SOCIAL SECURITY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT
(WORK FOR THE DOLE) BILL 1997
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APPENDIX 3 - DRAFT OBJECTIVES OF THE WORK FOR THE DOLE PILOT PROJECTS
The draft objectives of the Work for the Dole scheme as supplied to the
Committee by DEETYA on 12 May 1997, are to:
1. Raise young unemployed people's work ethic. Work ethic has two components
(a) Foster appropriate work habits and attitudes
These include the ability to work as a member of a team, take directions
from a supervisor, work independently, communication skills, motivation
and dependability (eg, punctuality, regular attendance and meeting commitments).
These are sometimes referred to as employability or generic work skills.
In the longer term an increase in work ethic should increase a participant's
attachment to the labour force and to employment and training.
(b) Improve self esteem
The pilots have been promoted as a way to reduce the `despair and despondency'
that can result from long term unemployment. Research suggests that
employed young people generally have greater self esteem, feelings of
control and lower levels of depression than unemployed young people.
2. Involve the local community both in projects that provide Work for
the Dole for young people and in helping unemployed young people at the
end of projects
The pilots aim to encourage communities to take a more active role in
helping unemployed young people. This can be measured by the communities
contribution to the projects, both with funding and in kind, and through
the level of support they give to participants when the project ends.
3. Provide communities with projects that are considered to be of value
to the community
Benefits to local communities can be measured through interviews with
sponsors and community members and observations during the case studies.
4. Ensure that participants and the community accept the principle of
mutual obligation
The principle of mutual obligation will be put into practice by the Work
for the Dole pilots. Mutual obligation means that it is fair and just
to ask people receiving unemployment allowances to make a contribution
in return for their payments. Communities also have a mutual obligation
to assist unemployed people, including young people, in their search for
work. The Work for the Dole pilots will enable communities to provide
quality projects, help young people at the end of projects and potentially
provide funds through broader community and corporate sponsorship. The
Government is assisting communities in this process by providing additional
funding.
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