EXISTING BUT NOT LIVING - BSL cataloguelibrary.bsl.org.au/jspui/bitstream/1/4480/1/... · Department of Social Security (DSS) statistics show that in April 1993 a total of 4,642 Job

EXISTING BUT NOT LIVING

A research p ro jec t canvassing the attitudes, expectations, aspirations and view s o f long-term unem ployed Austra lians.

Compiled bySue Jackson & Mary Crooks

October 1993

FUTURE OF W ORK------- Project---------

BROTHERHOOD OF ST LAURENCE

Socia! Poticy and R esearch Paper No. 9401 67 Brunswick St Fitzroy Vic 3065 Tei: (03) 419 7055 Fax: (03) 417 2691

Existing but not living

A research project canvassing the attitudes, expectations, aspirations and views

of long-term unemployed Australians

Sue Jackson Mary Crooks

C om m issioned by th e T askforce o n E m ploym ent O p portun ities D ep a rtm e n t o f P rim e M inister a n d C abinet

BROTHERHOOD OF ST LAURENCE MELBOURNE

OCTOBER 1993

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A research project undertaken by the Brotherhood of St Laurence for the Federal Government's Taskforce

on Employment Opportunities

Project managementMs Sue Jackson

Facilitation o f focus groupsMs Mary Crooks Ms Helen Threlfall

Assistance with focus groupsMs Joan Nankervis Ms Sue Jackson

Report preparationMs Sue Jackson Ms Mary Crooks Ms Helen Threlfall Ms Joan Nankervis

Administrative supportMs Kaye Bratetich Mr Steve Ross Ms Val Hutchison Ms Tania O 'D onnell

ISBN 0 947081 68 2

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS viiSECTION 1 INTRODUCTION 1

* Background 1* Aim and research questions 1* Methodology 2* Profile o f focus group participants 5

SECTION 2 WHAT PEOPLE SAID 91. The experience of unemployment 9

1.1 Financial hardship and poverty 111.2 Health 131.3 Contracdon of social life 141.4 Impacts on family 151.5 Anger and alienadon 17

2. Stages of unemployment 173. Coping with unemployment 194. Barriers and difficulties 20

4.1 Cost of job search 204.2 Employer atdtudes 214.3 Discriminadon 224.4 Age, skills, qualificadons and experience 234.5 Income support and tax arrangements 25

5. Job search 266. Services and programs 28

6.1 Government agencies 286.2 Non government agencies 376.3 Training courses 396.4 Labour market programs 42

7. Aspirations, needs and wants 457.1 Redrement 467.2 Voluntary work and work-for-the-dole 49

8. Social divisions 52SECTION 3 A CONCLUDING COMMENT 55APPENDICES 59

1. Schedule o f focus groups 592. Q uesdonnaire accompanying focus groups 613. Individuals and organisadons who assisted

in recruitm ent o f pardcipants 63

REFERENCES 64

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

A number of individuals and organisations assisted in the design and implementation of this Project.Special thanks are due to the 112 people who took part in the focus group discussions and who generously shared their thoughts and experience with us.We also thank those individuals and organisations listed in Appendix 3 who assisted in recruiting participants for the groups. We particularly thank Woolloongabba Employment Action Centre, Rockhampton YouthTrek, the Brotherhood of St Laurence Employment Action Centre at Fitzroy and the Brotherhood of St Laurence Central Highlands Region for their assistance and hospitality in making their premises available as venues for the discussions.Janet Taylor, Tim Gilley and Helen MacDonald from the Social Policy and Research Unit at the Brotherhood of St Laurence provided helpful advice in relation to the design of the project. Tim Gilley also provided advice and assistance with statistical analysis. Kaye Bratetich, Val Hutchison, Tania O'Donnell and Steve Ross from the Unit provided invaluable and extremely competent administrative support.Funding for the project was provided by the Task Force on Employment Opportunities, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. We particularly thank David Kalisch, Andrew Stuart and Susan Devereux from the Task Force for their assistance throughout the course of the project.

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INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUNDThis report details the results of a research project undertaken between August and October 1993. The project utilised focus group methodology to investigate the attitudes, aspirations and expectations of long-term unemployed Australians; their experience of unemployment; and their assessment of the value of existing or potential programs, services and approaches.The study was undertaken by the Brotherhood of St Laurence for the Federal Government's Task Force on Employment Opportunities which was established by the Prime Minister, The Hon P J Keating MP, in May, 1993.The Brotherhood of St Laurence is a major non-government welfare agency in Victoria. Since its establishment in 1933, the Brotherhood has undertaken extensive research in areas relating to poverty, unemployment and disadvantage in Australia. It has also provided numerous programs and services designed to improve the prospects of people who are disadvantaged in the labour market. This study was undertaken through the Brotherhood's Future of Work Project which is investigating the implications of changes in the nature, organisation and distribution of work in Australia.

