Global Sisters Pty Ltd ABN 36 162 363 180

GlobalSisters|POBox477,NorthCurlCurlNSW2199|www.globalsisters.org

Friday3August2018

FutureEmploymentServicesConsultationActiveLabourMarketAssistanceBranchDepartmentofJobsandSmallBusinessCANBERRAACT2601

DearSir/Madam,

Thankyoufortheopportunitytobepartoftheconsultationonthefutureofemploymentservices.AttachedisthesubmissionfromGlobalSisters.

GlobalSistersisanot-for-profitfocusedonsupportingdisadvantagedwomentocreatejobsandbecomeself-employedthroughentrepreneurship.Weworkcollaborativelywithcorporates(Citi,AMPandMyer),Government(DepartmentofSocialServices),philanthropicfoundationsandcommunitypartners(includingcouncilsandlocalNGOs)tocreatejobsthroughbusiness,transformingboththelifeofthebusinesswomanandherfamilyandcommunity.Weoperatein5locationsaroundAustralia(Sydney,Melbourne,Canberra,BrisbaneandregionalVictoria).

OurkeymessageintheconsultationisthatentrepreneurshipandjobcreationservicesshouldbeinvestedinbyGovernmentasagenuinealternativetojobplacementfordisadvantagedunemployedwomen.

Inthelast2.5yearsGlobalSistershasworkedwithhundredsofwomenacrossAustraliaandsupportedover150womentocreatebusinessesandjobsforthemselves,overcomingtheirexclusionfrommainstreamjobs.

GlobalSisterswouldappreciatetheopportunitytocomeandtalktoyoufurtherandintroducingyoutosomeofthewomenthatwesupport.Alternatively,wewouldwelcomeyoutocomeandvisitourprogramsinpersoninanyofthelocationsthatweoperate.

Ifyourequireanyfurtherinformationpleasedonothesitatetogetintouch.

YoursSincerely,

MandyRichardsCEO/Founder|GlobalSistersmandy@globalsisters.org|0448644600

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GlobalSisters'SubmissiontotheEmploymentServicesExpertAdvisoryPanel'sReviewoftheNextGenerationofEmploymentServices

OverviewGlobalSistersispleasedtobeabletocontributetotheEmploymentServicesExpertAdvisoryPanel'sreviewofthenextgenerationofemploymentservices.Asasocialenterprisededicatedtoassistingdisadvantagedwomentocreatetheirownjobsthroughtheestablishmentofsustainablebusinesses,GlobalSisterswishestobringtothePanel'sattentiontheneedtomakeself-employmentandentrepreneurshipagenuinealternativetojobplacementforwomenunabletoobtainmainstreamemploymentduetotheircircumstances.WhiletheestablishmentoftheHighlyDisadvantagedTrialwithintheNewEnterpriseIncentiveSchemeisastepintherightdirection,GlobalSistersisoftheviewthatmuchgreateremphasisoughttobeplacedonjobcreationschemeswithintheGovernment'semploymentservices.InfurtheranceofGlobalSisters'position,andinresponsetoissuesraisedinChapters2,3,6,7and8ofthePanel'sDiscussionPaper,thissubmissioniscomprisedofthefollowingfivesections:

1. AboutGlobalSisters2. ThelimitationsoftheGovernment'sjobplacementstrategy3. TheroleofentrepreneurshipinassistingtheGovernmenttomeetitspolicygoals4. ThelimitationsoftheNewEnterpriseIncentiveScheme.5. Theneedtopromoteentrepreneurshipbyfosteringlocally-embeddedcross-sector

partnerships.Alistofrecommendationsappearsattheend.1.AboutGlobalSistersSince2015,GlobalSistershasoffereddisadvantagedwomeninAustraliaabetteralternativetowelfareandprecariousemploymentinpre-existingjobsbyprovidingthemwiththetools,networksandresourcestheyneedtoharnesstheirpotentialasbusinessowners.AmongthewomenwithwhomGlobalSistersmostoftenworksareat-riskwomenunder25,womenover50,singlemums,womenescapingdomesticviolence,AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderwomenandwomenfromculturallyandlinguisticallydiversebackgrounds.WomenwhofollowGlobalSisters'businessdevelopmentroadmapfrombeginningtoendreceiveuptothreeyearsofsupport.However,thesupporteachwomanreceivesistailoredtoherspecificbusinessneeds.ThediagramonthefollowingpageillustratestherangeofprogramsGlobalSisters'clientsmayundertake,dependingonwheretheyareinthelifecycleoftheirbusiness.

