3.2.9.30 Job Search - Setting Job Search Requirements - General

What is job search?

Job search includes all of the following activities:

• looking for job vacancies in newspapers,
• contacting employers about jobs,
• preparing and sending job applications,
• using job search sites and tools on the internet,
• registration with a JSA provider or other employment services provider, and
• attending the office of a JSA provider to undertake job search-related activities.

A job seeker may also be required to complete a job seeker diary, and to submit ECCs.

Monitoring job search

Job seekers must provide information about their job search efforts to obtain work. Centrelink uses the following tools to monitor job search effort:

• the application for payment form (SU19) (3.2.9.50),
• job seeker diaries (3.2.9.50), and
• employer contact certificates (3.2.9.50).

There are also ongoing interviews and reviews with both Centrelink and JSA providers.

Note 1: Principal carer parents and people with a partial capacity to work are not generally required to complete job seeker diaries or ECCs.

Note 2: Early school leavers must not have job search as part of their requirements to meet the activity test.

Standard fortnightly job search requirements

The legislation does not specify the number of jobs a person is required to apply for each fortnight. The number can be determined by the Secretary but, as with any other requirement made under legislation, the requirement must be reasonable.

Job seekers (other than principal carer parents or those who are classified under section 16B of the SSAct as having a partial capacity to work) may be required to make a maximum of 10 job contacts per fortnight (although, depending on the reporting mechanism used, Centrelink may monitor a smaller number than this). This can be varied to take into account the state of the local labour market and personal factors. It can also be varied to take into account any other activities the job seeker is required to participate in, such as training or WFD or if they are working part-time.

Both Centrelink and JSA providers have a role in setting a reasonable number of job search contacts for job seekers. (Noting that Centrelink usually only set job search contacts for Stream 1 job seekers in the first 3 months of unemployment, after that it is the role of the JSA provider).

As local labour market conditions and job seeker circumstances frequently change, specific rules on when to vary a job seeker's job search requirement are included in operational guidelines used by Centrelink and JSA providers. The broad principles underpinning those guidelines are outlined here.

The number of job contacts a job seeker is required to make should be reviewed when a job seeker:

• moves to a different labour market,
• has their chances of finding work affected (see example),
• makes Centrelink aware of major changes in their personal circumstances, or
• undertakes work.

Example: Loss of driver's license or suspension of trade qualification.

Varying a job seeker's job search requirement

The number of job contacts a job seeker is required to make each fortnight can vary significantly for a variety of reasons including personal factors. These factors include:

• access to reliable transport,
• physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment,
• cultural factors,
• accommodation situation where this is likely to impede job search,
• alcohol or drug abuse where this is likely to impede job search,
• education or skill level where this is likely to limit job opportunities,
• recent completion of training, AND
• current employment status (part-time or casual work),
• seasonal employment fluctuations,
• domestic violence or family relationship breakdown,
• pregnancy,
• level of English language skills,
• elevated level of family and caring responsibilities, and
• remote location (distance from labour market).

Changes to job search when a person undertakes some work - general rule

Job search requirements can be reduced when a job seeker is already working. The circumstances that apply to different types of job seekers are outlined in the specific sections that follow. However, for any hours of employment to count towards reducing a job seeker's job search or other activity test requirements, that employment must be legitimate and must be for an appropriate level of remuneration. This means that the hours worked must meet the remuneration test outlined in the sufficient work test (1.1.S.403). This is to ensure that a job seeker cannot avoid their job search or other activity test requirement, without affecting their rate of payment, by declaring that they have worked for a number of hours for little pay.

Where a job seeker with full-time requirements spends 40 or more hours in paid work during a fortnight, this work will contribute to them satisfying the activity test and their job search requirements can be halved. If the job seeker undertakes at 70 or more hours of paid work in a fortnight or if the job seeker's income support payment is reduced to nil, then the job seeker has no further activity test requirements.

If casual employment has only lasted a few days, the job seeker will still be expected to make the usual number of job approaches, as the ability to seek work would not have been substantially reduced by this work.

Special considerations - job search requirements during pregnancy

Pregnant women are not required to undertake job search during their last 3 months of pregnancy, although they can continue to do so if they choose to. However, during this period they must continue to satisfy the activity test by undertaking another suitable activity (although at 6 weeks prior to the date they are expected to give birth they become fully exempt from the activity test). These other suitable activities should recognise that the job seeker is not required to undertake job search activities and should look at increasing the skills of the job seeker for a time when they would be required to look for work.

Act reference: SSAct section 601 Activity test, section 541 Activity test, section 500A Participation requirements, section 731A Activity test, section 607(2) Newstart Employment Pathway Plans-principal carers, section 544C(2) Youth Allowance Employment Pathway Plans-principal carers, section 603AB Relief from activity test-certain principal carers and people with partial capacity to work, section 541(1B) Certain principal carers and people with partial capacity to work, section 544DA Youth Allowance Employment Pathway Plans-early school leavers

Policy reference: SS Guide 3.2.8.60 Unsuitable Work, 3.2.9 Activity Testing for NSA/YA Job Seekers - Suitable Activities, 3.2.8.10 Activity Testing & Mutual Obligation for NSA/YA Job Seekers Overview

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Last reviewed: 7 December 2009