EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

> Qualifications & Pathways • Traineeships • VET In Schools • Peak Bodies & Key Stakeholders • Resources

NSW Context

The employment services industry covers a wide range of services that focus on providing, locating, securing or maintaining suitable employment for clients. Services may range from government funded employment services, through to disability business services. Organisations which provide employment services include government departments, not-for-profit organisations and commercial enterprises. These organisations maybe solely or primarily focused on delivering employment services or they may provide this service as only one aspect of the services offered to clients.

In NSW, the CHC30908 Certificate III in Employment Services is the appropriate entry level qualification for employment services. A key distinction between employment services within the community services industry and traditional recruitment or personnel agencies is a focus on the job seeker rather than on the employer. People are treated as individuals, with unique needs, circumstances and career aspirations. Programs and training maybe provided, as well as personal support, advice and counselling. Jobseeker participation maybe either mandatory as a result of being social security recipients or voluntary.

Target client groups may be specialised such as youth, mature-aged workers, people with a specific disability, people with a disability, long-term unemployed, or parents returning to the workforce or ex-offenders. Some services focus on a more general client group or on a location population.

There are distinctions between the characteristics of employment services located in different areas, between metropolitan and regional NSW, as well as in particular regions. These are reflected in employment patterns, job seeker characteristics and in industry.

Qualifications and Pathways

CHC30908           Certificate III in Employment Services

CHC42008           Certificate IV in Employment Services

CHC51608           Diploma of Employment Services

Recognition

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is a significant pathway for candidates to attain a national training package qualification. There has been strong support from Commonwealth and NSW governments for RTOs to find innovative and accessible RPL strategies and approaches.

NSW Department of Education and Training is actively assisting this quest for improved RPL pathways and has worked in partnership across many industry sectors to pilot best practice models of recognition and develop supporting resources.   Some of the innovation recognition pathways trialled included group, project and workplace based models.

Resources and further details are available at https://www.skillsonline.net.au/coagrpl_catalogue.html

Traineeships

The Vocational Training Board establishes traineeships in NSW. Through a consultative process between peak industry groups, employers and unions, facilitated by the ITAB, qualifications are identified that meet industry requirements and have appropriate award arrangements. This information is submitted to the Board for the declaration of a vocational training order in accordance with NSW legislation.

As qualifications have a vocational training order established, they are posted on the NSW DET Commissioner’s Bulletin. Further advice is available from NSW DET http://apprenticeship.det.nsw.edu.au/index1.htm

Current employment services traineeships in NSW are:

CHC30908 Certificate III in Employment Services

CHC42008 Certificate IV in Employment Services

New payroll tax arrangements for apprentices and trainees

New arrangements for the payment of payroll tax for apprentices and trainees in NSW take effect from 1 July 2008.

Currently, wages paid to apprentices and new entrant trainees in NSW are exempt from payroll tax. From 1 July 2008, this exemption will no longer apply and all employers will be required to include the wages and salaries paid to apprentices and new entrant trainees in their payroll tax calculation. Further information available from Office of State Revenue click here

VET in Schools

The Employment Services qualifications in the CHC08 Community Services Training Package have not been identified as suitable for VET in Schools pathways.

For more information about VET in Schools in NSW visit: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/vetinschools/

The NSW Board of Studies is responsible for the inclusion of training package qualifications in the HSC studies. Further information is available at www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au .

Peak Bodies and Key Stakeholders

National Employment Services Association (NESA)

NESA is the peak body for all employment services funded by government. Members of NESA work to assist jobseekers into employment. NESA represents the employment services industry and works to advance the development and improvement of the industry.

Jobs Australia

The national peak body for not-for-profit organisations that assist unemployed people to get and keep jobs. The network helps members to make the most effective use of their resources and promotes the service and support needs of unemployed people.

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR)

Provides the government with advice, programs and services to achieve efficient and effective labour market assistance, higher productivity, higher pay workplaces and increased workforce participation.

Job Network

This is a national network of private and community organisations whose primary objective is to find jobs for unemployed people.

NCOSS (National Council of Social Services)

The peak body for the social and community services sector in NSW. They work towards achieving social justice in NSW.

Resources

Please contact NSW Community Services and Health ITAB regarding training and assessment resource needs for the qualifications or skills sets in this industry sector.

NSW Community Services and Health ITAB and NSW DET resources include:

Certificate III in Employment Services (Induction for Disability Support Workers) - Trainer Pack

Target Group:
The intended target group for this product is new and existing disability support workers who are working in a business service. It is designed for these employees to achieve the units of competence for disability supported employment service workers from the national Community Services Training Package at Certificate III level.

Trainer Pack: (Format: interactive CD-Rom/pdf)
This Trainer Pack consists of Learner Guide, Trainer Guide and Assessor Guide in an interactive CD-Rom.

Trainer Guide:
The Trainer Guide is designed to assist workplace trainers to deliver the face-to-face learning component of the competencies in Certificate III in Employment Services relevant to disability supported employment service workers. It assumes that Trainers will have an in-depth understanding of the Supported Employment Services workplace, and that they will have the necessary skills and experience to deliver face-to-face learning that reflects the workplace environment.

The Trainer Guide is complemented by the Learner/Trainer Guide DVD.

Learner Guide:
The Learner Guide features the Induction Resource Kit, a guide to induct new staff into a disability-supported employment service. The Kit guides learners to compile their individual manual to show evidence of their achievement of the relevant competencies.

Assessor Guide:
The Assessor Guide is designed to provide workplace assessors with the resources they will need to conduct an assessment of existing or new disability support workers in a supported employment service.

Available from www.skillsonline.net.au

Certificate III in Employment Services (for new Disability Support Workers) 2006 - Trainer Pack

Target Group
The target group for this training resource is for Learners, Trainers, Assessors and Employers to promote accredited training in the Disability and Business Industry.

The purposes and outcomes of this resource are:

To promote accredited training in the Disability and Business Service Industry
To produce valuable, accessible and equitable resources
To maintain a strong learning culture
To have training that is grounded in a work base model
To have flexible options for the Employer & Learner
To promote training pathways
Maintaining the continuous improvement in relation to quality services

Trainer Pack: (format: pdf)
This trainer pack contains Participant’s Guide, Trainer’s Guide, Assessor’s Guide in an interactive CD Rom.

Several units were identified as being most appropriate to the role of a new disability support worker in a business service – these have been divided into 4 clusters:

Values And Principles
CHCCS1B Deliver and monitor a service to clients
CCHCCS301A Work within a legal and ethical framework
CHCCS405A Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co workers

Service Delivery
CHCCOM3B Utilise specialist communication skills to build strong relationships
CHCORG29A Provide coaching and motivation
CHCCS410A Facilitate co-operative behaviour

Service Outcomes
CHCDIS9B Maximise participation in the workforce for people with a disability
CHCNET2B Maintain effective networks
CHCOHS301 Participate in workplace safety procedures

Service Management
CHCINF2B Maintain the organisation’s information systems
CHCORG3B Participate in the work environment
CHCES303A Use labour market information

These clusters are designed to reflect the philosophy and principles that underpin a disability employment service. Research in this area suggests that using untrained workers is considered an unacceptable management practice due to the high vulnerability of consumers in disability services.

Available from www.skillsonline.net.au

Other resources may be available from industry peaks, National Training Information Service (NTIS), Registered Training Organisations and Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council.

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