After a short break we’re continuing to send out your stories of job agency abuse each week, as reported on our forum. In the past few weeks we’ve noticed a pattern of mothers being forced to bring their children into job agencies while they do job search activity, which they could easily undertake at home. The necessity of caring for your children is a legitimate reason for not attending appointments and activities. If you’ve experienced this misconduct then please share your story, and also make a complaint to the Department of Jobs and Small Business on 1800 805 260.
AN EXAMPLE OF VINDICTIVE BEHAVIOUR
I recently finished 6 months WFTD, doing 16 hours per fortnight. Yesterday I had an appointment with my JSP to “negotiate” a new job plan. I had been given a new consultant for this. She started by saying that my Annual Activity requirements had increased, and that next time I did WFTD I would be doing extra hours. She said that also because of my increased Annual Activity, I would have to attend their office 3 times per week for 2 hours at a time. So, 6 hours per week in total. for “job searching” on their computers. She said I was not excluded over school holidays from attending these “activities”, and that I would have to bring my children into the office….
I’m a single parent of primary school-aged children. A few years ago I was moved off the Single Parent Pension and onto Newstart. Since then I have been routinely harassed, bullied and misled by my “JobActive” Employment Provider. Despite never being in any breach of the “Mutual Obligation Requirements”, (including doing 6 mths Work for the Dole), I have on numerous occasions had my payments suspended due to my Employment Provider’s errors…
My brother has developed schizophrenia and he is unemployed. Yes it has been diagnosed by the medical profession. I have tried to help him by getting him on newstart and tried to get help via mental health department to get him assessed for a disability pension. No luck…
I’m 45, homeless (sleeping under bridge at the moment), have been diagnosed with severe social anxiety, major depressive disorder and suicidal ideation. Over the last 2 years I have been suspended over 40 times. None of those suspensions was upheld on appeal because all were in violation of the deed of service or social security law…
Calm Your Farm: Scott Morrison wants to force unemployed workers out into rural areas to work on farms, under threat of losing their social security payments. Not only is this proposal a further blow to the rights of unemployed workers, it would put their lives at risk — last year the government’s Seasonal Worker Program claimed 12 lives. Morrison’s government should be working to create jobs, not devising further punishments for unemployed workers. Sign the petition!
If you’ve complained to the Department of Jobs and Small Business about your job agency and they’ve failed to take it seriously, contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman on 1300 362 072.
HOTLINE REPORT:
The top issues recorded by our advocacy team on the hotline in the last week were:
Agency failing to provide services (36% of calls) and
Job agency bullying (36% of calls)
UNEMPLOYMENT SNAPSHOT:
Newstart: $347.98 per fortnight below the poverty line.
The AUWU is an entirely volunteer-run organisation – we survive off your donations. AUSTRALIAN UNEMPLOYED WORKERS’ UNION INC BSB: 633 000 ACCOUNT NUMBER: 154665681
Each week we’re sending out reports of job agencies’ misconduct and mistreatment in your own words. Please keep adding your voices. And another reminder that submissions to the senate enquiry into jobactive close on the 28th of September so please fill out our survey as soon as you can, or submit to the senate enquiry yourself — there’s a submission example included below that was helpfully posted on the forum.
SARINA RUSSO CANNOT BE TRUSTED
After not hearing from my provider in over 3 weeks I popped in for a visit while I was in the area… “How convenient, you just happen to be come by when you should have been here this morning” said the staffer. Which I responded saying I hadn’t received a letter or email about a planned appointment and no reminders on myGov. When I asked what time the appointment was I was ignored and asked to unlock my phone so they could search thru my emails and texts to see if I had received a notification or not. I laughed as I thought he was joking…
I was talking to a 73 year old man tonight named Colin. His story dates back to 1999 and though it occured almost 20 years ago, I think it’s still important to share examples of the mentality of Job Agencies then and now, and show that the poor service provided to job seekers has been going on for a long, long time…
I opted for a Job agency which advertised itself as being able to help people with mental health disorders, and while I differed from my treatment as a young adult, I have spent 15 years getting and putting off referrals because of associated anxiety…
Here is my submission to the Senate Inquiry: To the Senate Education and Employment Committee, via eec.sen@aph.gov.au I would like to make a personal submission to the committee on “the appropriateness and effectiveness of the objectives, design, implementation and evaluation of jobactive.”
