Activity Management Guideline
Document change history
Version
Effective date
End date
Change and location
1.5
07 12 15
1.4
01 10 15
06 12 15
Inclusion of information on National Work Experience Programme
Placements throughout document to replace UWEP references.
Removal of UWEP Agreement Form.
1.3
13 08 15
30 09 15
Inclusion of UWEP Agreement Form.
1.2
01 07 15
12 08 15
Inclusion of Insurance details.
1.1
01 07 15
01 07 15
Inclusion of Host Agreement and formatting.
1.0
01 07 15
01 07 15
Original version of document.
Removal of Activity Host Organisation Agreement template.
Inclusion of information on part-time employment section.
Inclusion of further information on recording and managing activities in
the Department’s IT system.
Inclusion of online study information in Training and Part-Time Study
section.
Explanatory Note
All capitalised terms have the same meaning as in the jobactive Deed 2015–2020. In this document, ‘must’
means that compliance is mandatory and ‘should’ means that compliance represents best practice and that
compliance is discretionary.
Disclaimer
This Guideline is not a stand-alone document and does not contain the entirety of Employment Services
Providers’ obligations.
It must be read in conjunction with the Deed and any relevant Guidelines or reference material issued by
Department of Employment under or in connection with the Deed.
Summary
This Guideline details the core elements and requirements for Employment Providers (Providers) in managing
Activities for Stream Participants (job seekers). This Guideline sets out the general rules that apply to Activities
under the jobactive Deed 2015–2020 as well as specific rules relating to each Activity type. It is important to
note that specific elements relating to Work for the Dole Activities will be contained in the Work for the Dole
Guideline.
From 1 July 2015, Fully Eligible Participants (Mutual Obligation) in the Work for the Dole Phase will be required
to undertake one or more Activities to meet their Annual Activity Requirement. Information on the Annual
Activity Requirement can be found in the Mutual Obligation Requirements (including Annual Activity
Requirement) Guideline.
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Policy Intent
Activities provide job seekers with the opportunity to increase their skills and capacity and improve their
motivation and dependability so they can get and keep a job. Activities also develop or enhance a job seeker’s
ability to take directions from a Supervisor, work independently, communicate effectively and work as part of a
team.
Relevant Deed clause/s
The relevant clauses in the jobactive Deed 2015–2020 (the Deed) include:
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Clause 8—Checks and reasonable care
Clause 42—Insurance
Clause 69—Compliance with laws and government policies
Clause 87—General requirements for a Job Plan
Clause 88—Employment Fund
Clause 106—Mutual Obligation Requirements
Clause 107—Activities
Clause 108—Work for the Dole
Clause 109—National Work Experience Programme Placements
Clause 110—Work health and safety
Clause 111—Supervision
Clause 112—Other matters
Clause 120—Recording Attendance
Clause 124—Work for the Dole Fees.
Relevant references
Reference documents relevant to this Guideline include:
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Privacy Guideline
Mutual Obligation Requirements (including Annual Activity Requirement) Guideline
Work for the Dole Guideline
Employment Fund General Account Guideline
Job Plans Guideline
Insurance Manual.
Activity Management
Process
Details
Activity types
Job seekers may undertake an Activity at any time while participating in any phase or
period within a Stream, as included in the Job Plan, where the Provider agrees and
believes it will be of benefit to the job seeker.
Deed clause references:
 Clause 87
 Clause 106
 Clause 107
 Clause 108
 Clause 109
In placing job seekers into activities, Providers must give priority to Fully Eligible
Participants (Mutual Obligation) and to job seekers in a Work for the Dole Phase, over
other job seekers.
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The types of Activities that can be undertaken by job seekers include:
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Work for the Dole Activities—offer opportunities for Fully Eligible Participants
to increase their work-readiness. Work for the Dole is the principal activity
(that is, the default activity where another activity is not undertaken) for the
18 to 49 year old cohort, please refer to the Work for the Dole Guideline for
information on specific Work for the Dole Activity policy
National Work Experience Programme Placement—a short-term unpaid work
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experience placement of up to four weeks that allows eligible job seekers to
gain on-the-job vocational skills
Voluntary Work—provides job seekers with opportunities to gain personal
and workplace skills that will directly improve their Employment prospects.
In addition, job seekers can also participate in other Activities including:
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Part-time employment—improves a job seeker’s chances of finding full-time
Employment and maintains and enhances their work skills.
