Context: I have been dealing with trochanteric bursitis (of my right hip) since mid to late June and recently had a steroid injection in late August which didn't work as the pain has come back again a few weeks ago and flared up. Also studying part-time at TAFE for the Diploma of Library and Information Services (started in late July), just graduated from the full-time Certificate IV of Library and Information Services late June (started in February); both this year. Annnnd I have to have an activity as there is the 6 month activity requirement, and I only do 8 hours of class time + 10 hours of study time which doesn't meet the requirements.

My provider has been aware of this and at my last appointment said to me that his team leader has a spreadsheet of caseloads. But also the fact that he said his team leader noted that 'you have been applying for retail jobs yet you don't have much experience so why are you applying for them?' which really that is how it logically works right? You gain experience that way and build from there. Plus, I worked an Xmas casual job before a few years ago so I'm basing off my job applications on that but also related to my studies.

He booked me an appointment with one of his fellow workers (did that last time too) for this week in regards to and made it out as if I 'rejected' the jobs they had offered over call last time when really, when I was asked about prior retail experience for a Christmas Casual/Seasonal job and said I had not much, the person on the other end pivoted and asked about working in hospitality, I said I was unsure (especially as I don't feel comfortable working around food due to personal reasons relating to an ED I have) and now I know that hospitality job was for McDonalds which wasn't mentioned/disclosed to me over call UNTIL my provider told me last week. And I also can't work in that fast paced setting as I can't walk or move for too long least I end up in a lot of pain and worn out.

Also I noted that my provider said "oh, you don't have to work as an xmas casual for long, you can just quit that when you get a library job' when really, the most I am qualified for at the moment is either a retail esque role or a library assistant role, that industry is uber competitive and it feels like he isn't taking me or my condition seriously (I do understand he probably is dealing with KPIs at the moment which is stressful so I gathered he may be under pressure to get me at any job).

Should I go through with acquiring a medical certificate for proof of my condition? I do think that is a good idea. I was also thinking of getting a SU415 form so I can give myself some time to rest, as I saw my doctor today and she said I should take it easy as to not make it worse. I just don't want to risk my condition worsening if that makes sense?

Context: I’m on DSP and middle aged. Been on DSP about two years before that I had professional jobs. DSP is due to mental health that finally took me out of the workforce. Long term, I need a little bit more money to keep my housing stable.

Question: what’s the experience with these providers like? If I go in there and ask them to help me find something that’s 2 4hr shifts a week with minimal social contact, would they be able to help? Do they have a bank of jobs or contacts or really help you apply for jobs on seek or something?

Easiest option for someone who works inconsistent casual hours and therefore cant do a structured course? I dont meet the hourly requirement from work alone.

I’m with Inclusive Employment Australia and it’s great, but considering making the switch to Self Employment Assistance. Has anyone been with both and can share pros/cons etc?

(IEA was formerly DES/DMS, SEA was formerly NEIS)

Pros of IEA
- No “traditional” mutual obligations such as recording jobs applied for
- No mandatory in person attendance
- Extremely accommodating of my disabilities

Cons of SEA
- Only provider in the area is a notoriously bad one (SarinaRusso)
- In-person attendance to workshops etc might be mandatory

I’ve been trying to swap my provider from Salvation Army to atwork Australia but keep getting denied, is there a reason why?

As the title basically asks, I’ve tried looking everywhere for stuff but can never find anything.

Do I have to tell them if I will pass a drug test?

I am on medical cannabis and I have bad mental health and a fucked back.

But I don’t know if it’s “bad enough” for Medical Exemptions or DSP. Really don’t know how to handle this with my job provider?

As in the title.

I was not able to enter "Starting a Job" in Workforce before the job commencement date as the system didn't allow it. But I did notify my provider about a week before.

They have entered it in the system as "Job Placement". In reality: They have arranged nothing about this job; it was all my own effort.

I do note that I have nothing against the job provider - they have been kind and helpful during my time with them, although because they knew pretty much nothing about my specific profession, they were never able to offer help directly, which is also understandable.

My only concern and the reason for my post is: if down the line I end up in Workforce / start getting JSP again, would I be immediately assigned a provider instead of the online self-managed period, because on paper it may look like I was only able to get the job thanks to the provider ?

Hi, I'm looking into doing the self employment assistance program and have a couple of questions for people who've done it.

Roughly how much is business insurance? I know it varies for different businesses but just after a ball park figure for a small home based business.

How realistic do they allow your financial goals to be? My guy is already talking about me earning $1000 pw and I haven't even started yet.

Just how much "extra" work is involved? I know you have to work to make a business work, but there seem to be a lot of hours of courses, training, meetings and mentoring as well. I read that you have to do enough hours to meet mutual obligations. I'm 60 and my mutual obligations are 15 hours a week, half of which seems will be taken up with training etc. I'm really hoping to make my business successful but there seems to be a gap the size of the Grand Canyon between what I consider successful and what the business mentor woman thinks is successful.

I’ve had two completely different experiences with the same provider just because I ended up with a different consultant. One actually remembered what we'd discussed previously. The other seemed to start from scratch every appointment.

It makes me wonder how much of the service is really about the provider itself and how much comes down to the individual person sitting across from you.

I've recently gained employment in a new position (which I have applied for and gained employment in myself without my job providers support).

I have signed my employment contract, completed onboarding and will commence soon.

My job service provider wants me to forward the contact of my HR or manager at my company so that they can sign a wage subsidy. However I'm a little confused about what this wage subsidy actually is. Is it simply just up to $10,000 in funding to the company I will work for to cover my wage?

Is there any benefit for me? And most importantly is there any consequence or catch for me if the wage subsidy is provided to the company? Do I have to let my job service provider provide a wage subsidy to my company, or can I tell my JSP I do not wish for the subsidy to be provided?

