What has happened to my country?

[Tasmaniak]

Ok, so I've been out of the country for a number of years and when my partner fell pregnant we thought about it a lot and decided that we have a choice on where we want to raise our child. Not many people have that option.

Now as my partner is not Australian I had to explain to her about the medical system and the education system, all of which I've always been happy with here in Australia.

So, we moved back to Australia and my father opened his arms and welcomed us back under his roof, only problem being that it was in Broken Hill. No big issue I thought, can still find work.

Well, after being back for 2 weeks and still have not found work and our funds were running low I figured it was time to swallow my pride and knock on Centrelinks door. I jumped through all their hoops and was told I would have to enroll with a employment agency to help me find work. Beauty I figured! I guessed after being unemployed for two bloody weeks that I must be doing something wrong!

In the meantime while waiting for that, I was still cold canvassing everyone, sitting down with the telephone book, dropping off my resume, I applied for a traineeship as I thought I would try another career! My application was denied (didn't even get a look in!) because I did not have a Job Seeker number. WHAT THE **** IS A JOB SEEKER NUMBER?!

Centrelink told me I would need to see my "Job Network" agency for my number. My Job network agency told me I would need to see Centrelink for the number and I got sent in between the two places so many ****ing times it was stupid, eventually, I blew my stack and cleared the desk of everything at Centrelink. Thats when the guy behhind the counter called the Job Network agency and got my number for me. I still don't know what the hell this number is.

Anyway, yesterday I had my interview with the "Job Network" agency. Got shown how to use the jobsearch website (Knew that one) Got told to find work I need to cold canvas. I need to drop my resume off to everyone. I need to apply for work (How ****ing dumb do they think I am?!") then....the cream on top of the cake...

"after you have been unemployed for 11-13 weeks then we can help you. In between now and then, you are left to your own devices to look for work"

EXCUSE ME? are they here to help me find a job? I'm obviously doing something wrong if I'm still unemployed after 2 weeks and I need help! How can I sit around and do nothing for 3 months?

Then I got told the could "rehabilitate" me to re-enter the workforce by giving me training! I could go do an aged care course! Who the hell sends a 6'2", 100kg guy off to work at an old folks home?! I'm going to scare them all to death!

Ok, I think I'm done ranting. But there may be more.

[Shounak]

I see no problems at all.

Go to Seek, your local newspaper, prospect businesses, ring them up and ask them if they are seeking any employee's. You're getting upset because they're not holding your hand and sitting the interviews for you?

It's your responsibility to get a job. Not theirs to find you one. Go for a walk around town with 30 copies of an immaculate resume, if you're unemployed at worst it means you've wasted 2 hours of your time. At best you get a couple of phone calls.

I don't think there's any excuse to be involuntarily unemployed for 12 weeks. Recruitment agencies will usually have warehouse/labouring type roles available and some pay pretty well. I got a job with zero relevant experience picking/packing and container unloading, I'm 5'8' and was about 65kg at the time. Otherwise, a truck licence is usually obtained in a couple of days and can provide a bit of work.

Sure jobs might not be as abundant in Broken Hill as they are in Melbourne, but the responsibility to find a job is yours.

[Tasmaniak]

I see no problems at all.

Go to Seek, your local newspaper, prospect businesses, ring them up and ask them if they are seeking any employee's. You're getting upset because they're not holding your hand and sitting the interviews for you?

It's your responsibility to get a job. Not theirs to find you one. Go for a walk around town with 30 copies of an immaculate resume, if you're unemployed at worst it means you've wasted 2 hours of your time. At best you get a couple of phone calls.

I don't think there's any excuse to be involuntarily unemployed for 12 weeks. Recruitment agencies will usually have warehouse/labouring type roles available and some pay pretty well. I got a job with zero relevant experience picking/packing and container unloading, I'm 5'8' and was about 65kg at the time. Otherwise, a truck licence is usually obtained in a couple of days and can provide a bit of work.

