Workforce Australia
Workforce Australia is an Australian Commonwealth Government Employment Services program which was implemented on 4 July 2022.
Workforce Australia represents the most significant reform in Australia’s employment services since 1998 with many new features introduced into the new program including the government’s Digital Employment Services platform.
Workforce Australia is one of the responsibilities of the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations and is administered by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
Workforce Australia’s prime focus is to:
- Assist participants to become job ready, and find and retain employment
- Support employers with their recruitment needs
Participants eligible for Workforce Australia services are those who are in receipt of income support (e.g. JobSeeker Payment – or Youth Allowance from Centrelink – Services Australia, and subsequently have mutual obligation requirements. Mutual Obligation requirements are tasks and activities participants need to do to continue receiving income support payments. These include agreeing to a Job Plan, keeping appointments with their employment services provider, going to job interviews, and accepting suitable paid work.
There are different Mutual Obligation requirements for principal carers, participants aged 55 or older and those in the Community Development Program.
The two service streams, Workforce Australia Online and Workforce Australia Services,
are designed to meet the differing needs of participants.
WORKFORCE AUSTRALIA ONLINE
For individuals who are assessed as being job-ready and able to self-manage their job search.
WORKFORCE AUSTRALIA SERVICES
For individuals who are assessed as requiring more intensive assistance and support from an employment services provider.
The Job Seeker Assessment Framework is the overarching structure that supports the delivery of Workforce Australia with The Job Seeker Snapshot and Employment Services Assessment being the two underpinning principal assessment processes.
- The Job Seeker Snapshot – the first assessment undertaken after an individual claims income support.
- The Employment Services Assessment – a comprehensive assessment to determine an individual’s ability to work and their work capacity.
You can find out more about Workforce Australia on the Workforce Australia Website and you can find your local Workforce Australia provider here.
Contact the NESA Helpdesk
EMAIL | 03 9624 2390
