28 June 2022, Guardian Australia, Luke Henriques-Gomes. Access the full article here.
New employment services system should end activities that are unproductive and scrap automatic payment suspensions, Acoss report says
Jobseekers are dissatisfied with the poor quality service and punitive treatment they’ve received under a $1bn-a-year privatised employment services program, according to a new report.
An Australian Council of Social Service report, released on Tuesday, surveyed respondents about their experiences of the Jobactive system, which has been the main scheme for people on unemployment benefits in Australia since 2015.
It also warns a new system, Workforce Australia, which will begin next month, retains many of the problems baked into Jobactive.
There was a lot of this, ‘When are you going to do something for yourself,’” Claire said of her time on Jobactive… ‘I am, you just need to back off and let me do it in my own time.
– Claire
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.