Centrelink and Workforce Australia help

Discover how you can access Employment Plus through Centrelink, and get help with Centrelink and Workforce Australia, to make the most of the employment services and programs available to you.

Starting the process with Centrelink

If you’re facing unemployment, it’s a good idea to start the process of registering with Centrelink immediately, even if you think you may not be eligible for payments right now.

You may need to register for support from a Workforce Australia provider, like Employment Plus.

Doing so will put you ahead of the pack when it comes to finding work, and will also open the door to growth, training and opportunities.

Here is a brief overview of the steps involved with registration, and what you can expect during the process:

1. Contact Centrelink to check your eligibility for support

Call 13 28 50 or visit your local Centrelink office, to talk to an advisor to make an appointment.

2. Attend your appointment with Centrelink to discuss your circumstances

It’s important that you bring 100 points of ID with you, along with any documentation relating to your employment status, i.e. redundancy letter, or separation certificate.

If you are actively seeking work, you may be eligible for financial support such as Newstart Allowance or Youth Allowance, but bear in mind that you are unlikely to be eligible for immediate financial assistance if:

• You’ve been in Australia for less than two years.
• You have liquid assets (i.e. cash) above the current thresholds.
• Your previous job was a seasonal, contract or temporary role.

Please note that there are special Centrelink payments available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

3. Find out if you’re eligible for Workforce Australia provider support

Your Centrelink customer officer will tell you whether you qualify for Workforce Australia provider support, give you information about different Workforce Australia providers and can make an appointment with your chosen provider for you.

Please note that job seekers with a disability may be eligible for services provided through Disability Employment Services (DES) rather than Workforce Australia.

4. Be assessed for appropriate Workforce Australia provider services

A Centrelink customer officer will place you in a services stream, based on your support needs, which will determine the level of services you can access through your Workforce Australia provider.

5. Attend an initial interview with your chosen Workforce Australia provider

You will need to bring ID, documents showing your employment status if you have them, (i.e. a redundancy letter), your Centrelink Customer Reference Number, and a copy of your resume if you have one.

At this interview, you will:

• Learn more about stream services, including accessing job search facilities, training and employment support specific to your circumstances.
• Undertake a skills assessment.
• Access help with your resume.
• Agree on a tailored Employment Plan.
• Find out about local employment opportunities appropriate to you.

6. Attend ongoing appointments and fulfill your requirements to continue receiving Centrelink financial assistance and Employment Plus support

In most cases, you will need to show that you are actively looking for work and/or taking part in activities to increase your chances of finding a job, in order to continue receiving financial support payments. These are known as Mutual Obligations.

Your activity requirements will be set out in your Employment Plan.