AIM AND RESEARCH QUESTIONSThe objective of the project was to canvass the attitudes, expectations, aspirations and views of long-term unemployed people in order to illuminate appropriate policy and program responses to long-term unemployment.The key research questions were as follows :

* What are the employment aspirations and expectations of longterm unemployed people?

* What are the education and training aspirations of long-term unemployed people?

* What factors influence these expectations and aspirations and, in particular, to what extent are they affected by length of unemployment?

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* What are the major problems or difficulties which people face as a consequence of unemployment and, in particular, long-term unemployment?

* What coping or survival strategies are employed by long-term unemployed people?

* What services, programs or other responses would best assist long-term unemployed people to fulfil their employment and/or training aspirations?

* What services, programs or other responses would best assist long-term unemployed people to overcome problems or difficulties associated with unemployment?

* How useful do long-term unemployed people find existing programs or services?

METHODOLOGYThe research for the study was undertaken through a series of focus group discussions with long-term unemployed people. Focus groups are a form of qualitative research which can be used either as the sole method for collecting data or as a supplement to other methods, such as survey research (Morgan 1988). Focus groups take the form of a group discussion of issues or questions introduced by the researcher who acts as the facilitator or moderator for the group. Key issues and themes for discussion are outlined in a schedule to which the researcher works.One of the advantages of focus groups is the likelihood of people discussing and comparing their actual experiences rather than simply airing beliefs and opinions about a topic. In this respect they become a powerful complement to statistical and other research on unemployment. There are, however, limitations to the method. Focus groups are limited to verbal expression, observations are limited to the interactions in the groups and the quality of the discussion ultimately reflects the group discussion skills of the facilitator (Morgan 1988, p.17).A total of 16 focus group discussions were conducted across four locations - Melbourne and Ballarat in Victoria; and Brisbane and Rockhampton in Queensland. Four groups were conducted in each of these locations. A schedule of the focus groups is included at Appendix 1.Available time and resources dictated that the number of locations in which groups were conducted be limited. A decision was made in conjunction with the Task Force to confine the locations to the major metropolitan

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centre and one regional or provincial centre in each of two States. Victoria and Queensland were selected on the basis that they provide some contrasts in terms of economic structure and geography.A number of key considerations were taken into account in selecting appropriate regional/provincial centres in which to conduct focus groups in each State. These were:

* that the centres should provide access to an adequately large population from which to draw participants within a manageable geographic distance (i.e. a radius of no more than 100 km from the centre);

* that the rate of unemployment in the catchment area around each centre should be at least equivalent to the national average;

* that the rate of long-term unemployment as a proportion of total unemployment in the catchment areas should be at least equivalent to the national average;

* that the composition of unemployment by age in the catchment areas should be reasonably consistent with the composition of unemployment nationally.

On the basis of these considerations Ballarat in Victoria and Rockhampton in Queensland were selected as appropriate locations.Department of Social Security (DSS) statistics show that in April 1993 a total of 4,642 Job Search and NEWSTART Allowance recipients were registered with the Ballarat DSS office and 4,859 with the Rockhampton office (DSS 1993). These figures confirmed the availability of a suitably large pool from which to draw participants in the two selected locations.In addition, the work undertaken by the Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET) on the identification of natural labour markets (DEET 1993) proved to be particularly useful in selecting appropriate regional/provincial centres. DEET defines a natural labour market as '... the area within which individuals commute to, or look for, work' (DEET 1993, p.5). Rockhampton and Ballarat are the major population centres in two such natural labour markets identified by DEET.The Ballarat and Rockhampton natural labour markets incorporate the following local government areas:

* Ballarat - Ballarat, Bunninyong, Grenville, Sebastopol, Ballan, Creswick, Daylesford and Glenlyon, Ripon, Bungaree, Lexton;

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* Rockhampton - Fitzroy, Rockhampton, Livingstone, Mount Morgan.

The following table summarises relevant data compiled by DEET for the natural labour markets centred around Rockhampton and Ballarat. All figures are for the June quarter 1992.

NationalAverage

Ballarat Rockhampton

Labour force 46,505 40,677Unemployment rate (%) 10.73 12.92 11.38Unemployment level 6,009 4,631Long-term unemployment as per cent of total unemployment

21.95 25.6 29.6

Proportion of unemployed persons by age group

- under 20 years 15.38 19.4 17.4-20-24 24.7 23.3-25-44 41.1 41.5- 45 years and over , 16.89 14.8 17.8

Source: DEET 1993 pp.82-115

Participants were recruited through a number of community-based organisations and agencies in Melbourne, Brisbane, Ballarat and Rockhampton. (See Appendix 3 for a list of the agencies which assisted in recruitment of participants). These organisations approached long-term unemployed and jobless people with whom they had contact and sought their initial agreement to take part in the focus group discussions. From the lists of potential participants provided by the agencies between seven and nine people were selected to take part in each group.The primary criterion for selection of participants was that they had been unemployed or jobless for at least 12 months. One of the focus groups comprised sole parents only and a second comprised Aboriginal people only. The composition of the remaining 14 focus groups was determined on the basis of age or, in the case of a number of the groups, age and gender.

