Welfare Rights Centre
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What you need to know
- Employment Service Providers - Overview
- Selecting an Employment Services Provider
- Disability Employment Services
- Job Capacity Assessments
- Getting the most out of your Employment Pathway Plan
- Complying with Employment Service Providers and Centrelink
- Changing your Employment Service Provider
- Your rights and Employment Service Providers
- Complaining is OK
- Stream 1
- Stream 2
- Stream 3
- Stream 4
- Work Experience
- How we can help
- What you need to know
- Employment Service Providers - Overview
- Selecting an Employment Services Provider
- Disability Employment Services
- Job Capacity Assessments
- Getting the most out of your Employment Pathway Plan
- Complying with Employment Service Providers and Centrelink
- Changing your Employment Service Provider
- Your rights and Employment Service Providers
- Complaining is OK
- Stream 1
- Stream 2
- Stream 3
- Stream 4
- Work Experience
- Need more help?
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Stream 1
Stream 1 is the first level of the programs available through Job Services Australia Providers.
These programs aim to help you find and keep a job.
Who is eligible?
show more- You have to register with an Employment Service Provider if:
- you are receiving an income support payment through Centrelink and
- you have activity requirements.
How do I access the service?
show more- When you register for income support with Centrelink, they will ask you a series of questions about your individual circumstances and the impact these might have on your ability to find work.
- This group of questions is called the Job Seeker Capacity Instrument (JSCI) and includes questions about your:
- education level
- personal circumstances
- work experience.
- If the JSCI indicates that you are “work ready” (for example only recently unemployed) and have few barriers to employment, you will be assigned to Stream 1 program.
- You can choose which Employment Services Provider (ESP) you are referred to.
- Centrelink should ask you if there is a service you would like to use.
- Centrelink can also assist you to select a provider, or choose one for you.
- You can find out which Employment Service Providers are in your area here.
- You can find more information on choosing an ESP here.
What help will I get?
show more- Stream 1 provides job seekers with limited support.
- You are entitled to:
- help with creating or refining your resume or CV
- access to, and help with, job search facilities
- skills assessment after three months of service
- support with a possible intensive activity to help you find work
- some access to training
- monthly face-to-face meetings with your provider.
- In your initial interview your provider should:
- outline services they will offer you
- provide help with creating or refining your resume or CV
- explain your rights and obligations, if you are an activity-tested participant (See Complying with Employment Service Providers and Centrelink.)
- explain the use of “Jobsearch Facilities” and where you can find these
- provide an initial list of appropriate job vacancies
- provide advice about the best ways to look for and find work and discuss local employment opportunities
- If you are fully eligible for Stream 1 services, you you will be required to complete work experience activities after 12 months.
What is an Employment Pathway Plan?
show more- Your “Employment Pathway Plan” (EPP) outlines what you need to do in order to receive a payment.
- The EPP lists your obligations to your Employment Service Provider and Centrelink and the provider’s obligations to you.
- In Stream 1, Centrelink completes the EPP with you before you are referred to an Employment Service Provider.
- You have to sign the EPP to say that you agree to participate in the activities listed in it.
- If you don’t do the activities on your EPP, you could get a failure penalty.
- If you are a voluntary client you will still have an EPP that outlines expected activities but you will not be penalised for not completing them.
- For more information see the Fact Sheet Getting the Most Out of your Employment Pathway Plan.
Can I choose what goes into my Employment Pathway Plan?
show more- Your personal circumstances, abilities and goals should be considered when drawing up your EPP.
- Centrelink or your Job Services Australia provider make the final decision about what is included
- EPPs can be changed at any time and should be updated when your situation changes.
What is an Employment Pathway Fund?
show more- Your Employment Service can access an Employment Pathway Fund (EPF) to buy things you need to get a job, like:
- Work clothing
- Work equipment
- Transport money
- Training
- Wage subsidies
Can I choose how to spend the Employment Pathway Fund money?
show more- You can tell your Employment Services provider (ESP) about how you think the money should be spent to best help you get into paid work, however:
- The ESP decides how and when the fund is used.
- The ESP has to balance your needs against the needs of other job seekers.
- The ESP will focus on whether or not purchasing an item or service will lead to/increase the chances of you getting paid work.
- The ESP cannot fund activities or equipment which will not increase your chances of getting paid work, even if your are interested in doing them.
Skills Assessment
show more- After 3 months with the Employment Services provider, they will do a “skills assessment” with you, to:
- find out what work or educational skills and experience you have
- develop strategies for you to secure and retain employment
- These may include training or work experience to help you achieve your goals.
Intensive Activities
show more- Intensive Activities are designed to improve your ability to find and keep employment.
- The activity must be relevant to you and your needs.
- Activities could include:
- skills training
- work experience
- English language programs
- You usually do these activities after your skills assessment.
Why don't they give me more help?
show more- Stream 1 is designed for “work ready” job seekers who:
- have only recently become unemployed and
- who have capacity to look for work without a lot of help.
- The more intensive employment services are reserved for those who have significant barriers to employment such as:
- long periods of unemployment
- homelessness
- drug and alcohol issues
- literacy problems.
I need more help NOW
show more- When you are assigned to an employment program by Centrelink, the Employment Service Provider (ESP) only knows about the information you gave in the Job Seeker Classification Instrument (JSCI).
- The JSCI is the tool used by Centrelink to identify what 'barriers' you face entering the workforce and what employment assistance you may be eligible for.
- If your circumstances change and it becomes harder for you to look for work, or you did not disclose some information about what is going on in your life, you should let your Employment Service Provider know.
- You may be reassessed to receive more assistance.
- This process may involve:
- referral to a Job Capacity Assessment
- See below for more information on this.
- renegotiating your Employment Pathway Plan
- referral to a Job Capacity Assessment
- Letting your ESP know your situation has changed will also mean that you are less likely to incur a penalty for non-compliance.
- It is in your best interests to tell Centrelink and your ESP about what is going on in your life that might make it more difficult for you to find employment.
Where can I get further information or help?
show more- Job Capacity Assessments
- Complying with Employment Service Providers and Centrelink
- You can find the following factsheets here:
- Stream 1 What to expect
- Complying with Employment Service Providers and Centrelink
- Job Capacity Assessments
- Contact the Welfare Rights Centre
© 2013 Welfare Rights Centre. All rights reserved. The information on this website is intended only as a guide. It is not a substitute for legal advice.
The Welfare Rights Centre would like to thank the National Welfare Rights Network for permitting the links to their factsheets and self-help materials.
The Welfare Rights Centre would like to thank the National Welfare Rights Network for permitting the links to their factsheets and self-help materials.