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GlobalSistersprovidessupportinfourprimaryareas:1. BusinessEducationandCoaching:MyBigIdeaworkshopandSisterSchoolarepracticalbusiness

educationprogramsthatenablewomentogetabusinessofftheground.GlobalSisters'businesscoachingprogramprovidesbespoke,expertcoachingtoitsclients.

2. MarketingandSales:GlobalSistersprovidesproductandservicedevelopmentsupport,a

businessdirectoryandmarketingtools.Italsoprovidesavarietyofsaleschannelsandopportunities,includingatpop-upmarketsandGlobalSisters'onlinestore,'TheMarket'.

3. Microfinance:GlobalSistersprovidesaffordable,accessibleandsafemicro-loanstokick-startits

clients'businesses,andaccesstoAustralia’sfirstmicro-insuranceproduct.

4. Technology:TechnologyisanessentialpartofGlobalSisters'teachingmodel(inthatitallowsitsclientstoaccessitsprogramsremotely)anditscurriculum(inthatitsclientsaretaughthowtousetechnologytomeettheirbusinessneeds).

Overthepasttwoandahalfyears,over500womenhaveparticipatedinoneormoreofGlobalSisters'businesseducationactivitiesandprograms.Currently,GlobalSistersisworkingwithover300womenandover150activebusinesses,themajorityofwhichwereestablishedwithGlobalSisters'support.ThebusinessesareoperatingonlineandinBrisbane,Sydney,Canberra,theHumeregionofVictoriaandMelbourne.

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ThebusinessesGlobalSisters'clientsareestablishingarediverseandinstepwithchangesintheAustralianbusinesslandscape.Someexamplesinclude:

● productbusinessessellinghealthytrailmixes,organicmiso,cinnamonbunsandjewellery● servicebusinessessellingroboticsclassesforchildren,webdesignclasses,areading

recoveryprogramfor8-12yearolds,traumatherapyyogaandcatering● productandservicebusinessesprovidingartandcraftclasses,fabricdyingclasses,andfood

productsandworkshops● agriculturalbusinessessupplyingheritageeggsandblackgarlic● socialenterprises,includingabohemian-stylerugandhomewaresbusinessthatprovides

employmentfordisadvantagedwomen,afooddeliveryserviceforvulnerablecommunitiesandalawnmowingbusinessthatprovidesemploymentformenafterincarceration.

GlobalSistershasadoptedasocialimpactframeworktotracktheprogressofitsclientsateachstageoftheirbusinessdevelopmentjourney.AsGlobalSistersiscomingtotheendofitsfirstthreeyearsinoperation,itisonlyjustbeginningtogeneratemeaningfuldataregardingthemedium-andlong-termfinancialandsocialimpactsofitsprograms.However,themajorityofGlobalSisters'clientshavesuccessfullydevelopedtheirbusinessideawhiletakingpartintheMyBigIdeaworkshop,turnedthatideaintoabusinessplanatSisterSchool,generatedastart-upduringtheincubationphase,andthenturnedtheirstart-upintoanactivebusinessduringtheacceleratorphase.12.ThelimitationsoftheGovernment'sjobplacementstrategyJobplacementinitiativesforpeopleinreceiptofincomesupportwillalwayshaveasignificantroletoplayinhelpingpeoplefindworkandhavenodoubtassistedmanydisadvantagedunemployedwomentoobtainsecurejobstheywouldotherwisehavestruggledtoobtain.However,GlobalSistersisconcernedthatjobplacementservicestoooftenfailtotakeintoconsiderationthemanybarrierstoemploymentdisadvantagedwomenfaceand,consequently,thatalargenumberofthesewomenfailtofindemploymentatallorareforcedtotakejobsthatareunsustainablegiventheircircumstances.

