Category Archives: Your Stories

Members Letter to Job Agency

Dear Sir/Madam,

RE: Suspension of Payment

I refer to your correspondence dated 28/09/2016. I believe that Sarina Russo Job Access Taylors Lakes are in breach the Job Active Deed 2015-2020, The Social Security Act 1991 and The Social Security (Administration) Act 1999.

On September 26 at 11:11am I phoned your organisation and advised a male receptionist that I was unable to attend my appointment the following day, as I would be undertaking paid work. This conversation lasted 3 minutes and 58 seconds. The male sounded very nervous and did not appear to be adequately trained.

The following day I received a text message stating that my payments had been suspended as I had not attended my appointment.

I attempted to resolve this matter on the 29 September. I contacted your office at 10:11am and spoke to a female receptionist for 6 minutes and 36 Seconds. I was told: “I should get off newstart” and that they have no record of me calling. Once again the fact that I was undertaking paid employment and was unable to attend seemed to confuse the receptionist.

Section 631 of The Social Security Act 1991 states:

A newstart allowance is not payable to a person if the person refuses or fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with a requirement made of the person under section 67, 68 or 192 of the Administration Act.

Section 42UA of The Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 states:

An excuse cannot be a reasonable excuse unless: a) before the start of the activity on the day concerned or before the time of the appointment, the person notified the excuse to the person or body specified in the employment pathway plan as the person or body to whom prior notice should be given if the person is unable to undertake the activity or attend the appointment;

I notified your organisation prior to the appointment with a valid reason (undertaking paid work). Any rational person would view this as reasonable. My mobile phone log clearly shows that I called your office. Your phone records would also show this. I believe you have treated me unfairly and disrespectfully, and are in breach of the legislation.

I also believe that your behaviour towards me may be a breach of the Job Active deed 2015-2020 (the deed). I refer you to section 6:

Provider’s conduct

6.1 The Provider must, at all times, act in good faith towards the Department and Participants, and in a manner that maintains the good reputation of the Services.

6.2 The Provider must:

(a) not engage in, and must ensure that its Personnel, Subcontractors, Third Party IT Providers and agents do not engage in, any practice that manipulates or impacts, as relevant, any aspect of the Services including any:

(i) Record, including any Documentary Evidence;

(ii) Outcome or Work for the Dole Place;

(iii) Payment or Payment-related process;

(iv) Participant or Employer; or

(v) monitoring of the Services by the Department, with the effect of improperly, as determined by the Department, maximising payments to, or otherwise obtaining a benefit for, the Provider or any other person or persons;

I would like this complaint investigated promptly by a senior member of your staff pursuant to section 30 of the deed. If I am unsatisfied with your response I will progress this matter to the Department of Employment, The Commonwealth Ombudsman and my local Federal Member of Parliament. I want to be reengaged so I can report my income to Centrelink as is my right.

Yours Sincerely

XXX

11 Years of DES Hell

19^th September 2016

To: Senator Cash, Minister for Employment & Minister for Women

National Customer Service Line (Dept. of Employment)

Dept. of Social Services

Customer Resolution and Referral Services

Re: Registered, Skilled Australian Jobseeker – Now 11 years in Disability Employment Services ‘without’ Adequate Employment Assistance

I would like to know ‘WHO’ in our Australian government and Australian government departments is responsible for Australian and skilled jobseekers left registered in the employment service system year after year without effective resolution and adequate employment assistance.

As a mother of 3 children wishing to support her family and available to work fulltime hours, I have been actively attending Disability Employment Services for now 11 years. To date I am left socially excluded from workforce participation, I am not eligible for government funding to retrain through a basic Cert III traineeship in a new career pathway currently in demand, I am not eligible for government’s Restart program as a mature age Australian jobseeker, are not eligible for Newstart and have no access or eligibility to employment placements, apprenticeships, internships or training programs. I particularly note that a new training program has been implemented for refugees arriving in Australia with paid employment opportunities – http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2016/09/17/refugee-bricklaying-program-gives-old-skills-new-fit , hence Australian jobseekers are continually discarded and treated like ‘trash’ and given very little or no opportunity to work.

