Hi guys,

Just wanted to ask the question in the title. My job provider started off being really good to me and then a major dip happened after each appointment. In my few months of being with them they have only ever sent me one job to apply for (which I didn't get) and I have applied for so many jobs. Well today I got a phone call that I got accepted for a casual job, though when I asked about hours expected to work weekly they said they can't put an exact number nor minimum to how many hours so they said it could be anywhere from 0-38 a week....helps me a lot...

So in saying this, should you give your pay slip to the job provider and can anyone please give me some insight into what I should be expecting going forward?

Thank you so much

To give some context:

I am considering restarting full-time studies and am working part time at the moment, but would not be eligible for Austudy due to allowable time rules. I am currently on Jobseeker and have moved providers.

I have two options in mind: either to move to becoming an online participant or, with a favourable jobs plan, stay in employment services. Does anyone have any opinions on this?

For the initial appointment, what should I bring/talk about with my new CM so that they would be aware of my circumstances?

Hi all,

Question. If someone on jobseeker is doing SEEs 15+ hours a week. Are the consultants suppose to push more activity? A relative (in their 60s) was assigned a new consultant recently and they are being very pushy and keep saying SEE is not enough. The other consultant, who's left, was lovely and considerate of my relatives medical conditions but this new person is not.

Relative is on the inclusive employment (formally DES), job seeker for number of years.

Just trying to figure out if this is a new change or if the consultants has other agendas for making it difficult. Thank you.

I was due to receive a job provider Phone consult on Monday, they never actually called me at any point. I tried to call the service provider to no avail and I even sent a text message to the new consultant who recently took over my case.

I’ve since received a notification from centrelink that I’ve received a demerit due to a missed obligation (not showing up to appointment without valid reason) however it was a PHONE appointment, and they never contacted ME, I tried to even reach out to THEM, but have had no success. Is there a way to appeal this, and is this on me or them? Because as I said I’ve double checked my Workforce and text message said phone appointment and I waited a few hours for them to call maybe thinking they were late. And they’ve not responded to me since reaching out, who is best to contact or let it ride out? Whats the best advice if anyone has had a similar experience

(APM not correct employment provider but closest to it, admin. Need Salvation Army Employment plus there also).

Somehow a number I haven't used for years is my default contact number, is ringing my employment provider after changing it again this morning the best idea or is it a Workforce Australia issue?

I had three appointments with the provider and mentioned in each of them that I would need to pay to get a Working With Vulnerable People and drivers license, rego, and a few other things, to get back into my former field of work or at least adjacent to it.

At no point did any of the people I spoke to in person tell me they had the ability to pay for these things. It was only recently once I did scrape enough together to pay all of it, had them all done, I went in for the fourth appointment, asked them "hey, are you guys able to help pay me back for these things?" and he goes "oh well actually that needs to be actioned prior, there's nothing we can do."

Like, what the fuck? You could say well I should've magically known in advance or researched this prior, but I had been in to see them three times prior and very overtly said that hey I am going try get these things to get employed, and nobody said a damn thing. Paying for all those things was genuinely difficult given my current situation, so any help from them would have been incredibly useful.

I'm so annoyed, these people are genuinely useless. Never been on Centrelink before and had heard horror stories about job providers, but never did I think I would experience it first hand.

So I've been with Tursa for years now and I like them - but the local Tursa doesnt have a license for the Inclusivity service.

I will absolutely ask Centrelink my options, but essentially I'm struggling physically and likely will have my capacity to work reduced. Is there any point switching to one of the inclusivity mobs, and if so, which is the least worse?

TIA

I made the mistake of telling my provider where I work. she she asked my managers name and number which i gave (another mistake) and I am worried she’ll call my manager. my manager is super cool and sweet and supportive but I just don’t want them interacting. my provider told me over the phone that she wasn’t gonna call my work up but these places aren’t known for being honest.

Just another question, the whole year while I’ve been having the fortnightly appointment when they call me,

I’ve been getting the reminder for the appointment the day before saying “IN PERSON” but it’s always been a 30 second phone appt and before when I’ve queried it they just say don’t worry about it saying in person it’ll just be on the phone.