1GlobalSisterswillhavemoredetaileddataavailableforfundersandGovernmentfromtheendof2018.

CaseStudy1:ProvidinganalternativetowelfareandprecariousemploymentintheLogan-IpswichCorridor

TheLogan-Ipswichcorridorisanareaofhighunemploymentanddisadvantage.AmongGlobalSisterspartnersintheareaareParentsNext,theRomeroCentreandLoganWomen'sHealthandWellbeing.WhilethefirstorganisationworkswithmotherswhoreceivetheParentingPayment,thesecondworkswithrefugeesandasylumseekers,andthethirdworkswithwomenescapingdomesticviolence,amongotherissues.

Atthebeginningof2018,GlobalSisterswassupporting10activebusinessesinthearea.Injustsixmonths,withonepart-timeAcceleratorLead,GlobalSistersenrolled60womeninitsprograms,with38activebusinesses.GlobalSistershashiredanotherpart-timeAcceleratorLeadandisworkingtowardsitstargetof70activebusinesses.

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Overthepastthreeyears,70percentofGlobalSisters'clientswerereceivingincomesupportpaymentswhentheycameintocontactwithGlobalSisters.Therestwereeitherfinanciallyreliantonanotherperson,orinlow-paidorotherwiseunstableemployment.AmongthebarrierstoemploymentGlobalSisters'clientsmostcommonlyfacearedomesticviolence,lowlevelsofEnglishproficiency,socialisolation,mentalhealthproblems,chronicillnessordisability,carerresponsibilities,oldageandlocation.

ManyofGlobalSisters'clientshavedescribed'goingthroughthemotions'ofapplyingforjobstheyknowtheywillnotgetorwillnotbeabletoacceptduetotheircircumstances.Helema2isinher60sandislivinginalowsocio-economicareawithfewemploymentopportunities.Shehasmentalhealthchallengesandcaresforheradultchildwhohasadisability.Althoughshehassearchedforworkforoverayear,sheremainsunemployedandonincomesupport.GlobalSistersiscurrentlyhelpinghertosetupaneco-friendlypackagingbusinessshecanrunfromhome.AmongthereasonsitsemployedclientsseekoutGlobalSistersarelowpay,poorworkconditionsandthestruggletomeettheconditionsoftheiremploymentinlightoftheircircumstances.Tiana3cametoAustraliaasarefugeeandhasanumberofhealthproblems.Thoughsheobtainedacleaningjob,shemostoftenworksatnightandherjobisphysicallydemanding,whichhascausedherhealthtodeterioratefurther.Tianadoesnotknowhowmuchlongershecankeepupwiththedemandsofherlow-paidjob,andhasapproachedGlobalSistersforhelpdevelopingatextilebusinessshecanrunfromhome.SeveraltrendsidentifiedintheDiscussionPapersuggestthattheexperiencesofGlobalSisters'clientsinthisregardarenotisolatedbutrathertheconsequenceofbroaderstructuralchangesinthelabourmarket.AstheDiscussionPaperrecognises,today'slabourmarketischaracterisedbyrapidlychangingtechnology,jobsandindustriesinwhichpeoplemustrepeatedlyobtainnewskillstostayemployable.4Thosewhodonothavetheresourcesrequiredtosucceedinthisenvironmentbecomeincreasinglyvulnerableastheycompeteforlow-paidjobswithlittlesecurity.Moreover,inmanyareasofAustralia,therearesimplynotenoughjobsavailable.5GlobalSisterssupportstheDiscussionPaper'sgeneralvisionofusingtechnologytostreamlinetheprovisionofemploymentservicesandtherebyfreeupresourcestofocusonplacingdisadvantagedunemployedpeoplein'jobsthatlast'.6However,theexperiencesofGlobalSisters'clientsandtheeconomicconditionsdescribedintheDiscussionPapersuggestthatthebarriersdisadvantagedunemployedwomenfacewithrespecttoobtainingsecuremainstreamemploymentwillnotbesatisfactorilyresolvedbyrelyingonjobplacementstrategiesalone.Asdiscussedinmoredetailinthefollowingsectionsofthissubmission,jobcreationstrategiesareneededtofillthisgap.