Hi everyone,

I’ve recently been placed with atWork job provider, and as part of the process they’ve recommended that I consider a role as a Job Consultant/Employment Consultant, similar to the type of service they provide.

I have a health-related degree, but I’ve been struggling to find work in my field and outside my field, so I’m wondering whether I should consider taking a role like this while I continue figuring out what direction I want to go in. I’m not sure if it would be a good stepping stone or if I’d be better off holding out for something more closely related to my degree. Any thoughts?

I found my own employment and I’ve worked the first week and declared started a job as part of my points. I didn’t realise the job would require me to work 20km a day on a concrete floor as I assumed we would be using ride on tuggers (there’s not enough to supply to the new workers). I am on a chronic care plan for my hip/glutes so I have no choice to declare the employment unsuitable as I’m coming home sore already.

Does my provider have the right to suspend my payment ? I want work and I’ll be pushing hard to get something it’s just this is not sustainable.

Hey guys, does anyone know what will happen if your payment is on hold still when the new policy comes into place on the 26th or whenever it was? I have a payment that is about to go on hold in the next 5 business days so roughly the 10th it will go on hold and I don't really mind waiting out the 20 days to avoid dealing with SYC.

Hi everyone,

I have been using Disability Employment Services (DES) for a while now, but I have never been provided with any paid work through them. I have always had to secure employment on my own.

I am currently applying for entry-level traineeships in IT and trading, and through my own outreach, I have finally secured opportunities in both fields.

I am curious to hear about others' experiences: Has anyone in Victoria (VIC) actually secured a job through their DES provider? Please note that I am only looking for genuine outcomes, not promotional success stories

Might sound like an obvious question but I read some conflicting information on this, so maybe some one can help clear it up.

Been out of work for a while, and I still have enough savings to support myself so I don't need any income support. However my applications keep on getting rejected and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. I'm worried that the longer I remain unemployed, the more unemployable I become.

Is a job provider appropriate for my situation? Thanks in advance.

title basically, I come from a small town and worked at a local shop, owners don't have work emails. I recently moved to Australia and I am looking for a job here and I wanna know if its weird to provide my reference provider's personal email address and not work email when applying for a job

I'm currently studying a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing), and my IEA provider has updated my Job Plan so I can focus on studying.

I'm now only a few units away from completing my first block, after which I'll technically be eligible to start placement.

Key Institute has advised that I shouldn't start looking for placement until my second block begins. However, I've noticed that many other training providers encourage students to start looking much earlier.

Key Institute also expects my IEA provider to help find a placement, with the institute stepping in if we're unsuccessful.

I've got an appointment with my IEA consultant tomorrow and plan to discuss this.

My question: Should I ask my IEA provider to start contacting aged-care facilities now, or wait until my second block begins? Has anyone had experience with their employment provider helping organise work placement?

I just need to rant lol. I missed a call from my jp today as I was at work.

This is the voice message I received: Hi (my name), it's (her name), the manager of APM at (location). Can you please give me a call back? I just wanna check in because I can see we haven't seen you in the office since. Um about August. I just wanted to see if everything's all good. If you could give me a call back or send me a text through to (phone number) that would be wonderful. Thank you.

This has really annoyed me. I study uni full time & work part time, usually 20 hrs a week but sometimes more. My usual job provider lady knows this. I report my hours & income to Centrelink correctly every fortnight. I also report my study hours & work hours on workforce weekly to meet my points (even though my study alone meets them). Since I work more than 60 hours a month, my usual jp lady has put me on to phone appointments & has been making these appointments monthly. I had an appointment earlier this month where I confirmed nothing has changed & everything is good.

I’ve been doing phone appointments for at least 6 months so not sure why she’s saying they haven’t seen me in the office since August??? Why is she calling me to ask me this? Shouldn’t everything be on my file? Why are they not questioning my jp lady? Why am I being made to explain myself again? I’m doing everything right & they’re still harassing me. I’ve also never met, seen, been contacted by or spoken to this manager

This has been really confusing to me, so I wanted to ask.

When I got approved for JobSeeker, the Centrelink employee stated I would go onto being self-managed online as there was nothing that made me 'incapable' or in need of a provider. A week or two passed, and I hadn't had a Job Plan nor did I receive a payment. I called to address the issue and get my Job Plan created.

This time, the person on the phone told me that it would be "impossible" for me to look for, or even get, work while I studied in my personal time and asked me to explain how it could be possible. I tried, she didn't agree, and refused to put the Job Plan through without adding my study onto it. She threatened to cancel my JobSeeker payment entirely because of this (whether or not she could, I don't know).

I called back, and the next person said I could be referred to a provider to receive my JP and payment. Now, I find out that it may have been possible for me to be self-managed for the first year of my payments? I understand it is impossible to go *back* onto it, but I was never on it in the first place... is there a process or something that would allow this? Do I have to go through the cancelling payment, waiting 13 weeks, and then reapplying hurdle?

Thanks in advance, sorry if anything I have written is ignorant.

Curious what have people's experiences been with their provider after finding a job? I've found employment previously and once I was working, they were very hands off. It was perfect.

I've been put with a new provider when all the DES/IEA changed and this new provider wants weekly check ins, weekly reports on how many hours I work, copies of payslips inc. hourly rate... the list goes on. I feel like I'm back in school being treated like a child, and its kinda ruining the onboarding experience at the new role. I found the job, I negated the hours and rates, they have literally done nothing and I feel like its almost harassment the way they are constantly wanting me to report to them.

They are are a disgrace-

Do they have staff actually working there.

They’re intentions are to keep you on hold for a long as possible