A MORE COORDINATED and comprehensive national approach is needed to make a meaningful reduction in the unacceptable rates of family, domestic and sexual violence, according to a bipartisan report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs released today.

In its report, the committee makes 88 bipartisan recommendations which seek to inform the development of the next National Plan to reduce violence against women and their children, due to commence in mid-2022.

The committee’s recommendations include the development of a uniform national definition of family, domestic and sexual violence, universal age-appropriate respectful relationships and sexual consent education, measures to address coercive control and technology-facilitated abuse, and the establishment of a National Commissioner to have independent oversight of the next National Plan.

The committee’s recommendations also include measures to ensure that the welfare of victim-survivors and their children is at the centre of responses to family, domestic and sexual violence, a continued focus on education and primary prevention, and a stronger focus on programs to change perpetrators’ behaviour.

Chair of the committee, Andrew Wallace MP, said evidence to the committee highlighted that a whole-of-society response was essential.

"While all Australian governments have made substantial investments in an attempt to reduce family, domestic and sexual violence, it remains that one woman is killed on average every eight days at the hands of her partner or former partner. This senseless violence and abuse is sadly all too common, and its impact is profound and long lasting on family, friends and indeed the entire community," Mr Wallace said.

"There is much more work to do. As a nation we must do better to begin addressing these appalling statistics.

"The committee’s recommendations are wide ranging, but our clear message is that we need a more coordinated and comprehensive national approach to ending all forms of family, domestic and sexual violence. It is perpetrators that are responsible for their use of violence, but everyone has a role in bringing about change and stopping violence before it starts."

The committee is indebted to many organisations and individuals who contributed evidence throughout the inquiry, he said, in particular, the committee acknowledges the contributions made by victim-survivors who shared their experiences with the committee.

A full copy of the committee’s report can be found on the inquiry’s website.

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A CEDA REPORT looking at the contribution of permanent skilled migrants highlights the unrealised potential in newcomer communities and the need to provide income support and access to family tax benefits earlier in the settlement journey, according to Australia’s largest refugee and migration resettlement support provider, Settlement Services International (SSI).

Nearly a quarter of permanent skilled migrants in Australia are working in a job beneath their skill level, the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA)  found in a report released this week, which made a series of recommendations to improve outcomes for migrants and the economy.

The report’s findings point to the unrealised potential in migrant communities and aligns with anecdotal reports from the 37,600 people SSI supports each year, said CEO Violet Roumeliotis.

“The main barriers facing migrant and refugee jobseekers include insufficient Australian work experience, limited support with resumes and interview skills, and limited English language proficiency," Ms Roumeliotis said.

“We believe this challenge requires a number of solutions. One is tailored job seeker services for people of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds that address the unique barriers they face and support them across their employment journey.”

The CEDA report recommended the establishment of a new government-regulated online skills-matching jobs platform that would allow permanent skilled migrants to register their skills, and let accredited employers hire migrants from within the platform.

The report recommends the need to reduce newly arrived resident’s waiting period for unemployment benefits from four years to six months.

“This is consistent with a recommendation of the Productivity Commission, which noted that a reduced waiting period would likely improve overall community outcomes in terms of social participation and integration, employment and health,” Ms Roumeliotis said.

“Reducing the waiting period would give permanent skilled migrants a better chance to find a job that maximises their contribution. Research suggests increases to the waiting period since the late 1990s have exacerbated skills mismatch, while delivering only modest annual savings to the Federal Budget.”

Ms Roumeliotis said the Australian Government rightly waived these waiting periods until the end of March 2021 as part of its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This forward-thinking is a great illustration of the dual nature of this pandemic. It has created huge challenges but it also offers us opportunities. In this case, it is the opportunity to rethink our approach to migration, taking into account new research like this, which illustrates the economic benefit of improving some areas of our migration program,” she said.

“I would urge our government to consider this report’s recommendations in making a decision about where and how we resume migration when it is safe to do so.”

