Work for the Dole (WFD) under Workforce Australia 001-09080000

Where a participant in Workforce Australia Services reaches their mandatory activation point, they are generally required to undertake an activation activity. While there are a range of activities a participant may choose from at their activation point, if a participant doesn't choose an activity, then Work for the Dole becomes their default mandatory activity (only for eligible job seekers aged 18 - 59).

When a job seeker has a compulsory requirement to participate in WFD as a result of mandatory activation, and fails to comply with the requirement, they have committed a mutual obligation failure. Providers manage non-compliance with a Work for the Dole Requirement under the Targeted Compliance Framework. For more information, see Failing to attend or satisfactorily participate in a compulsory activity.

Job seekers who are on a part-rate of income support cannot be compelled to undertake Work for the Dole.

Any fully eligible job seeker may volunteer for WFD. Principal Carers and those assessed as having a Partial Capacity to Work, who do not have compulsory participation requirements, can volunteer for WFD.

Job seekers aged:

• under 18 years of age cannot participate in WFD, even if they wish to volunteer
• 55-59 can choose to do WFD or other approved requirements
• 60 years of age and up to aged pension age can choose to do WFD on a voluntary basis, but cannot be compelled to do so

Job seekers in other employment programs such as DES, TTW, and Parent Pathways are ineligible to undertake WFD.

A job seeker who is interested in participating in WFD must be placed by their provider. Service Officers should direct these job seekers to their provider to discuss placement options.

Note: for job seekers in remote communities refer to Community Development Program (CDP).

Participants continue to receive JobSeeker Payment (JSP), Youth Allowance, Parenting Payment or Disability Support Pension and, where eligible, the Approved Program of Work Supplement (APWS), which is an additional $20.80 per fortnight. APWS is paid in recognition of extra costs involved in participating in WFD.

For more information, see Approved Program of Work Supplement.

Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS) (transition to work) may be available to eligible job seekers to minimise childcare costs, easing their transition into participation.

The WFD host organisation is responsible for providing a safe and productive work area. This incorporates appropriate training and on-site supervision, administrative requirements such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), minor personal equipment, and clothing such as safety boots or clothing necessary for public contact.

Services Australia has no role with police checks.

Providers must establish whether the nature of the activity requires job seekers and/or supervisors and/or relevant personnel to have checks, and arrange those checks if required to do so.

A job seeker to undertake WFD at any time while they are in Workforce Australia Services.

Providers are responsible for placing job seekers into WFD. Job seekers can only take part in one WFD requirement at any one time.

Compulsory participation is not limited to one instance. Job seekers may be required to undertake WFD as their Mandatory Activity which generally occurs every 6 months, and job seekers are required to participate for a minimum of 8 weeks to meet their Mandatory Activity Requirement.

Job seekers may obtain full-time employment, part-time or casual work during the course of their placement.

If a job seeker has accrued Working Credits and their rate would have been affected by more than one consecutive fortnight if they didn't have accrued Working Credits, they may choose to withdraw from WFD.

Note: Services Australia cannot code the exit from WFD. Tell the job seeker to contact their provider who will code the exit where appropriate.

Where possible, job seekers should be encouraged to continue their placement.

• Part-time/casual work: When a job seeker states that the part-time or casual work conflicts with participation, tell the job seeker to contact their provider. The provider and job seeker should attempt to negotiate attendance suitable to both parties. The provider can allow the job seeker to leave WFD without penalty if:
• an arrangement cannot be reached whereby the job seeker is able to work the required hours, and
• the job seeker is earning more than the affecting income
• One-off employment: If the paid work is only within one fortnight and results in a reduced rate of payment, the job seeker is not exited, but is taken to have participated in WFD for that fortnight

Where a job seeker is offered paid part-time work with the WFD host organisation, the above requirements apply; however, care needs to be taken to ensure there is no conflict of interest.

Job seekers in WFD must attend job interviews as part of their efforts to seek employment. Job interviews are a high priority for job seekers and providers must accommodate these requests. Providers must explain this to job seekers during negotiation of the Job Plan. Job seekers must provide evidence of job interviews to providers.

Job seekers in WFD may still be required to look for work. WFD participation cannot be included as one of those contacts.

When a job seeker changes their address, they may be auto-exited from WFD depending on their new geographical location.

If there is no change in Services Australia region or, the job seeker's new Services Australia region is mapped to their current provider, the job seeker remains with the current provider.

If a job seeker needs to be exited from WFD due to a change of address, the exit is actioned by an automatic process linked to change of address coding in Services Australia system.

Job seekers must attend at the times and in the manner advised by their supervisor.

The job seeker will continue to look for work and receive employment services from their employment services provider.

Situations may occur where it is acceptable that a job seeker does not, or is unable to, complete their placement. The job seeker should contact their provider before the scheduled start time to explain their reasons for non-attendance.

The current guidelines on special circumstances should be followed. See the References page in Exempting a job seeker from mutual obligation requirements due to special circumstances.

Host organisation closed over Christmas etc

A job seeker is not required to make up the hours if the host organisation decides to close down over Christmas, on any other public holiday, or for other reasons. A host organisation should avoid closing down for more than a 4 week period if at all possible. Providers should mark attendance requirements to No Longer Required for the dates that the host organisation is closed.

Medical certificate - general

Job seekers who supply medical certificates for their absences are not required to make up the time they missed during their WFD placement. A Provider may exit a participant from their WFD activity depending upon the duration of the exemption.

Note: Participants granted exemptions for any reason still have the option to continue to volunteer in employment services should they choose - including in Work for the Dole.

If a job seeker's payments are reduced by parental income while participating in WFD, they can cease participation in WFD. If they decide not to continue in WFD they will be notified that they are not required to attend. If they choose to continue in WFD this cannot be a compulsory requirement in their Job Plan.

If a job seeker's payments are reduced by their partner's income while participating in WFD they can cease participation in WFD. Services Australia cannot code the exit. Tell the job seeker to contact their provider who will code the exit. If they choose to continue in WFD this cannot be a compulsory requirement in their Job Plan.

A job seeker can choose to participate in WFD whilst serving a Community Service Order. They can also be compelled to participate in WFD where the community service is for less than 20 hours per week, however, the Community Service Order should take precedence. The provider and the job seeker should negotiate the times and days of participation if the periods overlap. If negotiation is not possible, then the job seeker can leave the requirement without penalty.

Note: participation in a WFD program cannot be used to meet the terms of a Community Service Order.

Job seekers attending Defence Force Army Reserves Training Camps may be taken to satisfy their mutual obligation requirements. This means that while they are undertaking a Training Camp, they may not be expected to participate in WFD.

A camp that is coming up may not exempt the job seeker from the initial placement. For the rest of the time (whilst they are on normal weekend training) the job seeker may still be eligible for WFD participation. Defence Force Army Reserves are usually done on one weekend per month. This should not clash with WFD which is generally undertaken on weekdays.

Job seekers should discuss their mutual obligation requirements regarding attending Defence Force Army Reserves Training Camps with their provider.

When a job seeker leaves a placement, the provider must, in a timely manner (generally within 5 days), exit the job seeker from the placement in the IT system with an appropriate exit reason. This will automatically notify Services Australia to cease the APWS.