DES and JSA Providers are just cashing in on federal government grants and do nothing to assist people into employment.
After 2 years of being initially with DES providers then JSA providers then back with a DES provider I had had enough and asked a few questions under FOI of DEEWR, below is there response.
Request for Information in relation to Disability Employment Services and Job Services Australia Programs
Response- Questions 1 and 2
Disability Employment Service (DES) providers are paid Service Fees each three months in advance, in respect of each participant who is in the employment assistance phase of DES, with the first Service Fee payable on the commencement of the participant in the program. Up to eight Service Fees are available per participant, depending on the duration of time each participant remains in the employment assistance phase of DES.
Job Placement Fees and Outcome Fees are paid once the requirements of the fee are met (in arrears). Outcome Fees are paid once a participant has been in 13 consecutive weeks of employment/education, and once the participant has been in 26 Consecutive Weeks of employment/education. DES providers are also paid bonus Outcome Fees if the employment they secure for the participant is linked to a training course that the participant has completed.
Other fees payable are detailed in Annexure B1 of the Disability Employment Services Deed 2010-2012 which is publically available at
foi.deewr.gov.au/sites/default/files/d11_436473_disability_employment_services_deed_2010_2012.pdf).
It is up to the DES providers to determine how their funding is spent on each participant to ensure tailored services and training can be provided. For example, DES providers can use their fees to fund operational costs (such as staffing) as well as assistance to participants via training, travel costs to interviews or other assistance.
Specific Questions
1) What amount of financial assistance are Disability Employment Service providers given to allocate to its clients in both the ESS and DMS streams in order to fund courses, training etc. Please provide information that details the actual per client amount and advise's on what types of things the funds can be spent on?
2) When a Disability Employment Service takes on a client at what time/occassion does the provider then recieve financial reward and how much financial reward does the provider recieve?
3) With reference to Job Services Australia (JSA) providers are they allocated a specific monetary amount per client subject to whatever stream the client is deemed to be in, and if so please provide information that details what financial amounts and payments are made available to the provider for clients in streams 1 - 4 inclusive and further detail for what these funds can be used for?
4) If not allready answered in the above request no 3 please provide what actual financial amount is allocated per client per stream and is there a minimun and/or maximun that can be accessed per client from the employment pathway fund dependant upon which stream the client is deemed to be in?
5) When a JSA provider takes on a client at what time/occassion does the provider then recieve financial reward and how much financial reward does the provider recieve?
The actual amount per participant varies depending on the amount of time the participant spends in the employment assistance phase of the program. If, for example, a participant received DMS services for two years and a Job Placement or Outcome payment is not achieved by the provider, they would receive about $7480 in Service Fees. If however, a participant is placed into employment, the Service Fee payments stop and the provider works towards achieving a 13 week and a 26 week outcome. Using the example above, the provider would receive a 13 week outcome payment of $2860 (maximum) and a 26 week outcome payment of $4400 (maximum).
Refer to Attachment A for the per participant payments available to DES providers.
NOTE: Several contractual conditions apply to determine exact amount of payment received for achieving the Outcomes detailed in Attachment A.
Response- Questions 3 - 5
Job Services Australia providers are paid Service Fees every three months in advance, in respect of each job seeker when :
• they commence a job seeker into their eligible stream (including Stream 1 (limited));
• they commence a job seeker in a new stream;
• they move a job seeker into the Work Experience Phase and complete the first work experience contact;
• they commence a Drought Force Only Participant in a Drought Force Activity;
• they commence a Job Transition Support participant as either a Category A or a Category B JTS participant in Stream 2; or
• a Service Fee is displayed as available on the Job Seeker Payments screen or Site Payments screen for a particular job seeker.
Refer to Attachment B for the Service Fees available to JSA providers per job seeker.
JSA providers are paid Placement Fees when an eligible job seeker is placed into employment and completes a minimum of 15 hours of paid work within 10 consecutive working days. The amount of hours worked by the job seeker determines the amount the JSA provider receives.
Refer to Attachment C for the Placement Fees available to JSA providers per job seeker.
