Simple solution to help those doing it tough
(Posted on behalf of Dianne Donnellan)
I am an age pensioner, 76, and volunteer at a neighbourhood centre.
From interacting with the people who come into our centre, it seems to me that one thing that needs to be addressed is travel for people on any kind of pension, particularly people who are on JobSeeker.
I know that these people need to travel for appointments and interviews, to doctor's appointments and many other things. So many of them simply don't have the money to pay for this, after using their payment for basics. If they DON'T attend appointments, they are penalised, sometimes having their payment reduced or withheld, which makes the situation even worse.
Don't you think that providing people in this situation with free travel would increase the number able to find work? The overall cost of free travel just for this group would be a lot less than continuing to pay them a pension when they have been unable to find work.
Just from talking to people, I have the distinct feeling that a lot of the companies who claim to be finding work for them just don't give a hoot. They are being paid, no matter what, and seem to consistently change appointment times without telling the jobseeker, and then claim that they didn't turn up for their appointment. So the person has their fortnightly payment reduced or withheld. As if life isn't tough enough already.
It makes me sad that people aren't given the help they so desperately need and, in fact, have their lives made even more difficult by the system. Giving each other assistance when times are tough will produce far better results than abandoning them.
I would love to see other people’s thoughts on the topic.
Interesting that the one of the first jobs that occured was Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s wage jumped to $564,364, a raise of $15,104.
From there he took his girlfriend on an oversees Honeymooon.
Sounds like a good idea as long as it is not abused in any way.
Regarding job-finding companies changing appointments - only accept messages via text or email, not phone calls, and save your 'paper trail' as evidence of non-advice of appointment changes. If they claim they advised you, request a copy of their 'claimed' communication.
If they can't/won't provide it, make email or on-line complaints to Centrelink, who may well cancel their taxpayer-funded contract.
This happened in another instance when a company who were supposed to be helping NDIS clients, not only did nothing to help, but made life more difficult for them. They were removed as a NDIS supporter.