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Each focus group discussion ran for approximately two hours. Participants were also asked to complete a brief questionnaire, a copy of which is included at Appendix 2. One facilitator and one note-taker were used for each discussion. In addition each session was recorded on audio tape. These tapes were used extensively in preparing the final report. Participants were paid an amount of $30 for the time which they spent in the discussion and were reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in attending.

PROFILE OF FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANTSA total of 112 people - 56 men and 56 women - took part in the focus group discussions.The youngest participant was 15 years of age and the oldest 62 years of age. Almost 40 per cent (39.7%) of those who took part were in the age range 25 - 40 years. Approximately 30 per cent of participants were in each of the two remaining age categories around which the groups were constructed - 50 years and over (30.6%) and up to 24 years (29.7%). The slightly heavier weighting in the middle-age range reflects in large part the greater representation of people in this age category in the two sessions which were organised around criteria other than age.In Melbourne participants were drawn from a range of suburbs within a 30 km radius of the city centre. In Brisbane the majority of participants were from suburbs within a 15 km radius of the city. In the two regional centres participants were largely drawn from localities within a 50 km radius of Ballarat and Rockhampton respectively.Eleven participants (9.9%) were of Aboriginal descent. Twenty-five (22.5%) were bom outside Australia and of these 16 (14.4% of all participants) said that their first language was other than English. Of those bom overseas most had been in Australia for six years or more. Only three people had been in Australia for four years or less. It should be noted that in selecting participants a key consideration was that their English should be adequate to enable them to participate without an interpreter.Fifteen people (13.5%) said that they had some form of disability.Thirty five people (31.5%) said that they had children living with them. Most (68.6%) had either one or two children. The largest number of children was seven. The ages of the children ranged from less than a year to 19 years.Almost 20 per cent of participants (19.8%) were sole parents, 11.7 per cent were living with a partner and children, 15.3 per cent were living with a partner only and 53.2 per cent were living as single persons.

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Seventeen participants (15.3%) were living with their parents and four more (3.6%) were living with other relatives. Of those living with parents just over 70 per cent (70.6%) were 24 years of age or younger. Slightly more than 40 per cent of young people were living with parents (36.4%) or other relatives (6.1%). A further 39.4 per cent were living in group households.The longest period which participants had spent in any one job ranged from less than one month to almost 45 years. Just under 5 per cent (4.5%) of participants had never had a paid job since leaving school. Eighty per cent of these were 24 years of age or less. A further 14.4 per cent had never had paid jobs which lasted more than six months. Almost 20 per cent (19.8%) had never been in ajob for longer than 12 months.The length of time which people had spent in their most recent job ranged from less than one month to almost 45 years. More than 40 per cent (41.4%) said that their most recent job had lasted for 12 months or less and more than 30 per cent (31.5%) said their most recentjob lasted six months or less.Most participants (69%) said they last worked in clerical (20%), sales (32%) or service (17%) occupations. Only 19.6 per cent had been employed fulltime in their most recent job. Almost two-thirds (65.7%), had been employed part-time and 14.7 per cent on a casual basis.The length of time which participants said they had been unemployed or jobless ranged from less than one month to 20 years. Almost 20 per cent (19.8%) said that they had been unemployed or jobless for less than 12 months. The explanation for this would appear to be, in part, that participants who had recently taken part in some form of work experience or job placement through labour market programs treated those placements as jobs when completing the questionnaire. In addition some participants had been able to obtain small amounts of casual work during the time in which they had been unemployed. More than a quarter (27%) of those who took part said that they had been unemployed for between 12 months and two years and 36 per cent said that they had been out of work for more than two years. (Sixteen people -14.4 per cent of participants - did not answer this question.)Approximately 90 per cent (89.2%) of participants were registered as unemployed with the Commonwealth Employment Service (CES). Of those who were not registered 80 per cent were women.Almost two-thirds of those living with a partner reported that their partner was also unemployed. Slightly more than one-quarter said that their partner was employed full-time. The period of time for which the unemployed partners of participants had been unemployed or jobless ranged from six months to 28 years. Most (95.2%) had been unemployed or jobless for 12 months or more.

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In more than 85 per cent (85.8%) of those households in which children were living no adult was employed.Most participants (56.4%) had left school at 16 years of age or younger. The youngest age at which a person had left school was 13 years (2.7%).Approximately 10 per cent (9.9%) of participants held a diploma or degree. Just over 10 per cent (11.7%) said that they had successfully completed secondary school. A further 5.4 per cent had some sort of trade certificate or qualification.

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WHAT PEOPLE SAID

"TAcne sAawM Ac wzane ca^/c gcttzwg tagctAcr aw%/ Aavzwg fzscwsszaws //Ac tAzs aw<% f 'f /zAc ta Jzscwss tAzs wztA a/ztzczaws."