The new demerit point compliance system has taken away the right of unemployed workers to appeal payment suspensions. Job agencies are not even required to check whether or not an unemployed worker has a reasonable excuse before cutting them off their payment. Sign our petition to Kelly O’Dwyer, the newly appointed Minister for Jobs, to let her know just how unreasonable we think this is.
Dump your Demerits: Download our campaign leaflet to ensure that you and your loved ones understand your job agency’s new powers. Hand them out to other unemployed workers at your job agency.
If you’ve complained to the Department of Jobs and Small Business about your job agency and they’ve failed to take it seriously, contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman on 1300 362 072.
UNEMPLOYMENT SNAPSHOT:
Newstart: $355.72 per fortnight below the poverty line.
The AUWU is an entirely volunteer-run organisation – we survive off your donations. AUSTRALIAN UNEMPLOYED WORKERS’ UNION INC BSB: 633 000 ACCOUNT NUMBER: 154665681
Every week we’re sending out your stories of job agency mistreatment and misconduct. From job agency bullying to dodgy Work for the Dole sites – we want to hear about all of your experiences. Is there a time when you’ve successfully stood up for your rights? Let other unemployed workers know, and motivate them to do the same! Please keep sharing your stories on our forum.
WALK INTO FIRST APPOINTMENT: SHOWERED WITH UNPROVOKED ABUSE WESLEY BROADMEADOWS
I’ve already shared this story privately with the AUWU, but I will do so publicly here. Shortly after moving house to Footscray, I found out by text message I had to go to Broadmeadows the very next day for an appointment at Wesley in Broadmeadows. I was somewhat annoyed by the distance I had to travel, and I have a condition and can often be very fatigued. I was also extremely nervous, having had many bad experiences. On the phone, I politely let them know this was not my local area and asked if I could be reassigned…
I just want job agencies out of my life forever, every job agency I have been to has betrayed me. I have changed job agencies a few times and I have not found a job agency that has helped me find a stable job. I never look forward to going to the job agency and I never feel better after seeing my job provider, I always feel worse after talking to my job provider…
MAX EMPLOYMENT’S ATTITUDE TO THEIR CAPTIVE JOBSEEKERS
Max Employment’s attitude to their captive Jobseekers is just disgusting. It is 3 years now since I was forced to deal with them. They. Breached Me for going to see my then recently deceased mother at the hospital. I told them that I could not attend due to my Mum’s sudden demise. That is the demonstrated caliber of care from one of the worst Job Active providers around…
Inspired by one of our forum posters, this week we’re encouraging unemployed workers to request the documents associated with their Job Seeker ID under the Freedom of Information Act and expose inappropriate conduct happening in the privacy of job agent’s communications.
If you’ve complained to the Department of Jobs and Small Business about your job agency and they’ve failed to take it seriously, contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman on 1300 362 072.
December Deluge: Submit your jobactive stories to the senate enquiry either as an individual or by filling out our survey by the 28th of September.
Dump your Demerits: Download our campaign leaflet to ensure that you and your loved ones understand your job agency’s new powers. Hand them out to other unemployed workers at your job agency.
HOTLINE REPORT:
The top issues recorded by our advocacy team on the hotline in the last week were:
Unfair Work for the Dole (43% of calls)
Job agency bullying (28.5% of calls) and
Unfairly forced to sign a job plan (28.5% of calls).
UNEMPLOYMENT SNAPSHOT:
Newstart: $355.72 per fortnight below the poverty line.
The AUWU is an entirely volunteer-run organisation – we survive off your donations. AUSTRALIAN UNEMPLOYED WORKERS’ UNION INC BSB: 633 000 ACCOUNT NUMBER: 154665681
Each week we’re sending out stories of job agencies’ misconduct in your own words, as well as a snapshot of the current situation for unemployed workers and a round-up of the key issues from our hotline. This past week we’ve seen an increase in unemployed workers calling about payment suspensions – let us know if and how you have been punished by the unfair demerit point system on our forum. Also, submissions to the senate enquiry into jobactive close on the 28th of September so please fill out our survey as soon as you can!
