Your Right to Fair Job Search Requirements

Providers must determine the appropriate number of Job Searches a job seeker is required to undertake per month and specify this in the job seeker’s Job Plan.

Providers must set the number of Job Searches required in accordance with the Deed, this Guideline and the Social Security Law.

The number of Job Searches generally expected to be undertaken by job seekers (including PCPs and those with a PCW (15 to 29 hours per week) is:

• for Stream A and Stream B job seekers—20 Job Searches per month

• for Stream C job seekers—Job Search depends on capacity

• for job seekers aged 60 years and over (regardless of Stream)—Job Search depends on capacity.

Note: Job seekers cannot be required to undertake more than 20 Job Searches per month.

For all job seekers

There are some prescribed circumstances in which the number of Job Searches may be reduced. Providers may reduce the number of Job Searches as a result of a job seeker’s:

• physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment

• alcohol or drug abuse, where this is likely to impede Job Search

• substantially elevated level of family and caring responsibilities

• accommodation situation, where this is likely to impede Job Search

• education or skill level, where this is likely to substantially limit job opportunities

• current Employment status (Part-Time or casual work)

• domestic violence (including family violence) or family relationship breakdown (Note: DHS may also grant an Exemption from Mutual Obligation Requirements in these circumstances.)

• final three months of pregnancy

• level of English language skills, where the job seeker is undertaking a course to improve these skills

• cultural factors

• the state of the labour market and the transport options available to the person in accessing that market (for example, taking into account travel time).

For example, a Stream A job seeker either living in a metropolitan area or within 90 minutes travel time to a metropolitan area would be expected to have 20 Job Searches per month. In a regional area with limited vacancies and where the travel time to more positive labour markets is more than 90 minutes, it might be appropriate that a Stream A job seeker has a lower Job Search requirement—for example, 15 Job Searches per month.

For Stream C job seekers and job seekers aged 60 years and over

The number of Job Searches required by Stream C job seekers and job seekers aged 60 years and over depends on their capacity. However, in general they would be expected to undertake 10 Job Searches per month.

In setting an appropriate number of Job Searches, in addition to the considerations outlined above, Providers may also consider the extent to which:

• other non-vocational issues or vocational issues are being, or have been, addressed

• the job seeker has undertaken re-skilling or re-training.

For Stream C job seekers, it might be appropriate in some Exceptional Circumstances to have no Job Searches for a period while non-vocational issues are actively being addressed (for example, where a job seeker is undertaking a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme).

The number of Job Searches required of Stream C job seekers would be expected to increase over time as they overcome or sufficiently manage personal or non-vocational issues.

Providers must not reduce the number of Job Searches a job seeker is required to undertake merely because the job seeker is undertaking other activities—in particular, during the Work for the Dole Phase.

Providers should reduce the number of Job Searches a job seeker is required to undertake if a job seeker is simultaneously undertaking other activities only in the limited circumstances as set out below.

Paid work

For job seekers with full-time Mutual Obligation Requirements:

• if undertaking at least 40 hours of declared paid work (including self-employment) per fortnight, the number of Job Searches should be halved (if the job seeker is undertaking a significant number of hours of paid Employment per week and receiving only a residual amount of income support, Providers have the discretion to reduce the number of Job Search further)

• if undertaking at least 70 hours of declared paid work (including self-employment) per fortnight, the number of Job Searches should be nil.

For job seekers with part-time Mutual Obligation Requirements—that is, PCPs and PCWs (15 to 29 hours per week):

• if undertaking 11 to 29 hours of declared paid work (including self-employment) per fortnight, the number of Job Searches should be halved.

Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) courses

For those job seekers that Providers have identified as needing to improve their LLN skills, Providers may reduce the number of Job Searches during the period when the job seeker is actively participating in a LLN course. The job seeker would need to be undertaking Skills for Education and Employment, Adult Migrant English Program or another accredited LLN course. However, Providers must ensure that the job seeker is simultaneously undertaking some Job Search while participating in these programmes.

Other circumstances

Providers must not include Job Search requirements for job seekers while they are undertaking NEIS Training, the NEIS programme or during the final three months of pregnancy.

PCPs and PCWs (15 to 29 hours per week) who are fully meeting their part-time Mutual Obligation Requirements through 30 hours per fortnight of paid work or approved study must not have any simultaneous Job Search requirements included in their Job Plans.

 Job seekers aged 55 years and over who are meeting their full-time Mutual Obligation Requirements through 30 hours per fortnight of paid work or approved Voluntary Work must not have any simultaneous Job Search requirements included in their Job Plans.

Providers must also not include Job Search requirements in the Job Plans of Early School Leavers (ESLs),