Male, three years unemployed, Ballarat

The focus groups gave us the opportunity to talk and listen to 112 people who have been unemployed for a long time. The people who took part in the groups were generally glad to have the opportunity to interact, to share their experiences with others and to have their views carried forward to the Task Force.Much can be said in two hours especially when people feel they can talk freely. Our task here is to do justice to what people said - to represent their views fairly and accurately.

1. THE EXPERIENCE OF UNEMPLOYMENTThe people with whom we spoke described their experience o f unemployment as frustrating, humiliating, demoralising, depressing and demeaning. They talked about feeling useless to the community and excluded from the mainstream of society. Older people, especially, spoke about the trauma o f feeling discarded after working all their lives.Participants discussed the financial hardship which they experienced as a consequence o f being unemployed for a long period of time. They also described the corrosive effects o f unemployment on their health, on their family relationships and on their social life.

"ftywst zwaAcs iwc sz'cA. f t zs sa rMstratzwg aw</ % Aas swcA sacza-ccawawzzc Aawwcfarzes. f t dzctatcs wAcne you caw Zzvc, zt S ta te s Aaw wzwcA newt you caw ^?ay, % S ta te s Aaw wzwcA yaw caw s%?cw<% aw yawn Az&' AzntAfay jAncscwts aw<% zt Jzctatcs yawn /z/c ... f t aAscsscs yaw. f t awws yaw. f7wc"z%?Zcy wzewt awws yaw."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"%M faw't /zac wAcw yaw nc Mwcw%?/ayc</ - yaw cxzst."

Male, 25-50 years, Melbourne"A/ter f /ait wzy yaA aw nedwwfawcy tAcne was wa-awc ta tanw ta awf tAc tnawzwa af /aszwgyawnyaA a//cn tAat /awg ycazsf f caw assure yaw was

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ready trgmgndooy ... i f it WOyn'tforyonr^riandy and yonr^Zmity and tAa way yon were ArongAt n A ... and yonr radgion 7 tAinA yon'd reatiy go ronnd tAa Aend."

Male, 50 years and over, Rockhampton"Ton gotta nndarytand da^rayyion Aacomey a ydct of ti/e anyway wAen

yon re on tAa dote. Fonynyt accq^t tAa fact tAat yon 're gonna Aa Aorad tomorrow and tAa next day and tAa next day ... yon don't neatly cane if itS Monday or Tneyday - Aaif tAa time yon wonMn't reaiiy Anow any way. WAo caray? Ttfnyt a d dAe .Satnrday and ^nnday ava?y day. TAa onty time it wontd Aa difarant M i/ a d o/* a ynddan yon migAt get a d ad on afoA and oA wow a Ait of excitement Agra today Ant once yon gat tAat jAAona cad to yay tAatS it, i tfn s t goey AacA to tAa yama tAing. ... WAan yon re ont o/^worA tAara iy notAing Ant tAa day - tAatS it. TAat y ad tAara iy, tAara!y notAing Aa%%?aning... 7gat/?dyad q f witA tAa Government."

Male, under 24, Rockhampton"7'va worAad Aard and yoddfor 3 0 yaary and 7'm fayt Aaing diycardad. "

Male, 50 years and older, Melbourne"My AnyAand and T AotA worAad tAara yo wa wara AotA ratrancAad a t tAa yarna tirna ... W ioyt onr Aoma and everytAing down tAara, yo got a caravan an d want tooAingfor afoA. ... My wAod worid way gona. Fon'va fnyt got rid of yix Aidy, yon 'va got a mortgage and tAa Aottom dropy ont of yonr worid."

Female, 50 years and over, Rockhampton"A/tar a d yonr yaary of worAing paying taxay, trying to do tAa rigAt tAing trying raiying yonr cAddran, a t tAiy ytaga in yonr d/e yon'ra radnead to Aaggingfor money."

Female, 50 years and older, Brisbane"TAa tAing iy too, wAan yonîe not worAing yon 'ra yort of ont of tAa mainytraam. Fon e t iiAcyonâynyt on tAa ondAird of avarytAing. Yon feat ay i f yon 're on tAa adgay of tAingy. Fon miyy tAa conytant Aaing witA otAarâoîa."

Female, over 50, Rockhampton"WAan yon ioye yonr foA tAa wAod ytmctnra of yonr doyly gona yo yon yand tAa Aidy o/f to ycAoot and yon tAinA 'oA, T'd read tAa %?o%?ar' - tAat!y i f yon can a^brd to Any it Aacaayayon can 't Any it every day, yon Aave to cAooye wAicA dayy to yfand yonr 60 canty, yo yon Aave a enf of cofê, do tAat, do yometAing ede an d tAen yon tAinA, 'oA it'y not wortA it, it'y inncAtime, 7 migAt gat drayyad, won't AotAar Aaving a yAowar n n td a/tar'

awd tAew it s 'oA, 7'd Aaue owe toworrow'. Awd tAat Aorri/ied we wAew 7 reatieed 7 was gettiwg wotAiwg dowe, tAe Aoaee wa^w't dowe awd % ad got dowe wAew 7 awrAed."

