Category Archives: Your Stories

Rozie, AUWU member

8 August 2016

I was given a job plan and told I must sign it immediately.  When I questioned my caseworker if I was legally required to do this she said that if I didn’t, my benefits may be cancelled.  After I told her that as a member of the Australian Unemployed Workers Union, I was aware of my right to take the “contract” home to read it, I asked her again if I was legally required to sign the job plan that day. Her reply this time was “no”.

My next meeting was a month later with a new, and hopefully more honest, caseworker.  I produced my signed job plan but hadn’t signed the privacy statement as I had a number of concerns.  The statement said in part:

I understand that the information I provide may be used by AMES Consortium and the department of Employment.  It may also be given to:

• Organisations listed under the AMES Consortium that I am referred to for assessment or training.
• Any other assessment or training providers.

I told the CW that I was concerned that if I signed this document, I would be giving AMES Consortium permission to forward my details to ANY assessment or training providers.  I also stated that as I had already completed the highest level of training needed to perform the tasks of my profession, I could not understand how AMES could believe I would benefit from “further training”.

When I asked for further information about specific training courses he thought would increase my chances of finding employment, he was unable to provide this.

I then asked the CW if I was legally required to sign this document.  His first answer was yes.  He also stated that if I didn’t sign it, he would be obliged to report me to Centrelink and that my benefits would be reduced or cancelled.

It was at this point that I asked to speak to the office manager.  She informed me that I was legally obliged to sign the document.  I didn’t believe this so I questioned her further and also asked her to clarify which, if any, “assessment” or “training providers” my personal information would be sent to.  She seemed unable to answer this question beyond a vague reassurance that further training and assessment would greatly increase my chances of finding employment.

The office manager stated that if I didn’t sign the document, AMES would be obliged to report me to Centrelink and that this would affect my eligibility to receive Newstart payments.  She also stated that they would be unable to sign me up to their “job club” or to provide “individually tailored employment assistance”. I replied that I was more than capable of writing job applications and arranging interviews and as such, could not see the benefit of attending their office for weekly job club pep talks.

After once again asking the office manager if I was obliged to sign the privacy statement, she finally conceded that I was not legally required to do so.

It was a great outcome because I was then able to spend all my time job searching at home instead of having to travel to their office.

I’ve now started a new full-time job and I did it all on my own without further “assessment” or “training” provided by AMES Consortium.

22 August 2016, Anonymous AUWU member

I wanted to share my job seeker story to warn people about the provider At Work Australia and one of their consultants (in Perth, WA). When I started receiving Newstart Allowance I picked a job provider at random as I wasn’t sure who to go with. Centrelink told me it was my choice so I randomly chose At Work Australia from a list. I never felt comfortable attending appointments at their office. The night before and day of each appointment I suffered from anxiety. But I needed the extra money from Newstart as I was studying and working part time. My initial appointment went ok; I was assigned a consultant who gave me the impression I wasn’t a priority as I was receiving a reduced rate of Newstart due to my job and online studies. My next appointment was 3-4 months down the track, which I was happy with.

3-4 months later I still hadn’t found full time work and I went to my job provider’s office for an appointment. Because the person I saw initially was away At Work told me I had to see Catherine Kamau, who would later become my regular job consultant. I immediately felt uneasy dealing with her. She had a bad attitude, didn’t seem to care and said it was unacceptable I hadn’t come in for more regular appointments (although I didn’t see issue with this and it wasn’t my fault to begin with). When I saw her she would ask me brief questions, type my information into her computer and then ignore me for the remainder of the appointment. She also made me come in fortnightly to monthly.

On one occasion I came in for an appointment after dyeing my hair and she said “I like your hair that colour” in a condescending tone, as if to question how I got the money for my hair (like its any of her business to begin with!). At the 6th month mark I got a letter saying I had to come in to sort out my work for the dole requirements. I was then given another appointment scheduled for less than a week later. When I rang and asked why I had to come in for two appointments within the space of two weeks I was rudely told Catherine was not trained in work for the dole and I had to see a different consultant (which was incorrect). When I explained I could not do work for the dole because of my work and study commitments I was told it was compulsory as they assessed me as being suitable for it.  

