Seeking Inappropriate employment (28)

After not being employed for about 18 months and then having slight health issues, I did seek assistance from the Government, just because the medication costs were over $150 per month for my medical condition and my income was around the zero mark.

I have had a number of interviews with CentreUnlinked where it has been suggested that I seek alternative employment to my qualifications and experiance.

"What do you mean? I have spent many years studying surveying and civil engineering, and have worked in those area for the last 45 years years."

It has been suggested that I try Hairdressing.

Actually, not sure if this was a suggestion or was used as an example for some reason of looking for "other' employment.

This Thursday, I have an interview .... okay, it is Interview #3 with them because

Interview #1 was "I am not working" ....."Please come back and see us in 13 weeks.

Interviwe #2 was "You apprently have some health issues........Please come back and see us in 3 weeks as your circumstances seemed to be different to what we have been informed. You have now been passed on to...."


Interviwe #3 was "You seem to have some health problems. Okay, we will set you up to meet up with us in 4 weeks time to assess you further. During that time, you must apply for at least 10 postions per fortnight."

Hang on there ...... CentreUnlinked did recognise that 6 per fortnight might be appropriate to my experience.

Hang on ...... have you taken into consideration that during this much celebrated period of the calendar year means very limited employment opportunitis advertised????????????????

"I am sorry, sir. Have you satisfied the criteria set down by the Federal Government? I am sorry, sir. It is not the Governments fault that there have been no jobs advertised during your necessary reporting period."

Hi Wash


So, why don't you volunteer instead... and work just the 2 days that you need to...

You can find almost anything for 2 days, or do you want to continue back in the field that you came from.?


I have cut down this year... and only doing 4 days until May... and really enjoying a long weekend every weekend...

I cant wait to drop to 2 days, and then volley... seems like a beaut way to go??

The reality is if want money from centre link then there is certain criteria you must meet if you are not at retirement age or are medically unwell ..

If you don't want to work then go to school or work voluntary somewhere to meet their requirements ...

This is why I am doing a uni degree to allow me to work within this area .. there is no grey area with centre link its either black or white with no exceptions ...

If you are sick wash then get a doctors certificate exempting you from all work, if this cannot be done, then you will have to join an employment provider and apply for X amount of jobs per reporting fortnight or you will be in breach of your obligations ..

Ask your doctor for a full exemption ...

OR just do as I am doing and fire up a small business of your own, its less complicated ... trust me !! ...

You can retire at any age you like Mr Lookin, just that you cannot go to Centrelink for $ . You need to have enough in savings and super to fund your lifestyle...

Otherwise, you need to search for jobs until you reach proper retirement age, according to which year you were born in...

However, there are ways around it...

If you sell off your property and go live in a tent, with a few candles for company, you can manage it, or you can rent out your house and share live in a room somewhere, etc.. I know, I know, not a terribly good idea...

Wash, if you want a cheap house in the middle of no where... you realise that house prices are down a fair bit... ?

there are many super funds that will not allow access to your super until you reach a certain age Look'N ... so be careful where your contributions go ....

In 1970, I took out a policy with AMP which would allow me to consider retirement at age 50 (this was pre-super for us non-politicians). In 1992 when my workplace decided that I did not have appropriate attractions to continue having the work vehicle while Debbie had 2 good reasons that made giving her the vehicle more attractive, I cashed in the AMP policy and received the grand total of $5,000, or a little bit over, and purchased a vehicle of my own.

I have seen those ads on tv and do smile a bit when it shows Carol & Alice (sometimes Bob & Fred) paying the same amount of super contribution. In 25 years time, the value of the person climbing the steps/escalator/ladder has gone up by $20,000 more than the low life person going downhill downwards.

What I really laugh at is that they show that the super value is around $300,000 - 350,000 in 25 years time when people on this amount of super now are in the struggle zone at today's prices. I have heard that the "experts" reckon that the aim should be for $1 MILLION in today's values for a comfortable lifestyle.

Hi wash2you I see your thread is posted on the Jokes category and I tend to agree that with the unemployment situation being as it is, it's not likely that someone in your age group would find it easy to regain employment.

I personally know of highly skilled ppl in their 30s and 40s who are approaching six mths+ out of work.


Maybe just meet your Centrelink obligations and don't stress