2Namechangedforprivacyreasons.3Namechangedforprivacyreasons.4DepartmentofJobsandSmallBusiness,AustralianGovernment,TheNextGenerationofEmploymentServices:DiscussionPaper(2018)22.5Ibid56.6Ibid25.

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3.TheroleofentrepreneurshipinassistingtheGovernmenttomeetitspolicygoals

TheAustralianGovernmenthasarangeofpolicygoalsofrelevancetodisadvantagedunemployedwomen.

AsstatedintheDiscussionPaper,theGovernment'sgoalswithrespecttoitsfutureemploymentservicesincludemaximisingjobseekeroutcomes,beingresponsivetoachanginglabourmarket,deliveringvalueformoney,enablingeffectiveactivation,encouragingpersonalresponsibilityandpromotingfairness.7Inrelationtothelastofthese,thePanel'stermsofreferenceemphasisetheneedto'promoteequalityofopportunityandsocialmobility'.8

AstheDiscussionPaperfurtherstates,in2014Australiacommitteditselftoreducingthelabourforceparticipationgapbetweenmenandwomenby25percentby2025.9InTowards2025,thedocumentthatdetailshowtheGovernmentintendstomeetthisgoal,theGovernmentidentifiedsixparticularlydisadvantagedgroupsofwomen,namely,AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderwomen,culturallyandlinguisticallydiversewomen,ruralandregionalwomen,womanwithadisability,youngwomenandmatureagewomen.10CentraltotheGovernment'sstrategyis'supportingmorewomenintothejobsofthefuture',animportantcomponentofwhichis'encourag[ing]morewomentoownandruntheirownbusiness'.11TheDiscussionPaperalsoemphasisestheneedtohelpparticularlydisadvantagedAustraliansintosecureemployment.Itnotesthata'futuremodelcouldredirectmoreresourcestoassistjobseekerswhoneedhelptoovercometheirbarriersandpreparefor,andfind,jobsthatlast'.12Additionalcommitmentstodisadvantagedunemployedpeoplealsoappearinpolicydocumentsrelatingtoparticulardisadvantagedgroups.Forexample,theNationalIndigenousReformAgreementaimedtohalvethegapinemploymentoutcomesbetweenIndigenousandnon-IndigenousAustraliansbetween2008and2018.13Itisclear,then,thattheGovernmentiscommittedtocreatinganefficient,effectiveandfairemploymentservicesnetworkthathelpsdisadvantagedunemployedwomentoaddressthebarriers

7Ibid10.8EmploymentServicesExpertAdvisoryPanelTermsofReference,paragraph2.2(h)(i).9DepartmentofJobsandSmallBusiness,AustralianGovernment,TheNextGenerationofEmploymentServices,aboven4,21.10DepartmentofthePrimeMinisterandCabinet,AustralianGovernment,Towards2025:AnAustralianGovernmentStrategytoBoostWomen'sWorkforceParticipation(2017)11.11Ibid5,17–18.12DepartmentofJobsandSmallBusiness,AustralianGovernment,TheNextGenerationofEmploymentServices,aboven4,25.13AustralianInstituteofHealthandWelfare,AustralianGovernment,NationalIndigenousReformAgreement(2017)<http://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/645344>.

Recommendation1. TheGovernmentshouldreconsideritsnear-exclusiverelianceonjobplacementasastrategy

fordisadvantagedunemployedwomentoobtainfinancialsecurityinlightofcurrentandfuturelabourmarkettrends.

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theyfacewithrespecttoobtainingsecureemployment.ItisalsoclearthattheGovernmentiscommittedtorespondingtothechallengesposedbyAustralia'sincreasinglyglobalised,digitisedandtechnology-drivenlabourmarket,includingbypromotingentrepreneurship.However,asidefromtwosmallthoughsignificantexceptions,14entrepreneurshipisnotpromotedasastrategyforassistingdisadvantagedunemployedwomentomoveoffincomesupport.Havingsupportedover500womentoideate,launchorgrowtheirownbusinessinafewshortyears,GlobalSistersisoftheviewthatentrepreneurshipisthekeytofinancialsecurityandindependenceforasignificantnumberofdisadvantagedunemployedwomenwhoareexcludedfrommainstreamemploymentduetotheircircumstances.Awomanwithmultiple,cross-cuttingbarrierstosecuremainstreamemploymentisunlikelytoovercomethosebarriersthroughprogramsdesignedtoprepareherforpre-existingjobsthatdonotexistorthatareunsuitableandunsustainable.However,ifgiventherightsupport,shecanuseherskills,andtheopportunitiesemergingforentrepreneurshipviatechnology,tocreateajobforherselfthatworksaroundthosebarriers.

