Anglicare NQ Supports Anglicare Australia’s Call for Employment System Overhaul
MEDIA RELEASE | 1st December 2023
In response to the review of Workforce Australia, Anglicare Australia is calling for a fundamental transformation of the country’s employment system. Kasy Chambers, Executive Director of Anglicare Australia, emphasised the need for accessible and quality guaranteed support for anyone seeking employment.
Ms Chambers stated, “Anyone who wants help to look for work should be able to get it. Unfortunately, the current system is hurting people without helping them. People have reported, running a gauntlet of interviews, reporting, and administration that fails to facilitate employment and private providers are receiving substantial sums to penalise people.”
The review highlights systemic issues, including the ineffectiveness of programs like Work for the Dole, which not only fail in their objectives but also waste millions of dollars annually. Ms Chambers expressed concern that maintaining the existing system architecture, despite evidence of its shortcomings, would perpetuate the cycle of despair for many seeking employment.
Drawing from Anglicare Australia’s extensive experience working with those affected by the flawed system, Ms Chambers proposed steps for improvement. “We urge the government to raise payment rates to ensure that no one lives below the poverty line. Private providers must be prevented from unjustly penalising people, and failing programs like Work for the Dole need to be discontinued.”
In a statement supporting Anglicare Australia’s call for change, Liz Colahan, Chief Executive Officer of Anglicare North Queensland stated, “Anglicare North Queensland stands in solidarity with Anglicare Australia in demanding a transformation of the employment system. The evidence is clear, and it is time for decisive action to create a system that truly supports individuals in their pursuit of work.”
Anglicare Australia has compiled evidence supporting these recommendations in two significant reports, “Asking Those Who Know” and “Obligation without Opportunity.” Ms Chambers finished by calling on the government to listen to the evidence and collaborate in reshaping the system. “It’s time to build a safety net that helps people instead of punishing them,” she emphasised.
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