When I went in for my work the dole appointment I saw Catherine, my regular consultant (contradictory to what I was told on the phone). I had contacted the union before my appointment and asked if it was legal that I had to come in for an additional appointment the following week and they told me it was unnecessary. I brought evidence from the union’s website with me to the appointment. Catherine ended up cancelling my appointment the following week and didn’t give me work for the dole as long as I provided her with my payslips and study details on a monthly basis. I found this an invasion of privacy and contacted the union again.

I was told you do not have to provide this information so I contacted Catherine and told her I wasn’t going to give it to her unless she provided me with evidence as per the mutual obligation requirements that I had to. I also explained I did not have to do work for the dole as I was receiving a reduced rate of Newstart and had other commitments. She saw red and said she would add this refusal to my records. She also said I did not understand the concept of work for the dole (which was wrong as I had checked the union’s website and spoke to a delegate). She said I should come into the office so she could explain it face to face. She then threatened to cut my payments off if I did not provide my payslips and study details. I then sent her evidence from the union’s website and mutual obligation requirements that I did not have to do work for the dole or provide those details. I finished by saying she was the one who did not understand the legality of work for the dole. I said I knew my rights and if she did not respect them I would report her and her agency. She responded by saying I was being threatening (even though she was to begin with) and said I should carry out the reporting process. In addition, Catherine threatened to get her manager involved and said she would not correspond with me further on this matter unless I came into the office.

After being concerned she would somehow cut my payments off I said her manager should contact me and that I would not provide my payslips but I was willing to give her my study details. Not long after I received a letter saying I had to come in for a monthly appointment. Eventually I decided receiving a small amount of Newstart was not worth all of the stress so I stopped claiming it. I also did not want to see Catherine again after this mess because I knew she would be aggressive at the appointment. Overall this experience was pretty horrible, especially for someone who suffers from a mental illness and low self esteem. I was appalled at how I was treated by Catherine and questioned whether or not she was actually qualified to work as a consultant. My advice to anyone in Perth, WA is stay away from At Work Australia. They enjoy treating people badly and are just there to make a profit off the unemployed.

I am writing to advise that as a registered ‘Voluntary’ active Australian and skilled jobseeker that after 10 long years of attending regular fortnightly ‘go nowhere’ employment provider appointments with various employment providers, that I have had enough of the ineffectiveness of a system which simply doesn’t work and an employment services system which is unable to assist those already skilled jobseekers wishing to work, to feel inclusive in society, contribute, and  those wishing to support their family independently and without assistance from the Australian government.

The ignorance and the way that Australian jobseekers are treated in the system particularly in Disability Employment Services who are left in the system year after year without hope and adequate assistance is appauling.  10 long years as a once financially independent and skilled jobseeker trying to re-enter the workforce without adequate employment assistance, now left socially isolated and professionally and financially disadvantaged, attending employment service appointments, that simply lead to no positive outcome, 10 long years of making the same complaints over and over without change to legislation and policies, denied access to traineeships where a skills shortage exists, denied access to government programmes such as Restart as a mature age Australian jobseeker in Disability Employment Services, and treated as worthless as a mother with young children to support by several government departments who mislead the general public in the services they provide and who take no accountability, when disputing my case to be given the right employment assistance and right to work.

After 10 long years I am now discouraged from jobseeking and like many other Australians, no longer can continue on this path and are exiting from the employment service system indefinitely due to mental and physical exhaustion of the jobseeking process which has contributed to poor health.

As such, I will now no longer be counted as ‘looking for work’ nor ‘unemployed’. Certainly I have not been encouraged to look for work and have done so of my own free will, rather than provide adequate employment assistance and encouragement, Australian jobseekers continue to be punished in a system  that does not recognise its failures and that does not willingly act to resolve with any positive outcome.

