Local Connections to Work - a new approach to helping disadvantaged job seekers and others in need

You may be aware that some Centrelink offices have recently combined efforts with community, government and non-government organisations in the local region to bring a more tailored approach to job seekers and other individuals requiring assistance.

The Local Connections to Work approach

Local Connections to Work is an innovative approach to service delivery which will provide tailored assistance catering to the specific needs of people who are long term unemployed, disadvantaged youth and their families.

Based on the successful New Zealand 'Community Links' model, this service aims to bring a range of services under 1 roof for job seekers to access more conveniently.

Under this model, a range of Commonwealth, State and local Government services, Job Services Australia and other employment service providers, education providers and community welfare and service organisations will be available from a Centrelink office and can provide a better connection and linkages for disadvantaged job seekers.

A range of different service providers will be rostered to deliver services from the Centrelink office. The roster arrangement will mean that during an appointment with Centrelink, customers have the opportunity to talk with a number of other services on site which may provide the assistance they need to overcome barriers to social inclusion and economic participation such as homelessness, lack of literacy and numeracy skills, poor health and drug and alcohol dependency.

Local Connections to Work sites

The Local Connections to Work services will initially be established in 4 Centrelink Customer Service Centres:

How Local Connections to Work can help

While Australia has been experiencing relatively good employment growth there is still more that can be done to help disadvantaged job seekers and those who have been unemployed for a long time.

Having community partners provide their services from 1 location will enable people to more easily access the range of services they may need. This may include financial assistance, advocacy, housing services, employment, health support services, education and counselling services, and other services which may assist in overcoming barriers to social inclusion and economic participation.

Where a particular service is not available on-site, job seekers will be helped to connect with the services required.

Job seekers identified for wrap around services under Local Connections to Work will have joint meetings with Centrelink and their Employment Services Providers. These meetings could extend to other community partners, with the consent of the job seeker, to identify their needs and quickly link them to the right support. Closer collaboration gives a more wholistic view of the job seeker, who, in most instances, would only need to tell their story once.

The success of the Local Connections to Work will be in enabling disadvantaged job seekers to access a range of services that will help improve their social and economic participation over time.

The Local Connections to Work customers

There are disadvantaged people who are at risk of being left behind economically and socially as the Australian economy recovers.

Under Local Connections to Work, wrap around services will be offered to those who have been unemployed for 5 or more years and disadvantaged youth - 2 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. The wrap around services will also be available to others in need.

The Local Connections to Work community partners

Actual services provided on the ground to disadvantaged job seekers will be driven by local needs and tailored to the specific circumstances of the job seekers and their families.

Across all 4 sites a Medicare Officer will be present on a permanent basis.

Employment Services Providers will play a vital role in this collaboration and services will be offered through both Job Services Australia providers and Disability Employment Services providers.

A range of non-government service providers will also be offering services on a rostered basis.

Signage in each location will indicate which community partners are available on site each day.

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Related information

• Looking for work section