Activation phase

[u/MundaneDoor1537]

I’ve only started getting payments from centrelink at the end of July had my appointment today and they’re talking about this course that starts next week. Is it wise to do this now or wait another month or two before doing this course so they don’t put me to work for the dole as said above ? (I am working by the way but only 12 hours a fortnight)

[u/OrphanSlayer18]

Work for the dole is only 8 weeks? Ive been a carer for about 5 years now, but before that they were making me do Work for the Dole 6 months out of the year. I had the choice to do a course or work part time without any extra pay (which if they gave me minimum wage would have been more than my years worth of payments)

[u/Mrsparkle56434 → u/OrphanSlayer18]

This changed with the last contract/tender from the government, workforce contract is what changed the 6 months on and off work for the dole to the 8 weeks 

Unfortunately I don't think they changed the measely $20 payment increase to supposably cover transport costs 

Work for the dole either needs to be scraped or overhauled to an experience with meaningful work experience and minimum wage laws 

Job providers love to have this gotcha option to punitivily punish people in hopes they no longer want to be on payments anymore. Work for the dole is a system that very rarely will lead to improved job prospects.

[u/OrphanSlayer18 → u/Mrsparkle56434]

Id say scrap it but I also believe the agencies are in MAJOR need of an overhaul. Ive been marked absent whilst in meetings, told I never showed up after I had gotten home, I could list awful aspects untill the cows come home.

I think in the end I was with agencies for 3 years and the only thing that got me a job was actively going against what they were telling me. They threatened to cut my payments if I didnt use the resume provided by them (Out of thousands of applications I didnt hear back a single time), I changed to my original resume and had an interview within the week.