As an Australian mature age jobseeker I am also routinely discriminated against by age, unemployment gaps outside my control, or by disability but again, no-one can assist.

My current employment provider is unable to assist me as a willing jobseeker due to all government exclusions, policies, legislation etc and they have advised me that they have no dealings with the Department of Employment or Social Services as to how to be guided to assist Australian jobseekers who have been socially excluded and long term financially and professionally disadvantaged.

As the Department of Social Services will take no accountability to assist Australian jobseekers that fall under their scope of policies, I would like to know who can assist Australian jobseekers get out of this appauling repeatitive cycle of go nowhere system, and obtain adequate assistance with obtaining meaningful employment.

If employment providers have no service to offer, are continually restricted, understaffed, under resourced and have nothing to discuss which is productive and which works towards an successful outcome, this is not an effective system, 11 years is appauling for any Australian jobseekers still remaining in the system no further ahead then what they were 11 years ago registered.

As every service is non accountable is either impartial, not affiliated, has limited powers, are outside their jurisdiction, overloaded, short staffed, please could you kindly advise Australian jobseekers, who can assist registered Australian jobseekers in Disability Employment Services achieve the outcome as setout in the Disability Guidelines and Deed. What department will assist to prevent and ensure that Australian jobseekers are ‘not’ left in social exclusion from the labour market and who will assist those with basic human rights.

Thank you

The Nightmare That Is The DES

Disability Employment Services Provider

C/- Site Manager

Subject: Disability Employment Services Assistance – 11 Years

Just following up on my request of 5^th September, 2016 and wondered if you had yet followed up with the Department of Employment / Department of Social Services to seek guidance and advice as to how your employment service can assist registered jobseekers ‘against all odds’. The National Customer Service Line’s repeatitive approach for jobseekers to routinely transfer from one job agency to another on a yearly basis, is not a solution, nor is it welcomed.

In terms of Disability Employment support, the Department of Social Services have made their mission clear that they are not willing to assist improve employment services, policies and quality of life for Australian jobseekers left long term disadvantaged and in social exclusion by discrimination, the system, legislation, disability or other reasons.

I have also been informed by the Department of Social Services that they are no longer acknowledging nor responding to jobseeker’s feedback regarding jobseeker’s time in the system actively looking for work, as they feel they have adequately addressed all issues raised despite no change in outcome every single year. Feedback of which now sits electronically filed away and closed in government’s Employment Services Feedback System.

At our next fortnightly employment consultant appointment, rather than me continue to apply for work endlessly that is repeatitively unsuccessful or may not exist through illegitimate, unproductive and unsuccessful cyberspace applications on a yearly basis, I would please like to discuss what the Department of Employment or Department of Social Services’s recommendations are as to how your agency can assist me re-enter ‘paid’ employment taking into consideration all of the below, as clearly government is either ignoring or not aware of the ill health impact of yearly jobseeking has on Australian jobseekers.

Ongoing barriers:-

Denied eligibility as a mature age jobseeker to ‘Restart’, a government iniative implemented to assist mature age jobseeker’s enter or re-enter employment.
Denied access to government funded traineeships into a new career pathway regularly in demand in my region by The Department of Education & Training, Traineeship centres and Government’s eligibility criterias
Denied access to Australian apprenticeships
Denied access to ALL employers and suitable employment opportunities in my profession of 25+ years by the private recruiting sector based on – discrimination, age, unemployment gaps, Australian nationality and disclosure of medical condition.
Denied access to ALL employment opportunities within my profession through online jobboard sites due to discrimination, age, unemployment gaps on a weekly, monthly, yearly basis. I note that employers continue to advertise the same roles up to and in excess of 3 months despite having already, suitably qualified applicants for the role, of which your agency has not been able to assist with, and which online job boards fail to do anything about it, despite Australian jobseekers being ‘desperate’ for work.
Limited and inadequate employment assistance (no outcome) – 2006 Wise Employment, 2007 Wise Employment, 2008 Wise Employment, 2009 Wise Employment & Tracy Placement People, 2010 Matchworks, 2011 WCIG & Matchworks, 2012 Jobco, 2013 Jobco & Matchworks, 2014 Wise Employment & Job Prospects, 2015 WCIG, Employment Plus, Advanced Personnel Management, ORS Group, 2016 ORS Group, current WCIG.

