Strategic Employment Fund

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:14): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills a question about an employment initiative.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA: Communities are often able to identify pockets of local employment need that require strong elements of engagement with local job seekers to help them win those local job opportunities. Can the minister advise the chamber about the Strategic Employment Fund and how it has to date assisted local employers to fill local job vacancies across the regions of South Australia?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:14): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. The Strategic Employment Fund, which is being transitioned to WorkReady, supports employment projects that connect job seekers to the jobs identified by local employers. The Strategic Employment Fund (SEF) is delivered through a list of approved SEF providers. These providers develop employment projects in partnership with employers, who are prepared to commit to jobs, on a jobs first basis.

The fund aims to increase this state's skilled workforce and create tailored employment programs that assist job seekers to gain the skills and abilities necessary to win local jobs. The target of SEF in 2014-15 was to assist more than 900 people across South Australia into jobs. I am pleased to advise the chamber that, as of 5 October this year, 41 SEF projects were approved by the Department of State Development with the objective of assisting over 1,390 people into jobs. A total of $2.511 million is budgeted to deliver 41 SEF projects across the 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years.

I would just like to give an example of a SEF project. This one is delivered in the Eyre and Western region, where 4 Life Proprietary Limited has received $34,900 to deliver 15 participants a Certificate III in Disability. The Hon. Kelly Vincent will be pleased: she asked a question about disability and carers and support workers the other day. Fifteen participants have completed their training and are currently undertaking the work placement component of the certificate. Participants have come from Port Lincoln, Venus Bay, Coffin Bay, Boston Bay, Tumby Bay and suchlike. It is anticipated that 12 participants will gain employment through that project.

SEF providers must have the required skills and experience to deliver tailored, locally developed employment projects that respond to employer-identified job vacancies. As at 4 November 2015, there have been 364 job outcomes from projects commenced under the SEF fund in industries such as community services, hospitality, events management and suchlike. Almost 28 per cent of job outcomes were in non-metropolitan regions.

All SEF projects are due to be completed by 30 June 2017. The job outcome information is provided by the participant upon exit of their employment project and, as a result, outcomes will increase as projects are completed and the reporting period is finalised. SEF providers are delivering projects that include accredited training, non-accredited training, individual case management, structured mentoring and project management.

The state's WorkReady initiative, which began on 1 July 2015, brings together all funding for training, employment and skills activity, including the SEF fund. In future, SEF will be delivered through Jobs First Employment Projects. I thank the honourable member for his most important question.