The Government will invest $295.9 million over four years to develop and deliver a new digital employment services platform. The new digital platform will transform the delivery of employment services in Australia, including the overhaul of the jobactive employment program to be replaced from July 2022. The Platform will be available to all Australians providing better connections between job seekers and employers, helping them to match employment opportunities, supporting training and reskilling, and getting Australians back to work.
The new digital platform will provide the most job-ready job seekers with a more personalised and flexible online service and support them to self-manage back into work. It will also offer an easy to use and streamlined online recruitment service for employers helping to decrease the time to fill vacancies by delivering better connections to job seekers and support improved matching, pre-screening and validation of job applications.
The Government is also investing $6.5 million to temporarily modify the New Employment Services Trial (NEST) to increase support for job seekers engaged in the trial who are at risk of long-term unemployment.
NEST Digital Service job seekers who commenced prior to COVID-19 and remain unemployed after six or more months, will be transferred to NEST Enhanced Services providers. Due to COVID-19, these job seekers are now competing in a much tighter labour market with large numbers of job seekers who have more recent work experience. Transferring these job seekers to Enhanced Services will give them access to more intensive, tailored assistance to support their job search and skilling needs, and ensure they get the best chance at getting a job.
The majority of transfers will be completed by the end of October 2020. This will coincide with the introduction of additional supports and safeguards for job seekers who remain in the NEST Digital Service, which were also announced in the 6 October 2020 Budget.
Supporting Youth in Workforce Australia
From 1 July 2022, the Workforce Australia - Transition to Work (TtW) program, will be the dedicated youth employment service. This will ensure more young people (aged 15-24) have access to targeted youth employment services and have the best opportunity to become work ready and secure employment.
Current Transition to Work contracts expire 30 June 2022. An open procurement has been undertaken with Workforce Australia – Transition to Work contracts commencing from 1 July 2022.
The Government is also investing $7.5 million over four years to continue the Youth Advisory Sessions (YAS) for young job seekers in Online Employment Services from 1 July 2022. Introduced as a time-limited measure in the 2020–21 Budget, the YAS is currently providing young people in Online Employment Services access to up to three advisory sessions to be delivered by TtW providers.
