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AUWU Member Alert! Changes to Newstart
September 20, 2018
From today….
Unemployed workers aged 30 to 49
Your annual activity requirements will increase from 30 hours per fortnight to 50 hour per fortnight. This means more volunteering, study, paid work, or Work for the Dole.
Unemployed workers aged 55 to 59
You will need to undertake 30 hours per fortnight of volunteer or paid work, of which at least 15 hours will need to be in paid work (during your first 12 months on payments).
Previously you had lighter job search requirements, and could meet your annual activity requirements through volunteering alone. From today, you will not be able to meet your activities solely through volunteer work. This means job agents pushing more people into Work for the Dole (which is not voluntary or volunteering).
Too bad if that volunteer work was contributing to your community, and you were learning useful skills doing it.
Unemployed workers aged 60 to the Age Pension age
Annual activity requirements of 10 hours per fortnight will be introduced. This means job agents pushing more people into Work for the Dole (which is not voluntary or volunteering).
The changes were made in the Social Services Legislation Amendment (Welfare Reform) Bill 2017, which was passed by federal parliament on 26 March 2018.
Volunteering Australia – FAQ on these complicated requirements.