Female, Ballarat, two years unemployed"WAew yoa^re awewfdqyed awd it goe ow for a iowg tiwe yoa feei /iAe

yoa 're ajeiey^ to tAe cowwawity, awd yoa do get ve?y de Are$sed. Awd yoa tAiwA of ad iorts of tAiwgy - fa^t Aow aw 7 goiwg to get oat of tAis w^M,Aow aw 7 goiwg to weet wy Add, Aow aw 7 goiwg to doe? ... 71Ae Gooerwwewt^ aot tAere to Ae A yoa. "

Male, over 50, Rockhampton

1.1 Financial hardship and povertyPeople across the board spoke about the poverty and general hardship which they have experienced as a result o f unemployment. They talked about being forced into a subsistence lifestyle and o f the ultimately futile efforts which they make to stretch their limited income to cover rent, food, clothing, heating bills and transport. There is usually a shortfall at the end of each fortnight and no opportunity to save for major or unexpected expenses.A number o f older people, in particular, said that they had used up their savings and assets because they had been too proud to claim benefits when they first became unemployed. For at least one couple this had involved the loss o f their house. Others indicated that they had only claimed their social security entitlements when faced with the loss o f their home.

"Tiwawciai iwêcarity 7 tAiwA is a Aig /?art of it fdepressiowf. 7t toacAes eoerytAiwg. 7t waAes eoerytAiwg very dead awd Aoriwg. 7t toacAes your ego and yoar seifesteew."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"EacA zoeeA 7'w sA ort... 7 fa s t ring a f jAeo ie an d iet tAew Awow 7 Aavew't got tAe wowey fo r tAew - 7 get aAased, Aat toAat caw 7 do."

Female, (sole parent), Melbourne"7've ased ad wy saviwgs af? Aecaase 7 toon too fwoad to afÂty to CE5."

Female, over 50, Rockhampton"%M caw't f?taw aAead yoa caw't jAtaw wAat yoa're goiwg to do fo r CArietwas, Aecaase CArist/was doesw't coawt awywore."

Male, 50 years and older, Melbourne

"Beiag aaerapAryeJ tt ts very, wry, very, very, very - and 7'A repeat tt - AarJ to âw aay woaey ap Aecaaye wAat we get ts taAea ap ta reat a a J pooJ, ycAooAag paetpor tAe car a a J a t tAe cad q/*fAc%?ay tAereS very Attte te/t to yaw ap por aaytAtag a a J ttls very AarJ A? Jo tAat. Oae op tAe tAtags 7^ a J very AarJ ts to save ap pbr tAtags we aeeJ. LtAe - tAts ty oaty a a exarapte - ary JaagAterS payAAtAe way yto/ea prora ycAoot Arst weeA.TAatS %200 we've got A) p ia J tp tt!s aot pbaaJ. Wb've got to try a a J replace tAat payAAtAe a a J tty gotag to taAe ay a wAtte to get tAe raoaey ap to pay por A a a J tAat'y tAe yort op tAtag we p ia J very A arJ."

Male, over 50, Rockhampton"How 7've yarviveJ over tAe tast two years 7've Aeea very, very Jeyperate a a J 7've AaJ to rety oa votaatary ageactey per yapport, pbr pboJ a a J yapport. 7p7've AaJ tAe gay AtJ corae ta a a J tty taAea yorae raoaey oat op tAe reat, 7've AaJ to ayA pbr ayytstaace eacA ttrae. -So tAe ageactey Aave Aeea op ayytstaace."

Male, 25-50 years, Ballarat"Yoa 're JeprtveJ op raaay tAtags tAat otAerpeopte taAe pbr g raateJ tAat

yoa y'ast c aa 't ap'orJ. Yoa ve got to tAtaA twtee a a J yay ao 7 caa 't Jo tt. AayAoJy ta eaipAywwat past goes aAeaJ a a J ypeaJy tAetr raoaey. Yoa yay, ao 7 caa 't ap^brJ tt, 7've got to Aay rattA, or got to Aay AreaJ, 7've got to Aay ttpbr tAe aextpbrtatgAt yo 7 caa 't ap^rrj tt. "

Male, over 50, Rockhampton"7t!s very coAt ta Battarat, Aatyoa caa 't a^b rJ to Aaveyoar Aeater oa ...

yoapayt p a t aaotAerparaper oa. Yoa caa get gooJ a t AaJgettag yo every pbrtatgAt wAea yoa get yoar pay a a J yoa go pay x araoaat op yoar etectrtctty, pAoae, gay a a J yoa Aaow tp yoa Jo a 't pay tAoye tAtags tAea yoa'A get a Aage At A at tAe e a J ."