Sure jobs might not be as abundant in Broken Hill as they are in Melbourne, but the responsibility to find a job is yours.

Hey man, I think you may have misread my post, or I did not explain it well enough. I guess my point is more of an issue that why are they wasting my time by making me come in to these places when they've said they can't help me because I haven't been unemployed long enough? Truth is they haven't told me anything I don't already know! I have been cold canvassing for two weeks before I spoke to them. My other main annoyance with them is that their idea of helping get back into the workforce is to send me off to aged care courses. Not help me, just pack me off to courses around the places.....but only after I've been a dole bludger for 13 weeks. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to be unemployed that long. I agree with you! I stated that in my first post dude!

They pump themselves up and so does centrelink that my only chance of getting a job is through them and they can't help me. I spent 4 days jumping through hoops to get my interview because their systems weren't talking to each other, trying to get this job seeker number thingy and being told to do something that I've been doing for the past two weeks....you know what I could've been doing with those 4 days?!

[minux]

lol, this is why peopel fall into the trap of welfare.

Once you finally receive payments, you have wasted so much time satisfying the needs of these many agencies that you cant be bothered looking for work.

Once again it shows that unless you know the system it never benefits anyone except scammers.

All the best finding a job bud, try not to fall into the welfare trap!

[Shounak]

Govt bureaucracies are always like that mate, avoid them like the plague. They're the most ineffciently run places ever.

As for the aged care thing, it's probably because there's a shortage there and jobs are easy to fill. That's what I'd guess anyway.

Btw, Centrelink's only gotten better. My mum used to work at DEET back in the day, it's much much worse than anything now.

[Tasmaniak]

lol, this is why peopel fall into the trap of welfare.

Once you finally receive payments, you have wasted so much time satisfying the needs of these many agencies that you cant be bothered looking for work.

Once again it shows that unless you know the system it never benefits anyone except scammers.

All the best finding a job bud, try not to fall into the welfare trap!

Thanks mate, now I know where all my hard earned tax money went all those years ago and why the Aussie government wanted me to continue pay tax on money I earnt while in the US whilst I was gone...to pay for these bloody systems...

Since my last post, I've recieved another two emails, thanks but your over qualified....and then another, how soon can you come in for a interview?

Amazes me. Over Qualified? What? are they afraid that I might know more then my supervisor and lead a revolution? lol aye yi yi.

[Shounak]

More that you won't hold the job for very long. Often it's good to have "dumbed" down resume's for certain applications.

[Tasmaniak]

^^^I thought I did.

Instead of putting down that I was co-owner of a car audio and security store I put down that I was a assistant manager for 8 years with them. LOL I figured that if I put down that I was an installer for 8 years then that doesn't show that I have much drive and enthusiasm...or does it?

buggered if I know.

[minux]

More that you won't hold the job for very long. Often it's good to have "dumbed" down resume's for certain applications.

Exactly, unfortunately employers think you might get bored, you may want more money sooner than later etc.

Even now I keep 4 resumes up to date, although for the same industries, I dumb them down or smarten them up depending on which company I'd apply for a job with. I am not looking to switch jobs, it just pays to be prepared.

Tas, have you thought about doing some licences to get some work in the mines? Dad used to work in one of the mines at Broken hill many many many years ago, it is how he bought their farm , having family in town will really help you over interstaters.

[danja]

Try for a job at a call centre. They'll take anyone. It's not a career, but it's money while you look for greener pastures.

I think the 11-13 week thing is because if they had to help everyone after 2 weeks they just wouldn't have the resources.

[MasterOfReality]

Broken Hill? Hit up the mines for a job providing you don't have a condition that precludes you to physical work. Doesn't matter what you do, the money will be half decent. Even the dude that cleans out the bathhouse after every shift is on at least 60k a year. Bloody secretries get paid 60k. You are also close enough to fly in and out of Roxby Downs, and as Olympic Dam are expanding, its a wise move to hit them up for anything if you aren't scared of working underground.