Part-time study or training—provides job seekers with the opportunity to
learn skills and gain qualifications that will improve their prospects of finding
Employment.
Accredited language literacy and numeracy courses—which can include
—Skills for Education and Employment programme (SEE
programme)—Helps eligible job seekers to improve their language,
literacy and numeracy skills
—Adult Migrant English Programme (AMEP)—provides English
language tuition to eligible migrants and humanitarian entrants
Defence Reserves—job seekers can voluntarily participate in Defence
Reserves, which can include training
New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) Training activity
other government programmes—including state government programmes
and the Green Army Programme.
Refer to the Mutual Obligation Requirements (including Annual Activity Requirement)
Guideline for information on commencing Activities in the Case Management Phase
and meeting the Annual Activity Requirement early.
Work health and safety
and insurance
(This section applies to Work for the Dole and Voluntary Work Activities and National
Work Experience Programme Placements).
Deed clause references:
 Clause 8
 Clause 42
 Clause 69
 Clause 107
 Clause 108
 Clause 109
 Clause 110
 Clause 111
 Clause 112
 Clause 113
Work health and safety
At the commencement of any Work for the Dole or Voluntary Work Activity or
National Work Experience Programme Placements, the Provider must satisfy itself
that there is a safe system of work in place, including that the Activity Host
Organisation is complying with relevant work health and safety requirements (sub
clause 110.1) to ensure that each potential Activity is safe for job seekers.
Providers must take all reasonable steps to minimise the likelihood of injury to job
seekers and any other people at the Activity location. Job seekers are to be provided
with all things necessary to undertake their Activity safely, including but not limited to
appropriate and adequate:
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training and supervision
personal protection equipment and clothing
on-site facilities (access to drinking water and toilets)
processes for reporting any work health and safety issues and any other
concerns.
Providers must ensure that they consult, coordinate and cooperate with Activity Host
Organisations and the Department, as appropriate, to ensure that any work health
and safety issues arising in relation to an Activity are appropriately managed.
Insurance
The Department of Employment purchases personal accident insurance and public
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and/or product liability insurance to cover job seekers undertaking Work for the Dole
(including Community Action Group Activities and Project of National Significance),
Voluntary Work and National Work Experience Programme Placements.
Please see clause 42 of the Deed and the Department of Employment’s appointed
insurance broker’s Insurance Manual located on the Provider Portal for full details
on the Department’s purchased insurances and the insurance requirements for
activities.
The insurance policies purchased by the Department of Employment contain certain
exclusions. For a full list of the policy exclusions please refer to the Insurance Manual,
which is located on the Provider Portal.
Arthur J. Gallagher Pty Ltd, the Department’s appointed Insurance Broker, is able to
assist with any questions or concerns relating to the Department’s insurance
coverage, contact information can be found in the Insurance Manual.
Incidents
If a job seeker or member of the public sustains an injury during an Activity, the
Provider should ensure, first and foremost, that they and/or their personnel
encourage the injured person to seek appropriate medical attention or call emergency
services depending on the nature of the incident. Where an incident results in the
death of a job seeker the Supervisor must call emergency services and try and protect
other job seekers from unnecessary trauma where possible.
When must an Incident be reported?
The Provider must notify Arthur J. Gallagher Pty Ltd and their Department of
Employment Account Manager within 24 hours of any incident and/or near miss that
occurs during an Activity, including those:
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that result in accident, injury or death of:
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any job seeker (including where the incident occurs while the job seeker is
travelling to and from an activity)
any Personnel involved in the delivery or supervision of the activity
members of the general public.
All Incidents – both Personal Accident, and Public and Products Liability
Providers must complete an incident report on the forms provided in the Insurance
Manual, giving full details of the incident (irrespective of whether a claim is being
made at the time). A copy must be submitted to the Arthur J. Gallagher Pty Ltd and
the Account Manager.
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A personal accident/non Medicare expenses claim form/incident report must
be completed when an incident involves a participant’s accident, injury or
death.
A public and products liability claim form/incident report is used when a third
party alleges a participant has been negligent and caused accident, injury or
death, or property damage.
The incident report must identify if the incident was caused by an instance of
misconduct by a job seeker. Misconduct is defined as being something that would, if
the job seeker was a paid employee, normally result in the paid employee being
terminated from paid employment. Any misconduct by job seekers may require the
Provider to lodge a Participation Report.