Entrepreneurshipshouldnotbethedomainofthewell-networkedandwell-educatedelite.Technology(particularlye-commerceandsharingeconomyplatforms)isagreatenablerofentrepreneurshipforthosewithlimitedresources.GlobalSistersencouragesitsclientstotakeadvantageofthisopportunity.Whenitsclientsaregettingtheirbusinessesofftheground,forexample,GlobalSisterssupportsthemtousesharingeconomyplatformstodiversifytheirincomestreamsortomakemoneynowtofundtheirlong-termbusinessgoals.

14TheNewEnterpriseIncentiveSchemeisdiscussedfurtheronpages7–9.WhileGlobalSistersisawarethatEntrepreneurshipFacilitatorshavealsobeenestablishedinthreeareasofdisadvantageacrossAustralia,itisnotabletocommentontheirefficacyatthistime.

CaseStudy2:Technologyasanenablerforentrepreneurship

'IneededtogetajobtosupplementmyincomeasIgrowmybusiness.ButIjustkeptgettingroadblocksalongtheway.Ibecamedespondent.IfeltlikeIwasapersonwithskillswhowasinvisiblebecauseIhavehadtoworkfromhomeallmylifeandnowIhaveapainfulneckinjury.

Lastweek,Icouldn'tpaymyofficerent.AnadonAirtaskerappearedforsomeonetohelpabusinessmancreateanemailcampaign.Unusually,theadhadbeenupfor2dayswithnoapplicants.Irespondedandhegavemethejob.Itwasfor$80—thecostofmyofficerent.IdroveouttohishouseWednesdaynight.[Thebusinessman]openedthedoorandanewbusinessrelationshipbegan!Iworked2.5hoursforhimthatnightandanother27.15hrsfromlastThursdaytoMondaydoinghissocialmediamanagementandemailcampaign.Isetmyfeeat$30perhourasthatisthegoingrate.Herecommendedmetohisfriendwho'safinancebroker.Wehadameetingtodayandhe'stakingmeontoo!NowIhaveongoingworkwith[them],andtheyarekeentorecommendmetoothersmallbusinessfriends.

SomysecondbusinesshasbegunasaSocialMediaManager.I'mdoingthisoneasasoletrader.Bestthingis:Icanworkfromhomeremotely,withmywhiplashednecksupportedbytheheatpackinmyrecliner,whilemykidsplayatmyfeet.'

AGlobalSisterclientinBrisbane

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Thatsaid,itisclearthatentrepreneurshipisnotsuitableforeveryone.GlobalSisters'criteriaforsupportingwomenisthreefold:

1. Theyhavebeenunabletofindsecuremainstreamemploymentasaresultoftheircircumstances.

2. Theyaremotivatedandwillingtoworkhardtodeveloptheirbusiness.3. Theyarenotincrisismode.

Inrelationtothelastofthesecriteria,peopleobviouslyneedacertaindegreeofstabilityintheirlivestoestablishabusiness.Ifawomanishomeless,forexample,GlobalSisterswillaskitscommunitypartnerstoworkwithheruntilherlifeissufficientlystableforhertoparticipateinitsprograms.

Asidefromwomeninthissituation,however,GlobalSistersisoftheviewthatmakingentrepreneurshipagenuinealternativetojobplacementfordisadvantagedunemployedwomenwouldgreatlyassisttheGovernmenttobuildanefficient,effectiveandfairemploymentservicesnetwork.Itwouldalsoadvanceotherpolicygoalssuchasincreasingtherateofemploymentamongmarginalisedgroups.

