As a job seeker you can participate in work experience activities at any time—with the assistance of your Job Services Australia provider.
Your involvement in work experience activities can give you the opportunity to build on your existing job skills, learn new skills and improve your chances of finding a job. In particular, undertaking work experience activities can provide practical ways for you to connect with your community and to demonstrate your abilities to potential employers.
Work for the Dole as a work experience activity may provide you with opportunities to build skills and gain experience through activities which benefit local communities across Australia.
Key benefits of participating in Work for the Dole activities
Work for the Dole activities are available with not-for-profit organisations, or with local, state, territory or Australian Government agencies.
A Work for the Dole placement might see you working as part of a team on a group activity with other job seekers, or an individual placement with a host organisation (such as a community group or charity).
The type of tasks you could undertake on a Work for the Dole activity vary but can include opportunities to develop skills in:
- computing
- maintenance of vehicles and buildings
- landscaping or gardening
- office or retail
- customer service
- hospitality, including food preparation
- woodworking, painting, decorating, metalworking or electrical testing
- restoring historic buildings and vehicles
- helping members of the community such as the elderly, people with disability or children (you may require a police clearance before working in nursing homes or with children)
- recording local history
- producing videos, websites or publicity materials.
The range of activities will be different for each Job Services Australia provider and may include more options in addition to those listed above.
Job Services Australia providers will ensure that Work for the Dole activities:
- provide flexible work experience opportunities for job seekers to assist them in re engaging with their community and the workplace
- offer opportunities for structured training for all job seekers where appropriate and available
- provide work experience that will develop or enhance a job seeker’s ability to work as part of a team, be guided by a supervisor, work independently, communicate effectively and improve motivation and dependability
- seek local community involvement in activities that will generate outcomes to benefit the community
- comply with state and territory legislation.
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Who can participate in Work for the Dole activities
If you are registered with a Job Services Australia provider you can volunteer to participate in Work for the Dole activities at any time, if you and your Job Services Australia provider agree it will benefit you.
If you are a job seeker who has a work experience activity requirement in the work experience phase, you can meet this requirement by participating in Work for the Dole activities.
If you are a job seeker required to complete an Intensive Activity or a Compliance Activity, you can do this through participating in Work for the Dole activities. Your Job Services Australia provider will advise you if this is a requirement.
If you are a job seeker who receives income support and participates in Work for the Dole activities, including full-time Work for the Dole, you may be entitled to a supplement of $20.80 per fortnight to assist with the costs of participation.
How to become involved
If you are a job seeker interested in participating in Work for the Dole you should discuss this with your Job Services Australia provider. You may also want to consider other work experience activities that may be available to you.
How to register for assistance
Find your local Job Services Australia provider
More information
For more information on Work for the Dole contact your local Job Services Australia provider.
The Work for the Dole factsheet is available on the Resources page.