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It is important that job seekers have access to reporting mechanisms in the event they
wish to report an incident, lodge a complaint or provide positive/constructive
feedback confidentially. The Provider needs to ensure that there is an internal,
impartial and easily accessible complaints mechanism that can be used by job seekers
regardless of the nature of the complaint.
For further information in relation to the process for reporting incidents and
completing incident forms refer to the Insurance Manual.
Recording Requirements in ESS
The Provider should record details of incidents or accidents in the ‘Job Seeker
Participant Event’ screen in the Employment Services System (ESS). The Provider is
also able to report any instances of misconduct or threatening behaviour on the ‘Job
Seeker Incident Report’ screen of the ESS, whether or not the incident is associated
with a police report.
Risk assessments and
supervision
(This section applies to Work for the Dole and Voluntary Work Activities and National
Work Experience Programme Placements.)
Deed clause references:
 Clause 42
 Clause 88
 Clause 110
 Clause 111
Risk assessments
In accordance with clause 110, at the Commencement of any Work for the Dole or
Voluntary Work Activity or National Work Experience Programme Placement the
Provider must conduct and document a risk assessment to:
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identify potential risks and hazards associated with the tasks that will be
undertaken during the Activity, and
identify if the Activity is suitable for the relevant job seeker/s.
In preparing the risk assessment, the Provider should take into account the role of the
relevant Activity Host Organisation as well as the tasks the job seekers will be
undertaking.
Source any additional insurance coverage, where required
Providers can deliver Activities where tasks are excluded under the policies if
alternative insurance is in place. For example, the Activity Host Organisation may have
appropriate coverage, or the Provider can purchase additional insurance.
As part of conducting a risk assessment before establishing an Activity, Providers
should liaise with the Activity Host Organisation to determine what level of insurance
coverage is in place. If the Activity Host Organisation has sufficient insurance which
covers job seekers, then it is not necessary for the Provider to purchase additional
insurance. However, Providers should not assume the Activity Host Organisation will
have appropriate insurance. In some circumstances the insurance held by the Activity
Host Organisation may only cover employees of the Activity Host Organisation and
not volunteers.
Note: The Provider may wish to amend the tasks in the proposed Activity so that no
part of the Activity would be excluded under the Department of Employment’s
insurance coverage as an alternative option to purchasing additional insurance.
Identifying and assessing risks
When identifying and assessing risks, Providers should consider the following factors:
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the environment in which the Activity takes place
the job seeker’s personal circumstances (that is, working capabilities, caring
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responsibilities)
the level of supervision
the nature of the risk
the cause of the risk
consequences of an incident.
After identifying the risks, the Provider must determine appropriate methods to
mitigate the identified risks.
Providers have the discretion to determine how they document their risk assessments
for National Work Experience Programme Placements and Voluntary Work Activities.
Information on the process for undertaking a risk assessment for Work for the Dole
activities can be found in the Work for the Dole Guideline.
Providers must review risks on a regular basis and take appropriate action on those
risks where required. The Provider must retain Records of each risk assessment and
any action taken in accordance with each risk assessment. The Provider must provide
the relevant Records to the Department on request.
Supervision requirements
Providers must ensure that for job seekers on any Work for the Dole activity, they
maintain a high level of supervision with regard to the health, welfare and safety of
job seekers and members of the public.
Providers must ensure that job seekers on Voluntary Work Activities or National Work
Experience Programme Placements have levels of Supervision appropriate to the
circumstance.
Where these Activities involve contact with Children, the elderly or other classes of
vulnerable groups, there must be a higher level of Supervision. This may mean that
there needs to be a higher ratio of Supervisors to job seekers.
The Provider must ensure that all relevant Personnel and Supervisors:
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are fit and proper persons to be involved in the Activities
have a high level of skill or knowledge and training or experience in
—the part of the Activity in which they are engaged
and
—working with, training and supervising people in such Activities
have relevant work health and safety training
have had checks as specified in clause 8 of the Deed and have met any
additional statutory requirements before being given responsibility for the
Supervision of job seekers.
The Provider must ensure that each Supervisor, whether engaged by the Provider or
an Activity Host Organisation, notifies the Provider of job seekers’ non-attendance at
all relevant Activities or any other non-compliance with the Activities as soon as
practicable, but no later than at the end of the relevant working week.
