27 July 2022, Guardian Australia, Luke Henriques-Gomes. Access the full article here.
Department of employment intended to ban practice before reversing course after ‘strong feedback’ from industry
The employment services industry successfully lobbied to stop a proposed rule banning providers from referring jobseekers to their own training courses under the new $1.5bn-a-year Workforce Australia model.
In a potential windfall for providers, Guardian Australia can reveal the department of employment last year intended to ban the practice before reversing course after “strong feedback” from the industry.
That included claims from providers that the ban would be “counterproductive” to the “viability” of the Employability Skills Training program (EST), through which $500m will flow to private providers over the next five years.
The training contracts will see as much as $301m in additional revenue flow to companies and non-profits also designated as Workforce Australia providers.
– Report
Employment services survey
The Punishment for Profit report is based on hundreds of responses to surveys conducted by the Antipoverty Centre. This research is ongoing. If you are in Workforce Australia, Disability Employment Services or a similar program, we welcome any information you are able to share about your experiences.