Vocational Services Review

In May 2000, the Government began a formal review of vocational services for people with disabilities funded by DWI. Despite more than a decade of consultation and reviews, the vocational services sector continued to lack direction, overall objectives and clear priorities. There was also confusion about the Government's role and responsibilities in the sector. Vocational services in this review include services that focus on both employment, training and community participation. These are sometimes known as day services, day activities, supported employment, vocational training, sheltered work, placement into training or work and post-placement support. These services, now funded by DWI, have generally grown out of community initiatives and have had a range of objectives. This ad hoc development has resulted in the absence of government policy for vocational services, confusion about what government funding is trying to achieve, lack of clarity about the boundaries between services funded by different government agencies, and inconsistent and unequal provision of services.

Six key points emerged from the consultation:
The review concluded that the Government's role in vocational services should be to:

The review looked at:

  • the range and type of vocational services that should be available,
  • what needs these services were aiming to meet,
  • the objectives that such services should be trying to achieve and how these can be measured,
  • the funding responsibility of the Government and others such as the community, individuals with disabilities and family/whānau/support people,
  • the amount of funding required to meet the responsibilities of the Government to the management of inter-agency boundary and transition issues,
  • how the distinctive needs of Māori and Pacific people with disabilities should be addressed.

A comprehensive stocktake of vocational services was initially undertaken to see what services were available, to whom, and where the gaps were.

An advisory group of 13 people from the vocational services sector, including people with disabilities, was set up to help guide the work of officials.

Consultation was undertaken, using a submission process, to seek the views of people with disabilities, their families/whānau, caregivers, disability organisations, service providers, and other interested groups and individuals. Relevant material from submissions on the New Zealand Disability Strategy was also considered.

Six key points emerged from the consultation:

 
  1. People with disabilities want to determine their own futures and be treated as valued members of society through removal of barriers to participation in the community and the workforce.
  2. People with disabilities want greater access to genuine employment assistance, regardless of the level of support they would require, or the number of hours they could work.
  3. People with disabilities need access to quality resources and services (including improved monitoring and accountability mechanisms) provided by trained, professional staff.
  4. People with disabilities need services that are tailored to their individual and community needs, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
  5. People with disabilities need more realistic levels of assistance and financial security to achieve their personal goals. 
  6. Providers of employment and community participation services need greater financial security and support to build the capacity of the sector. The annual funding cycle is one area that creates financial insecurity. Lack of training and career structures for people working in the sector is also a concern.

 

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The review concluded that the Government's role in vocational services should be to:

  • enhance employment outcomes for people with disabilities,
  • provide quality employment assistance to as many people as possible,
  • maintain funding contribution to services that promote community participation to ensure equitable and transparent funding arrangements,
  • ensure there are services that meet the needs of all groups of people with disabilities, including people with significant support needs,
  • improve the capacity of the sector to provide services and improve service quality,
  • ensure commitments are achievable within budgeted baselines and available funding,
  • ensure that change will be gradual, with minimum disruption to the sector.
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