Affiliations: Jobsupport Inc., Kingsgrove, NSW 1480, Australia | East Economics, Australia | Melbourne University, Melbourne, Victoria,
Australia
Abstract: In Australia, adults with a moderate to severe intellectual
disability receive a Commonwealth Government Disability Support Pension and may
enter Commonwealth Government funded employment programs or State Government
funded community activity programs. This paper compares the cost to government
of Jobsupport (an open employment program) and the available alternatives. Background data about Jobsupport, including satisfaction surveys of
employers and people with disabilities supported by Jobsupport, is included.
Comparisons with other options show Jobsupport to be a cost
effective option for government and almost revenue neutral per client for the
Commonwealth Government compared to the pension after 12 months. This result
has been relatively robust over time; as government funding has increased and
the program has grown in size, cost per client has remained steady in real
terms. In evaluating the cost of the Jobsupport program, displacement
effects have proved to be less important than had been previously believed and
smaller for Jobsupport than in general labor market programs. Even when
displacement differences are included, there are significant savings, including
reductions in pension payments, from programs such as Jobsupport. When these
savings are considered, a Jobsupport open employment program is much less
expensive than State-funded Post School Options activity programs.