The Employment Fund can be used to pay for Supervisor costs for some Voluntary
Work Activities as long as the cost is associated with the literal supervision of job
seekers on the Activity and not for any other tasks or services already paid for under
the Deed. See the Employment Fund General Account Guideline for further
information on what can be claimed through the Employment Fund.
Checks
(This section applies to Work for the Dole and Voluntary Work Activities, National
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Deed clause references:
 Clause 8
 Clause 88
 Clause 112
 Clause 124
Work Experience Programme Placements and the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme.)
For the purpose of this Guideline, ‘checks’ refers to criminal records checks and/or
Working with Children Checks or Working with Vulnerable People Checks.
Providers must establish whether the nature of an Activity requires job seekers
and/or Supervisors to have checks. Activities that require checks include those where:
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legislation requires checks to be conducted
the Activity is subject to industry standards or legal requirements that an
Activity can only be carried out by people who have not been convicted of
particular crimes
the Activity is specified by the Department as requiring checks and
the job seeker or Supervisor will have regular or unsupervised contact with
Children, the elderly or other classes of vulnerable people.
The Provider must arrange for any checks to be completed before allowing the job
seeker or Supervisor to participate in the Activity.
Providers should contact the relevant organisation in their state or territory to have
checks completed. Checks must be completed in line with the relevant state and
territory rules and regulations.
Checks may take some time to complete. Where required, Providers should identify
interim activities for job seekers while results are pending.
Providers should take appropriate action once the checks are completed. Where
checks show that job seekers or Supervisors must not do particular Activities,
alternative Activities should be undertaken.
The results of checks are personal and confidential. Providers must not disclose the
information to other parties unless given permission by the job seeker or Supervisor.
Check results must be handled in accordance with the requirements outlined in
clauses 35 and 38 of the Deed. Additional information regarding disclosure of
information and privacy considerations can be found in the Privacy Guideline.
Providers must ensure that any checks that have been conducted are still valid if they
are required for further Activities in the future. Further checks must be conducted
where required or where an initial check is no longer valid.
Providers can seek Reimbursement through the Employment Fund for costs
associated with job seeker checks for Activities not related to Work for the Dole. Costs
associated with checks for Supervisors cannot be claimed through the Employment
Fund.
For Work for the Dole Activities, the Provider may use the Work for the Dole Fee to
pay for checks.
Activity Host
Organisation
Agreements
Deed clause references
 Clause 107
 Clause 108
 Clause 110
 Clause 111
 Clause 112
(This section applies to Work for the Dole and Voluntary Work Activities and National
Work Experience Programme Placements.)
For Activities not related to Work for the Dole, Providers can provide the Activities
themselves or they can Broker or Purchase Activities from an Activity Host
Organisation. Where the Provider:
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Brokers Activities, it must do so under an Activity Host Organisation
Agreement (such an agreement is not a Subcontract)
Purchases Activities, other than Work for the Dole activities, it does so under
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a Subcontract and must comply with clause 48 of the Deed.
Providers remain responsible for ensuring that all Activities are delivered in
accordance with the Deed regardless of whether the Provider delivers the Activity
itself or the Activity is externally hosted.
When sourcing and generating Activities, Providers should consult with local
communities and businesses and undertake promotional activities to help identify
potential Activity Host Organisations. For Work for the Dole activities, Providers
should also consult Work for the Dole Coordinators.
A range of organisations can host Activities, including:
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not-for-profit organisations
publicly funded organisations, both private and public, that provide services
for their local community
local, state or territory and Australian Government organisations and agencies
Indigenous community organisations
educational institutions and registered training organisations
and
in relation to Defence Reserves, organisations approved by the Australian
Government Department of Defence under the Defence Reserves initiative.
National Work Experience Programme Placements can be undertaken in not-for-profit
and for-profit organisations.
Activity Host Organisations must not:
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have engaged in illegal operations or promote or condone any form of
unlawful conduct
be associated with the sex industry
promote or condone gambling
promote or condone any form of violence, self-harm or suicide
promote or condone any form of discrimination, including on the grounds of
race, ethnic group, language, sex, religion or disability
or
provide any other service that is likely to bring the job seeker, the Provider or
the Department into disrepute.
Activity Host Organisation Agreements between Providers and Activity Host
Organisations ensure that both parties understand their rights and obligations.
