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Shaping the Future of Employment Services: Response to Discussion Paper
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Shaping the Future of Employment Services: Response to Discussion Paper

Michael McGann, Mark Considine, Emily Corbett, Chabel Khan, Aaron Hart, Lutfun Nahar Lata, Jonas Lim, Michael Moran, Phuc Nguyen and Sue Olney
Australian Welfare and Work Lab, The University of Melbourne
31/07/2026
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Open Access CC BY V4.0

Abstract

This submission from the Australian Welfare and Work Lab (AWWL) responds to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations’ Shaping the Future of Employment Services Discussion Paper (2026). The submission focuses on two key design challenges for the future of Australia’s employment services system: the commissioning of intensive services for participants with complex employment and support needs, and the processes used to assess participant needs and triage people into different forms of support. It also considers the potential role of online servicing and social enterprises within the employment services system, identifying limitations in current arrangements and cautioning against treating either as a substitute for broader structural reform. Drawing on nearly 30 years of research into the governance and delivery of employment services, as well as AWWL’s previous submissions and evidence to the Select Committee Inquiry into Workforce Australia Employment Services, the submission argues that meaningful reform will require fundamentally different approaches to commissioning and participant assessment. It sets out key priorities for developing a more responsive and effective employment services system, particularly for people experiencing complex employment needs.

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