I used to live and work in Cobar and there are jobs if you are persistent.

[Tasmaniak]

lol @ the mines. They were actually where I intended to work. But they closed down a week before my arrival! Pretty much no work there for anyone without a degree that could be useful in mining e.g. geology.

Only issue with Roxby Downs is that means leaving my partner for extended periods of time, this is her first time in the country and I don't think I could do that to her. But, it definetly can't help to look into it. Thanks mate!

[MasterOfReality]

lol @ the mines. They were actually where I intended to work. But they closed down a week before my arrival! Pretty much no work there for anyone without a degree that could be useful in mining e.g. geology.

Only issue with Roxby Downs is that means leaving my partner for extended periods of time, this is her first time in the country and I don't think I could do that to her. But, it definetly can't help to look into it. Thanks mate!

I doubt all mining in Broken Hill has ground to a halt.......what about Periyila?

All 3 major mines in Cobar are up and running, and they will negotiate a 2 week on, 1 week off arrangement, on a drive in drive out basis. If they do fifo Sydney, then there is no reason for drive in drive out from Broken Hill.

Remember, the proportion of engineers and geologists at a mine is tiny compared to unskilled workers. I should know, I'm a mining and geotech engineer. One engineer is in charge of typically 30 miners.

You live in that part of the world - you would be crazy not to seriously look into it. If you want to get ahead financially (I can't assume what your goals are) then leaving your partner for 2 weeks might be a sacrifice that has to be made. My partner is not happy about the prospect of me doing fifo in the future, but she realises that you don't get paid the big dollars for nothing.

Good luck.

[Tasmaniak]

Perilya have halted mining and laid everybody off That was my intention was to pick up a job with them. Like I said, will look into it again but they have closed down.

[hsvpunk]

its 13 weeks without a job then they'll help you, BUT only if u quit ur job, NOT if u were sacked.
Been there and done that.
the only way centrelink will help u, is if u left the previous job with it being " conflict of intrest" between u and the former boss.

centrlink tells u to make an appointment for the "job seeker number" then they tell u, u have to go to the agency for the 'number'... they are meant to work together, but they cant help ya with ****.

U can start a jobsearch training program. Ask them about that when u talk to centrelink.
I have done it, u meet some alright ppl in it, and you'll end up getting a job in no time at all,

also, if the jobsearch agency find u a job, that agency gets a $100 for each job they find someone, and who sticks at it for more than 6weeks.

[pow3rslave]

i swear they must get a commision for ****ing people round and denying support.
i had a less serious, but still ****y outcome the 2 times i applied for aus-study first time they said i had spend too much time in my course (deferred) for a bit. the 2nd time they said i was ineligable because my gf who i live with earns too much.

this 2nd time i also found out that the time i'd spent in my course the first time round, WASN'T too long in the course by their standards. so now i've basically been told by the government to mooch off my girlfriend.

[danja]

i swear they must get a commision for ****ing people round and denying support.
i had a less serious, but still ****y outcome the 2 times i applied for aus-study first time they said i had spend too much time in my course (deferred) for a bit. the 2nd time they said i was ineligable because my gf who i live with earns too much.

this 2nd time i also found out that the time i'd spent in my course the first time round, WASN'T too long in the course by their standards. so now i've basically been told by the government to mooch off my girlfriend.

Well, to be fair there's only so much money to dole out, and by their standards your situation wasn't so bad that you needed the money.

[VXdarkmagic]

When I finished studying a few years ago, I tried the jobseeker program....basically after 2 weeks I realised they weren't going to do stuff all so I just went and found a job myself, took me a week of handing my resume around and emailing it in...that was in the city though

[minux]

i swear they must get a commision for ****ing people round and denying support.
i had a less serious, but still ****y outcome the 2 times i applied for aus-study first time they said i had spend too much time in my course (deferred) for a bit. the 2nd time they said i was ineligable because my gf who i live with earns too much.

this 2nd time i also found out that the time i'd spent in my course the first time round, WASN'T too long in the course by their standards. so now i've basically been told by the government to mooch off my girlfriend.