JOB AGENCY IS NOT ACTUALLY THERE TO HELP YOU FIND WORK
I was just at another pointless interview with my job agency, Max Employment. They are now making me come in to job search on their computers, even though the website doesn’t work and won’t allow me to log in, even though they have tried to reset it more than once. After complaining to the consultant that there was no need to have me come in to job search when I was meeting all the requirements using my computer at home, and also that all the interviews I have managed to get I have done on my own, I was advised that they weren’t there to help me get a job but to make sure I fulfilled all the requirements…
My friend, after having to go through his life savings before he could get the dole, was “found a job” by Nortec. They tried to break him in the first two days making him work outdoors in 40 degree heat, whiper snipping. He worked straight for so many hours he was throwing up and almost fainting through dehydration…
So I’ve just been forced onto a job plan with two hours per day in-person attendance at the job agency. It was insinuated that this was compulsory and that my benefit would be cancelled if I refused…
I was unemployed for 4.5 years after becoming redundant when my boss retired and sold his business in October 2012. I had worked for him as admin assistant in a small accounting firm for almost 12 years before he retired. I had no idea however how hard it would be to find another job, even though I was in my late 30s and suffered from anxiety and depression. I stupidly thought that my Job Service Provider would help me to find another job…
If you’ve complained to the Department of Jobs and Small Business about your job agency and they’ve failed to take it seriously, contact the Commonwealth Ombudsman on 1300 362 072.
Unable to get through to Centrelink? We encourage you to Contact Keenan, the minister for Human Services, and your local MP.
Report the Rort: Join the forum to report and discuss your stories of job agency abuse.
Dump your Demerits: Download our campaign leaflet to ensure that you and your loved ones understand your job agency’s new powers. Hand them out to other unemployed workers at your job agency.
HOTLINE REPORT:
The top issues recorded by our advocacy team on the hotline in the last week were:
Payment suspension/financial penalty (50% of calls) and
Too many job agency appointments (33% of calls).
UNEMPLOYMENT SNAPSHOT:
Newstart: $355.72 per fortnight below the poverty line.
The AUWU is an entirely volunteer-run organisation – we survive off your donations. AUSTRALIAN UNEMPLOYED WORKERS’ UNION INC BSB: 633 000 ACCOUNT NUMBER: 154665681
Each week we’ll be sending out stories of job agencies’ dishonesty, fraud and mistreatment in your own words. We’ll also be providing a snapshot of the current situation for unemployed workers, and a round-up of the key issues from our hotline. Please keep sharing your stories on our forum so that we can share them here! While you’re at it, help us submit to the senate enquiry into jobactive by filling out this survey.
THEY TREAT ME AS IF I’M NOT HUMAN
I have been on newstart for many many years. Im also on a reduced capacity to work.. 8-15 hours. This is due to chronic illnesses such as depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome…
I applied to do a course, was told by Matchworks to enrol and bring them the details so I paid materials fees for the free course and went back with my reciept only to be told the repayment was at their discretion and that they would only pay two thirds of the cost. I am not in a position to foot this bill and I argued but was told that AFTER my course ended and I had employment I might get the rest…
DISABILITY FINALLY RECOGNISED – THEN DISABILITY EMPLOYMENT SERVICE LIES ABOUT IT
I have fibromyalgia. Centrelink finally set up an ESAT and I was moved from the regular employment service to a disability employment service, whereupon the case manager applies for a job for me and LIES about my health…
This will be long. I have just finished a six month placement at a wftd site. It’s a charity shop/ cafe combo. When you meet the overseer she decides if she likes you or not. If she has decided that she doesn’t like you, you are told at induction that you are “given” a 10 minute break and you should think yourself lucky…
Report the Rort: Join the forum to report and discuss your stories of job agency abuse.
December Deluge: Submit your jobactive stories to the senate enquiry either as an individual or by filling out our survey. If you’d like to submit individually, this can not be done anonymously.
Dump your Demerits: Download our campaign leaflet to ensure that you and your loved ones understand your job agency’s new powers. Hand them out to other unemployed workers at your job agency.
HOTLINE REPORT:
The top issues recorded by our advocacy team on the hotline in the last week were:
Job agency bullying (28.5% of calls) and
Being forced by job agency to provide payslips (also 28.5%).
UNEMPLOYMENT SNAPSHOT:
Newstart: $355.72 per fortnight below the poverty line.
The AUWU is an entirely volunteer-run organisation – we survive off your donations. AUSTRALIAN UNEMPLOYED WORKERS’ UNION INC BSB: 633 000 ACCOUNT NUMBER: 154665681
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