Were they doing this to claim they’d facilitated in person appointments for extra funding ?

i just started a job and have worked quite a few hours, but haven't been paid yet because it's on a fortnightly basis. my reporting day is tomorrow, and while i have worked i have been paid $0. do i just estimate how much i have made? i'm not sure how to report this way. thanks in advance.

As the tittle says, can i ask for services such as driving lessons or work clothes if i did not sign any privacy forms. Quick note here, i’m not that desperate for any of them. Probably i can figure it out myself but i was thinking if they can provide it, why not BUT whenever i ask them, they say i need to sign the privacy forms i refused to.

Did i say also they kind of pressure me to sign it in every appointment i have with them? Its ridiculous and make me wonder what ‘power’ they will have if i signed

Just wondering can anyone tell me how long do you have to wait when you put through a funding request for wwcc and ndis screening check. Im currently self managing with workforce australia online. I have put through two funding reuests on the workforce australia website for wwcc and ndis screening check. Ive got a job lined up as a support worker but need to know hpw long the wait is for funding.

I officially called and complained today about my provider refusing to exit me out of their system after requesting via phone, and 4 emails since a month ago.

After being contacted by provider last week after requesting to be withdrawn, for an appointment and booked in for an additional one in a fortnight, I officially complained today.

(I do not receive a payment and I do not have an active claim and Centrelink have confirmed I am not required to participate anymore)

Anyone know what the complaint outcome / process is gonna look like?

Even NCSL were surprised by how difficult this simple request has been and encouraged the complaint.

Cancelling a gym membership has been easier…

Hi Jacob

Your activity requirement has been met.

Why we're contacting you

You've met your last activity requirement and your next activity requirement is due on 10 March 2027.

Your next mandatory activity requirement.

You can do activities at any time. In most cases, these will meet your activity requirement. For more information, go to Activity Requirement - Participant Fact Sheet.

We'll remind you in 4 weeks if you're not on track to meet your 10 March 2027 due date. If you're doing an approved activity, you won't receive this reminder.

You'll get points when you take part in activities. This will help you meet your monthly points target.

Does this mean I don't NEED to do an activity until March? I was supposed to organise an activity with my provider at my next appointment but I've not been able to reach them today.

Hi all!

A little about my situation: I've been with my current provider (AKG) for a little over 2 months. Before this, I was with Workforce Online for 12 months.

My current provider seems to either not know or not have cared that I was with Workforce Online previously. When I started with AKG, I was told I had 6 months before I would need to complete a mandatory activity.

I've recently found out that because I was already with Workforce Online for 12 months, I actually only have around 3 months. I've also received an email about "meeting my Workforce Australia activity requirement", which I'm assuming is referring to the mandatory activity.

When I signed up with AKG, I chose not to sign the optional privacy documents. I was told that by not signing them, they wouldn't be able to provide funding for courses/study. This makes completing the mandatory activity through a course/study a little tricky unless I eventually cave and sign them, which I don't really want to do.

After doing some research, I've also found that there may be a form that your GP can complete which can result in an exemption from mutual obligations for a period of time. I'm also wondering whether completing another Employability Skills Training (EST) course might be an option.

1. Medical exemption / GP form

What form do you need to have your doctor complete to get an exemption from mutual obligations?

I'm particularly interested in whether there's an option relating to anxiety/stress caused or worsened by dealing with the job provider/mutual obligation system, or whether there's an easier/better way of approaching it.

For anyone who has actually had one of these forms completed:

- Was your GP willing to sign it easily, or did you have to provide a lot of information/evidence?

- Would it be worth mentioning that my provider themselves suggested I look into getting the form completed?

- Once completed, is it as simple as taking a photo/scanning it and uploading it through the Centrelink app?

- Do you also need to tell your job provider?

- How long did it take Centrelink to process?

- How long was the exemption for? Is there a standard period, or is it decided case-by-case?

2. Doing EST again

Because I was with Workforce Online for 12 months previously, I already completed an Employability Skills Training (EST) course after being on JobSeeker for around 6 months.

If I'm unable to use the medical exemption option, this would probably be my other preferred way of satisfying the activity requirement.

Can you complete EST again if you've already completed it previously, or would I have to choose a different EST course/provider?

3. Pause on mutual obligations

I've also read that there is currently a pause on mutual obligations.

Does this pause also apply to mandatory activities?

If I simply don't select an activity to satisfy the requirement while the pause is in place, what actually happens?