On the opposite side of that, my partner was unable to get Austudy because her parents earnt too much. Yet she hadn't lived with them for over 12 months but was still dependant on them?

the systems are made to benefit the deadbeats and not the people who want to do something with their life. Very backward setup really.

[hsvpunk]

On the opposite side of that, my partner was unable to get Austudy because her parents earnt too much. Yet she hadn't lived with them for over 12 months but was still dependant on them?

the systems are made to benefit the deadbeats and not the people who want to do something with their life. Very backward setup really.

That is exactly right.

Centrelink are abit of a weird bunch.... my folks have not long been back from overseas, and my younger sister was applying for a low income card or something, as she only works 20hours a week, so she doesnt get alot of cash... but centrelink wanted to know why she hadnt been in the country for 7weeks...... which i thought was very weird, they wanted to see passports, and all this other info.

[MEANVY]

It's this sort of crap that makes me so sick of Australia at the moment.
I've had mates on the centrelink payments where they were meant to be looking for jobs sitting at home, getting stoned and being all proud of how smart they are to evade the system. They never got checked up on and i doubt they knew what a job seeker number is!!
This was many years ago though...
But i agree with minux, the system is set up for the dregs to get sorted out, unless everyone in the last 3 generations of your family have lived on the street you earn too much, you work too much, your course costs too much.
It's horse ****!

My fiancee was looking at getting the ausstudy thing, while she was starting uni and i was a **** kicker.
Was told my...not hers MY parents earned too much money!
She has hardly met my parents and i havn't mooched off them in more years than i can count, i rang, spoke to someone then told them to shove their ideas up their ass.
She is currently working at a childcare centre, babysitting and doing Mary Kay sales part time while she works at her degree.
They are puffed up penguins when actually doing anything about someone who has a future, but when someone wants to sit at home and get stoned they are all for it!
it's not right!

[hsvpunk]

the thing abt all this... is that we can complain all we want about centrelink... but they are with us till god knows when.

Its not hard to 'jib' the jobsearc trainingh system. You have to find/look for 10 jobs in the fortnight, write down a small description, and a number for the contact.

in JST you sign a book at start of class, and once again when you leave, in this period of time you are too do research on jobsearch site, local papers etc and some set tasks.. this is then forwarded to centrelink... if it meets centrelinks requirements, you will get payed your bull**** dole money (fortnightly)

A jobsearch diary is given to you after 2weeks of being on the dole. In this you are to "look" for 14 jobs in the 10 working days of each fortnight, this is all inclusive of the above tasks at the JST training place.

Its a very boring session at JST, so its more a matter of wanting to get the hell outa there.

I myself did the JST, as i was looking to get outa baking (did not receive government funds, as i had enough holiday to live off)

[Tasmaniak]

So, question...I have a job. Great huh? Landed a telecommunications traineeship for the next 2 years. But, the pay will be 500 a week before tax! aye yi yi. How the bloody hell do I live off that with a kid on the way?

So my question is, since the position doesn't start until at early January, do I keep hunting for a better position that pays more? But not really know where it could lead to in the future?

Or

Do I stick out this position for the next two years on **** pay but get employed by Telstra (gauranteed) at the end of it and have a really well paying job?...I mean. it is a job with Telstra after all.

[VT-565]

I would keep looking. A job is a job and if you haven't found anything that YOU think will be stable enough to support you and yours for the years to come, then you go with the traineeship. This is a part of your life where you make decisions that can affect you and those around you a great deal. So think twice and act once.

[Tasmaniak]

yeah but I don't want to lock myself into the traineeship, I'm not the sort of guy to take a job then jump ship 6 months down the track. Buh, guess I will if I have too. with the kid on the way and all.

Whos idea was it for traineeships anyway? Are you really qualified for anything at the end of it all? I think all kids of today should join the military and learn a trade that way! hahaha