4 July 2022, Vice Australia, John Buckley. Access the full article here.
A new employment services platform is suggesting some job seekers apply for jobs out of state, for those who can access the service at all
Countless Australian job seekers could find themselves facing payment delays for not reporting to Centrelink, after technical difficulties took over the federal government’s new digital employment services platform.
The new system, Workforce Australia, was launched on Monday and replaces the outgoing JobActive platform, which was dispensed with by the new Albanese government without any sort of transition period or consultation from unemployment and welfare groups.
On Monday, the platform became the source of widespread “fear and distress” among welfare recipients across the country, as countless job seekers were unable to log into the platform while others struggled to use vital location services.
…the risk is then if you apply for these suggested jobs as part of your mutual obligationsParticipation requirements welfare recipients must fulfil each month to continue..., an employer can report you to the dob-seeker line, because it looks like you aren’t applying for a reasonable job
– Jeremy Poxon, Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union spokesperson
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.