4.ThelimitationsoftheNewEnterpriseIncentiveSchemeTheDiscussionPaper'sconsiderationoftheNewEnterpriseIncentiveScheme(NEIS)containsthesameinconsistencyidentifiedaboveinrelationtotheGovernment'spolicygoalsconcerningunemployedpeopleinreceiptofincomesupportontheonehand,andentrepreneurshipasameanstocreatejobs,solveproblemsandincreaseAustralia'sstandardofliving,ontheotherhand.AfternotingthattheCommonwealthScientificandIndustrialResearchOrganisation(CSIRO)has'identifiedthe"eraoftheentrepreneur"asoneofsixmegatrendsthatarelikelytoimpactonthefutureofwork',theDiscussionPaperthenemphasisestheneed'toavoiduntargetedapplicationsandoversubscription'inNEIS.15AlthoughtheDiscussionPaperindicatesthattheGovernmentiscommittedtomaintainingtheplacesthatarecurrentlyavailableinboththeordinaryandhighlydisadvantagedstreams,16the8600placescurrentlyavailableeachyearrepresentjustonepercentofthetotalnumberofunemployedAustraliansonincomesupportpayments.17Farfromseekingtorestrictapplicants,GlobalSistersbelievestheGovernmentshouldgreatlyexpandthenumberof

15DepartmentofJobsandSmallBusiness,AustralianGovernment,TheNextGenerationofEmploymentServices,aboven4,53–54.16Ibid54.17DepartmentofJobsandSmallBusiness(AustralianGovernment),Self-employment—NewEnterpriseIncentiveScheme(6July2018)<https://www.jobs.gov.au/self-employment-new-enterprise-incentive-scheme-neis>;NewstartAllowanceandYouthAllowance(other)recipientsinMarch2018datafromAustralianGovernment,DSSPaymentDemographicData(25June2018)<https://search.data.gov.au/dataset/ds-dga-cff2ae8a-55e4-47db-a66d-e177fe0ac6a0/details?q=Newstart>.

Recommendation

2. TheGovernmentshouldmakeentrepreneurshipagenuinealternativetojobplacementfordisadvantagedunemployedwomeninreceiptofincomesupport.

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placesavailableandactivelyrecruitdisadvantagedapplicantswhomaygenerallylacktheconfidencetoseekoutaplaceinsuchascheme.Moreover,thoughtheHighlyDisadvantagedTrialisawelcomedevelopmentinsofarasthecontentandmannerinwhichthetrainingisdeliveredisadaptedtosuittheneedsofitsdisadvantagedparticipants,GlobalSistersremainsconcernedbythelimitedcategoriesofdisadvantageincludedinthetrialandtheinadequatelevelofsupportprovided.Unemployedpeoplewhoareunder25,Indigenous,ex-offenders,refugees,fromaculturallyandlinguisticallydiversebackgroundorex-servicepersonnel,orwhohaveadisabilityorparticularlanguageneeds,areconsideredhighlydisadvantagedforthepurposesofinclusioninthetrial.18ThoughthepeoplewhofallintothesecategorieswouldundoubtedlybenefitfromtheGovernment'sassistancetofindsecureemploymentthroughthecreationoftheirownbusiness,alargenumberofdisadvantagedpeoplewhowouldalsogreatlybenefitfromtheschemeareexcluded.Withaviewtohelpingasmanydisadvantagedwomenaspossible,GlobalSistershasdeliberatelykeptthecriteriaforaccesstoitsprogramsbroad.Anywomanwhoisunabletofindstableemploymentinapre-existingjobduetotheircircumstancesiswelcometoparticipateinGlobalSisters'programs,providedtheirlivesaresufficientlystabletoenablethemtoworktowardstheestablishmentofabusiness.Accordingly,singlemothersonNewstartAllowancemakeupasignificantproportionofGlobalSisters'clientbase.Theimpactoftheirobtainingfinancialsecurityiscompoundedbythefactthattheirwellbeingisinherentlytiedtothewellbeingoftheirchildren.However,neithertheynormanyotherdisadvantagedunemployedwomenareconsideredsufficientlydisadvantagedforinclusioninthetrial.19*NamechangedforprivacyreasonsInrelationtothelevelofsupportneeded,boththedurationofsupportandthetypeofsupportoughttobeenhancedtomeettheneedsofdisadvantagedunemployedwomen.Althoughthiswouldmeanthatahighlevelofresourceswereinvestedupfrontinthescheme'sdisadvantaged

