Work for the Dole - Who is eligible
Work for the Dole provides work experience placements for unemployed people. Placements usually last for six months. Normal working hours are between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm, two days a week, but this can be negotiated as some participants and activities require non-standard hours of work and participants have differing participation requirements. Participating in Work for the Dole can help job seekers meet their Mutual Obligation.
Increased participation requirements have been introduced for the Very Long Term Unemployed. These job seekers will be given more opportunities to increase their recent work experience. Very Long Term Unemployed job seekers, usually those in their second period of Intensive Assistance, who are identified by their Job Network member will be referred to a Community Work Coordinator as a Full-time Work for the Dole Participant. The period of participation will be 1100 hours - equivalent to 50 hours a fortnight, for 10 months a year.
Job seekers must meet their Mutual Obligation requirements once in every twelve months that they are unemployed. Where they haven't met their obligation, job seekers aged between 18 and 49 years and on the full rate of a qualifying payment may be required to participate in Work for the Dole.
The recipients of Parenting Payments (PP) will also have participation requirements that require them to participate in Mutual Obligation activities. Principal Carer Parents (PCP), in receipt of PP, will be required to meet participation requirements from when their youngest child turns six. Flexibilities have been put in place to enable PCP to complete their Mutual Obligation requirements while meeting their caring responsibilities.
• Principle Carer Parents
Any job seeker over 18 and on the full or part rate of a qualifying payment such as Newstart, Youth Allowance, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payment, Principal Carer Payments, and Personal Support Programme participants may volunteer for Work for the Dole.