I note I have been willingly attending fortnightly DES appointments to gain fulltime employment as a voluntary skilled Australian jobseeker coming up to now – 11 years . Appauling at every level.

It is clear to everyone in the system that the Australian government does not wish to adequately fund or assist long term unemployed Australians into ‘paid’ employment and it is extremely clear that the Department of Social Services has no intention of implementing change for those left long term disadvantaged by the system. In terms of women being affected by domestic violence as a result of being left long term unemployed without adequate assistance, again government is failing in its duty of care to provide adequate assistance and funding.

I would like to obtain a response next appointment please of the department’s recommendations as to what their expectations are as to how your agency is expected to assist me, given all the exclusions above which they consider ‘acceptable’.

Thanks again.

Kind regards

PROFESSIONAL OFFICE SUPPORT CANDIDATE

Registered Australian Jobseeker – 11 Years

Australian families matter!

Centrelink and Job Agencies Discriminate Against the Sick

I would like to give you a scenario of reverse discrimination as a Newstart Job Seeker. I have two permanent medical conditions that prevent me from working efficiently at my old professions, mainly in Accounting and administration work.

I became so ill that I was eventually qualified for a very expensive govt subsidised drug called Humira, an anti-rheumatic disease modifying agent. I applied for sickness benefit and disability pension as my illness is no longer something I can hide in the workplace, like I used to have to do, after getting so many sessions of counselling about my sick leave being greater than four incidents in one year! I have a limp that Is too painful to hide due to arthritis in the sacro-iliac joint. I eventually had to leave that job in my own account as it became too stressful for me due to my health condition, as I was not being taken seriously, in a job in NSW.

I then moved to Qld to assist in the pain management of my condition, sold my house, which I have had to live on the proceeds for the last couple of years working out how I find a job with the health condition and keep it. Some job providers I have had have not recognised my medical condition, and have done things like change my resume and distribute it to employers without my knowledge, or consent. I had a course I wanted to finish which cost me $3000 but Centrelink said it is not recognised, so I had to leave the course I had almost completed to meet my job plan applying for jobs. I no longer have access to that course as it has now expired, while I was too ill to apply for jobs and finish my study.

When I had a job in 2015, I got without the help of the job provider, one disability employment provider sent me daily messages and threatening letters saying I was breaking the law by not coming in to their office after I had obtained a full time temporary job. The job was 2.5 hrs from the job provider’s office, in Brisbane, where I commute to with a medical condition. I told Centrelink immediately I had the job, who confirmed to me on on one of my days off, face to face e, that this agency should not be expecting me to turn up for meetings now I was in a full time temporary role. I even had this agency ringing me with my supervisor sitting next to me training me insisting I had to report into their offices, although I had told them and Centrelink multiple times I am in a full time role 100km from the job provider, and no longer looking for work. They lied about the multiple phone calls I had with them issuing letter that I was uncontactable. When I made a formal complaint to the appropriate govt body, they took the side of the job provider, saying they were not acting inappropriately.

I have since had to re-register with Centrelink Newstart, and immediately on doing so this same agency started with the the threatening letters again, and issuing appointments without providing sufficient notice, the evening before and appointment, by text message. When I arranged to transfer to my current provider, they instructed the current provider to cut my signature off the wrong transfer form and paste it onto the right transfer form. I was sitting at the desk of the job provider who refused to do this, and said they would leave me the right form to come back in and sign once they have received it from the agency I had the issue with.

Anyhow, I am now back unemployed and refused to go back to that last job provider, as I am afraid of them. Anxiety drives my medical condition. The punitive system has driven my auto immune condition to get worse at times.

