
We know that long term unemployment affects motivation and health and the
ability to cope with the demands of employment.
Case management will ensure that unemployed people are able to make the
transition from unemployment to work mrid be aii a~ jet to their employer.
Job Compact clients will receive one-to-one assistance with training and
other pre-employment needs prior to placement in a job.
Since case management of Newstart clients began in March this year, over
65,000 unemployed people have entered case management. Success stories
are already emerging. People that have been unemployed for periods of
three, five, and ten years, have been gaining full time employment.
Employers should keep in mind that long term unemployed people they take
on under the Job Compact will be provided with support by case
management before, during, and after their placement.
We are also going to enlist the help of private sector, community, and
industry case managers who know industry and understand unemployed
people.
The RPH New Work Oogortunity
The New Work Opportunity we are launching today will provide placements
for 100 Job Compact clients over a one year period. That is 100 people who
have been unemployed for over 18 months will receive a job and training for
a period of six months under this project.
The positions will be new job opportunities and will focus on employment and
training, both on and off the job, in a range of occupations.
Positions will be filled as; laboratory assistants; pharmacy assistants;
orderlies; clerical and medical records management assistants; and in stores;
sterilisation and autoclaving9; patient care; and landscape gardening.
Clients participating in the program will be able to apply for permanent
employment at the hospital as positions become available.
And they will receive job search assistance at the conclusion of their New
Work Opportunity placement.
New Work Opportunftie8 Else1where in Australia
The Royal Perth Hospital project is the first New Work Opportunity in
Western Australia. It will be the first of many.
In New South Wales two New Work Opportunity projects have already
begun.
The Parkes and Forbes projects involve the creation of major tourist facilities.
The Parkes project will provide employment opportunities by the creation of
Memorial Gardens to commemorate Australian soldiers who have served
overseas. The Memorial Gardens will be based on overseas battlegrounds and will link
in with other tourist attractions in the area such as the Cowra Japanese
Gardens and the Botanical Gardens in Orange.
The Forbes Local Council will build on the town's profile as Australia's tidiest
town to attract a larger proportion of tourists arnd travellers in the area.
Other New Work Opportunities in the pipeline include bush tucker farms and
processing plants in outback NSW; landscaping and re-planting of industrial
sites; and expansion of home-based care to people in need.
New Work Opportunities will be concentrated in the growth areas of
environmental repair, eco-tourism, and community services.
Area Consultative Committees are being set up around Australia to align with
local government areas and natural labour markets.
A major aim of Area Consultative Committees is to devolve some ot the
responsibility for DEET programs and services to the regional level. As they
are established they will provide the means for local communities to
participate in the development and selection of New Work Opportunities in
their region.
In short, New Work Opportunities provide a a chance for innovative
approaches towards regional unemployment to be explored. And they
provide local people with the chance to choose, develop, and manage the
project. Conclus2fn So may I encourage everyone, especially employers, to respond to the
Government's challenge in the spirit of the Royal Perth Hospital to start
thinking about how they can help unemployed people in their local region.
There is so much work to be done: we have the workers, we are providing
the funds. All we need now is your commitment and imagination.
I wish the Royal Perth Hospital and the Centrecare SkillShare every success
with this project.