Exploitation Or A Second Chance?
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday March 11, 1994
WHEN Kim Dredge, a former insurance underwriter, left the job she'd had for half her life she never imagined that she would spend the next two years in the job queue.
During that time Kim, 36, of Redfern, lost her self-esteem and confidence as she was repeatedly knocked back for jobs.
"I really didn't think it would be that difficult to get a job," she said. "I was just so surprised when I couldn't find work. Because I worked for a large company (GIO) my qualifications seemed specific for that organisation and not for smaller organisations."
After frustrating attempts to find work Kim was referred to the Federal Government's Jobskills program where people who have been unemployed for more than a year receive a subsidised wage and on-the-job training.
Kim has been placed for 26 weeks at the Life Be In it office where she is receiving $300 a week plus gaining computer, reception and clerical skills.
"I really don't think this sort of money is exploitation because it gives me self-confidence as well as skills and (the experience of) working in an office," she said.
"It gets you out of the house."
David Jenkins, 25, who is also part of the Life Be In It Jobskills plan, said he was forced to apply for the program when he could no longer support himself as a freelance photographer.
"Although I was still living at home I just wasn't earning enough money to cover myself," he said.
"I found that people would be positive about my photographic work then turn around and weren't interested."
David, of Mosman, said the program was giving him new skills and confidence to build on his talents.
"I'm working in the promotions department and learning computers which has given me a whole new area. I'm using this as a building block.
"As long as you receive a little bit more than the dole there is the incentive to get new skills."
Kim and David are among 40 people aged between 20 and 55 at Life Be In It who are taking part in the Jobskills program.
Ms Val Parmar , Life Be In It's State manager, said that last year the organisation placed 250 people in a number of organisations, including local councils and the Botanic Gardens.
"These people have been unemployed for more than a year so their confidence is low," she said.
Kim and David may once have been part of Australia's long-term unemployed but under new plans revealed by Federal Employment Minister, Mr Crean, this week those out of a job for more than a year may be forced to work for below-award wages.
Senior Cabinet ministers are expected to consider plans which would extend below-award wages beyond school leavers to the entire pool of long-term unemployed.
Under the plan, Mr Crean also wants to abolish the dole for the 35,700 unemployed youths under 18 and channel them into subsidised employment or send them back to school.
While not endorsing Mr Crean's plan, Ms Judy Byrne, a training manager with TAFE, said she supported an environment where teenagers as well as adults gained a broad range of skills and training.
"I really don't know about the Crean proposal but what I would like to see is more structured on- and off-the-job training as well as more quality training," she said.
Ms Byrne, TAFE's educational quality assurance manager, said good training was particularly important to teenagers who found themselves unemployed after leaving school at the age of 15 or 16.
"While it's OK for someone to leave school at 15 or 16 and get a job, in the longer term there are very few people who don't need need a broader range of skills with very specific training," she said.
Ms Byrne said it was often difficult for smaller companies to offer on-the-job training.
"You might send someone to employers on the assumption that they will be trained but you don't know unless you have some kind of assessment," she said
"You also have to assess the workplace trainers to find out what these people enrolled in the training programs can do at the end."
However, critics of Mr Crean's plan say it abuses the rights of the young unemployed and may only temporarily solve the job crisis.
Mr Martin Attridge, executive officer of the Australian Youth Policy and Action Coalition, described the policy as outrageous.
"We are absolutely opposed to getting rid of the dole for people under 18 and the withdrawal of the Jobsearch allowance," he said.
"We don't accept that young people under 18 don't have a place in the labour force.
"This is just a neat way to cut 37,000 people off the unemployment list."
FOR UNEMPLOYED, JUST THE JOB
JOBSTART: For people who have been unemployed for at least six months. This financial year 165,000 places will be available at a cost of more than $356 million. The wage, subsidised by the Federal Government, ranges from $70 to$230 a week. The program has a 60 per cent success rate in people gaining full-time employment after completing the Jobstart program.
JOBSKILLS: For people over 21 who have been unemployed for more than a year. There are 10,000 places available this year at a cost of more than $145 million. The program has a 42 per cent success rate.
ACCREDITED YOUTH TRAINING: For young people aged between 15 and 19 who have been unemployed for more than six months. There are 11,000 places available this year at a cost of more than $74.4 million.
JOB TRAIN: For people who have been unemployed for more than a year. There are 68,200 places available this year at a cost of $159 million.
© 1994 Sydney Morning Herald