The Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union fights for the rights of all Australians to dignified social security and employment. We are ordinary people standing up against the abuses of the “jobactive” system, and a de-funded Centrelink system.
Here is the full list of our direct-action political campaigns; current and past.
To get involved, simply contact your AUWU state or branch representative here.
Current Campaigns
- Dump Your Demerits, 2018 ongoing
- Fight 4 Facts, 2017 ongoing
- Boycott Work For the Dole, 2018 ongoing
- It’s Time! Raise Newstart to Poverty Line, 2017 ongoing
- Say No to Cashless Welfare, 2018 ongoing
- Bring Banks Your Budget, 2018 ongoing
- Dignity Not Debt, 2017 ongoing
- Justice For Josh, 2016 annual
- Myth Busting Campaign, 2015 ongoing
- Membership Drive, 2016 ongoing
- Stop the privatisation of Centrelink, 2017 ongoing (the AUWU endorses this CPSU campaign, and we encourage you to sign their petition)
Campaigns Past (but not forgotten)
- Raise Newstart — Lobby Councils, 2018
19 June, 2018: success! Delegates from local councils across Australia supported a motion at their National General Assembly of Local Government for the federal government to increase the rate of Newstart, Youth Allowance and related payments as a matter of urgency. Following the lead of Anti-Poverty Network SA, AUWU members helped raise this issue with their local councils. - Call Out Cash, July 2017
- Dignity Not Drug Testing, 2017
- Centrelink Debt Debacle, 2017
- Your Rights, 2016 (including Booklet and Hotline launch)
- Name and Shame Your Job Agent, 2016
- Police Shutting Down AUWU Cairns Stall, 2016
- Fight the Fine, July 2015
- Campaign against Max Employment, 2015
- Fighting against “Further Strengthening Job Seeker Compliance”, 2015
I support all your campaigns as something has to be done to fix our broken welfare system. LNP and Labor don’t seem to really care about fixing it.
I am writing on behalf of my 34 year old son who has had a dreadful experience as a job seeker. Instinctively when I heard you talk on radio national was going to contact him with your detail but he has been so hurt so damaged I want to check if you can and if you are willing to help him. My son has a serious psychiatric disorder that made working very challenging and at times impossible but in 2020 he worked hard to see if he could manage his illness he became compliant with his meds and saw a psychiatrist GP and psychologist regularly, The problem was still present but manageable and he was put on job seeker in 2021He completed a course in aged/ disability care as instructed and thoroughly enjoyed it looking forward to finding a job. His employment agency referred him to a job in disability support which he started 20 June 2021. He was happy he understood and cared for those he was supporting. He noticed at the end of the fortnight no pay he spoke to the manager of the service he was working for and was told he was waiting for NDIA payment so he can pay his workers. My son spoke to other employees like him vulnerable job keepers. they were confused and upset too. Eventually it became apparent they were not going to get paid until October. The employment agency who referred him was incredibly apologetic and put this disability support group of their books. He felt so optimistic that he would be paid as indicated in his contract he paid rent living costs etc with his credit card. As no money came to him from this job and now acutely in debt he stopped taking meds often as he could not afford them his mental health declined his relationship broke up and the suicidal thinking returned.