18DepartmentofJobsandSmallBusiness(AustralianGovernment),NEIS-HighlyDisadvantaged(HD)TrialGuideline(1December2017)<https://docs.jobs.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/highly_disadvantaged_hd_trial_guideline.pdf>1.19GlobalSistersisoftheviewthatdisadvantagedwomenatriskofunemploymentshouldalsobeabletoaccesssuchschemes,however,itunderstandsthatthisisbeyondthescopeofthePanel'stermsofreference.

CaseStudy3:Makingitpossibleforalltypesofdisadvantagedunemployedwomentoestablishabusiness

WhenMerryn*,a64year-oldwoman,firstcameintocontactwithGlobalSisters,shewaslivinginpublichousingandsufferingfromdepression.Afterleavingherabusivehusband,sheinitiallyfoundcasualwork,butlostherjobandbecamehomelessafterhersoncommittedsuicide.UponcompletingallelementsofGlobalSisters'educationprogram,shewasassignedtwobusinesscoaches.Armedwithhernew-found-skillsandacommitmenttoaddressingmentalhealthproblemsamongmen,Merrynestablishedabusinessrunningyogaclassesandretreats,withcorporatepackagesthatfocusonmen'smentalhealthandwellbeing.Shealsosellscomplimentaryproducts.

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participants,iftheschemeprovedtobemoreeffectiveinfacilitatingtheirfinancialsecuritythanchurningtheminandoutofinsecurepre-existingjobs,thenitwouldpayforitselfinthelong-term.Fifty-twoweeksofbusinessandfinancialsupportisnotenoughtimeformanydisadvantagedunemployedwomentobuildasuccessfulbusiness.ForclientswhostartatthebeginningofGlobalSisters'businessdevelopmentroadmap,thefirstyearistakenupwiththeMyBigIdeaworkshopandtheSisterSchoolbusinesseducationandincubationprogram.Bytheendofthefirstyear,clientsmayhavemadesomeinitialsales.Itisnotuntilthesecondandthirdyearsoftheirjourney—aftertheyhaveaccessedongoingbusinesseducation;coaching,marketingandsalessupport;andastrongsupportnetwork—thatclientstraderegularlyandgrowtheirbusinesses.Thecomprehensivewrap-aroundservicesprovidedbyGlobalSistersinthesecondandthirdyearsincreasesthelikelihoodthatitsclientswillbeabletosustaintheirbusinessesoverthelong-term.

Recommendation

3. InrelationtotheNewEnterpriseIncentiveScheme,theGovernmentshould:

a) permanentlyestablishadisadvantagedstreamb) substantiallyincreasethenumberofplacesavailableeachyear,includingbyincreasing

thenumberofplacessetasidefordisadvantagedparticipantsc) changethewayitassessesdisadvantageforthepurposeofinclusioninthe

disadvantagedstreamsothatallsufficientlystabledisadvantagedunemployedwomenareeligibletotakepart

d) activelyrecruitdisadvantagedparticipantse) increasethelengthoftimeforwhichdisadvantagedparticipantstakepartinthe

scheme,andreceiveincomesupportandotherpayments,tothreeyearsf) makecomprehensivewrap-aroundservicesavailabletoalldisadvantagedparticipants.

CaseStudy4:Overcomingcross-cuttingbarriersthroughtheprovisionofcomprehensivewrap-aroundservices

Cindy,aCambodianrefugeewhonowlivesinSydney,isasingle-motherofthreechildren.Sheisalsotheco-founderofAMOK,acateringbusinessthatsupportsthesocialandeconomicinclusionofCambodianmigrantsandrefugees.AmongAMOK'sprogramsisatrainingincubatorthatprovidesasafespaceforitsparticipantstosharetheircookingskillsandlearnaboutsmallbusinessmanagement,acateringbusiness,andanemploymentnetworkingservice.