Providers and Activity Host Organisations must discuss and document the Activity
Host Organisation obligations, including:
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details of the proposed Activity and its associated tasks
the job seeker’s needs and capabilities
details on the Supervision being provided
the Activity Host Organisation’s needs and capabilities
the reporting of job seeker attendance
stakeholders and their roles—in particular, those who are best placed to
manage the risk and
work health and safety and incident reporting.
The Activity Host Organisation Agreement templates for Voluntary Work and National
Work Experience Programme Placements can be found on the Provider Portal. See
also information on host agreements for Work for the Dole activities.
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Setting up Activities and
managing job seekers
Setting up and managing Activities
Deed clause references:
 Clause 87
 Clause 88
 Clause 106
 Clause 107
 Clause 108
 Clause 109
 Clause 110
 Clause 111
 Clause 112
 Clause 120
Recording and managing Activities in the Department’s IT Systems
The Provider must identify and create all of their activities in the Activity
Management component of the Department’s IT Systems and place a job seeker’s
details against an activity when the job seeker is referred to the Activity. Providers
must also include Activity Host Organisation details when setting up Activities and
course identifiers (for part-time study or training placements).
This will give each Activity a unique Activity ID and assist Providers in identifying and
managing a job seeker’s placement.
Where there are multiple job seekers undertaking activities for the same organisation,
providers should create a single activity record and place the job seekers with the
same organisation into that single activity. A single activity record must not be
created with a number of individual organisations added as Hosts at multiple
locations and job seekers placed into the single activity, even where the job seekers
are undertaking a range of different hours.
Providers should create separate activities in ESS where job seekers are not
participating in the same activity.
The Provider must keep records of attendance for each job seeker who participates in
an Activity in accordance with the Deed. The Provider must make sure that
Supervisors are aware that they are required to notify the Provider of the nonattendance of job seekers.
Providers will also need to record job seekers’ attendance at Activities where the job
seeker has an Annual Activity Requirement. See the Mutual Obligation Requirements
(including Annual Activity Requirement) Guideline and Learning Centre website for
further information on recording job seekers’ attendance so they can meet their
Annual Activity Requirement.
At the completion of an Activity the Provider must input relevant details, including:
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adding Activity end dates
end-dating job seeker placement records and ensuring that supplement
payments to job seekers are ceased where relevant
finalising attendance information (including recording hours completed on
activities) for job seekers.
For part-time study or training activities, Providers will also need to record the
outcomes of the training course upon completion (for example, whether a certificate
or statement of attainment was achieved).
See the Work for the Dole Guideline for information on recording and managing Work
for the Dole activities in the Department’s IT Systems.
Commencing and managing a job seeker in an Activity
When identifying an appropriate Activity for job seekers, Providers should:
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identify and appropriately take into account the individual needs of the job
seeker
explain the timeframes for commencing an Activity and the consequences of
not commencing in an Activity within the required timeframe
identify the frequency of Contact with the job seeker. The frequency, timing
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and duration of this Contact will be negotiated between the Provider and the
job seeker and should be commensurate with the job seeker’s needs.
A Provider must, in consultation with the job seeker, update a job seekers’ Job Plan
with information about the selected Activity. Once a job seeker has commenced an
Activity, the Provider must support them to meet the terms of their Job Plan.
The Job Plan must also include the number of hours each fortnight a job seeker is
required to undertake to meet their Annual Activity Requirement, subject to the
Mutual Obligation Requirements (including Annual Activity Requirement) Guideline
and the Job Plans Guideline.
As appropriate, Providers should support job seekers by:
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meeting with or contacting job seekers to obtain feedback on their progress
and resolving issues that may arise
providing or ensuring adequate supervision on the Activity to maintain the
general health and welfare of all job seekers and ensuring that work health
and safety standards are upheld
ensuring that job seekers have adequate safety equipment and clothing for
the Activity
ensuring that job seekers are provided with all things necessary for
participation in Activities, including Materials, equipment, on-site Services
and facilities (such as toilets) and training
ensuring that the job seekers are benefiting from the Activity, enhancing their
Employment prospects and not being exploited
monitoring the job seekers’ progress, attendance, behaviour and satisfaction
with the Activity
keeping an accurate record of attendance.