JSA providers are also paid Outcome Fees in relation to each eligible job seeker when a 13 week period and 26 week period has been satisfied for a particular outcome.
Refer to Attachment D for the Outcome Fees available to JSA providers per job seeker.
The Employment Pathway Fund (EPF) provides a flexible pool of funds that JSA providers can use to assist eligible job seekers address their vocational and non-vocational barriers to employment. Support for job seekers may include employment related training, wage subsidies, purchase of clothing or equipment and transport assistance to attend job interviews or to take up an employment opportunity.
All expenditure must be in accordance with the Employment Services Deed 2009-12, and the EPF Guidelines (both documents publically available at http://foi.deewr.gov.au). It is expected when using the EPF, JSA providers will also be guided by the EPF principles which state that purchases made using the EPF must be commensurate with the needs of the job seeker, comply with all relevant laws and statutes, represent value for money and not bring the services into disrepute. It is also expected that any EPF assistance provided must have regard to the job seeker’s level of disadvantage and individual barriers as identified in the job seeker's Employment Pathway Plan. For example, it is expected that a Stream 4 job
seeker would receive greater assistance than a Stream 2 job seeker. In addition to the individual job seeker's barriers to employment, when using the EPF, JSA providers will need to take into consideration, amongst other things, the total pool of funds available, and the needs of other job seekers on their caseload.
EPF credits are not limited to an individual and can be used flexibly with no minimum or maximum amounts of EPF a JSA provider can use to assist a job seeker. Where a JSA provider receives an EPF credit for a job seeker, the job seeker is eligible for assistance but is not entitled to specific assistance to the value of the credit. This means that EPF credits received by JSA providers are not restricted to any one job seeker, or to particular service streams, and can be used flexibly to provide services to any job seeker or group of job seekers on the JSA provider’s caseload.
EPF is credited to a JSA provider as job seekers commence in Stream Services or when they move to a higher stream or into the Work Experience Phase after a defined period in Stream Services. The amounts credited at each stage may be subject to a 1.7 multiplier for job seekers located in remote areas. JSA providers do not receive an EPF credit for job seekers in Stream 1 (limited) and, in accordance with clause 60.5(a) of the Employment Services Deed 2009-2012, JSA providers will not be reimbursed from the EPF for the purchase of, or payment for services, products or assistance provided to Stream 1 (limited) job seekers.
Refer to Attachment E (Table 4 of Annexure C of the Employment Services Deed 2009-2012) for the amounts credited to JSA providers per job seeker.
NOTE: Unused EPF monies cannot be retained as profit by the JSA provider.
Disability Employment Services ATTACHMENT A
Funding Model
Disability Employment Services providers can receive a range of service, outcome and other fees. These are detailed below.
Disability Management Service
Payment – GST Inclusive $
Fee Remote Employment Service Areas (ESAs)
Service Fees
1st Quarterly Service Fee 1,595 2,711
2nd Quarterly Service Fee 1,595 2,711
3rd Quarterly Service Fee 715 1,215
4th Quarterly Service Fee 715 1,215
5th Quarterly Service Fee 715 1,215
6th Quarterly Service Fee 715 1,215
Possible 6 month extension
7th Quarterly Service Fee 715 1,215
8th Quarterly Service Fee 715 1,215
Outcome Fees
Job Placement 770
Full Outcome – 13 Weeks 2,860
Bonus Outcome Fee – 13 Weeks 572
Full Outcome – 26 Weeks 4,400
Bonus Outcome Fee – 26 Weeks 880
Pathway Outcome – 13 Weeks 945
Bonus Outcome Fee – 13 Weeks 189
Pathway Outcome – 26 Weeks 1,450
Bonus Outcome Fee – 26 Weeks 290
Remote Education Commencement Outcome 500
Remote Educational Achievement Outcome 1,500
