Voluntary Work.

[echnidna]

I mighta misunderstood as I came in at the tail of a segment with Lawsy on the radio today.

From what I understand,

People on centelink benefits including pensions cannot do voluntary work after July unless it can be proved that they are learning skills that will lead to future employment.

I must assume this will also apply to work for the dole too.

If its right there is going to be a lot of charities and other good community groups suffering because of it. Not to mention the people who the charities etc service.

So will the salvos etc have to give up sorting rags etc because of a lack of volunteers. What skills could anyone get from sorting out the charity dump bins ?

Will Op Shops vanish?

[doug the slug]

i thought that dole recipients got some sort of credit for doing volunteer work with those sort of organizations. would be sad if thats changed

[CameronPotter]

I haven't heard about it myself, but I would be willing to bet that it would be classed as teaching them "responsibility"... :confused:

It would be awful if that was instituted, but most things give you some kind of life skill... Seems like a silly/unlikely law to me.

Cam

[echnidna]

From what I heard its everyone on a pension as well as the dole.

[bitingmidge]

http://www.workplace.gov.au/workplac...nitiatives/CW/

Now I know that a government website that was last modified in March 06 may not be quite up to date, but it would be a pretty big about face from:

It offers people on income support the opportunity to be part of something worthwhile and get recognition for their contribution. It also offers the opportunity of improved work skills and experience, and greater involvement with their local community.

I wonder what that's all about... it must be true if JL broadcast it!

Cheers,

P (working, but not for the dole)

[echnidna]

It was a public servant from centrelunkers speaking to JL about it

[Bodgy]

Echidna

Are you actually fessing up to listening to John Laws????

Could be worse,Alan Jones I spose. At least Laws don't have a fondness for public dunnies in London.

[echnidna]

Na I was outside making sawdust and came in for a cuppa and the radio was on.

[dazzler]

The point is that if you are on unemployment benefits you should be looking for a job, 8 hours a day until you get one. If you are not looking then you should be undertaking training - free at tafe for U/E.

I have always reckoned that if you are on unemployment benefits that you should have to go to a training centre at 9.30 each day until 2.30 so that you can learn new skills, learn about jobs etc....

More productive than the beach/pub/lounge room

[Iain]

At least Laws don't have a fondness for public dunnies in London.

Enlighten us please:confused:

[AlexS]

I believe Bodgie is refering to an incident involving Mr. Jones in a public convenience in London. A charge of indecent behaviour was dropped, with no reason given (and who are we to speculate?).

A big hand for Mr. Jones, now.

[Daddles]

A big hand for Mr. Jones, now.

That didn't have anything to do with the dunny incident did it? :eek:

Richard

[Ashore]

A big hand for Mr. Jones, now.

Note to self "Don't reply , Don't reply"


As to the 15 hours I understant that some people receiving centerlink payments are allowed to do 15 hours volunteer work instead of looking for work , the idea was that at least they were doing some good for the community. The changes are that they can only do this and still receive centerlink payment if the volunteer work is training that may lead or assist them in gaining a job in a new field, The changes also cover those on sickness allowance & disability support pension droping the no of hours from 30 to 15 ie before if you were unable to work for 30 hours per week you could claim a payment now it will be if you are unable to work for 15 hours you can claim , which hopefully put a few more back into the work force and stop some ( not all ) from doing 3 hours a day at op shop etc and not have to look for or re-train or even try and still get paid with our tax dollars.

The new system won't be perfect and there will be some genuine hard ship cases that will get a raw deal from the changes, proberly in the mentally disabled area, hopefully they can be addressed, but I think that overall it may be an improvement to the system and may force some of the people who don't deserve a payment to go out and re-train or simply get a job.

End of Rant.

[namtrak]

It was a public servant from centrelunkers speaking to JL about it

I am as fair minded as the next bloke, but fair dinkum give me a break. I mean he is probably a nice bloke and all, and probably knows something about voluntary work, but Justin Langer is a cricketer for crying out loud.