Media spotlight on employment services
We are collecting examples of job agency abuse and related news media. If you have a story to add, please send it to us here.
Committee hears about punitive ParentsNext program
18 January 2023, Guardian Australia, Stephanie Convery. Access the full article here. Committee hears ParentNext…
‘It isn’t working’: the government’s Workforce Australia launch derailed by outages and errors
5 July 2022, Crikey, Cam Wilson. Access the full article here. Australians who risk losing…
Australian government makes life hell for poor people
4 July 2022, Vice Australia, John Buckley. Access the full article here. A new employment…
Department folds, gives job agencies millions in contracts for bullshit courses
27 July 2022, Guardian Australia, Luke Henriques-Gomes. Access the full article here. Department of employment…
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…
A Deloitte report has told the government to stop the Targeted Compliance Framework that governs “mutual” obligations
A Deloitte report has told the government to stop the Targeted Compliance Framework that governs…
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Podcast: Job seekers sent to body language courses for job agents to profit
1 September 2022, Guardian Australia, Presented by Laura Murphy-Oates and Reported by Luke Henriques-Gomes. Access the full audio here. Jobseekers are being forced to travel hundreds of kilometres, miss work and complete training courses they don’t need to qualify for unemployment benefits. Luke Henriques-Gomes explains to Laura Murphy-Oates why…
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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 obligation system subjects some participants to ‘punitive conditions’, commonwealth ombudsman says Australia’s mutual obligation system for welfare risks “subjecting disadvantaged participants to unreasonably onerous and punitive conditions”, the commonwealth ombudsman has warned.…
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.