WEST Australian Senator Linda Reynolds today congratulated organisations awarded contracts to deliver employment services to job seekers and employers in Fremantle Electorate.

From 1 July 2015, the Government is introducing a new employment services model entitled jobactive.

Senator Reynolds said atWork Australia Pty Ltd, Communicare Inc, Employment Services Group, Mission Providence, The Salvation Army Employment Plus and Business Foundations Inc had been selected through a competitive tender process to deliver one or more employment services in Fremantle Electorate.

“The Coalition’s new jobactive system will provide clearer incentives to ensure employment service providers are focused on better preparing job seekers to meet the needs of local employers and helping people to find and keep a job,” Senator Reynolds said.

“The new model includes wage subsidies for young job seekers, Indigenous job seekers, the long term unemployed, the Restart subsidy for older workers as well as Relocation Assistance to help people move to take up a job.

“There is also the Job Commitment Bonus to encourage young job seekers to stay in work and off welfare.

“Work for the Dole will be rolled out nationally to help job seekers to learn new skills and remain active and engaged while looking for work. There will be new Work for the Dole Coordinators working with local community organisations to identify activities and places.”

The Government has also made changes to assist employment providers to deliver services on the ground.

“This includes less red tape, the introduction of five year contracts instead of three, a mid contract price adjustment, larger employment regions to promote economies of scale, and an additional loading to support service delivery in regional Australia,” Senator Reynolds said.

She said there had been strong interest in the Government’s tender and organisations were assessed in terms of their capacity to meet the needs of local job seekers, their past performance and their organisational and management arrangements.

The tender was conducted by the Department of Employment in accordance with the Government’s procurement rules and signed off by an external probity adviser.

In coming months, local job seekers will receive advice on which organisation will assist them with looking for work after 1 July 2015. In the meantime, job seekers should continue to work with their existing Jobs Services Australia provider.

Further information on jobactive is available at (employment.gov.au/employment-services-2015) or via the Department of Employment’s purchasing hotline (espurchasing@employment.gov.au) or 1300 733 514.

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Media Contact: Jessica Hayes 0427333147