The working years: previous research
Training for work
The Training for Work study analysed the characteristics of participants in training programs run by the Brotherhood of St Laurence, and explored the factors that helped or hindered the successful completion of training and the transition into paid employment. The study found that for many trainees, a certificate or qualification is not sufficient to enable them to get and keep a job: support and mentoring are essential.
Report
Dina Bowman and Nicole Souery 2010, Training for work: insights from students and trainees at the Brotherhood of St Laurence (PDF file, 515 KB)
Making work pay: incentives to engage in paid work
This project examined the financial incentives and non-financial factors influencing the decision to return to work or to increase working hours for two groups thought to be affected by high effective marginal tax rates, single parents and unemployed people. The findings have informed the Brotherhood’s policy and advocacy work relating to taxation.
Report
Eve Bodworth 2010, Making work pay and making income support work(PDF file, 604 KB)
Making work pay summary (PDF file, 136 KB)
Integrated support for disadvantaged job seekers
Following our evaluation of the Personal Support Programme (PSP), the Brotherhood partnered with the agency Employment Focus to trial the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) approach to employment assistance with a group of people eligible for PSP. The IPS model emphasises rapid access to mental health support and a pathway to employment matching individual preferences and aspirations.
Our evaluation of the implementation of IPS in this setting, funded by the Leith and Buckland philanthropic trusts, has informed advocacy on best practice within the Job Services Australia employment assistance system. Further insights about integrated services were gained from a visit in 2010 to see New Zealand's new Community Link model in action.
Reports
Dina Bowman and Jyden Lawlor 2010 Evidence and experience: report on the Individual Placement and Support project for disadvantaged job seekers with mental health issues (PDF file, 704 KB)
Michael Horn 2010 Community Link in New Zealand: report based on site visits and key stakeholder consultations (PDF file, 208 KB)
Paper
Jyden Lawlor and Daniel Perkins 2009, Integrated support to overcome severe employment barriers Social Policy Working Paper no.9 (PDF file, 134 KB)
Balancing trust and control in the provision of disability employment services
The Brotherhood was an industry partner in this research project to review outcomes for disability employment services under the new contracting arrangements introduced in 2010. Funded by an ARC Linkage grant, the project was led by Anne Nevile and Janine O'Flynn, Crawford School of Economics and Government at the Australian National University, and Ian Marsh, Graduate School of Government, University of Tasmania.
Report
Anne Nevile and Rosemary Lohman 2011 'It is like they just don’t trust us': balancing trust and control in the provision of disability employment services Australian National University, Canberra (PDF file, 600 KB)
Employer-identified issues in recruiting and retaining low-skilled workers
This collaborative study explored recruitment and retention of low-skilled workers. It followed up some issues identified in the Victorian 2006 Skills Survey undertaken by the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI). The 2008 Skills Survey explored the extent to which recruitment of low-skilled workers was a problem for employers, as well as employee work readiness, foundational skills and vocational training, and the support mechanisms to increase worker retention.
Report
VECCI and Brotherhood of St Laurence 2009, Barriers to hiring disadvantaged or vulnerable workers: Victorian employers' attitudes survey, VECCI and Brotherhood of St Laurence, Melbourne (PDF file, 1 MB)
Community Enterprise Development Initiative evaluation
The Community Enterprise Development Initiative (CEDI) was delivered by the Brotherhood as one component of the larger Community Enterprise Development Program of the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development. It involved devising, planning and setting up small businesses to meet specific community needs (including training and employment) and deliver social outcomes (such as increased participation by disadvantaged groups) in a financially sustainable way. The evaluation resulted in a progress report on 12 pilot sites; and a final report on developing enterprises in 17 further locations, as well as building capacity and strengthening networks relating to community enterprise.
Reports
Lois Bedson 2007, The Community Enterprise Development Initiative: learnings from work with twelve disadvantaged neighbourhoods in 2005–06 (PDF file, 597 KB)
Sharon Bond 2008, Growing community enterprise: an evaluation of the Community Enterprise Development Initiative (PDF file, 857 KB)
Personal Support Programme evaluation
The Brotherhood of St Laurence, with partners Melbourne Citymission and Hanover Welfare Services, evaluated the effectiveness of the federally funded Personal Support Programme, devised to assist job seekers with multiple, non-vocational barriers. The study tracked a group of PSP participants over a 12-month period and examined the attainment of participant goals, economic and social outcomes, and change in the number and severity of barriers. Also assessed were the service delivery model, resources and funding, referral, and transition and exit arrangements.
Reports
Daniel Perkins 2005, Personal Support Programme evaluation: interim report (PDF file, 298 KB)
Daniel Perkins 2007, Making it work: promoting participation of job seekers with multiple barriers through the Personal Support Programme (PDF file, 802 KB)
Making it work summary (PDF file, 319 KB)
Papers
Daniel Perkins and Lucy Nelms 2004, Assisting the most disadvantaged job seekers, presented at the CofFEE Conference, University of Newcastle, 8–10 November (PDF file, 71 KB)
Daniel Perkins 2006, Improving employment participation for welfare recipients facing personal barriers, presented at the Social Policy Association Conference, Birmingham, 18–20 July (PDF file, 78 KB)
Intermediate labour markets
Brotherhood researchers, with assistance from the Allen Consulting Group, prepared a report on the concept of intermediate labour markets (ILMs) – that is, programs that provide disadvantaged job seekers with short-term paid employment in a genuine work environment together with continuous support. The report also examined the effectiveness of the Brotherhood's ILM programs, drawing on interviews with participants, staff and contracting organisations, and proposing a framework for cost–benefit analysis.
Reports
Kemran Mestan and Rosanna Scutella 2007, Investing in people: Intermediate Labour Markets as pathways to employment (PDF file, 885 KB)
Investing in people summary (PDF file, 528 KB)
Precarious and low paid work
This three-year study analysed the dimensions, dynamics, effects, and possible responses to low pay in the services sector in Australia. It involved both academic and community sector organisations: the University of Adelaide, the University of Sydney, RMIT University, the Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union, Trades and Labour Councils and the Brotherhood of St Laurence.
Paper
Helen Masterman-Smith, Robyn May and Barbara Pocock 2006, Living low paid: some experiences of Australian childcare workers and cleaners (PDF file, 92KB)
Article
Daniel Perkins, Rosanna Scutella and Paul Flatau 2008, ‘Introduction to special issue on Low Paid Work in Australia: Realities and Responses’, Australian Journal of Labour Economics, vol.11, no.1, pp.1–6.
Labour market programs for long-term unemployed people
Brotherhood research and employment services staff documented the experience and policy implications of the organisation’s work to assist long-term unemployed residents of two inner-suburban housing estates to gain employment. The report outlined a model of labour market assistance based on investment in pre-vocational training, paid and unpaid work experience, traineeships, post-placement support and long-term personal support. It concluded with learnings from the project and policy recommendations for the Australian Government.
Report
Pam Temby, George Housakos and Stephen Ziguras 2004, Helping local people get jobs: insights from the Brotherhood of St Laurence experience in Fitzroy and Collingwood (PDF file, 128 KB)
Investigating social investment
Paper
Daniel Perkins, Lucy Nelms and Paul Smyth 2004, Beyond neoliberalism: the social investment state?, Social Policy Working Paper no.3 (PDF file, 92 KB)