In return for receiving certain income support payments, participants undertake tasks and activities to help them find a job. These mutual obligation requirements are agreed to as part of a Job Plan or Participation Plan (for ParentsNext participants). Workforce Australia Employment Services Providers or the department’s contact centres support participants to understand and meet their mutual obligation requirements.
To meet obligations participants may need to:
- agree to a Job Plan or Participation Plan
- meet a points target each reporting period, including any minimum job search requirement (not for participants in Disability Employment Services or ParentsNext)
- attend appointments
- follow up on job referrals
- attend job interviews
- accept suitable paid work
- keep an up-to-date profile (Workforce Australia Online only)
Participants can use their homepage in Workforce Australia Online to track and report obligations, see when the tasks and activities they need to complete are due and how they are tracking towards meeting a points target, if they have one.
The Workforce Australia Points Based Activation System gives participants more choice and flexibility in how they can meet their mutual obligation requirements. For each reporting period, an individual will need to earn a set number of points, their points target, and can choose from a range of tasks and activities to earn those points. Tasks and activities like completing a job application, study or training, paid work and volunteering can count towards meeting the participant’s points target.
To support participants transition to the Points Based Activation System, Workforce Australia Services and Workforce Australia Online participants will have a further reporting period where no compliance action will be raised for not meeting a points target. This means that compliance action for not meeting points targets will start from September 2022. All other requirements apply.
Participants now have an opportunity to explore the system and find out more about the range of tasks and activities they can undertake to meet their points target and their points values. They can also bank points if they earn over their points target, up to half the value of a points target in any reporting period. A provider or the department’s contact centre can at any time adjust a points target based on an individual’s personal circumstances and local labour market conditions.
Not all participants have the same mutual obligation requirements, individuals can check their homepage or speak with their provider to see what applies to them. If your requirements are not appropriate for your circumstances and you need your points targets adjusted, you should talk to your provider or the department’s contact centre immediately.
Arrangements for Disability Employment Services, ParentsNext, Transition to Work and the Community Development Program participants
Participants in Disability Employment Services, ParentsNext, Transition to Work or the Community Development Program, do not use the Points Based Activation System. They continue to report job search or activities the same way they do now.
From 1 August 2022, participation requirements recommence for ParentsNext and Disability Employment Services. These can be tailored to individual needs by a provider.
There are no changes to arrangements for Community Development Program participants.
