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Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-02-24 Daily Xml
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Skills for All

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:18): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills a question relating to the Skills for All program.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE: As most would know, there is an increasing awareness around autism and autism spectrum disorders, and it is not uncommon these days for multiple children within a classroom to have a diagnosis of either Asperger's or autism. I received a letter recently from a parent who is concerned for the welfare of her 18-year-old son who has high-functioning Asperger's.

Her son's Asperger's means that he cannot undertake aptitude tests, has poor writing skills and does not engage in social behaviours such as smiling in job interviews. These Asperger's outworkings are further complicated because, despite completing a modified Year 12 program, sadly he is unable to gain employment. Accordingly, he is classified as a dependent for Centrelink purposes for another four years, and any application for an allowance is determined against his parents' earnings.

Having an interest in the automotive industry and knowing that this would be an area in which he could gain meaningful and enjoyable work, they researched the option of the Skills for All program. However, unfortunately I am advised that this gentleman is not eligible. So my questions to the minister are:

1. What allowances, if any, will the government make to ensure that people with Asperger's, or other disorders, are not excluded from education in fields where they would excel, simply because they do not fit an arbitrary list of eligibility criteria?

2. What, if any, targets or quotas have been set to ensure that people with disorders such as Asperger's are represented in higher education as well as in employment, and how is that measured through the department?

3. Will the government make a commitment to look at alternative paths for assessment in determining the eligibility of someone to enter education such as the Skills for All program?

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) (15:20): I thank the honourable member for his most important questions. He has raised a number of very important points about the access to training and higher education services, but for that matter it applies to a whole range of services for those people with disabilities. The example that he has given at the moment is one relating to autism. These are very challenging issues.

In terms of Skills for All, which was the initial focus of his question, it certainly has worked to increase the participation of people with disability in vocational education and training. The advice that I have been given is that in 2013 there were 8,600 course enrolments undertaken by students with disability through Skills for All, which was an increase of 58 per cent, or 3,200 extra or additional enrolments, when compared to 2012. That is just people with disabilities. I do not have a breakdown of the types of disabilities that they have, and I doubt that that information will be available, but I am certainly happy to have a look and provide a more detailed breakdown if I can.

In relation to learner support services, they provide case management support to students who particularly suffer from complex barriers, to assist them to complete their VET. In 2012-13, I think 318 students with disability, or 32 per cent of participants, were supported through this scheme. Also, over 1,300 people with disabilities were engaged in DSD employment programs, such as Abilities for All, Adult Community Education, and Skills for Jobs in Regions, with more than 300 people gaining a job. Again, that is not broken down into the types of disabilities that that might entail.

The Department of State Development continues to fund Disability Works Australia to administer the South Australian public sector disability employment register. Since this initiative commenced in 2001, I am advised, more than 1,926 job seekers with disability have received training and job search preparation whilst on the register and 1,011 participants have gained employment in the South Australian public sector.

I am also advised that there are currently 306 active participants on the register and the government will support DWA to review and ensure its sustainability into the future, and funding for up to 80 public sector job opportunities through the register for people with a disability over the year 2015-16 will be provided to DWA. The 2014-15 federal budget, I noted, introduced compulsory activities for DSP recipients under 35 years of age with an assessed work capacity of eight hours or more a week. The participation plan, I understand, will be developed for them, and this is likely to be expanded to older age groups in the future.

These sorts of activities obviously vary depending on a person's circumstances and focus on their employment. As I said, we are aware, however, that people with disabilities do tend to have considerably lower employment and participation rates, higher unemployment rates and lower levels of education attainment than people without disabilities. I think it is important that we continue with these programs to help assist those people with disabilities to have full access and participation in our training, education and workplaces.

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