Along with reviewing the waiting period for employment-based income support, SSI also advocates for the removal of the one-year waiting period for new permanent residents to access family tax benefits that help with child-care and school costs should also be considered. These waiting periods were waived during COVID-19 emergency measures but are set to resume on April 1, 2021.

 About SSI

Settlement Services International is a community organisation and social business that supports newcomers and other Australians to achieve their full potential. SSI works with all people who have experienced vulnerability, including refugees, people seeking asylum and culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, to build capacity and enable them to overcome inequality.

www.ssi.org.au

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TAFE NSW workers are rallying in Sydney over the loss of 678 frontline jobs and the sale of the Scone campus, with the union warning south-west Sydney's youth unemployment is set to get worse as vital student services get cut.

More than 302 jobs are set to go from Sydney campuses, TAFE NSW's own documents have revealed. That includes 116 jobs from Sydney Metro, 50 from North Sydney, 42 from Western Sydney, and 92 from South Western Sydney campuses.

"TAFE NSW is the best pathway to get people out of the house and ready for work, especially for young people," said Stewart Little, general secretary of the CPSU NSW.

"One in five of Sydney's south-west young people are unemployed -- they need the help and guidance TAFE NSW can offer to find work. Instead of offering them more opportunities the government is cutting 10 percent of student support jobs."

Restructures in Student Services and Facilities Management and Logistics cut 678 positions, including 470 regional jobs. The jobs cuts include people who work directly with students, including: student advisors, customer support officers, field officers, VET fee help coordinators, help desk operators, marketing and promotions support officers.

Workers who maintain the campuses are also going, including: gardeners, caretakers, facilities officers, tradespersons, tool store persons, security officers, asset and fleet control managers, and site services assistants.

"Gladys Berejiklian and Dominic Perrottet are deliberately dismantling TAFE NSW piece-by-piece," said Mr Little. He was joined in the rally outside the Ultimo campus with Labor’s Shadow Minister for TAFE NSW, Jihad Dib and affected TAFE NSW workers.

"It's straight out of the privatisation playbook -- under resource the system and then sell it off claiming the private market will do a better job. TAFE NSW should never be privatised."

Mr Little said the deliberate under investment in TAFE NSW was also felt particularly in the regions.

"The sale of the Scone TAFE is the latest in the Berejiklian Government's fire sale of state assets which will leave regional NSW worse off,' Mr Little said.

"The sale of the Scone campus is incredibly short sighted. The Hunter region has a youth unemployment rate of 18 percent but rather than investing in training opportunities the government is selling off campuses and cutting jobs.

"What do the people of NSW get from this gutting of critical training infrastructure? Fewer jobs and a hobbled education system. In the middle of the worst economic downturn the state has seen in a generation the Berejiklian government is closing pathways to prosperity."

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THE Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Bruce Billson said small businesses in regional and remote areas of Australia now have more reasons to digitise, with NBN Co announcing expanded coverage and lower wholesale prices.

NBN Co said its Business Satellite Service has been improved to cover Australia’s mainland and large surrounding islands, with wholesale prices significantly reduced.

“Fast and reliable internet is an essential service to most small businesses and especially those in regional and remote part of the country,” Mr Billson said.

“Equally, it’s an incentive to small businesses to improve their online presence, particularly at a time when more consumers are shopping online.

“The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows online sales rose by more than 70 percent in December compared to the same period a year ago.

“A survey of more than 1000 Australians conducted on behalf of NBN CO that 70% have been consciously supporting local businesses online. However, it also revealed that two-thirds of respondents were restricted by the limited digital presence of those businesses," Mr Billson said.

“Many small businesses have adopted better use of mobile and internet technologies as a result of the COVID crisis and we want to see that trend continue.

“The reality is that digitisation is now crucial to being truly competitive. That means everything from having a website, to being e-commerce enabled and targeting customers through social media platforms," he said.

“SMEs with advanced levels of digital engagement are 50 percent more likely to grow revenue and earn 60 percent more revenue per person, according to MYOB research.

“There is every reason for small businesses to embrace digitisation and plenty of free online resources which can be easily accessed via My Business Health.”  

www.asbfeo.gov.au

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