SKILLS FOR ALL
14/06/2012
The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:07): My question is to the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion. Minister, will you inform the chamber about what the South Australian government is doing to support job seekers with a disability?
The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:07): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. A report released today by the Council of Australian Governments shows that there has been minimal growth nationally in the labour force participation of people with disabilities. All of us should be concerned by these findings, and I certainly am.
It is true that South Australia sits slightly above the Eastern States in terms of participation rates, but that is not good enough. It is my firm belief that government departments should be leaders in this regard. In 2006, only 777 people with disabilities were employed in the South Australian public sector. As a result, South Australia’s—
Members interjecting:
The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Mr President, is this an indication of the disdain members opposite feel for people with disabilities in the community who are trying to seek employment in our society?
Members interjecting:
The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Mr President, the mob opposite are absolutely a joke, sir. They cannot even sit here quietly—
An honourable member interjecting:
The PRESIDENT: Order! No; he might want you to listen. The minister might try again.
An honourable member: He sat down!
The PRESIDENT: I sat him down.
The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: Well, Mr President, clearly, you’re interested in hearing what I have to say about this matter, but the opposition aren’t.
The PRESIDENT: I am sure the honourable members on my right want to hear the answer—and some on my left, of course.
The Hon. I.K. HUNTER: In 2006, only 777 people with disabilities were employed in the South Australian public sector. As a result, South Australia’s Strategic Plan included a target to double this number by 2014, and I am pleased to say that we are on track to meet this target. As at June 2011, this number has grown to 1,258. Within my department, 4.3 per cent of employees report that they have a disability.
But this is not just an issue for government. This is a broader issue, and that is why the state government’s $194 million Skills for All reforms are so very important. The reforms aim to revitalise vocational education and training in South Australia. We want to encourage more people than ever to enter training and to successfully complete that training and gain employment.
Under the reform package announced by the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills in the other place, the Hon. Tom Kenyon, funding is quarantined for jobseekers with a disability to boost their skills and qualifications. Participants will benefit from specialist support and, if they study at TAFE, will receive additional services such as case management and learning support. This approach follows on from the Abilities for All program, a partnership between the Bedford Group and the South Australian government that has been in operation since the financial year 2003-04.
The Abilities for All program provides pathways for jobseekers with disabilities, but the primary aim is to enable people with a disability to undertake training in a supported way that improves skills, confidence and, eventually, employability. This program has been a success. Of the 128 participants who completed the program in 2009, Bedford advises that 80 per cent completed their Certificate I in Business, 95 per cent completed their work experience placement and, most importantly, 32 per cent of participants have gone into employment.
It should also be added that 22 per cent have gone on to further study and the number employed has grown beyond this audit period, I am advised. I also note that yesterday Senator Jan McLucas announced a $1.9 million injection into Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs). This is further evidence of the commonwealth’s commitment to employment for people living with a disability and, on behalf of the South Australian government, I say that I welcome it.
The fact is that as our economy transforms we will be requiring a more highly skilled workforce, so we need to ensure that more people have the relevant skills to participate in work and further training, and this includes people with a disability. As I have said time and time again, the Weatherill government wants people living with a disability to have more control, more freedom and more choice in their lives. The Skills for All package announced by my colleague in the other place is another example of this desire being put into practice.
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (15:11): I have a supplementary question. Is the minister equally concerned about the stigma that exists in the workplace which may, in fact, lead to people not disclosing that they have a disability, and what is the government doing to address this problem?
The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (15:12): In fact, I was discussing the issue of stigmatisation with various service providers only a few weeks ago, particularly in relation to getting people with disabilities into open employment, which I think we can all agree is a desirable outcome. The government is working very closely with a number of organisations in the community to encourage businesses in particular to look at employing people with a disability. The experience that has been conveyed to me is that, once that personal connection has been made with a person with a disability; once the employer and their workmates find out that that person can function just as well as anyone else in the workplace, that sort of stigmatisation is broken down. As in many other situations, that personal contact is so very important.