Male, 25-50, Ballarat"7'veybaaJ over tAe years 7 Aave Aeea yeAtag tAtags op "

Female, sole parent, Melbourne"7 atso tearaeJ Aow to cat Jowa tAe etectrtctty AtA, 7 cooA Atgger porttoay a a J yorae goes ta tAe geezer a a J aext ttrae yoa yayt reAeat tt, tAe Aot ptatey aye a Art op Aeat a a J 7 atwayy ta ra tAe Aot water yyytera op 7 oaty ta ra tt oa aAoat 73 rataates Aeprre 7 get tato tAe yAower."

Female, 50 years and older, Brisbane"7t 'y coattaaat. 7t'y weeA aêr weeA. Yoa caa 't yort op yay to yoarsetp - ta tAree aroatAy ttare 7 Aetteve tAty wtA Ae Aetter ... Aecaaye yoa Aaow Jaraa weA tAat ta tAree raoatAy ttrae yoa'A Ae yttttag Jowa wttA tAe pea a a J

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y?aper sayiwg tAis is tAis wccAs AiJJs - wAat aw 7 wot goiwg to jAay ? Awd Aopiwg to God tAey dow Y cut tAc cJcctricity o ^ wAiJc yow Ye payiwg tAc gas AiJJ. ^

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"Wiew you rc worAiwgyow Jive ow wAat you M m awd yow taiJor yowr Ji/cstyJc to yowr iwcowrc. As Mow an yow Accorwc ttwcmpJoycd yow exist yrom day to ây. Fow cawY jAJaw yowr itwre, yoM owJy Aavc tAc ^cwds to exist. "

Male, 25-50 years, Melbourne"W% caw Y cvcw draw owr iw^crawwwaôw owt optAat Govern rwcwt owe to Ae%? yow ... so 7 caw Ae doww witA wotAiwg to eat awd 7'vc got mowey tAere Awt 7 caw Y towcA i t ."

Female, 50 years and older, Rockhampton

1.2 H ealthA number o f people spoke to us about the effects o f prolonged unemployment on their health. For some these had been quite severe. Many said that there were times when they were forced to go without food.

"/7've Aeew_/ depressed cwowgA to sigw myseip iwto Ao.s%Mtat a t tirwes. 7*m ow rwcdicatiow a t tAc morwewt. 7tY Accw aAowt a year siwee 7 tAowgAt 7'd go crazy ip 7 didw Y see someowe or Ac sorwcwAcre sorwcowc cowJd Ac^ rwc witA my j&roAtcwM. Tty'wst gets ow top op me a t tiwres."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"7w tAc Jast 72 mowtAs 7'vc dcvcJopcd aw wJccr - wot a Jot oppww. Fowyast worry awd yow tAiwA to yowrsc^p wed .stop worrytwg wAat s tAc poiwt, tAcw it comes AacA awd yow Ye crooA agaiw. Foa'vcgot to try awd piwd tAis mowey jfrom ôrwcwAcrc. ô wAat do wc do, weywst dowY cat. Wc taAc it owt optAcyood Awdgct or wc dowY Awy pctroJy<?r tAc car; wAicA rwcaws wc cawY go awywAere. 7 caw Y aôrd to do vo/wwtary worA Accawsc it meaws a dO Am rctwrw trip to BaJJarat, dO to MaryAorowgA. "

Male, 50 years and over, Ballarat"7cwd to cat a Jot o/ywwApood wow, wAcrc A Jorc yow'd cat a dcccwt rwcaJ.W& raw sorwc cAooAs so wc cat a AeJJ op a Jot op^gs wow, Arcadls cAcap to Aay so wcAavc a Jot op toast, eggs ow toast, AaAcd Acaws, AasicaJJy Jots op tiwwcdybod - it'spiJJiwg. 7t migAt wot Ac aJJ tAat wowrisAiwg Aat yow tewd to cat a Jot more awd do wotAiwg awd tAc wcigAt goes ow."

Male, over 25, Ballarat

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1.3 Contraction o f social lifePeople from all age groups talked about the real and hurtful contraction of personal networks and social life which they had experienced. Many said that their inability, for financial reasons, to join in on social outings and events had resulted in them becoming increasingly isolated from other people. Some said that as a result o f being unemployed they had lost the base o f common experience on which their relationships with friends had been built.

"7 ased to go to tAe ASL oace a weeA ... aow 7 caa 't a^brd it. 7 Aavea't got tAe moaey to s%?ead on afew Aeers."

Male, 50 years and older, Melbourne"Foa^re oat o f tAe m aia swim so yoa doa 't Aave tAat tAiag ia commoa witA tAem //rieadsf aay more, do yoa? LiAe, yoa doa 't Aaow wAat's Aaf^feaiag ia tAeir tives aad tAey doa't Aaow wAatS Aaff?eaiag ia yoars, so yoa sort of grow a fa rt from yoar oid iead s Aecaase yoa Aavea't got tAose iaterests, a ad yoa've got to try aad maAe aew frieads, a a d ifyoa'rg Aoaie witA aofoA itS very Aard to maAe aew frieads."

