Mutual Obligation Requirements have been temporarily suspended until Tuesday 3 August 2021. This extended suspension of requirements applies to job seekers and participants with mutual obligation requirements across employment services programs − jobactive, ParentsNext, and DES.
This applies throughout the LGAs of Bayside, Blue Mountains, Canada Bay, Central Coast, City of Sydney, Greater Sydney, Inner West, Randwick, Shellharbour, Wollongong, and Woollahra.
This now means all mutual obligation requirements for affected job seekers and participants have been suspended — no compliance action will be taken, and your payment/s cannot be suspended. You will not be penalised for not meeting your mutual obligation requirements, such as signing your Job Plan, attending, or reporting your attendance at appointments or activities.
Use this time wisely
During this time period, you can prioritise being job ready! Employment Consultants will contact you to provide further support, assistance, and answer any given questions or queries. If your Job Search Periods ends during the suspension of mutual obligation requirements, you will not be required to complete your Job Search requirement. However, actively looking for work remains a fundamental.
If your Job Search requirements are due after the end of the temporary suspension, you are required to complete your agreed Job Search before it is due. Reasonable excuse provisions do continue to apply in these circumstances.
If you’re unsure if you are affected by these changes, you will have received a text from The Department of Education, Skills and Employment if you are a directly impacted job seeker or participant. Special Circumstances Exemptions do continue to be available through Australia for job seekers who require them.
Staying Safe, Mentally and Physically
We value the safety of everyone in our community and will continue our services with minimal or no face-to-face contact, as per all current NSW Health advice. Beyond ensuring you have access to our full range of Ability Options assistance, if you need extra support, please consider contacting the following helpful resources:
- “Head to Health’s” COVID-19 support
- Lifeline’s 24-hour telephone counselling service on 13 11 14. Or you can text 0477 13 11 14, between 6 pm-12 am AEST.
- Suicide Call Back Service’s 24-hour telephone counselling service on 1300 659 467
- Beyond Blue’s support service on 1300 22 46 36
- SANE Australia’s telephone counselling service between 10am-10pm Monday to Friday AEST on 1800 187 263
- QLife’s support service on 1800 184 527 or on webchat between 3 pm-midnight AEST
Stay safe everyone!
