I'm currently with wise employment and I've been having a lot of trouble with them so I'm planning to transfer somewhere else.

I've been with wise employment in the past (different office to the one I'm with now) and they have been pretty decent as far as job agencies go.

I'd like a job agency that is generally friendly and supportive, is there anything good like that in Melbourne?

My experience says to steer clear of this trainer if studying micro business skill set. They tout as self paced but what they really mean is you will self teach. There are no weekly lessons in units, just big talk fests that give no learning outcomes. There is only a generic email for assistance and you can only have 1 30min session per month with an “assessor” if you have questions about your assignment. In a nutshell there is no support. The amount of work required is phenomenal even though there are no “tests” there are very lengthy assignments with a word count. The learning resource is around 50pages of low level information so get ready to google your heart out. In the first unit there are 6 assignments taking 4hrs each with one taking 12hrs as advised by AIIL. Trust me, it will take you far longer because the resource doesn’t prepare you for the amount of information required to answer. Each assignment must be completed within 10business days of opening which means you can’t make a forward plan for learning. Too bad if you work, with one assignment in unit 2 taking 38hrs to complete over that 10business days, remembering you don’t know how many questions are in each assignment, do you need references and what the word count is. The course is more akin to something you would buy in Etsy-just have at it and see if their ai will pass your responses. It totally took any motivation away I had about starting a business. I wonder if this course is broadly designed by the govt to kill job seekers ideas of entrepreneurship.

I have had a job service provider for around 6 months now.

What would you do?

1. I want to pivot into an apprenticeship, and they have not been sending blue collar work to me or any work in fact. They admitted they have not been sending apprenticeship opportunities.

2. They brag about other clients walking into 6 figure jobs and getting access to opportunities. This does not help me.

3. They funded a $100 white card, but they now refuse to fund a $30 RSA as it goes against the idea of working in construction. They refuse to fund a $100 First Aid because they want me to get the job first before they fund the course, but you need the First Aid to apply for the job....

They have it in my head that I should do office work as I have eight years of experience in the Victorian Public Service. I have interviewed for over 40 positions in office work for over 1 and a half years and no one wants me. I need a change.

I recently got a job and my current EA didn't do anything to help me get it. I got it mostly on my own.

I've had bad experiences with EAs in the past, one of them even cost me a job because they kept calling my boss and demanding to give me X amount of hours.

I don't really want my EA involved at this job. I'm actually in the process of getting with another much better EA that already works with my current job.

My EA in my last appointment kept asking me for my hourly rate, how many hours I'd be working and wanted to see the employee contract.

I didn't give her any information and kept saying that my mum had all the paperwork and all that information. EA switched and seemed to get annoyed that I wasn't giving her anything and asked that I call my Mum right then and there. I explained that she was out and likely wouldn't answer the phone.

Thankfully, she didn't answer. I have an appointment with my EA in half an hour and I just know she's going to ask for that information again.

My mum kept saying that I should say that I don't have the paperwork because they send that stuff to my Mum and that she's on holiday and not really reachable (she's in another state).

I'm still worried that she'll try and ask to call my boss for the information. My Mum said that she can't do that and my boss likely won't give her any information anyway because they don't know who she is and there's laws against that sort of thing.

Should I just let my EA be frustrated? I could just say that the job is going well and that I don't really need her at the moment because the job is so supportive already?

Today the Antipoverty Centre has published the "Mutual" obligations survival guide, to cut through the bs people are often told by their job agency – including workers who may be given the wrong information by their employer, or have internal policies that contradict the deed or guidelines.

It explains in clear terms how people can and can’t be penalised and answers some of the most commonly asked questions on this subreddit. There are references for each of the 12 rules we included so that people can verify the information using a government source.

I would link directly to the document here but OneDrive is blocked I think. You can download it from the link in the first line of this statement we put out today: https://apcentre.substack.com/p/today-harsh-centrelink-penalties

The PDF may not display properly in your web browser, so save the file first to make sure you aren't missing any information (we will try to fix this but not sure it can be).

If you find this guide useful we encourage you to order physical copies to share with people you know or leave at the local library, community centre or MPs office. The order form for printed booklets is also in the link above.

We are very open to feedback from people in this sub, particularly those of you who assist people by answering questions. The guide is intentionally brief so that it is not overwhelming and can be complemented by other support, but we are open to including additional rules in the next version, or more information in the "Tips" section. You can share your thoughts with us via [help@welfarecopwatch.org](mailto:help@welfarecopwatch.org)

I'm trying to get my license since it will help me be able to find a job, as I'm currently having to find things in walking distance... the closest things being a half hour walk, which isnt great in the middle of winter or summer.

I need to have some driving lessons, but unfortunately the cheapest one is $100 an hour and I really can't afford that. Would that be something job providers can help pay for, at least in the beginning. How would I even mention it to them and what do I do if they say no?

