Voluntary work as an approved activity 001-09070060
Expand allHow voluntary work and suitable paid work can satisfy mutual obligation requirements
This table outlines how voluntary work and suitable paid work can fully satisfy a job seeker's mutual obligation requirements for a job seeker who has been getting income support for over 12 months. Note: the amount of $26.44 an hour used for the minimum wage is the 1 July 2026 rate and is for illustration purposes only. Service Officers must check the Fair Work Commission website for the latest national minimum wage when assessing a job seeker's circumstances.
Item | Scenario |
1 | Mutual obligation requirements met with a combination of approved voluntary work and paid work Ted is over 55 years of age and has been getting JobSeeker Payment (JSP) for over 12 months. Ted is currently doing 20 hours a fortnight of approved voluntary work and has taken a part-time job two days a fortnight for 10 hours. Ted is paid $10 an hour working a part-time job and earns $100 per fortnight. This will not satisfy the sufficient work test, as the remuneration is insufficient. Ted needs to earn at least $264.40, which equates to 10 hours at the minimum wage rate of $26.44 an hour. Ted's hourly rate increases to $27 and their part-time job to 30 hours and now earns $810.00 per fortnight. Combined with Ted's volunteer work, this is more than the required number of hours, and as this pay now exceeds $793.20, the remuneration test is satisfied. The mutual obligation requirements are being met in full as Ted is doing a combination of approved voluntary and paid work for at least 30 hours per fortnight and is meeting the sufficient work test. |
External websites
Check the current rate of the national minimum wage on the Fair Work Australia website.