Services working together
Employment Service, CDEP and Indigenous Employment Program providers all play an important part in supporting Indigenous job seekers to develop skills and take up employment opportunities.
Working together closely can help to achieve better outcomes for participants. Combining providers’ strengths and knowledge, community links and services, infrastructure, and using the local workforce, gives providers greater capacity to deliver effective assistance to Indigenous people. For example, CDEP, Employment Service and other providers should work together to deliver work readiness training and work experience in one location.
To participate in the CDEP program, all New Participants must get a referral from an Employment Service provider to a CDEP provider. As well, Continuing Participants must register with Employment Services by 30 September 2009. Providers should work jointly to make sure these referrals and registrations occur, and that participants receive responsive and integrated support and services.
Service Level Agreements
CDEP providers have to enter into Service Level Agreements with their Employment Service providers. This is a condition of CDEP funding.
CDEP providers must have Service Level Agreements finalised by 31 July 2009. If asked, providers must also provide a copy to the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Employment Service providers also need to make Service Level Agreements available to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).
Service Level Agreements should focus on:
- how CDEP providers and Employment Service providers will work together at the local/regional level to:
- create and maintain local links
- jointly develop or contribute to plans to help participants find employment and/or take up training opportunities
- agreed ways to assist individual participants, including through:
- referrals
- Employment Pathway Plans (including details of CDEP’s role)
- joint case management.