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Hiring chamber staff through Jobsupport

Fri Nov 28 2014

The Bar Council of the New South Wales Bar Association encourages its members to consider hiring administrative staff through Jobsupport, an employment organisation that places, trains and maintains people with a significant intellectual disability in quality jobs in the regular workforce. Jobsupport’s clients are fully assessed in the areas of work skills, behavior, ability to travel and any other issues relating to maintaining successful employment.

What kind of work will a Jobsupport employee do?

Jobsupport employees can assist chambers with some of the more basic tasks currently performed by administrative staff including filing, faxing, photocopying, mail, deliveries, data entry and cleaning. A complete list of administrative tasks that can be performed can be found here.

What does it cost to hire someone through Jobsupport?

It is anticipated that Jobsupport clients will be employed on a part time or full time basis (between 14 and 30 hours per week). In some instances a casual position may be taken if there is the guarantee of stable, ongoing hours. Wages are generally set at 50% of the award rate for the first 10 weeks, and are then assessed by the Supported Wage Management Unit of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, which will determine how quickly the job is being performed and what percentage of the award rate the Jobsupport client should be paid. This rate of pay is reviewed annually. Approximately 50% of Jobsupport clients are able to complete their job as quickly as their co-workers, and are accordingly paid the award rate.  

Who trains Jobsupport staff?

Josbupport will:

  • Work with the employer to identify and analyse suitable tasks. A detailed job analysis is conducted to ensure that each placement work well for both the employer and the client. This includes determining the quality, productivity and workplace health and safety expectations for the position.
  • Provide one-on-one onsite training. Each training program is individualised and typically takes 4-6 weeks. Training is based on a Support Agreement document that details the required tasks, the quality and rate standards required for each task, the level of supervision available and any workplace health and safety considerations.
  • Provide free ongoing maintenance support to ensure that the placement continues to work well for both the client and the employer. This support will continue for the life of the job and includes monitoring the employee’s performance to ensure that standards are maintained. Jobsupport staff can provide additional training as required.
Why should I hire someone through Jobsupport?

You have the ability to give someone with an intellectual disability the chance to have a satisfying job and greatly improve his or her quality of life. Jobsupport employees also have an annual retention rate of over 80%.

Who else uses Jobsupport?

The Law Society of New South Wales has employed one of Jobsupport’s clients in its mail room for over 11 years. Other organisations in the legal sector employing Jobsupport clients include: DibbsBarker, Willis & Bowring, Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Gilbert & Tobin, Watkins Tapsell & Nolan, Gadens Lawyers, Morgan Lewis Alter, Clifford Chance, Sutherland Local Court and the Department of Corrective Services. An article in relation to the scheme appeared in the Law Society Journal in August 2012.

I want to hire someone through Jobsupport, but I’m not sure I have enough work for them to do…

Call Megan Black at the Bar Association (contact details below). There may be the possibility of sharing an employee between one or more floors.

Find me someone to hire please!

Call Megan Black at the Bar Association. Megan can be reached on ph:(02) 9229 1739 or at mblack@nswbar.asn.au.

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