Local Connections to Work in Frankston
Victoria media release
Monday, 4 October 2010
A new approach to helping the long term unemployed, vulnerable youth and other people is paying dividends in Frankston.
The new Frankston Local Connections to Work program hosts 19 community partners offering services together on a rostered basis in the Frankston Centrelink Customer Service Centre.
Frankston Centrelink Manager, Gail Mayes, said the Local Connections to Work initiative involves multiple service partners providing services under one roof. The long term unemployed, disadvantaged youth and other individuals are already benefiting from better collaboration between service providers and coordination of assistance.
"Local Connections to Work enables people to access a broad range of services and tailored assistance at Centrelink offices. This particularly helps disadvantaged job seekers to get the local support they need to overcome barriers to employment," said Ms Mayes. "People only have to tell their story once to receive a range of services."
"Medicare services are also now available at Frankston Centrelink, including Medicare benefit rebates paid via EFT. Customers can register their bank account details with Medicare at Frankston Centrelink or on 13 2011 or on Medicare Australia's website."
Frankston is one of four sites nationwide offering Local Connections to Work. Others are at Campsie in New South Wales, Elizabeth in South Australia, and Ipswich in Queensland.
Ms Mayes said the initiative had only been in operation at Frankston Centrelink since the end of May, but they were already seeing results.
"For example, we had a customer with a number of complex issues preventing her from looking for work.
"Utilising Local Connections to Work, we organised a joint interview with the job seeker, a Centrelink Customer Service Adviser and a Job Services Australia employment consultant, which enabled us to address several of her issues simultaneously over a number of appointments.
"With ongoing support, and by working in partnership with several of the co-located service providers, the customer has reported notable improvements in her health and in her confidence in finding work.
"She is now enrolled in a TAFE course and is participating in a childcare centre placement – this could lead to ongoing employment in her dream job."
Ms Mayes said that working closely with the roster of external service providers was also bringing some unexpected benefits.
"Staff are more confident in referring people to different providers because they now have a much clearer understanding of the services provided – an understanding that can only come through a close working relationship.
"The local service providers have also commented that the initiative is a very effective way to ‘bridge the gap’ between the different services available to help customers."
Under the Local Connections to Work model, the different providers aim to give disadvantaged job seekers a ‘wrap around’ experience of service delivery, where they make connections and linkages to support local people in need.
"It’s about a team approach – everyone working together to assess a job seeker’s needs and ensure they receive the best support possible in the process of becoming work ready," Ms Mayes said.
"Frankston Centrelink is excited to be at the forefront of an initiative that acknowledges there can be multiple barriers to employment and which seeks to address these barriers in a holistic way.
"It is fantastic to be able to provide alternative service options to our customers, including the most vulnerable, by working with other groups who can also help them."
Ms Mayes said that any organisation interested in becoming a co-located service partner should contact her at Frankston Centrelink.
For more information, telephone the relevant Centrelink media contact.