Female, over 50, Rockhampton"7doa 'tget asAed oat as macA siace 7've Aeea aaem ^tcyed... %?eo%)ie tAiaA

yoa doa't Aave tAe moaey."Female, to 24 years, Ballarat

"Foa're aot sociatisiag witA j&eo te. 7 meaa, tAis is tAe r s t cAaace 7've Aad to iateract witA a aice g ro af ofêofiefor a wAiie. "

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"WAea 7first te/t scAoot, 7 Aad worA, 7 weat oat to aigAtciaAs eveiy aigAt, TAarsdays, Fridays, -Satardays, âadays wAea âaday^ wore tAe go, every aigAt 7 woaid Ae oat. 7 Aad a great sociat ti/e, wAere 7'd Ae eveiywAere, aow 7'd Ae tacAy to go dowa to my ArotAerls j&tace or to a R e a d 's , Aave a coaf te of Aeers, watcA a video."

Male, to 24 years, Ballarat"7 Aave aot Aeea to tAe ictares fo r tAree years ... tAe oaty time 7 get oat is wAea my family sAoat me."

Female, 50 years and older, Melbourne"7t costs moaey to do tAiags so we stay Aome a a d do tAe same o/d tAiag every day. 7t's d i^ c a it witA Aids. Yoa caa 't get AaAy-sitters a a d it costs moaey."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton

"%?Mr -MCM cAaMg^ ... yOM don't go to tA ^MCtWas or, ^y O M go OMf

wztA ôwôn^ yon go ont to a or sowwtAmg yoM don't Any adrznA, yonyMit go, yon onn't q ^ n d to Any nnytAzng to dzznA. Yon oo:n't a^w*d to wont^ wonqy on gozng ont ioczaMy io tAon yonr contact wztA jAco c dzwznMAcx and tAc ^ tcnd s yon Aaoc can 't nndorytand wAy yon don't w ant to go ont wztA tAcw."

Male, 25-50, Ballarat"7 Andgct wy woncy wed, ô 7 go oat eoery weeAend, Ant 7 taAe dAc %3.30 oat 'co tAat^ tAcce AottJe$ o^ water ybr tAe nzgAt and w aw tends wo tAe car; 7 don 't Aaoe to jAat jAetro/ zn, so 7 toAe a yew o^ wy yrzends aroand and tAey'd Aay wo a gtass o/waôr."

Female, to 24 years, Rockhampton"Foa don't Aavo wacA o^ a soczat tz/e. Foa stay a t Aowo, tzy to Aoq%? tAe Add down. LzAe a/ter Aezng on tAe dote ybr so tong two years or woro, wo *oo sort oy arraago<% oar woney to tast as tAat tong Aat yoa tzoe on a Aadget day to day. B a t tAat Aadget zs ve?y sw atf."

Male, to 24 years, Ballarat"7 spend wy weeA zsotated, 7 tAznA tAatS tAe word. 7'w a szngte person and 7'w zn a town wAere 7 Aaoen't devetoped reat yrzends yet, yast acqaazntances. 7'w zsotated. "

Female, 50 years and older, Ballarat

1.4 Impacts on familyPeople talked about the stresses which unemployment and poverty can place on family life and relationships leading in some cases to family break down.Parents spoke o f their concern about the impacts which unemployment has on the lives o f their children including the financial inability to go on school excursions and the stigma attached to children by peers or some teachers. They expressed their fear at the prospect that their children may grow up and not be able to find work.Some young people said that their parents were highly supportive. Others said that their parents had difficulty in understanding why they cannot find employment and that this had led to tensions within the family.

"7iS wry, ve?y de?aeaaiag a a d aoi oaJy asi ybr iAe êrsoa, ii aiso Jiers iAroagA iAe yamiJy a a d 7 iAiaA iAe Goveraawai Aas io sehoasJy iAiaA aêr iAey read iAese reôris aAoai doiag soawiAiag ybr iAe m aiare age aaemt^Joyed."

Male, 50 plus, Rockhampton"7 was ybriaaaie, 7 goi a JiiiJe Aii o / ari-iiaw worA. A Joi o / emoiioaaJ cAaages ybr ?ae Aa/êaed ia iAai iwo years revioasJy, 7 was worAiag aad wy AasAaad a a d 7 seâraied ia iAe yirsi iasiaace Aecaase Ae Aad ao worA, Ae weai away fa worA."

Female, 25-50 years, Ballarat"AM iAeseyears we've givea oar Aids everyiAiag iAey^ve waaied. AM o/*a saddea we yeM MAe a a iaseci iAai was goiag io gei waJAed oa - Ac AM iAe AoiiJe. W^ybagAi, iAe Aids goi a^sei, 7 waJAed oai wiiA a AJacA eye."