While looking for other avenues that would suit my medical condition, in each and every case, the training I would otherwise be eligible for being unemployed and living on Centrelink which does not even cover food and rent, now that I have spent all my savings surviving, I am ineligible for simply because I have a degree. I cannot have something higher than a Cert III to get assistance, yet I cannot physically do what I used to do because of my physical condition. So where do I fit in? Nowhere.

Just this morning, I applied for an apprenticeship as a medical receptionist, part time which would have been perfect for me, and my health condition. It all was looking fantastic when suddenly they learnt I had a degree, and therefore, did not qualify. So now I am back to the drawing board to apply for jobs that won’t suit my medical condition that I will have to try and hide, if I get one of them, rather than focus in what I can physically handle.

I am genuinely afraid of my future prospects. I will eventually completely run out of money to survive.

Every job I go for is already taken by the time I apply for it, isn’t a real job advertisement, or I don’t have current software and experience in my accounting field, medical receptionist and admin field, according to job recruiters, yet I have no assistance to do anything about it as I have higher than a Cert III. Yet, had I been recognised for suitable re-training, I most probably would be in a job by now as I genuinely want to work had I not had a degree.

I spent another $2000 doing a comprehensive medical terminology course to get employed, but again, said I did not have the experience other candidates have. I have no more money left for my own personal training, and I am not recognised for government sponsored training into a role, because I have a degree.

That is reverse discrimination. Things need to change, as I could be employed, only for a policy that is one size fits all.

I have gone to my local and federal MP Offices, they suggested I discuss my issue with Centrelink.

How Job Agencies Bully the Sick

To whom it may concern at Advance Personel/ Workways,

Hello my name is Anastasia (Ana) Hanson, I spoke to you today about what has become in my opinion a destructive relationship with my Advance Personnel worker, possibly with the organization as a whole. Attached is the Centrelink medical certificate for you asked for. I tried to message it to the phone number you gave me, apparently it wasn’t received by Melony* and later this afternoon I received a message saying that it was not a valid phone number for a client to message to. I wish to outline how things have gotten to the point where I feel that this program is actually being destructive to my health, well-being, and in the long term – employment outcomes. Please take the time to read these concerns.

I came to this service as a volunteer whilst on the Disability Pension because I wanted to work; unemployment making me bored, poor and depressed. At the time this seemed the right thing for me to do although in hindsight maybe it was a mistake.

I did not have Centrelink requirements to participate in eight hours of work before I engaged with this service independently. I never had a meeting with this agency or Centrelink where a doctor’s certificate outlined that I should be obliged to work for eight hours a week. I do not know how this change came about, although I suspect it was forced on me because I wanted to find employment. I wanted to work… this does not mean I was in a medically stable position to have that forced on me. Regardless, these requirements have been put in place although at this moment I am not well enough to meet them. I do know that advance personnel has certain requirements to engage with me but I believe the following such incidences explain why I believe it is actually become quite toxic.

I was hospitalised for two weeks in which time Melony* was still making appointments for me to come and see her – obviously I could not make these. I got the impression that Melinda did not believe I was in hospital to begin with, however she called the hospital and found I was indeed an inpatient. She continued to make appointments for me the entire time I was in Hospital. Almost every day I asked my nurses and doctors to write a letter as Melinda suggested but it was not until my discharge that I received a medical certificate. I handed this certificate to Melinda as soon I what’s I was able to come to Advance Personnel.

I went virtually from one acute illness to another, for which I am being treated now and for which my doctor has recommended a few months to recover without any threat to my welfare payment. During this period I decided that it was not safe for me to drive (and I cannot walk to the closest bus stop)… Regardless Melony* keeps telling me to come in for appointments without offering any realistic solutions as to how I can do that. I have between three and five medical or disability support appointments a week at present, I also need to go to the pharmacy twice a week, (grocery shopping is something I’m not prioritising the moment, although I know it is important – I am often hungry). It is very difficult for me to attend medical appointments but I do have a worker from the organization TREC who has been helping me. However when I explained that I am doing my best to work on recovery – by trying to get to appointments for example- this was met with a kind of accusation: (paraphrasing) that if I can make it to my doctors, how come I can’t meet the requirements to look for eight hours of work a week?

