Australia’s labour government’s Employment White Paper outlines eight principles to guide reforms to its employment services system, with a focus on better supporting people, while collaborating with employers and communities.

“It is time to rethink employment services,” the government stated. “The system can be improved to help more Australians to connect with quality job opportunities, address structural barriers including skills, training and entrenched disadvantage, as well as assist employers to plan for and meet their labour and skills needs.”

The eight employment services principles set out in the Employment White Paper will guide the government’s consideration of the recommendations from the Parliamentary Inquiry into Workforce Australia Employment Services, scheduled for release later this year.

The principles include:

·       Services are viewed as an investment that unlock individual potential, address employer needs and work with industry to bolster growth

·       There is strong Australian Public Service stewardship in the system and the outcomes it delivers to ensure that individuals are not left behind

·       Services protect the dignity and respect rights of individuals

·       Services provide a pathway towards decent jobs that provide the flexibility and security that individuals need

·       Employers use employment services to help meet their workforce needs, and can access guidance on innovative job design, recruitment practices and inclusive approaches to workforce development

·       Employment services are designed through collaboration with individuals, employers and the community

·       Services help people at the earliest opportunity, informed by fit‑for‑purpose assessment processes

·       Reforms are grounded in evidence, high‑quality evaluation and continuous learning and improvement

“Consistent with our new reform principles, the government will make changes to the Local Jobs Program to ensure more people can find work and the program meets community needs,” the government stated.

This will include applying best‑practice approaches to place‑based policy development, including equipping local communities with relevant data, and broadening eligibility to enable more people looking for work to participate in the program.

The Guardian reports that the Albanese government will spend an extra AUD 41 million (USD 26.1 million) in a bid to double higher apprenticeships in the care economy, digitisation and net zero.

The government also announced it will spend AUD 9.1 million (USD 5.8 million) on a business case to define the scope, outcomes and benefits of a national skills passport.

The government will spend AUD 31 million (USD 19.7 million) on the Tafe (Technical and further education) centres and AUD 10 million (USD 6.3 million) to develop higher and degree apprenticeships, to develop bachelor level qualifications to enter into clean industries and the care economy without going to university.

“Everyone who wants a job should be able to find one without searching for too long,” the white paper said.