Ongoing Support Fees
(paid following a 26 Week Employment Outcome)
Fee Remote ESAs
Flexible Ongoing Support (per instance) 440 748
Employment Support Service – Funding Level 1
Payment – GST Inclusive $
Fee Remote ESAs
Service Fees
1st Quarterly Service Fee 890 1,513
2nd Quarterly Service Fee 890 1,513
3rd Quarterly Service Fee 890 1,513
4th Quarterly Service Fee 890 1,513
5th Quarterly Service Fee 890 1,513
6th Quarterly Service Fee 890 1,513
Possible 6 month extension
7th Quarterly Service Fee 890 1,513
8th Quarterly Service Fee 890 1,513
Outcome Fees
Job Placement 770
Full Outcome – 13 Weeks 2,860
Bonus Outcome Fee – 13 Weeks 572
Full Outcome – 26 Weeks 4,400
Bonus Outcome Fee – 26 Weeks 880
Pathway Outcome – 13 Weeks 945
Bonus Outcome Fee – 13 Weeks 189
Pathway Outcome – 26 Weeks 1,450
Bonus Outcome Fee – 26 Weeks 290
Remote Education Commencement Outcome 500
Remote Educational Achievement Outcome 1,500
Note: Remote Foundation Skills Outcome is paid as a Pathway Outcome
Ongoing Support Fees
(paid following a 26 Week Employment Outcome)
Fee Remote ESAs
Flexible Ongoing Support (per instance) 440 748 Quarterly Moderate Ongoing Support Fee 1,320 2,244 Quarterly High Ongoing Support Fee 3,300 5,610
Other Fees
Work Based Personal Assistance – hours provided directly by provider 35 per hour
Work Based Personal Assistance – hours purchased by provider 45 per hour
Employment Support Service – Funding Level 2
Payment – GST Inclusive $
Fee Remote ESAs
Service Fees
1st Quarterly Service Fee 1,900 3,230
2nd Quarterly Service Fee 1,900 3,230
3rd Quarterly Service Fee 1,900 3,230
4th Quarterly Service Fee 1,900 3,230
5th Quarterly Service Fee 1,900 3,230
6th Quarterly Service Fee 1,900 3,230
Possible 6 month extension
7th Quarterly Service Fee 1,900 3,230
8th Quarterly Service Fee 1,900 3,230
Outcome Fees
Job Placement 1,540
Full Outcome – 13 Weeks 5,500
Bonus Outcome Fee – 13 Weeks 1,100
Full Outcome – 26 Weeks 7,700
Bonus Outcome Fee – 26 Weeks 1,540
Pathway Outcome – 13 Weeks 1,815
Bonus Outcome Fee – 13 Weeks 363
Pathway Outcome – 26 Weeks 2,540
Bonus Outcome Fee – 26 Weeks 508
Remote Education Commencement Outcome 500
Remote Educational Achievement Outcome 1,500
Note: Remote Foundation Skills Outcome is paid as a Pathway Outcome
Ongoing Support Fees
(paid following a 26 Week Employment Outcome)
Fee Remote ESAs
Flexible Ongoing Support (per instance) 440 748 Quarterly Moderate Ongoing Support Fee 1,320 2,244 Quarterly High Ongoing Support Fee 3,300 5,610
Other Fees
Work Based Personal Assistance – hours provided directly by provider 35 per hour
Work Based Personal Assistance – hours purchased by provider 45 per hour
Job Services Australia ATTACHMENT B
Service Fees
Table 2 Services Fees – Streams 1, 2, 3, and 4 and Work Experience Phase
(1)
Stream and time in Payment Period
(2)
Service Fees
(3)
Service Fees – Remote ESAs only
Stream 1
—
—
First 13 weeks
$63
S107
Second 13 weeks
$528
$898
Third 13 weeks
$94
$160
Fourth 13 weeks
$96
$163
Maximum for Stream 1
$781
$1328
Stream 2
—
—
First 13 weeks
$271
$461
Second 13 weeks
$208
$354
Third 13 weeks
$202
$343
Fourth 13 weeks
$204
$347
Maximum for Stream 2
$885
$1505
Stream 3
—
—
First 13 weeks
$332
$564
Second 13 weeks
$264
$449
Third 13 weeks
$257
$437
Fourth 13 weeks
$267
$454
Maximum for Stream 3
$1120
$1904
Stream 4
—
—
First 13 weeks
$587
$998
Second 13 weeks
$512
$870
Third 13 weeks
$409
$695
Fourth 13 weeks
$411
$699
Fifth 13 weeks
$402
$683
Sixth 13 weeks
$415
$706
Maximum for Stream 4
$2736
$4651
Work Experience Phase1, 3
—
—
First 13 weeks2
$456
$775
Second 13 weeks
$66
$112
(1)
Stream and time in Payment Period
(2)
Service Fees
(3)
Service Fees – Remote ESAs only
Third 13 weeks
$133
$226
Fourth 13 weeks
$67
$114
Note 1: After the fourth 13 Week Period in the Work Experience Phase, Service Fees continue to be paid on a cyclical basis for each alternate thirteen week period as follows: first additional 13 Week Period $133 ($226 for Remote ESAs), second additional 13 Week Period $67 ($114 for Remote ESAs) until the Fully Eligible Participant Exits.