Job seekers will generally be required to source their own transport to and from an
Activity. In some instances Providers will be required to, or may choose to, arrange
transport for job seekers to and from an Activity in cases where:
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a job seeker does not have access to a vehicle or does not have a drivers
licence or alternative transport options such as public transport are not
available
the Activity is at an isolated location
access to the Activity is along an unsealed road or track or
the Activity has a residential or overnight accommodation component.
Where Providers are transporting job seekers to and/or from an Activity, this must be
included in their risk assessment of the Activity.
Some job seeker costs associated with Activities (other than Work for the Dole) may
be reimbursed through the Employment Fund. See the Employment Fund General
Account Guideline for further information.
Activity-specific
information
Deed clause references:
 Clause 69
 Clause 88
 Clause 106
 Clause 107
Work for the Dole
Please see the Work for the Dole Guideline for information specific to Work for the
Dole activities.
National Work Experience Programme
Under National Work Experience Programme Placements, the Provider may provide
or Broker up to a maximum of four weeks of unpaid work experience:
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Clause 108
Clause 109
Clause 110
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if the National Work Experience Programme Placement does not, in whole or
in part, involve work which would have been undertaken by a paid worker if
the National Work Experience Programme Placement had not taken place and
in accordance with this Guideline.
National Work Experience Programme Placements can occur in for-profit and not-forprofit organisations (referred to as Activity Host Organisations) and should have a
likelihood of an outcome of paid Employment. An National Work Experience
Programme Placement is not Employment or training, an apprenticeship or other
similar scheme.
Eligible job seekers undertaking an National Work Experience Programme Placement
will be paid an Approved Programme of Work Supplement of $20.80 per fortnight to
assist with the costs of participating.
National Work Experience Programme Placements:
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are voluntary
are for job seekers aged 18 years and over and who are receiving an income
support payment
must only be up to a maximum of 50 hours a fortnight and involve a
maximum duration of four weeks total participation time
are not Employment, and do not, in themselves, entail creating an
Employment arrangement
must not be approved if an organisation has downsized its workforce in the
previous 12 months (that is, through redundancies or termination) and the
proposed Activities involve the same tasks as those performed by the
employees made redundant
must not be used as a stop-gap measure while an organisation is undertaking
recruitment exercises or as a way of meeting ad-hoc needs in lieu of creating
paid Employment opportunities
must be ended where the Activity Host Organisation offers a paid
employment position to the job seeker
should be of a shorter duration (e.g. less than two weeks) if the employment
opportunity is short term (i.e. less than six months).
An National Work Experience Programme Placement should be ended if an
organisation downsizes its workforce at the time of hosting a placement.
Providers must ensure that each National Work Experience Programme Placement:
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is not an Employment relationship under the relevant state or territory
legislation
has an National Work Experience Programme Agreement Form completed
before its commencement (this form can be found at the end of this
Guideline), and
complies with the rules and regulations relating to unpaid work at
http://www.fairwork.gov.au/.
Voluntary Work
Voluntary Work must only be undertaken in a not-for-profit community organisation.
Voluntary Work Activities should:
 be of benefit to the job seeker and the local community and offer no financial
gain to the volunteer organisation (also referred to as an Activity Host
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Organisation)
provide the job seeker with the opportunity to gain vocational and nonvocational skills that will directly improve their Employment prospects
provide opportunities that will develop or enhance a job seeker’s ability to
work as part of a team, take directions from a supervisor, work
independently, communicate effectively and become more motivated and
dependable.
Voluntary Work Activities must not exceed 26 weeks duration unless this is the best
participation option under the circumstances as determined by the Provider.
Voluntary Work Activities can be conducted in an Activity Host Organisation’s place of
business where all other requirements specified in the Deed have been met.
Part-Time Employment
Part-time employment is defined as work that is not on a permanent, full time basis
and can include work on a casual or temporary basis as well as self-employment.
Where hours undertaken in part-time employment or self-employment during the
Work for the Dole Phase do not fully satisfy the hours required to meet the job
seeker’s Annual Activity Requirement, the job seeker must be placed into other
suitable activities to meet their Annual Activity Requirement.
It is up to providers to determine what they accept as valid evidence of a job seeker’s
paid work or self-employment so that this can count towards their Annual Activity
Requirement. Providers should discuss and seek agreement on what constitutes
acceptable evidence of with their job seeker. Further information is available in the
Mutual Obligation Requirements (including Annual Activity Requirement) Guidelines.
