Australia Yearbook - 2001

264 Year Book Australia 2001
Jobs, Education and Training (JET) Program
The JET program is a joint program of the
Department of Family and Community Services
(FaCS); the Department of Employment,
Workplace Relations and Small Business
(DEWRSB) and the Department of Education,
Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA). FaCS has
primary responsibility for overall program
management and Centrelink has responsibility for
delivery of the program.
JET is a voluntary program which aims to improve
the financial circumstances of eligible customers
by assisting with skill development and aiding
their entry or re-entry into the paid workforce.
JET officers assist eligible customers overcome
barriers to workforce participation. The types of
assistance provided include: development of a
plan to achieve labour market readiness; access
to education, training and employment
assistance; referrals to government and
community services; and child care assistance.
The number of customers in the JET program at
June 1999 was 135,160, some 26% fewer than the
previous year.
Pensioner Education Supplement (PES)
The PES aims to assist pensioners with the costs
associated with study, and is available to both
full-time students and those approved to
undertake at least 25% of a full-time study load.
PES is a non-taxable, non-income and
assets-tested payment of $62.40 or $31.20 per
fortnight (see next paragraph), available to
certain FaCS and Department of Veterans’ Affairs
(DVA) pensioners who undertake study. In the
1999 calendar year there were approximately
55,300 PES customers.
From March 2000, the rate of PES for students
with a study load of less than 50% was $31.20 per
fortnight.
Disability support pensioners and recipients of an
invalidity service pension or war widowers
receiving an invalidity income support
supplement from DVA will continue to receive
the full rate of invalidity income support
supplement as well as PES.
Child Support Scheme
The Child Support Scheme is a joint FaCS and
Attorney-General’s Department scheme,
administered by Child Support Agency (CSA).
The CSA can collect child support payments from
liable parents. However, where possible, parents
are encouraged to make their own private
arrangements. In order to receive more than the
base rate of Family Tax Benefit, parents must
receive at least the amount of child support
payable under court order or as determined by
CSA.
At March 2000, around 54% of all Parenting
Payment (single) customers were receiving child
support, compared with 26% of the same client
group at the beginning of the Scheme in 1989. In
1999–2000, the total amount of Child Support
transferred between parents was $1,384m, which
benefited almost one million children.
Family Tax Payment
The Family Tax Payment was introduced on
1 January 1997 and is part of the Government’s
Family Tax Initiative to provide additional
assistance to families with children. The majority
of eligible families (those with a taxable income of
less than $70,000 and one child, and a further
$3,000 for each additional child), receive
assistance through the taxation system. However,
low income families receive an equivalent level of
assistance in the form of a fortnightly cash
payment—the Family Tax Payment, through
FaCS. There were 866,901 Family Tax Payment
customers at June 2000.
Family Allowance has become part of the new
Family Tax Benefit introduced in July 2000.
Maternity Allowance and Maternity
Immunisation Allowance
Maternity Allowance assists families with the costs
associated with the birth of a child. Maternity
Allowance is a non-taxable, lump sum payment of
$750. It is paid for each new child to families who
meet the Family Allowance residence, income and
assets tests within 13 weeks of the child’s birth.
Maternity Immunisation Allowance of $200 is paid
after a child reaches 18 months, and upon proof
of age-specific immunisation. Families are not
disadvantaged in cases where children are not
immunised for medical reasons or where parents
conscientiously object to immunisation
Other payments
Special Benefit
Special Benefit may be granted to people not
qualified for any other income support payment,
but who are unable to earn a sufficient livelihood
for themselves and their dependants and are in