Note 2: Includes the amount of $330 ($561 for Remote ESAs), payable once only during a Work Experience Phase upon Work Experience Commencement by a Fully Eligible Participant.
Note 3: An additional Fee of $231 ($393 for Remote ESAs) is payable, in accordance with clause 76.6, once only during a Work Experience Phase when a Fully Eligible Participant starts a Full-Time Work for the Dole activity for the first time, as specified in any Guidelines.
Table 2A Drought Force Only Services Fee
Services
Payable
Service Fee
Drought Force Only Services
Payable only once per Drought Force Only Participant, on the Commencement of a Drought Force Only Participant
$330
Job Services Australia ATTACHMENT C
Placement Fees
Table 3 Placement Fees
Services
Placement Hours
Placement Fees
Stream 1 (post Skills Assessment)
Where an Eligible Placement Participant who is also a Partial Capacity to Work Participant completes between 15 to 49 hours of paid work in a Placement within 10 Consecutive Working Days
$385
—
Where an Eligible Placement Participant completes a minimum of 50 hours of paid work in a Placement within 10 Consecutive Working Days
$440
Stream 2 to 4 and Work Experience Phase
Where an Eligible Placement Participant completes between 15 to 49 hours of paid work in a Placement within 10 Consecutive Working Days
$385
—
Where an Eligible Placement Participant completes a minimum of 50 hours of paid work in a Placement within 10 Consecutive Working Days
$550
Job Services Australia ATTACHMENT D
Outcome Fees
Table 1 Outcome Fees
Interpretation
‘PO(PB)’ means Pathway Outcome (Provider Brokered)
‘PO(PA)’ means Pathway Outcome (Provider Assisted)
‘POB(PB)’ means Pathway Outcome Bonus (Provider Brokered)
‘POB(PA)’ means Pathway Outcome Bonus (Provider Assisted)
‘FO(PB)’ means Full Outcome (Provider Brokered)
‘FO(PA)’ means Full Outcome (Provider Assisted)
‘FOB(PB)’ means Full Outcome Bonus (Provider Brokered)
‘FOB(PA)’ means Full Outcome Bonus (Provider Assisted)
In accordance with clause 79.1(b), an Outcome Fee is payable on completion of the 13 Week Period and at the completion of the 26 Week Period, if all the relevant requirements for an Outcome and payment of the Outcome Fee are satisfied.
In accordance with clause 79.4(c), only a 13 Week Period Outcome Fee is payable in relation to a Pathway Outcome which satisfies the requirements of paragraph (g) or (h) of the definition of Pathway Outcome in Annexure F.
In accordance with clause 79.6, if a Fully Eligible Participant in a Remote ESA satisfies the requirements for a Remote Foundation Skills Outcome, the Provider may claim an Outcome Fee on the basis that the Fully Eligible Participant is deemed to have satisfied the requirements of a Pathway Outcome.
