Local Connections to Work - a new approach to helping job seekers
Local Connections to Work (LCTW) is an innovative approach to helping the long-term unemployed and disadvantaged youth back into work.
Based on the successful New Zealand 'Community Links' model, it aims to bring a range of services under one roof for job seekers to access more conveniently, helping them break down their barriers to work.
LCTW offers a range of services from Centrelink and Medicare Service Centres, and may include:
- Commonwealth, state and local government services
- Job Services Australia Providers
- Disability Employment Services
- housing and homelessness
- health including drug and alcohol counselling
- mental health services
- financial counselling
- legal and advocacy
- youth services
- carer support, and
- education and training options.
LCTW helps those that need a little extra support in finding a job. Through joint interviews with service providers and links into the local community, LCTW has helped hundreds achieve their job-search goals.
Job seekers can have joint meetings with Centrelink and their Employment Services Provider. These meetings can extend to other community partners, with the consent of the job seeker, to identify their needs and quickly link them to the right support. Where a particular service is not available on-site, job seekers are helped to connect with the services required. This closer relationship between Centrelink and the Employment Services Providers gives a better overall view of the job seeker who, in most instances, will only need to tell their story once. Having community partners provide their services from the one location enables people to more conveniently access the range of services they may need.
Local Connections to Work sites
From June 2012, LCTW will be available in the following locations. Use the Find us tool to see it on a map.
| Local Connections to Work site | Location/Address |
|---|---|
| Rockhampton Service Centre | 190-194 Musgrave Street, Rockhampton |
| The Entrance Service Centre | 16-18 Fairview Avenue, The Entrance |
| Shepparton Service Centre | 198 Maude Street, Shepparton |
| Broadmeadows Service Centre | 16-22 Pearcedale Parade, Broadmeadows |
| Rockingham Service Centre | 18 Civic Boulevard, Rockingham |
| Frankston Service Centre | Cnr Davey & Young Streets, Frankston |
| Campsie Service Centre | 19-21 Anglo Road, Campsie |
| Ipswich Service Centre | 78 East Street, Ipswich |
| Elizabeth Service Centre | 4 Langford Drive, Elizabeth |
| Burnie Service Centre | Cnr Marine Terrace & Ladbrooke Street, Burnie |
| Campbelltown Service Centre | 8 -10 Browne Street, Campbelltown |
| Morwell Service Centre | Cnr Chapel and Elgin Streets, Morwell |
| Port Adelaide Service Centre | 72 Lipson Street, Port Adelaide |
| Maroochydore Service Centre | 5 Maud Street, Maroochydore |
How Local Connections to Work can help
The success of LCTW is in enabling disadvantaged job seekers to access a range of services that will help improve their social and economic participation over time.
Since May 2010 LCTW has helped job seekers address a wide range of issues, and has seen many achieve their employment goals.
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Local Connections to Work customers
Local Connections to Work provides wrap around services to those who have been unemployed for three or more years and disadvantaged youth - two groups which often find it difficult to access services to help them overcome health issues, homelessness, poor literacy and other barriers to social inclusion and economic participation.
However, LCTW is not just limited to the above groups. Anyone in need can access the on-site services provided by LCTW.
Community partners
The actual services provided on-site through LCTW are driven by local needs and tailored to the specific circumstances of job seekers and their families.
Across all nine current sites a Medicare Officer is present on a permanent basis. In some Service Centres, the Child Support Agency is also available.
Employment Services Providers play a vital role in this collaboration and on-site services are offered through both Job Services Australia providers and Disability Employment Services providers.
Community organisations can get involved with the Local Connections to Work program by contacting their local office. You can be involved on-site or be a member of the Community Partnership Group, which works towards finding ways to better deliver services to the local community.
Related information
- Looking for work section