Statement - Workforce Australia select committee review

The St Vincent de Paul Society in Australia welcomes today’s announcement by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, the Hon Tony Burke MP, that a Select Committee of the House of Representatives will be established to investigate the implementation of the job services program ‘Workforce Australia’.

We are deeply concerned about the welfare of vulnerable job seekers using the Workforce Australia online platform, including the introduction of a Points Based Activation System, without adequate information on how to navigate the new, complex job services program.

In the first weeks of Workforce Australia, the Society has witnessed a growing confusion and fear among job seekers, many of whom have been forced to struggle with the inadequacies of the new online platform.

We welcome Parliamentary scrutiny and oversight of Workforce Australia and the commitment by the Government to reform the program and to improve the experience of, and outcomes for, job seekers.