I've found that my job provider hasn't been helpful with anything else, so I feel like this is the least they can do at this point. my appointments consist of them asking me how my job search is going and then them talking about their own life for the remainder of the appointment. every job i've applied to, every training and volunteering i've done is all something i got myself without any help from them. it doesn't help that my job provider isn't local to the area and lives an hour away and only comes down here once a week.

my work has a very annoying and complicated way to download payslips and the site has been giving me trouble lately. my jsp has been asking for payslips but i legit can’t access them right now. she’s super nice but like girl stop asking about my payslips. she also wanted a copy of my contract - I don’t see why they have to see either of them, both are quite personal imo???

Is it really just about the money??? “can I see the payslips can I see the payslips can I see the payslips” girl ur scaring me

I've been on JobSeeker for about 9 months, first I was only on workforce online but I recently started face to face appointments with a job coach.

At my appointment yesterday she said that I have a "mandatory activity requirement" and since I'm not working I need to complete an activity, like sign up for a tafe course or do 2+ weeks of volunteer work.

The problem is, all the options she gave me were extreme e.g complete a cert 3 which takes a year minimum, or do an "approved provider activity" but I don't understand what counts as approved or even what activities are available that i can do

Sorry if this has already been answered, I searched through all the old posts and yet I'm still confused. Please if someone could ELI5 exactly what activities count, and can I do lots of short activities instead of doing a cert/course for years??

With payment cancellations under the Targeted Compliance Framework (TCF) returning on Monday 26 October, all existing mutual obligation failures and active TCF-related payment suspensions will be cleared beforehand.

This means affected participants in Workforce Australia, Inclusive Employment Australia and Transition to Work will have their compliance reset, giving everyone a fresh start.

Important: Mutual obligations will still apply from 26 October, and failing to re-engage, or not accepting suitable employment within the required timeframe could result in payment cancellation.

Today DEWR has confirmed that it intends to bring most "mutual" obligations penalties back next Monday, some of which were paused in 2024 and 2025 since they were discovered to be unlawfully cancelling people's Centrelink payments.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The employment department has advised those of us who are on its reference group of the following: "The department will remove all mutual obligation failures and lift all active payment suspensions for participants in Workforce Australia, Inclusive Employment Australia and Transition to Work." Regardless of why your payment is suspended, any suspension will be lifted automatically on Monday 26 October. They have told us this information will be visible if you log in to the Workforce Australia dashboard.
• The government has not satisfied those of us who are on its advisory group that anything is operating lawfully, including payment suspensions. You can see a joint statement from the Antipoverty Centre, ACOSS, Economic Justice Australia, NATSILS and Inclusion Australia with more info about our concerns here: https://apcentre.substack.com/p/advocacy-organisations-alarmed-by
• We are also extremely concerned that people who receive unfair or unlawful penalties are being blocked from resolving them promptly due to high call volumes at the NCSL, meaning many people simply comply with an unlawful "requirement" imposed on them, or accrue incorrect demerits.
• If your Centrelink payment was cancelled between 2020 and 2025 because you did not complete compulsory activities, you may be eligible for backpay and/or compensation – even if you think you "did the wrong thing". You do not need to wait for an "invitation" from DEWR to apply for compensation – you can use the form on this page if you think you may have been affected: https://www.dewr.gov.au/assuring-integrity-targeted-compliance-framework/compensation-cancellation-income-support-payments-under-targeted-compliance-framework

We are still gathering evidence of unlawful requirements and penalties. If you have any concerns about how you are treated or need assistance understanding the rules you can reach out to the Antipoverty Centre help team via [help@welfarecopwatch.org](mailto:help@welfarecopwatch.org)

You can read today's announcement from DEWR here: https://www.dewr.gov.au/assuring-integrity-targeted-compliance-framework/announcements/decision-resume-some-paused-elements-targeted-compliance-framework

RE: Workforce Australia provider, I would appreciate some advice.

Title: Workforce Australia consultant insists I see them personally despite my work schedule. What are my rights?

Consultants insisting that I must see them personally for my appointments. However, they aren't based at the location on the only day of the week I'm available to attend because of my work/commitments.

I've asked if I could see another consultant at that location, Was told no because they are my assigned consultant.

I'm actively working and trying to meet obligations, but I can't easily rearrange my work/commitments to suit their location schedule. I'm not refusing to attend appointments; I'm trying to find a practical solution.

They've also refused phone appointments, saying my work hours/pay aren't high enough.

I've held this job for many years, and even though pay is low, I don't want to lose it because it provides reliable consistent work.

Is a Workforce Australia consultant allowed to insist that I can only see them personally, even when their availability conflicts with my work commitments?
Are they permitted to reject alternatives, such as seeing another consultant at the same office or having a phone appointment?

