White Box Enterprises has released a new report exploring what Australia can learn from one of the world’s most established work integration systems, as the Australian Government redesigns the nation’s employment services system.
Lessons from France: Embedding Work Integration Social Enterprises in the National Employment System draws on more than two years of research and engagement with French government agencies, national social enterprise organisations and employment experts. This included two research visits and a study tour led by White Box for Australian philanthropy and jobs-focused social enterprise leaders.
The report examines how France has embedded Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) within its national employment system and explores practical lessons that could help inform Australia’s own employment services reforms.
Focus on France
Since the 1990s, France has developed an established work integration system, with around 4,500 WISEs supporting approximately 168,000 people each year.
The report highlights the system’s strong employment outcomes, with more than half of participants remaining in employment or training six months after leaving a WISE.
What makes the French approach particularly relevant to Australia is the clearly defined role WISEs play within the national employment system.
Rather than operating on the margins, WISEs are recognised as a core part of the employment ecosystem, with defined responsibilities and referral pathways connecting them with government and mainstream employment services.
Funding: aide au poste
A key feature of France’s approach is the aide au poste, an employment support payment through which the French Government funds the supervision, coaching and wrap-around support provided by WISEs.
This funding recognises the additional support required to create sustainable employment opportunities for people facing significant barriers to work.
The report highlights how recognising and funding these costs can enable social enterprises to focus on supporting people into employment while contributing to broader employment outcomes.
What can Australia learn?
The report provides a practical framework for understanding how WISEs can be embedded within a national employment system. Drawing on its research, the report makes several recommendations for strengthening Australia’s employment system, including:
- Recognising jobs-focused social enterprises as a core part of the employment system, alongside mainstream employment services.
- Recognising and funding the real cost of work integration, including the additional support required to help people facing significant barriers transition into sustainable employment.
- Building a more connected employment ecosystem, with stronger referral pathways and funding models that prioritise long-term employment outcomes.
Looking internationally for ideas
With Australia’s employment services system undergoing significant reform, there is value in looking to international examples for approaches that could be adapted locally.
France offers decades of experience embedding jobs-focused social enterprises within its employment system. Its approach provides practical insights into how government, mainstream employment services and social enterprises can work together to create better pathways into sustainable employment.
For Australia, the French experience demonstrates the potential of placing work integration social enterprises at the heart of a more inclusive and outcomes-focused employment system.