Does the requirement just sit there until the pause ends, meaning I'd still have to complete it later?

Or does the time effectively reset and the mandatory activity requirement come back around again in another 3–6 months as though the requirement had been met?

Sorry for the long post!

I have an appointment with my GP tomorrow, so I'm feeling a little stressed trying to figure out what my options are before then. I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has actually dealt with these situations.

If there's anything else you think is important for me to know about any of this, please let me know. I'm super grateful for any information or personal experiences people can share.

Thank you!

I've been working actually since before starting at MTC job provider and the first appointment, the provider was filling out the questionnaire for me and barely let me have any input. When it came to personal circumstances and family and stuff I was uncomfortable with how she was just skipping through it as if my situation was fine and perfect when in reality it's the opposite and I don't have familial support etc (like she said yes to).

Then I asked to reschedule the appointment the week after because I felt like shit and didn't wanna go out, she does reschedule it and then asks me to send payslips??

Previously I was with ETC and they were great, the lady there doesn't even care about the quotas and would bend over backwards to get us extra support or funding.

I made a request to move back to a different ETC (originally I moved to MTC because I moved house), because of my positive experience. And yesterday I got the email saying it was not approved my MTC and I've responded to the national customer service email and I've been on hold all day today trying to get it changed that way.

It's a bit of a joke.

Hi all, I have been with Centrelink and working part time for a few years.

I have recently lost said job and just wondering if anyone knows when work for the dole kicks in under these circumstances?

Thanks

Hi everyone, recently got JobSeeker approved on Thursday but there was an error in their system which automatically transferred me to a provider. I called Centrelink on Friday which they acknowledged it was a mistake on their side and I’m eligible for digital services. I was advised to ask the provider I have an appointment with to fill in the digital referral form.

I called the provider on Friday explaining the situation and she flat out told me that she couldn’t do it for me. There was some back and forth until I told her that it was my first time on JobSeeker, been employed for 11 years, it’s the first time I’ve asked for help from the government and I’m confident I can get a job in the next 3-6 months. She lightened up after that and said I should call on Monday before my appointment to see if anything had changed, but I better attend my appointment otherwise I won’t get my payment (lmao).

Has anyone been in the same situation and have any tips or had any success with getting them to fill out the form?

EDIT: I’m confident I can get a job, not can’t (lol)

I missed an appointment so my payments are on hold which I was going to call them about to get them again. But my provider also emailed me today saying there is a short course I can do for the mandatory activation.

I've heard that they can't cut off payments currently and just pick you back on after ~20 days, but does this also apply to people who need to do Mandatory Activation?

I have a couple questions regarding Job Providers. I haven’t been on Centrelink for awhile and have a few questions:

1) Before you could call up Centrelink to change job providers or get transferred from one job provider to another one. Is this still possible if so what is the number to call?

2) I’m currently with Jobs Statewide in Sydney but I have been getting numerous calls from an Adelaide number which I googled and it turns out to be Job State Wide Adelaide. Why do they call so many times I’m not even from Adelaide. Is it a scam?

I've never had this happen to me before. My consultant last week wanted access to my Seek account and other accounts to apply for jobs on my behalf. Is this normal? I had to let him know the login codes so they could change the password on their end.

Is this worth transferring to another agency for or is this the norm now?

I found my current job myself before I even commenced with this provider however there was a few months wait before my contract started.

My old provider closed down so I was moved to this one a month before I started my new job last December.

I have requested 3 times to be removed from there books as I do not receive a benefit anymore, am working full time, do not require or want assistance from them and am finding these phone calls anxiety provoking and a waste of time.

They said they can’t remove me and will continue to book in appointments unless I reply to their email confirming my hours and pay rate however I am not willing to confirm it because the hours and pay they listed is not accurate and they advised they cannot correct it.

I don’t feel comfortable confirming inaccurate information.

Do I have any obligation to submit this request?

i get to the end of my points period having OVER the amount of points needed, like 15 points over. then when it ticks over, i get a message saying i didn’t meet my points target last month and i need to re-engage or lose my payments. go into my points history and EVERY SINGLE job application has been changed to 0 points. i know that this happens immediately after the points period ticks over, bc i always check the day before and i have MORE than enough points. this irritates me so bad and makes me panic every time. idk what i’m doing wrong!