9. KATRINA SHANKS (National) Link to this
to the Minister for Social Development and Employment
What is the Government doing with different industries to support people into work?
Hon PAULA BENNETT (Minister for Social Development and Employment) Link to this
Work and Income currently has 78 industry partnerships and has committed over $10 million towards supporting people to get into work. I will name but a few of the organisations we are working with: the Marine Industry Association, the Fire Protection Association of New Zealand, Master Painters New Zealand, the Motor Trade Association, and the New Zealand Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The list goes on and on, and over the next 12 months Work and Income expects to place a further 3,500 people into work through these industry partnerships.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Yes. In the aged-care sector Work and Income has signed into six partnerships, providing employment for around 60 people to date. These people are also being given the opportunity to continue to learn new skills and develop career paths that will have ongoing, long-term benefits.
Hon Ruth DysonWhat is the name of the fund, which she referred to yesterday at the Social Service Committee, that is the alternative source of support for ill and disabled people who seek to get into paid work, now that she has scrapped the health and disability innovation fund? What is the name of that alternative fund?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
What we discussed yesterday at the Social Services Committee is the fact that a range of services and support is available to people who have disabilities and are looking at going into work. Work and Income is totally supporting them to get the services they need around them. Work and Income is working through a range of support services for them.
Why did the Minister tell the select committee that there is an alternative source of funding, when there is not?
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
There are enterprise allowances for those working through Work and Income. We outsource a number of programmes for those with disabilities so that they can get help with CV writing, help with their interview skills, help to get the range of available services, and help to get them into work. Those programmes are there, and we have actually just contracted $250 million worth of contracts for services to help people into work. There is certainly assistance available.
Hon PAULA BENNETT Link to this
Yes. For people who are placed through this scheme, we will continue to provide ongoing mentoring and training. In the case of McDonald’s, a mentoring programme will be offered to youth referred by Work and Income. The programme includes up to 12 weeks’ pre-employment training as well as up to 12 months’ on-the-job mentoring to assist the trainee to achieve service industry qualifications with McDonald’s. This programme is being run jointly by Work and Income, McDonald’s, and the Hospitality Standards Institute, and it will be piloted in selected stores by November 2009.