Australian Federation of Disability Organisations

Announcement:
National strategy for mental health and disability employment

Date of announcement:
23 November 2007

Detail:
“Labor believes that people with a disability or mental illness who want to work should be encouraged. However, many find that they encounter a range of barriers that make it harder to gain and keep work.

These barriers can be very diverse, including resistance from employers in hiring people with a disability, difficulty accessing appropriate transport, the costs associated with managing a disability, and the unpredictable nature of some disabilities and illnesses. Labor understands that attitudes must significantly change to ensure that those with a disability or mental illness are given the vocational and employment opportunities they deserve. But more can be done to facilitate and promote employment opportunities.

Labor recognises that helping people with a disability or mental illness gain and retain work requires more than changes to welfare rules; it requires a coordinated national effort to tackle the many reasons why people with a disability find participation difficult.

In Government, Labor’s Social Inclusion Board will be required to develop a national employment strategy for those with a disability and mental illness, in close consultation with people with a disability, employers and experts.”

“A Federal Labor government will also work in partnership with business, unions and the community to develop employment opportunities for groups who are under-represented in the workforce.

Labor’s approach to increasing workforce participation will include both supply-side policy measures that address the barriers to participation – such as childcare and investment in skills and education – and demand strategies that encourage employers to provide employment opportunities for these Australians.

Labor believes that closer integration of education and training, employment services and income support is the basis for employment and skills development. This is the best insurance policy the nation has against unemployment in the long-term. It also helps rebuild
Australia’s skills base and provide a secure future for those who are low skilled or have low levels of educational attainment.”

Announcement:
Skilling Australia

Date of announcement:
14 November 2007

Detail:
“Skilling Australia will increase and deepen the skills capacity of the Australian workforce and ensure demand for skills and skills training are matched.
Federal Labor’s plan for our future skilled workforce will close the skills gap in the Australian economy in three key ways:
• Fund an additional 450,000 skilled training places over the next four years - 200,000 more than the Howard Government
• Ensure that 90 per cent of these places lead to a higher qualification than the Howard Government’s proposed new training places.
• Place industry demand at the heart of the skills training system – so that training providers equip Australians with the skills that industry needs.”

Announcement:
Support for business service employees

Date of announcement:
8 November 2007

Detail:
“Labor will create a two year transition period for people with disabilities working in business services who want to move to open employment.”