Much obliged: disadvantaged job seekers' experiences of active labour market policy
Stephen Ziguras, Gavin Dufty & Mark Considine
Brotherhood of St Laurence, St Vincent de Paul Society and Centre for Public Policy, University of Melbourne
Contact Email:   szigurasbsl.org.au

The number and scope of requirements for people receiving unemployment payments have increased substantially over the last decade. This joint research project was conducted by the Brotherhood of St Laurence, St Vincent de Paul Society and the Centre for Public Policy, at the University of Melbourne. We investigated the types of activities that people receiving Newstart currently undertake, the extent to which they see these as helping or hindering their chances of getting a job, and what changes they think would help them find employment.

In-depth interviews were conducted with forty-five people using a semi-structured interview schedule which covered experiences of and attitudes towards Centrelink activity test requirements and employment services. People were recruited through emergency relief and employment services in Melbourne.

While perceptions varied, those with the greatest barriers to employment (such as homelessness, poor mental health and drug problems) felt the system was least helpful. People with substantial barriers to employment, at the same time as managing other difficulties in their lives, were so engaged in meeting their requirements, that these seemed to have replaced actual job search activities. In effect, the system operates not as ‘welfare to work’ but ‘welfare as work’. Many people in this situation expressed great dissatisfaction, even hostility, with Centrelink. The changes in policy reflect a new ‘enterprise ethic’ applied to both service providers and clients. Proposals to engage more effectively with this group are suggested

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