Yesterday (23rd of February 2021) changes were announced regarding the Mutual Obligations for job seekers.
Changes to mutual obligation and face-to-face servicing requirements
The Australian Government has announced changes to the mutual obligation requirements for job seekers in certain employment services programs, which includes jobactive, Disability Employment Services, ParentsNext, and Online Employment Services.
- In early March 2021, face-to-face servicing with providers will recommence subject to local health advice and state and territory COVID-19 requirements. This applies to job seekers and participants in jobactive, Disability Employment Services and ParentsNext.
- In early April 2021, the minimum number of job searches for job seekers will rise to 15, increasing to 20 jobs per month in early July 2021. These changes apply to job seekers and participants in jobactive and Disability Employment Services.
From early March 2021, ParentsNext participants are required to:
- Attend an initial ParentsNext appointment (generally in person) and then every three months (attendance at these subsequent appointments can be in-person/phone/online)
- Negotiate and agree to a Participation Plan.
- Participate in and report on having done the activities they agreed to do.
- Report to Centrelink each fortnight about any income.
For more information: https://www.dese.gov.au/covid-19/job-seekers and https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/news/job-seekers
We are here to support you through these changes.
Below are some questions that you might be asking about the recent changes.
Do I have to attend my appointments with you face to face now?
Yes, we are so excited to be welcoming you back into our office. All offices have COVID-19 safe plans, so we will be social distancing.
Our website has all office addresses and Google maps should help you locate us easily.
Being in the office face to face means getting to know each other a bit better, and allows us to help you better.
When you are at the office you will have access to our job seeker computers, and if any vacancies come up you will be the first to hear about them.
Is the number of jobs I need to apply for changing?
For some job seekers, this is changing, but we will chat with you about your circumstances, and let you know the number of jobs you will need to apply for each month.
Whatever the number, we are here to support you to achieve the target. We have available jobs from employers ready to fill, will run job search groups to assist you with applications.
We also have online facilities you can use during business hours to apply for jobs if that’s easier for you. If you would like help, we can assist you with all the processes in applying for jobs and support you to understand what job search evidence you will need to meet the requirements.
Will I have to do this new activity after 6 months?
Depending on your activities when you reach 6 months, we may need to talk to you about your options.
We will work with you to find the activity that suits your needs.
We will work with host organisations and employers to arrange work experience if this is something you are interested in; we can work with you to arrange and gain the on the job skills you can add to your resume.
A Short term training course is available across our area, and if training is a good option for you, we can help you select a course and assist with funding. Training is a good activity that can support you on your journey to a job.
What happens if I do not attend interviews or accept a job?
We are here to support you and prepare you for every step of the application process.
We will help you understand what you need to do and when.
We will assist you to find the right jobs for you to apply for and help you if you need any costs covered to attend an interview (clothing, transport etc).
We are here to help and answer any questions you might have.
W: https://jobfind.com.au/
E: info@jobfind.com.au
P: 1800 113 233