Overthepastthreeyears,GlobalSistershasprovidedCindywithextensivesupportonherentrepreneurshipjourney.CindytookpartinGlobalSisters'MyBigIdeaworkshopanditsSisterSchool.Shewasthenconnectedwithanumberofdifferentbusinesscoacheswhohelpedturnherbusinessdreamintoareality.GlobalSistershelpedCindytosecureascholarshipforfurtherskillsdevelopment,andsupportedhertowinanAMPTomorrowMakergrant,whichfundedhercommercialkitchen.GlobalSistershasalsoassistedCindywithnumerouscorporatesalesopportunities,thelatestbeingwithalargemarketingcommunicationscompany.

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5.Theneedtopromoteentrepreneurshipbyfosteringlocally-embeddedcross-sectorpartnerships

GlobalSisters'partnershipswiththegovernment,privateandcommunitysectororganisationsthatoperateinagivenlocationarevitaltoitsabilitytohelpitsclientsbuildsustainablebusinesses.Byplacingtheneedsofdisadvantagedwomenatthecentreofitsservicedeliverymodel,GlobalSistershasbeenabletoovercomethebarriersthatexistbetweenthesesectorsandcreatenetworksofcollaborationthatsupportitsclientsastheymovethroughtheirbusinessdevelopmentjourney.

Specifically,thebenefitsGlobalSisters'clientsreceiveasaresultoftheselocally-embeddedcross-sectorpartnershipsincludepromotionwithinthelocalcommunity,opportunitiesforcollaboration,one-on-oneexpertcoaching,pro-bonobusinessservices,andsupportwithhealth,housingandotherlifeneeds.

Whiletherearefinancialbenefitsthatflowfromenablingwomentoestablishsustainablebusinessesinthismanner,therearealsonumeroussocialbenefits.Amongthesebenefitsaresocialinclusion,anenhancedsenseofselfworthandtheopportunitytobecomearolemodeltoothers.

DespiteGlobalSisters'successinsupportingdisadvantagedunemployedwomentoestablishbusinessesthroughitsinnovativeserviceprovisionmodel,thecapacityofitsclientstomakethemostofthesupportprovidedisfrequentlycompromisedbythecompetingdemandsplacedonthemasaresultoftheirparticipationinjobactive.

ForGLOBALSISTERSASANORGANISATION

Recommendation

4. TheGovernmentshouldsupportabroaderrangeofentrepreneurshipschemesfordisadvantagedunemployedwomen.InthecaseofGlobalSisters,forexample,theGovernmentshouldconsider:a) accreditingitsprogramsasapprovedactivitiesforpeopleonunemploymentbenefitsb) providingfurtherfundingopportunities.

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Listofrecommendations1. TheGovernmentshouldreconsideritsnear-exclusiverelianceonjobplacementasastrategyfor

disadvantagedunemployedwomentoobtainfinancialsecurityinlightofcurrentandfuturelabourmarkettrends.

2. TheGovernmentshouldmakeentrepreneurshipagenuinealternativetojobplacementfor

disadvantagedunemployedwomeninreceiptofincomesupport.

3. InrelationtotheNewEnterpriseIncentiveScheme,theGovernmentshould:

a) permanentlyestablishadisadvantagedstreamb) substantiallyincreasethenumberofplacesavailableeachyear,includingbyincreasingthe

numberofplacessetasidefordisadvantagedparticipantsc) changethewayitassessesdisadvantageforthepurposeofinclusioninthedisadvantaged

streamsothatallsufficientlystabledisadvantagedunemployedwomenareeligibletotakepart

d) activelyrecruitdisadvantagedparticipantse) increasethelengthoftimeforwhichdisadvantagedparticipantstakepartinthescheme,

andreceiveincomesupportandotherpayments,tothreeyearsf) makecomprehensivewrap-aroundservicesavailabletoalldisadvantagedparticipants.

4. TheGovernmentshouldsupportabroaderrangeofentrepreneurshipschemesfordisadvantaged

unemployedwomen.InthecaseofGlobalSisters,forexample,theGovernmentshouldconsider:a) accreditingitsprogramsasapprovedactivitiesforpeopleonunemploymentbenefitsb) providingfurtherfundingopportunities.