Information on Work for the Dole
The following information is for job seekers who are required to participate in, or who wish to volunteer for, the Work for the Dole program.
What is Work for the Dole?
Work for the Dole (WfD) is an Australian Government funded programme that provides quality work experience opportunities to eligible job seekers.
WfD is one means by which job seekers can satisfy their mutual obligation requirements and work experience placements are available in a wide range of areas including heritage, the environment, arts, community care, tourism, sport and the provision, restoration and maintenance of community services and facilities.
Upon successful completion of a WfD placement, participants may be eligible for a Training Credit to assist with training, as well as assistance with a Passport to Employment and an additional fortnightly supplement to help with the cost of transport.
What is mutual obligation?
Mutual obligation is based on the principle that participants supported financially by the community should actively improve their work skills and give something back to the community that supports them.
Work for the Dole is one means by which job seekers can satisfy their mutual obligation requirement whilst receiving unemployment benefits.
Who can participate in Work for the Dole?
Job seekers may be required to take part in Work for the Dole if they are aged between 18 and 49, and are receiving a full or partial rate of Youth or Newstart Allowance, Parenting Payment recipients whose youngest child is six years or over and have been receiving payments for six months or more.
Those job seekers who are aged 18 and over and receive a full or partial rate of Youth or Newstart Allowance, Disability Support Pension, as well as Personal Support Program participants and Parenting Payment recipients whose youngest child is less than six can volunteer to participate in a Work for the Dole activity.
Centrelink or Job Network members refer eligible job seekers and volunteers to Community Work Coordinators, such as Kangan Batman TAFE. Community Work Coordinators can also directly register volunteers if they have a Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN).
Can I volunteer for Work for the Dole?
If you are over 18 and on a full or partial rate of Newstart or Youth Allowance, and have been looking for work for six months or more, you can volunteer for Work for the Dole. If you volunteer, you will then meet your mutual obligation requirements.
To volunteer or to find out if you are eligible to participate in Work for the Dole, please e-mail your name, Job Seeker ID and contact details to wfd@kangan.edu.au.
What kind of Work for the Dole activities are available?
Activities will generally be approved if they demonstrate benefit to both participants and the community, as well as value for money. Some of the activities sponsors have conducted include: heritage, the environment, arts, community care, tourism, sport and the provision, restoration and maintenance of community services and facilities.
Visit the projects section for information on a range of activities available through Work for the Dole @ Kangan Batman TAFE.
What are the hours and days of activities?
Participation requirements depend on your age and the benefit you are receiving. Usually it will be for six months. Normal working hours are between 9am and 5pm, two days a week.
However, where there is a demonstrated need, or it is an industry standard, approval may be obtained for work outside of these hours.
How long do participants work for?
| 18 to 20 years | 21 to 39 years | 40 to 49 years |
|---|---|---|
| 12 hours per week over 26 weeks Total hours 310 |
15 hours per week over 26 weeks Total hours 390 |
12 hours per week over 13 weeks or 6 hours per week over 26 weeks Total hours 150 |
Banking of hours
The Community Work Coordinator or Work for the Dole Supervisor may agree that you can work more hours by taking part in an activity for an additional day. This means you can work on a project to a maximum of three days or a total of 21 hours per week.
Participant funding
Eligible job seekers who participate in a Work for the Dole activity continue to receive their unemployment allowance plus an additional allowance of $20.80 per fortnight to cover expenses associated with participation, such as transport.
What will participants get out of it?
Doing Work for the Dole shows that you are motivated, willing to develop new skills and committed to your community, making you more employable.
You will gain:
- Valuable work experience and be able to demonstrate your abilities to potential employers
- Exposure to work in areas where skills are in demand
- References from your supervisors about your work and
- Wider networks that open up more opportunities for you.
Activity Agreement
You must complete an Activity Agreement with Centrelink when you apply for income support. The Agreement describes the help Centrelink and other organisations will provide to you and lists the activities you must undertake if you are to continue to receive income support.
If you are required to do Work for the Dole, your Activity Agreement will include this. If you fail to undertake an agreed activity you may be subject to penalties, including reduction or loss of payments. The Activity Agreement is updated if necessary to reflect your changing circumstances.
What is my commitment?
Once you sign your Activity Agreement you will be required to attend the Work for the Dole program for 26 weeks, subject to your eligibility continuing.
Work and on-the-job training is supervised by sponsor organisations, or Work for the Dole supervisors, working in conjunction with Kangan Batman TAFE's Work for the Dole Unit.
Work for the Dole and breaches
What are my responsibilities under an Activity Agreement?
When you sign an Activity Agreement, you need to do several things including: attend your Work for the Dole or Community Work activity work cooperatively with your supervisor and other team members and respect all property and equipment.
What if I can't meet my obligations?
Your supervisor will try to contact you to find out what is wrong and to work out a plan with you to get things back on track. If your supervisor tries to contact you please respond. It is important that you and your supervisor have the opportunity to talk things through.
If you do not respond, or if you are unwilling to try to get things back on track, your supervisor will tell your CWC that you are not meeting your obligations and they will provide a report to Centrelink. This is called a Participation Report.
Service Guarantee for Job Seekers
Employment and related service providers commit to observe the highest standards of fairness and professional practice as they deliver the services and obligations outlined in their respective contractual arrangements with the Australian Government.
For further information, visit www.workplace.gov.au
If you have any questions please contact:
- Work for the Dole Unit - Kangan Batman Institute of TAFE
- Phone:
- (03) 9094 3020
- Email:
- wfd@kangan.edu.au
- Postal address:
- Work for the Dole Unit
Private Bag 299
Somerton Vic 3062
