With reference to the media report of 14 June 2006 on ABC Online that Job Network figures of 44 000 employment outcomes included 4 000 employment outcomes from Indigenous Employment centres and to the report that the department confirmed this to be true:

(1)   Can the accuracy of this media report be confirmed

(2)   Is an Indigenous Employment Centre (IEC) regarded by the department to be a Job Network agency.

(3)   How are the structure and functions of IECs different to Job Network agencies.

(4)   At the present time, how many IECs exist

(5)   Does the department intend to expand the number of IECs; if so, what steps are being                 taken for this expansion.

(6)   Does the department give preference to IECs over mainstream employment agencies when considering tenders for employment services in communities with a significant Indigenous population

(1)   No. The department’s records show that, in the year ending 30 June 2006, 44,580 job placements for Indigenous Australians were reported by Job Network Members and Job Placement Organisations. Job placements reported by Indigenous Employment Centres (IECs) under the IEC funding agreement were not added into this figure.

(2)   No. The Job Network comprises organisations that hold an Employment Services Contract (ESC) for the delivery of Job Network services. Indigenous Employment Centres do not hold a Job Network Employment Services Contract.

(3)   The department does not stipulate the internal structure of organisations that it funds and is unable to comment on the structure of individual IECs or Job Network members. In respect of functions, IEC and Job Network are both part of a range of services funded by the Australian Government to help maximise the capacity of unemployed Australians to find and keep work. IECs and Job Network members deliver different but complementary services in accordance with their respective contractual and funding arrangements. The differences between the services include, but are not limited to, the following: •       IECs are selected from CDEP organisations operating in strong labour markets. Job Network services are selected through open competitive tender; •       IECs work with CDEP participants who volunteer to look for off-CDEP employment. Job Network members accept and service all job seekers referred from Centrelink to meet their income support participation obligations, as well as eligible volunteers; •       Job Network members deliver a sequential continuum of services that increases in intensity as the job seeker’s unemployment duration increases; the IEC service does not follow a specified sequence of employment assistance; •       Both IECs and Job Network members have access to quarantined funds to purchase additional goods and services to assist job seekers secure employment; •       As part of the contracted service, Job Network members negotiate with each eligible job seeker an up-to-date Activity Agreement; make referrals of eligible participants to Work for the Dole mutual obligation activities; and make Participation Reports to Centrelink if job seekers fail their obligations. IECs do not perform these functions. Further information about the Job Network and IEC services is published on the Workplace internet site (www.workplace.gov.au) and a full Statement of Requirements for Job Network services 2006-2009 is detailed in the Request for Tender for Job Network services available on the Australian Government Tender System, AusTender (www.tenders.gov.au).

(4)   Thirty-eight organisations are currently contracted to deliver IEC services for 2006-07. refer to Attachment A for details of the IECs.

(5)   At this stage there are no plans underway to extend the number of IECs.

(6)   No. All tenderers for the delivery of employment services are assessed in accordance with the notified tender assessment criteria. Tenderers with experience in the successful delivery of services to Indigenous Australians may present this experience as part of their tender bid.

Attachment A

Location of IECs