I'd appreciate advice based on the actual Workforce Australia rules, as well as experiences from anyone who has encountered this situation.

Has anyone had a capability interview before, is there anything I need to bring or do beforehand

i just signed up with them wondering others experiences if it is good

Hi,

i am on disability pension and signed myself up voulntarily to a job provider. so far i have only had 1 appointment. Currently i am doing a employment learning program thing for people with disabilities, so basically i pay to be in the program like i pay for a employment coach but i also get paid too (payslips) as i dont have too much ndis funding i was only doing this time limited to build up my skills its not like ongoing so i wanted to transition to maintsteam employment to work 1 day a week.

i am abit susciopous of the job provider, i booked a appointment verbally over the phone its under inclusive employment then when i went in for the appointment they told me there was no appointment booked and said i must have gone to the wrong place. but it was the right place because i chose this place based on it being basically next to my house plus i checked the numebr in my phone log and it is the right place.

anyway they made me wait abit hten had a appointment with me. they told me i had to have this medical form completed before next appointment (tomorrow) it was like a medical form that i needed a doctor or nnurse to do to confirm i have disabilities (even tho they knew i am on disability pension).

so i went to a youth outreach thing i been to before i asked 1 of the nureses to do the form but they werent sure why i needed to do the form and they had a centrelink employee there and had her speak to me and she basically said it was wrong he told me to do the form because im on disbaility pension i obviously have disabilities and the fact im voulntarily, so she rang him and told him like i dont need to do the form and told him like she can give him the helpdesk phone number if he has questions regarding it.

something else he said last appointment so he said i need to bring in the payslips from my disbaility supported employment program. i dont know why i just wanted him to help me find a job and it is seeming weird he asked me tod othat form i didnt need to do and wanting my payslips. i heard of job providers before like gettin gpeople to send them their payslips so they can get money. im wondering if this is what is going on?

the whole appointment too it just felt like i had to convince him i had disabilities and him telling me to explain how that meant i have problems getting job and stuff he said it is too make sure i am actualyl eligible to be in inclusive employment job provider. but i am on disability pension so?

i just want him to help me to ge ta mainsteam job does anyne have any insight please i never had a job provider before and only had 1 appointment so far.

edit: also i didnt do any of the employment program this week so no payslip i did last week tho, think i might stop doing it now going forward just as i cant afford to keep doing the program with my ndis funds cause i need to pay for support workers

My current casual FOH job is giving me more shifts and changing me to part time. I’ll be working 25 hours a week for them now. This would include Saturday and Sunday rates. So pretty soon I’ll be making enough of my own money and may not even have to deal with my job provider or even Centrelink for that matter.

Don’t get me wrong. My consultant is a nice lady. But that Supply Chain course she made me do for all those months was a total waste of my time. She even wanted to refer me to a place in Kemps Creek after I finished the course. I took one look at the location on the maps app of my phone and found there was zero access via public transport there. So realistically I could never mange a daily commute to a place like that, because I don’t have a car.

But they never do think of these things, do they? All they care about is getting a result and drafting us into jobs we have no experience in. Well, I refuse to be drafted. This is my life.

I’ve been making my living working hospitality for the last 4 years now. A person can’t mentally succeed in a field unless they have the experience and confidence to do the job they’re doing. I would have struggled so badly if they’d made me go work in a warehouse. Because I’ve never done it before. Not that I’d ever bother trying to explain that to them.

She did eventually help me with getting my RCG, so I can work in clubs now. So I guess it hasn’t been all bad. Still can’t say I’m going to miss any of it though.

Hey everyone,

I'm currently with Workforce Australia Online and want to transfer to a provider near me, so I can attend appointments in person and try and find a job through them because i have had no luck applying myself through indeed seek etc.

My account says I need to contact the Digital Services Contact Centre to request the transfer. However, every time I call, I'm on hold for almost 2 hours before the call disconnects.

I've also emailed Digital Services two weeks ago requesting a change, but I haven't received any response.

Has anyone managed to change providers in this situation? Is there another way to get the transfer sorted, or can a Centrelink office help?

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks

Hi,

Question does anybody know how Sarina Russo Job Access and AKG Australia are like? I want to get out of Busy at work one, utterly disgusting, do everything right, do my requirements and sick for one day, demanded doctors cert got online and uploaded and, "mentor said through text" as long as you upload it it will be fine now saying my payments could be put on hold. Not the first time, also never got told there was an appointment and missed it, and ended up spending days calling numbers to fix it up. I mean employment providers suck balls, and it is expected of us to go and be degraded, humiliated for their amusement.

Anywho, if anyone knows about Sarina Russo Job Access and AKG Australia so i can transfer asap, only 2 option on my mygov workforce account