I feel like my illness has too often been questioned despite my best attempts to give evidence, a kind of accusation that I am not really ill – (paraphrasing ) because Centrelink hasn’t approved an exemption for work requirements within 24 hours of me going to Centrelink, then did I really go to Centrelink at all? Do I even have adoctor’s certificate? If I am so sick how did I even get to Centrelink? As explained: from the moment I went to hospital I have done everything to try and get doctor’s certificates to Advance Personnel and to Centrelink, however once I have asked my doctor (as in hospital), or lodged something to Centrelink (as in yesterday), sent MMS messages to a phone number that was later revealed to have never received it, there really is nothing more in my power I can do. I am sending this email now with attachments, but please bear in mind that I only got the letter yesterday and I was given the impression that sending the letter via MMS would be adequate. And I am very unwell.

When I try to explain all of this to Melony* she says, “I understand mate but you have to come in”, it seems she does not understand all -I CANNOT come in. Furthermore I do not want to come in simply to placate Centrelink, when from the beginning I wanted to treat looking for work seriously. I do not think my worker seriously cares about my prospects for employment. I feel the decisions I have made such as focusing on recovery, not driving when I feel I am too unwell to do it safely, with only limited access to transport prioritising medical appointments over seeing Advance Personnel etc – are the right decisions to make when I bear in mind long-term recovery and long-term prospects of employment. I feel that Melony* does not care why I am making these decisions, she only cares that I come in so she can mark me off for Centrelink

Melony* is calling me every second day – ‘You have to come in, You have to come in – no ‘buts’, I understand mate but you have to come in’, now she is threatening me with ‘disciplianry action’.

I do understand there are certain obligations AdvancePersonnel workers have to follow, however; I had a much better relationship with my previous worker Sarah*. Although I still had periods of illness at that time, we had a constructive relationship that was focused on eventually getting me into work (encouraging me to focus on my health while looking for work, introducing me to volunteer work, taking my obstacles to work seriously and engaging in things that would make me more prepared to have meaningful employment in the long-term). In contrast, the one time I saw Melony* in between these two acute periods of illness I expressed my concerns about how my disability/illness would affect my reliability in the workplace – she simply said, ‘just don’t worry about it ’. All of the above gives me the impression that my worker sees her job with me to simply mark me off for Centrelink, but is not really interested in my long-term prospects of working which MUST involve considering the impact of my disability on my ability to work, hopefully working around it, but it seems unrealistic to just “not worry about it.”

When Advance Personnel merged with Work Ways and I somehow went from being a volunteer to having paperwork for Centrelink at my appointments, I expressed some concern- while I was happy to sign the documentation for Centrelink I worried that the focus of the organisation would become orientated to meeting the requirements ABOVE realistic engagement in employment. I hope that this isn’t true overall of Advance Personnel/Work Ways… But my recent experiences seem to warrant my concerns. Melony* is most likely following all of the protocol of her job, however I hope you can see that for me it seems that the focus ISN’T employment: I feel I am being hassled, accused of feigning illness and threatened with poverty as ‘disciplinary action’, while the truth is I am dealing with health problems that are a matter of life and death.

Obviously this is highly stressful for me or I wouldn’t be writing such a letter. As you know I am hoping that Centrelink will exempt me from looking for work for the next three months. I DID go to Centrelink yesterday, I believe they probably just haven’t processed for form yet. I s believe I will be exempted. If I am not – I will appeal that decision and I am pretty sure I will have the support of my healthorkers. I need this period to focus on my health. If I recover adequately I truly do wish to work, I spent seven years at university and have post-graduate qualifications. When I start to look for work I would really appreciate some help from a disability organisation (Advance Personnel or otherwise). I have worked before and when I look for work I take it very seriously. When I need to focus on my health I take that very seriously as well. Those two priorities have to coexist. And for me to truly progress with employment I believe I need a worker (Sarah* was a fine example), who will understand this struggle, and take me seriously as well.

Thank you for taking the time to read this,

Yours sincerely,

Ana Hanson.