Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)

A new system for better employment and social outcomes, report of the Reference Group on Welfare Reform to the Minister for Social Services : final report, Reference Group on Welfare Reform

eng

Includes biblographical references: pages 228-234

federal national government publication

no index present

non fiction

A new system for better employment and social outcomes

904227149

Reference Group on Welfare Reform

report of the Reference Group on Welfare Reform to the Minister for Social Services : final report

In December 2013, Minister for Social Services, Hon. Kevin Andrews MP, commissioned a review of Australian welfare system; review is to identify improvements to ensure system is suitable, effective and coherent and encourage people to work; Reference Group was appointed and considers the broad range of payment and services that are available for people of working age and considers whether they support people to participate in work to their capacity; considers issues that affect all payment, such as indexation, also considered how possible changes to payments that are within scope may impact on other payments; discusses Aboriginal people to develop and grow their own business ideas by offering practical learning and individualised support

Introduction -- Executive Summary -- Consolidated List of Recommendations -- Pillar One: Simpler and Sustainable Income Support System -- Pillar Two: Strengthening individual and family capability -- Pillar Three: Engaging with Employers -- Pillar Four: Building Community Capacity -- Case for Reform: Introduction -- Towards a simpler system that rewards work - Complexity -- Payment Rates, Means Testing and Marginal Tax Rates -- Payment Duration and Transitions -- System Coherence -- Indexation and Benchmarking -- Problems Caused by Inconsistency in Indexation -- Singles and Couples -- Characteristics of People on Newstart -- Assistance with Housing -- Benefits of Work -- Financial Benefits -- Health Benefits -- Intergenerational Benefits -- Community Benefits -- Activation Works -- Expectations and Attitudes -- Meeting Future Economic and Social Challenges -- Changes in Industry Composition of Employment -- Changes in Skill Levels -- Changes in Labour Force Participation Rates -- Trends in Part time and Casual Work - Entrepreneurship -- Wanting to Work More Hours -- Labour Mobility -- Current Job Vacancies -- Future Employment Opportunities - Sustainability -- Social Sustainability -- Fiscal and Economic Sustainability - Transitions -- Life Course Transitions -- Work Transitions -- Risk Factors -- The Reform Agenda -- Pillar One: Simpler and Sustainable Income Support System - Introduction -- Employment Focus - Complexity - Adequacy -- Means Testing and Marginal Tax Rates -- System Coherence -- Housing Assistance -- A New Payment Architecture -- An Integrated System -- Design Objectives -- Five Primary Payments -- Previous Reviews -- Payments Reflecting Need and Capacity to Work -- Tiered Working Age Payment -- Three Tiers -- Supported Living Pension -- Child and Youth Payment -- A Simpler Structure for Family Payments -- Costs of Children -- Income Support Packages for Parents - Childcare -- Age of Independence -- Carer Payment -- Age Pension - Recommendations -- Supplements and Concessions - Supplements - Concessions - Recommendations - Adequacy Payment Rates -- Balancing Adequacy and Work Incentives -- Adjusting Payments -- Twin tracked Approach to Adjustments -- Periodic Review of Community Living Standards -- Automatic Cost of Living Adjustment - Recommendations -- Making Work Pay -- Passport to Work -- Coherent Withdrawal Rates -- Targeting Assistance to Need - Recommendations -- Housing Assistance - Recommendations -- Transitioning to the New Structure -- No Reduction in Payment -- Impact on Different Groups - Implementation - Recommendations -- Pillar Two: Strengthening individual and family capability - Introduction -- People Living a Life They Value -- Strengthening Individual and Family Capability -- Mainstream Services -- Building Capability for Work -- Financial Capability -- Family Support -- Mental Health Services - Housing - Recommendations -- An Investment Approach -- Assessing Risk -- The New Zealand Investment Approach -- An Australian Investment Approach -- An Australian Investment Approach - Recommendations -- Mutual Obligation - Economic - Social -- Pillar Three: Engaging with Employers - Introduction -- Where are the Jobs -- Changing Labour Market -- Employment by Industry -- Growing Industries -- Employment Growth by Skill Level -- Top Occupations by Skill Level -- Employment Growth by Region and Labour Mobility -- G20 Employment Plans - Recommendation -- Role of Employers -- Business Case for Diversity -- Employer Attitudes -- Employment Models -- Better Support for Employers -- What Employers Want -- Better Jobs and Skills Matching -- Employment Services and a New Income Support System -- Assistance for Employers -- Pathways from Study to Work - Recommendations -- Jobs Plan - Context -- Jobs Plan - People with Disability and Mental Health Conditions - Recommendations -- Pillar Four: Building Community Capacity - Introduction -- Role of Civil Society - Partnerships - Philanthropy -- Social Purpose