Stream 1
Period of Unemployment
PO(PB) Fee
PO(PA) Fee
POB(PB) Fee plus PO(PB) Fee
POB(PA) Fee plus PO(PA) Fee
FO(PB) Fee
FO(PA) Fee
FOB(PB) Fee plus FO(PB) Fee
FOB(PA) Fee plus FO(PA) Fee
12 months and 1 day after Commencement in Stream 1 to 60 months
$376
$252
$451
$302
$854
$572
$1025
$686
Stream 2
Period of Unemployment
PO(PB) Fee
PO(PA) Fee
POB(PB) Fee plus PO(PB) Fee
POB(PA) Fee plus PO(PA) Fee
FO(PB) Fee
FO(PA) Fee
FOB(PB) Fee plus FO(PB) Fee
FOB(PA) Fee plus FO(PA) Fee
0 to 12 months
$550
$446
$660
$535
$1008
$675
$1210
$810
12 months and one day to 60 months
$550
$446
$660
$535
$1400
$938
$1680
$1126
Page 11 of 12
Stream 3
Period of Unemployment
PO(PB) Fee
PO(PA) Fee
POB(PB) Fee plus PO(PB) Fee
POB(PA) Fee plus PO(PA) Fee
FO(PB) Fee
FO(PA) Fee
FOB(PB) Fee plus FO(PB) Fee
FOB(PA) Fee plus FO(PA) Fee
0 to 12 months
$550
$446
$660
$535
$1750
$1418
$2100
$1702
12 months and one day to 60 months
$550
$446
$660
$535
$2500
$2025
$3000
$2430
60 months and one day or more
$1100
$891
$1320
$1069
$3300
$2673
$3960
$3208
Stream 4
Period of Unemployment
PO(PB) Fee
PO(PA) Fee
POB(PB) Fee plus PO(PB) Fee
POB(PA) Fee plus PO(PA) Fee
FO(PB) Fee
FO(PA) Fee
FOB(PB) Fee plus FO(PB) Fee
FOB(PA) Fee plus FO(PA) Fee
0 to 12 months
$1100
$891
$1320
$1069
$1750
$1418
$2100
$1702
12 months and one day to 60 months
$1100
$891
$1320
$1069
$2500
$2025
$3000
$2430
60 months and one day or more
$1100
$891
$1320
$1069
$3300
$2673
$3960
$3208
Table 1A Additional Fees for Remote ESAs
Education activity
Additional Fee
Fee amount
Remote Education Commencement Outcome
Remote Education Commencement Outcome Fee
$500
Remote Educational Achievement Outcome
Remote Educational Achievement Outcome Fee
$1500
Table 1B Access Program Fees
Activity
Access Incentive Fee
Commencement in either an Australian Apprenticeship or an AQF Certificate III or above qualification specified on the Priority Occupations List as a result of participation in the Access Program
$500
ATTACHMENT E
Employment Pathway Fund
Table 4 Employment Pathway Fund Credits Type of Service
Participant Details
Credit
Credit – Remote ESAs only
When credited
Stream 1
All Fully Eligible Participants
$11
$19
At payment of second 13 Weeks Service Fee
Stream 2
All Fully Eligible Participants
$550
$935
On Commencement
Stream 3
All Fully Eligible Participants
$1100
$1870
On Commencement
Stream 4
All Fully Eligible Participants
$1100
$1870
On Commencement
Interpreter assistance
Additional amount credited for Fully Eligible Participants that Centrelink has indicated require interpreter assistance
$1000
$1700
Upon Centrelink notification
Stream 4 extension
If, following the first 52 weeks of Stream 4, a Stream Services Review states that the Fully Eligible Participant would benefit from a further 26 weeks of Stream 4 assistance
$550
$935
After the recommendation has been made
Work Experience Phase
All Fully Eligible Participants
$500
$850
On Work Experience Commencement
Full time Work for the Dole
Additional amount credited for the participation of a Fully Eligible Participant in a Full-Time Work for the Dole activity, payable once only during a Work Experience Phase as specified in any Guidelines
$350
$595
As advised by DEEWR
Drought Force Only Services
A once only credit made during the Term of this Deed, for each Drought Force Only Participant
$500
$500
On Commencement