I wanted to share my job seeker story to warn people about the provider At Work Australia and one of their consultants (in Perth, WA). When I started receiving Newstart Allowance I picked a job provider at random as I wasn’t sure who to go with. Centrelink told me it was my choice so I randomly chose At Work Australia from a list. I never felt comfortable attending appointments at their office. The night before and day of each appointment I suffered from anxiety. But I needed the extra money from Newstart as I was studying and working part time. My initial appointment went ok; I was assigned a consultant who gave me the impression I wasn’t a priority as I was receiving a reduced rate of Newstart due to my job and online studies. My next appointment was 3-4 months down the track, which I was happy with.

3-4 months later I still hadn’t found full time work and I went to my job provider’s office for an appointment. Because the person I saw initially was away At Work told me I had to see Catherine Kamau, who would later become my regular job consultant. I immediately felt uneasy dealing with her. She had a bad attitude, didn’t seem to care and said it was unacceptable I hadn’t come in for more regular appointments (although I didn’t see issue with this and it wasn’t my fault to begin with). When I saw her she would ask me brief questions, type my information into her computer and then ignore me for the remainder of the appointment. She also made me come in fortnightly to monthly.

On one occasion I came in for an appointment after dyeing my hair and she said “I like your hair that colour” in a condescending tone, as if to question how I got the money for my hair (like its any of her business to begin with!). At the 6th month mark I got a letter saying I had to come in to sort out my work for the dole requirements. I was then given another appointment scheduled for less than a week later. When I rang and asked why I had to come in for two appointments within the space of two weeks I was rudely told Catherine was not trained in work for the dole and I had to see a different consultant (which was incorrect). When I explained I could not do work for the dole because of my work and study commitments I was told it was compulsory as they assessed me as being suitable for it.  

When I went in for my work the dole appointment I saw Catherine, my regular consultant (contradictory to what I was told on the phone). I had contacted the union before my appointment and asked if it was legal that I had to come in for an additional appointment the following week and they told me it was unnecessary. I brought evidence from the union’s website with me to the appointment. Catherine ended up cancelling my appointment the following week and didn’t give me work for the dole as long as I provided her with my payslips and study details on a monthly basis. I found this an invasion of privacy and contacted the union again.

I was told you do not have to provide this information so I contacted Catherine and told her I wasn’t going to give it to her unless she provided me with evidence as per the mutual obligation requirements that I had to. I also explained I did not have to do work for the dole as I was receiving a reduced rate of Newstart and had other commitments. She saw red and said she would add this refusal to my records. She also said I did not understand the concept of work for the dole (which was wrong as I had checked the union’s website and spoke to a delegate). She said I should come into the office so she could explain it face to face. She then threatened to cut my payments off if I did not provide my payslips and study details. I then sent her evidence from the union’s website and mutual obligation requirements that I did not have to do work for the dole or provide those details. I finished by saying she was the one who did not understand the legality of work for the dole. I said I knew my rights and if she did not respect them I would report her and her agency. She responded by saying I was being threatening (even though she was to begin with) and said I should carry out the reporting process. In addition, Catherine threatened to get her manager involved and said she would not correspond with me further on this matter unless I came into the office.

After being concerned she would somehow cut my payments off I said her manager should contact me and that I would not provide my payslips but I was willing to give her my study details. Not long after I received a letter saying I had to come in for a monthly appointment. Eventually I decided receiving a small amount of Newstart was not worth all of the stress so I stopped claiming it. I also did not want to see Catherine again after this mess because I knew she would be aggressive at the appointment. Overall this experience was pretty horrible, especially for someone who suffers from a mental illness and low self esteem. I was appalled at how I was treated by Catherine and questioned whether or not she was actually qualified to work as a consultant. My advice to anyone in Perth, WA is stay away from At Work Australia. They enjoy treating people badly and are just there to make a profit off the unemployed.

I WISH TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.