On 11 April 2018, State Secretary Dr. Rolf Schmachtenberg welcomed a delegation led by Michael Keenan, Minister for Human Services and Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Digital Transformation to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Although geographically far apart, our countries face similar challenges, such as how to structure social security and how to deal with the increasing digital transformation of the world of work
, said State Secretary Schmachtenberg.
State Secretary Schmachtenberg presented the results of the dialogue concerning the new world of work that his ministry had conducted under the title "Work 4.0". He also inquired about the structural conditions in Australia in the field of social security and improvements being made there by moving services to digital technologies. Minister Keenan explained the current efforts of the Australian Government to improve the support it provides for people with disabilities through reforms to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Other topics included the labour market integration of refugees and the role of vocational education in Germany.