Training and Part-Time study
Training and Part-time study provides job seekers with the opportunity to learn skills
and gain qualifications that will improve their prospects of finding work.
Before referring a job seeker to training, the Provider will need to determine whether
training is in the best interests of the job seeker and identify a suitable course.
Job seekers can undertake Part-time study or training at any time. In some
circumstances it can meet a job seeker’s Annual Activity Requirement (see Mutual
Obligation Requirements (including Annual Activity Requirement) Guideline for
further information on the Annual Activity Requirement).
Part-time study and training can be funded through the Employment Fund in limited
circumstances. Please see the Employment Fund: General Account Guideline for
further information.
Where study is undertaken online, providers can request documentary evidence from
job seekers of the online hours that they complete. Where the study hours are not
sufficient to meet the job seeker’s Annual Activity Requirement, other activities will
need to be undertaken to meet the Annual Activity Requirement.
For information on participation in approved short courses, please see the Mutual
Obligation Requirements (including Annual Activity Requirement) Guideline.
National training entitlement
The National Partnership Agreement on Skills Reform introduced on 1 July 2012
includes a national entitlement to a government-subsidised training place for people
without a Certificate III qualification who meet eligibility requirements.
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Process
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Where a Provider is referring a job seeker to a government-subsidised training place,
they are required to complete a referral form. The Provider and/or job seeker may
also be required to contribute to course costs in certain circumstances.
Further information on the National Training Entitlement and the referral form is on
the Provider Portal.
Accredited language, literacy and numeracy courses
Job seekers can undertake accredited language, literacy and numeracy courses to help
them improve their employability. Accredited courses can include those delivered
through the SEE programme and the Adult Migrant English Program where job
seekers are eligible.
Skills for Education and Employment programme
The SEE programme provides initial, basic and advanced accredited English language
training as well as basic and advanced literacy and numeracy training.
The SEE programme:
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provides for up to 800 hours of free training
can be undertaken Part-time (10 to 19 hours per week) or Full-Time
(20 to 25 hours per week)
must be completed over no more than a two-year period.
Providers must enter information relating to SEE programme placements into the
Activity Management component of the Department’s IT Systems to ensure that job
seekers receive the fortnightly $20.80 Language, Literacy and Numeracy Supplement
(where eligible).
For more information on the SEE programme, including programme Guidelines,
please visit http://www.education.gov.au.
Adult Migrant English Program
The (AMEP) helps job seekers to learn foundation English language and settlement
skills to enable them to confidently participate in Australian society.
The AMEP provides 510 hours of English language tuition to eligible migrants and
humanitarian entrants. To access the programme, job seekers must be permanent
residents of Australia or hold an eligible visa.
For more information on the AMEP, please visit http://www.education.gov.au.
Defence Reserves
Defence Reserves as an Activity is only available to job seekers who can meet the
enlistment and ongoing standards required by the Defence Reserves.
Defence Reservists receive a daily allowance to cover their costs while in training. The
amount of this allowance varies. All Defence Reserves allowances are tax free and not
considered to be income under the Social Security Act 1991.
Further information on Defence Reserves is available from free-call 1800 803 485 or
from www.defencereservessupport.gov.au.
Non-vocational assistance and Interventions
Other Activities and assistance can be undertaken at any time where a Provider
determines it is in the best interests of the job seeker.
jobactive – Activity Management Guideline
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Effective Date: 7 December 2015
Process
Details
Examples of non-vocational assistance include:
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parenting courses
careers counselling
cultural services and
personal development courses.
Examples of Interventions include:
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addictions Interventions
counselling services
disability Intervention and
medical or health-related services.
Some of the activities listed above may meet a job seeker’s Annual Activity
Requirement and may be funded through the Employment Fund. Please see the
Mutual Obligation Requirements (including Annual Activity Requirement) Guideline
and the Employment Fund: General Account Guideline for further information.
Other government programmes
Job seekers can undertake other state or territory government programmes, including
NEIS (see the NEIS Referral and Eligibility Guideline), where they are eligible. Job
seekers who participate in the Green Army Programme will generally leave income
support and will not have an Annual Activity Requirement for that period as outlined
in the Mutual Obligation Requirements (including Annual Activity Requirement)
Guideline.
jobactive – Activity Management Guideline
D15/661968
Effective Date: 7 December 2015