This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2009) This article's factual accuracy may be compromised because of out-of-date information. Please help improve the article by updating it. There may be additional information on the talk page. (July 2009) Job Services Australia (formerly known as the Job Network) is an Australian Government-funded network of organisations (private and community, and originally also government) that is contracted by the Australian Government, through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), to deliver employment services to unemployed job seekers on Government income support payments and employers.1

Job Services Australia providers are initially selected for the network and allocated business through a competitive public tender process, with contract periods running for varying lengths of time determined by the Australian Government. There are over 1,000 sites across Australia delivering Job Services Australia. These sites are managed by DEEWR. To be eligible for support, people need to be in receipt of eligible income support payments, such as Newstart Allowance, Youth Allowance, the Disability Support Pension or Parenting Payment. Contents 1 History 2 Services 3 Contracts and performance ratings 4 Major agencies 5 Industry-related organisations 6 Software 7 External links 8 References History

Job Services Australia began in 1998 as "Job Network" after the dissolution of the Commonwealth Employment Service (CES). In 1996-97, the Australian Federal Parliament passed legislation to combine the functions of the CES and the Department of Social Security. As a result Centrelink was created to provide monetary welfare support to people across Australia. The delivery of employment services was tendered out to Job Network organisations whose primary responsibility was to assist people into work. In 2009, the Rudd Government renamed the program "Job Services Australia". Job Services Australia is a competitive industry with organisations competing for contracts through tenders. Job Services Australia is currently in its first deed period.dated info Services

The services provided by Job Services Australia differ according to the level of disadvantage of the job seeker, circumstances or the allowance they are receiving from Centrelink. Services include: Stream 1 (Limited): Job Services Australia assists in creating an online resume for the purpose of applying for jobs through DEEWR's online Australian JobSearch (AJS) website [1], and automatically matching the job seeker's knowledge, skills and experience to new jobs that are available. Stream 1: This part of the JSA model includes Intensive Activities, where job seekers participate in activities to develop their skills in resume development, application writing, cold canvassing, goal setting, career planning, interview techniques, job search and work experience. Stream 2 & 3: These job seekers are experiencing moderate and significant disadvantage (respectively). Job seekers will enter into an Employment Pathway Plan (EPP) which will include activities and assistance aimed at improving the job seekers employability. The focus will be on addressing the vocational and non-vocational needs of the job seeker. Stream 4: These job seekers are assessed as having the most severe levels of disadvantage and may be affected by such things as mental health, disability, homelessness, abuse, drug/alcohol etc. JSA providers will work with the job seeker to address their most pressing issues/barriers first. The aim is to achieve employment however this may take some time. Work Experience: This phase usually begins for a job seeker after 12 months in a particular stream. In the work experience phase, job seekers who are eligible are required to participate in a work experience activity on an annual basis. Work Experience Activities could include Work for the Dole, Green Corp, Volunteer Work, Part Time Work, Part Time Study, Unpaid Work Experience, Participation in Gov't Programs or Non-Vocational Activities. Contracts and performance ratings Contract 1 1998-2000 Contract 2 2000-2003 Contract 3 2003-2006 Contract 3 Extension 2006-2009 JSA Deed 2009-2012

Job Services Australia agencies are rated by DEEWR every six months (or milestone) on performance, based on placing clients into work and keeping them employed for 13 and/or 26 weeks. A Star Rating system is used, ranging from one to five stars; five stars indicate the highest level of performance. The ratings are calculated using a regression model that looks at the number of jobs or outcomes that a site has achieved. As the details of the model have not been released, agencies are often unsure what their next rating will be. JN Solutions is currently one organisation that provides a method for predicting star ratings. Major agencies Agencies contracted under the Job Services Australia include Job Futures, Mission Australia, The Salvation Army, Max Employment (US Based), Workways Australia and the Jobfind Centres Australia. Joblink Plus is one of the largest and longest serving not-for-profit providers focussing on regional centres. For-profit organisations tend to focus on larger metropolitan centres, leaving not-for-profits to operate in the less lucrative regional areas.dated info

The following provides a list by size of Job Services Australia Providers: http://www.jnsolutions.com.au/attachments/JNSolutions_ESC4Results.xls Industry-related organisations The peak industry bodies for Job Services Australia members are National Employment Services Association (NESA) which represents all employment and employment related service providers and Jobs Australia which represents the not-for-profit sector. These bodies represent the needs and wishes of the employment services sector to the Australian Government. Professional development within the industry is provided by organisations including NESA and others such as Diversity@Work, Duality, Job Services Central and Work Savvy Parents to ensure staff are current and up to date with policies and procedures.dated info

JN Solutions is an organisation that provides a method for managing the performance of the Job Services Australia contract through Starcast. Software DEEWR Provides free software for use in JSA called ESS. Other organisations have created other software for use in the industry. See: Job Services Australia Software Comparison External links Job Network page at workplace.gov.audated info NESA, the peak body for all providers of employment and employment related services in Australia. References ^ http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/JSA/Pages/default.aspx

JN Solutions is an organisation that provides a method for managing the performance of the Job Services Australia contract through Starcast. Software DEEWR Provides free software for use in JSA called ESS. Other organisations have created other software for use in the industry. See: Job Services Australia Software Comparison External links Job Network page at workplace.gov.audated info NESA, the peak body for all providers of employment and employment related services in Australia. References ^ http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/JSA/Pages/default.aspx

JN Solutions is an organisation that provides a method for managing the performance of the Job Services Australia contract through Starcast. Software DEEWR Provides free software for use in JSA called ESS. Other organisations have created other software for use in the industry. See: Job Services Australia Software Comparison External links Job Network page at workplace.gov.audated info NESA, the peak body for all providers of employment and employment related services in Australia. References ^ http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/JSA/Pages/default.aspx

JN Solutions is an organisation that provides a method for managing the performance of the Job Services Australia contract through Starcast. Software DEEWR Provides free software for use in JSA called ESS. Other organisations have created other software for use in the industry. See: Job Services Australia Software Comparison External links Job Network page at workplace.gov.audated info NESA, the peak body for all providers of employment and employment related services in Australia. References ^ http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/JSA/Pages/default.aspx