Indigenous Specific Work for the Dole Activities

Indigenous Specific Work for the Dole Activities

jobactive is the Australian Government’s way to help more Australians into work.

Work for the Dole is part of jobactive andplaces job seekers in activities where they can gain skills, experience and confidence to move from welfare to work, while giving back to their community.

What are Indigenous specificWork for the Dole Activities?

Indigenous specific Work for the Dole Activities are activities which:

• have an Indigenous Host Organisation and/or are for the benefit of an Indigenous community
• are linked to community goals, and
• help support achievable and meaningful career pathways for Indigenous job seekers.

They can be Individually Hosted Activities or Group Based Activities.

What are some examples of Indigenous specific Work for the Dole Activities?

Indigenous specific Work for the Dole Activities could include:

• assisting with the sale of merchandise and booking appointments at a cultural centre
• assisting with the opening and closing of a cultural café as well as basic food and beverage preparation
• the ongoing upkeep of the community common grounds
• constructing an educational trail and signage at an indigenous facility
• renovating a community facility
• creating and building a community garden to grow vegetables that can be given back to the community.

Who can host anIndigenousspecific Work for the DoleActivity?

As with all Work for the Dole Activities, Indigenous specific Work for the Dole Activities can only be hosted by:

• not-for-profit organisations/charities
• local, state, territory or Australian Government organisations or agencies, or
• the not-for-profit arm of for-profit organisations.

Examples of Organisations that may be interested in hosting a Work for the Dole Activity include:

• Local Land Councils
• Indigenous community organisations.

What are the benefits to Host Organisations?

Organisations hosting Indigenous specific Work for the Dole Activities can get access to extra sets of hands to undertake activities and projects that may not normally get done.

By hosting activities you can help job seekers gain the skills, experience and confidence they need to move off welfare and into a job.

Funding is also available to help with the cost of hosting Indigenous specific Work for the Dole Activities.

What arethe benefits for participating Indigenous job seekers?

Participating in Indigenous specific Work for the Dole Activities helps participants to:

• develop the skills that employers want—like team work, communication and reliability
• increase their confidence and show that they are ready to start working
• meet new people and make contacts who can be a referee
• get involved in their local community.

Indigenous job seekers interested in participating in an Indigenous specific Work for the Dole Activity should discuss this with their jobactive provider.

Can an Indigenous participant join a non-Indigenous specific Work for the Dole Activity?

Yes, Indigenous participants can continue to be placed in non-Indigenous specific Work for the Dole Activities—as long as the Activity is suitable and appropriate for that participant.

Can non-Indigenous participantsjoin an Indigenous specific Work for the Dole Activity?

Yes, non-Indigenous participants can participate in an Indigenous specific Work for the Dole Activity—as long as the Activity is suitable and appropriate for that participant.

How are Indigenous specific Work for the Dole Activities different to the Community Development Programme?

The Community Development Programme (CDP) is a separate Employment Service that operates in remote regions of Australia. CDP and Work for the Dole have different program requirements.

Further information on the CDP is available at

How canHost Organisations get involved?

Organisations considering hosting an Indigenous-specific Work for the Dole Activity should contact their local jobactive provider.

Contact details for your local jobactive providers areavailable at

Want more information?

• Go to
• Call the Employment Services Information Line on 13 62 68*

Do you need help with this fact sheet?

If you need an interpreter, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450* and ask for the Employment Services Information Line on 136268* or the National Customer Service Line on 1800 805 260*.

If you are deaf, or have a hearing or speech impairment you can use the National Relay Service. For more information, visit

* Note that call charges apply for calls to ‘13’ and ‘1800’ numbers from mobile phones