JobSeeker Obligations
I moved to Brisbane from a small country town after high school to study engineering. I started a four-year degree in 2020, but due to failing some subjects, prerequisites, and subjects only being offered in certain semesters, it has taken almost seven years. I am now completing my final subject and should be done by the end of this year.
I received Youth Allowance from 2020–2023. Towards the end of my degree, my remaining subjects were spread out due to prerequisites and availability, so my study load fell below Centrelink’s full-time requirement. I was therefore moved onto JobSeeker, which I have received from 2023–2026.
While on JobSeeker, I completed my required job applications but mainly applied for paid and unpaid engineering internships, graduate programs, and entry-level roles. My degree also requires compulsory work experience before I can graduate, so I focused on engineering work that could meet this requirement, build relevant experience, and potentially lead to long-term employment rather than mainly applying for unrelated casual jobs while studying.
I obtained an engineering internship for approximately 60 working days, which contributed towards my compulsory work experience, but it did not become an ongoing position. Recently, a Centrelink worker accused me of “gaming the system” and said I should have been applying for general/casual jobs because JobSeeker is not a “career-building” payment. My employment services provider, however, has been much more understanding of my approach as it leads to long term employment.
I am now concerned that Centrelink could retrospectively decide that, despite completing my required job searches and obligations, focusing mainly on engineering roles (not even graduate yet) was unacceptable and raise a debt for JobSeeker payments I have received since 2023. Ultimately I moved to Brisbane to get my engineering degree than work as an engineer...not to flip burgers or retail.