Stories
We have published a number of stories from Antipoverty Centre surveys, the Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union review app, news media and other sources on this site and will be adding to these over time to create an archive of material demonstrating the harms caused by “mutual” obligations and employment services providersCompliance with “mutual” obligations is enforced by outsourced employment se....
Staff review: Unrealistic expectations and targets
Mutual obligations don’t get people jobs, says job agencies
28 May 2021, Guardian Australia, Luke Henriques-Gomes. Access the full article here. Both privatised job…
Staff review: Definitely don’t care about clients
ParentsNext program is ‘absolute scandal’
2 November 2022, Guardian Australia, Luke Henriques-Gomes. Access the full article here. One woman’s payments…
Ronnie spent five years looking for work. A new report says many others are ‘being left behind’
8 December 2022, SBS News, Aleisha Orr. Access the full article here. A report has…
I fear the welfare system so I stay in bad situations
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Job agency says to scrap ‘mutual obligations’
13 March 2023, Guardian Australia, Luke Henriques-Gomes. Access the full article here. Another key industry player suggested government should shut down the work-for-the-dole scheme Some job agencies running the federal government’s flagship employment services program, Workforce Australia, are arguing for a review or overhaul of the…
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Welfare system puts disadvantaged at risk, ombudsman
13 March 2023, Guardian Australia, Paul Karp. Access the full article here. Mutual obligationParticipation requirements welfare recipients must fulfil each month to continue… system subjects some participants to ‘punitive conditions’, commonwealth ombudsman says Australia’s mutual obligationParticipation requirements welfare recipients must fulfil each month to continue... system for welfare risks “subjecting disadvantaged participants to unreasonably…
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ParentsNext needs to be replaced, inquiry finds
1 March 2023, Guardian Australia, Luke Henriques-Gomes. Access the full article here. Parliamentary panel calls for sweeping changes to Coalition’s $484m program including easing harshest compliance requirements The chair of a parliamentary inquiry into the controversial ParentsNextA “pre employment” program targeting single parents with children…
Employment services survey
The Punishment for Profit report is based on hundreds of responses to surveys conducted by the Antipoverty Centre. This research is ongoing. If you are in Workforce Australia, Disability Employment Services or a similar program, we welcome any information you are able to share about your experiences.