ActivityTestandParticipation RequirementsAdvice

V 2.0

Disclaimer

Thisdocumentisnota stand-alonedocumentanddoesnotcontaintheentiretyofJobServicesAustralia

providers'obligations.ItshouldbereadinconjunctionwiththeEmploymentServicesDeed2012-2015 andanyrelevantguidelinesor referencematerialissuedbyDEEWRunderorinconnectionwith EmploymentServicesDeed2012-2015.

ActivityTestandParticipationRequirementsAdvice

TRIMNumber:D13/374792EffectiveDate: 13Aug 2013

Tableof Contents

DocumentChangeHistory...... 3

Background...... 4

TheActivityTest...... 4

ParticipationRequirements...... 4

JobSearch...... 4

Participationwith anemploymentservices provider...... 4

AcceptingSuitableWork...... 5

Participationrequirementsforothercohorts...... 5

ActivityTestandParticipationRequirementsAdvice

TRIMNumber:D13/374792EffectiveDate: 13Aug 2013

DocumentChangeHistory

Version / StartDate / Effective
Date / EndDate / ChangeLocation
2.0 / 13Aug2013 / 13Aug2013 / Narrative:Updatewithminorchanges.
1.0 / 06May2009 / 06May2009 / 12Aug2013 / Originalversion

ActivityTestandParticipationRequirementsAdvice

TRIMNumber:D13/374792EffectiveDate: 13Aug 2013

Background

Thisdocumentdescribeswhatactivitytestandparticipationrequirementsareandhowjob seekerscanmeettheserequirements.Itshouldbereadin conjunctionwithotherreference materialontheParticipationandEngagementpage ofthe Provider Portal.

The ActivityTest

Theactivitytest isapplicabletojobseekerswhoarereceiving:

•NewstartAllowance(NSA);

•ParentingPayment Single (PPS)oncetheyoungestchildin care turns6yearsold;

•YouthAllowance(YA);or

•sometypesofSpecialBenefit(SpB).

Ingeneralterms,activitytestingmeansthatjobseekershaveanobligationto seekand undertakesuitablepaidwork.Jobseekerswithactivitytestrequirementsarealsorequired to enterintoandcomplywithan EmploymentPathwayPlan(EPP)and participateinsuitable activitiesdesignedtoassistthemtogainemployment.

ParticipationRequirements

Participationrequirementsaresimilartoactivitytestrequirements,as jobseekerswith participationrequirementsmust lookforsuitablework,enterintoanEPPand participatein activitiesdesignedto helppreparethemfor employment.Becauseofthesesimilarities,the terms‘activitytest’and‘participationrequirements’aregenerallyused interchangeably.

A jobseeker’sactivitytestorparticipationrequirementsare determinedbythe following factors:

•incomesupporttype;

•age;

•workcapacity(eithertemporaryorpermanent);and

•whetherthey havetheprimaryresponsibilityforthecareofa child under6years of age.

Job Search

Mostjobseekerswithactivitytestorparticipationrequirementsarerequiredto undertake compulsoryjobsearchcontactsandreporttheseto theDepartmentof HumanServices(DHS). Specifically,theterm‘job searchcontacts’meansto applyfora job, enquireabouta job,orany otheractivitiesrelatingtofindingajob.Formoreinformationonjob searchcontactsplease refertotheSettingJobSearchContactsAdviceontheParticipationandEngagementscreenof the Provider Portal.

Participationwith anemploymentservicesprovider

Jobseekerswithactivitytestorparticipationrequirementswho arenotfullysatisfyingtheir requirementsaregenerallyrequiredto participatein employmentservicesbyworkingwithan employmentservicesprovidertofindsuitablework.

Oncethejobseekerisreferredtoa provider,thejobseekerwillneedtoenterintoan EPPor updatetheirEPPiftheyalreadyhaveone.Providersshouldconsiderthejobseeker’spersonal circumstanceswhensettingappropriateactivitiesforinclusionin thejobseeker’sEPP. Informationonajobseeker’sactivitytestorparticipationrequirements,as wellasfactorswhich may impactupontheirrequirementssuchastheirworkcapacity,isavailableontheir ParticipationProfileintheDEEWRITsystem.

ActivityTestandParticipationRequirementsAdvice

TRIMNumber:D13/374792EffectiveDate: 13Aug 2013

Accepting Suitable Work

Tosatisfyactivitytestorparticipationrequirements,jobseekersmustacceptsuitableworkina varietyoffields,notjustthoseinwhichtheyhavequalificationsorworkthattheyprefer to do. Thedefinitionof‘suitablework’willdependuponthecircumstancesofthejob seeker(e.g.if

thejob seekerisaPrincipalCarerParent(PCP)anddoesnothaveaccesstochildcare duringthe hoursofemployment,theworkmay notbeconsideredassuitable).

Ingeneralterms,ajobmaybeunsuitableifit:

  • aggravatesajobseeker’smedicalillnessorcondition;
  • isabovethejobseeker’sassessedworkcapacity;
  • doesnotmeettheapplicablestatutoryconditionsof work;
  • requiresthepersontochangetheirresidence;
  • involvesunreasonablecommutingtimefrom hometowork(60minutesforPCPsandPCWsand90minutesforotherjobseekers);
  • involvesskillsthejobseekerdoesnot possessandappropriatetrainingisnot
  • providedbytheemployer;
  • resultstoaPCPnotatleast$50perfortnightfinanciallybetter-off asa resultof undertaking thework.

Informationonunsuitablework(includingspecificprovisions forparentsandthosewithapartial workcapacity)canbefoundin the Guideto SocialSecurityLaw-

Participationrequirementsfor othercohorts

Differentparticipationrequirementsapplyforthefollowinggroups:

  • Principal CarerParents(PCP);
  • Jobseekerswith aPartial CapacitytoWork(PCW);
  • Jobseekerswith aTemporaryReducedWork Capacity(TRWC);
  • Jobseekersaged55and over(MA 55+).

Informationonparticipationrequirementsfortheabovejobseekergroups isavailable onthe

ParticipationandEngagementscreenof theProvider Portal.

Activity Test and Participation Requirements AdviceEffective Date: 13 Aug 2013

TRIM Number: D13/3714771