Female, sole parent, Melbourne"... Becaase 7 woa'i ây iAeir scAooJês, iAey fiAe âcAarsj Aave ^ a i across io my soa iAai Ac's goiag io Ac a doie AJadgerybr iAe resi o / AM

Female, sole parent, Melbourne"7 give my Aids ocAei moaey wAy sAoaJd my Aids miss oai? 7 doa'i w aai my Aids growiag a ^ a a d Aeiag a^cied . "

Female, sole parent, Melbourne"My moiAer gives aw moaey iy7 reaiiy accd ii Aai sAc Aags aw aM iAe iiaw Accaasc 7 caa 'i give Aer aay moaey towards iAe Aoase a a d sAe's goi a mortgage a a d aM iAe resi o/*ii."

Female, to 24 years, Rockhampton"My mam seads awayybryoAs iAai 7 doa 'i evea Aaow aAoai."

Female, to 24 years, Ballarat"My m am Aassies aw aM iAe iiaw. TAey doa'i reaJJy aadersiaad. M am Aada'i worAed ybr 20 years a a d sAe AroAe ap wiiA Aer secoad AasAaad a a d weai siraigAi oai a a d goi aôA, so sAe caa 'i aadersiaad wAy 7 caa 'i gei oae."

Female, to 24 years, Rockhampton"7 doa 'i iive a i Aoaw. W7wa 7 Jived iAere my moiAer goi oa my AacA aM iAe iiaw aAoai Aeiag aaem%doyed. Âe iAiaAs iAai iy sAe caa do ii wAy caa 'i 7 do ii. 7yasi Aad io gei oai oy iAere."

Female, to 24 years, Rockhampton

7 5

"%M gat say?y?art mA:/a tAay tA:wA or Awam tAat yaa aw /aaAmg^?r ma/A,Aat wy D ad aaaar Aad ta /aaA yar marA m AM //^ a a d //" tAay 'aa gat awy :daa m tAa/r Aaad tAat yaa Va aa t /aaAmg... yaa'ra /azy, gat aa t a a d ^ a d marA, tAarals marA aa t tAara tay /ad ."

Male, to 24 years, Ballarat

1.5 Anger and alienationPeople spoke to us about the anger which they feel towards bureaucrats and politicians whom they perceive to be remote from, and cocooned against, the experience of unemployment.

"7%agaaaramaaty?raAaA/y tAZaAs tAat tAa y aay?/a aa tAa da/a araa't da/ag as macA as tAay caa, ma tAZaA tAay ra aat daZag as macA as tAay caa."

Male, to 24 years, Ballarat"7'd /ZAa A) ta/A ta T aatZag aad Xaaaatt y?arsaaa//y. 7 maa/da't /ZAa tAa maaay tAay 'ra aa. 7'd /ZAa tAam A? Aaard mZtA am yar a caajA/a a/" maatAs,ArZag %Aa?a AaaA Zata tAa raa/ mar/d - Aaaaasa tAara S aa a/d sayZag - yaa Aaam mAy yaa gat sa maay y?a/ZtZcZaas ratZrZag Za Qaaaas/aad? - Aaaaasa a%7 tAaw yaa 'aa gat <Sa%mar/d, Draaw War/d, MaaZa War/d avarytAZag Aat tAa raa/ mar/d.""TAay 'ra aa/y marrZad aAaat tAa yaats aad garas aa a pZaca a^ââr aad y?aa /a daa't aaaat aad tAay /y?a/ZtZcZaas7 daa't aadarstaad Zt /aaaa%)tayiaaaty. 7t!s sacaad-Aaad ta tAam, tAay'ra aat Zava/vad Za Zt."

Male, 50 years and older, Melbourne"BasZca//y, aaa?y t:?aa 7 saa my aZaca - sAa's aa/y aAaat sZx maatAs a At - 7

yast /aaA at Aar aad 7 sit tAara aad 7 actaa/Zy yaa/ sarry yar Aar, /ZAa mAat sAa!s gat ta ga tAraagA mAaa sAa aataa//y gats araaad my aga. DZAa aaaryAady mas asAZag am mAa 7 mas gaZag ta vata yar tAa Tadara/ Gaaaramaat aad 7 aadad ay? mrZtZag aa my y?ay?ar 'da aat cara' aadyast cAacAZag it Za tAa Aa//at Aax."

Male, to 24 years, Rockhampton

2. STAGES OF UNEMPLOYMENTPeople described the stages they had gone through since becoming unemployed. Most talked about an initial period o f perhaps one to two months during which they felt optimistic, hopeful and confident o f getting a job. Young people, especially, described this as something of a holiday period. This initial optimism was rapidly replaced by boredom, depression

7 7

and loss o f self-esteem as their financial resources dwindled, they became worried that they may not get a job and they got 'sick o f sitting around the house all day with nothing to do'.From this point on people became increasingly worn down and for many it became more difficult to maintain motivation, particularly when they received no feedback or response to job applications. Most participants reported that they had become less selective about which jobs they applied for as their anxiety about finding employment grew and that they would now be prepared to take any job which they could get.A number o f people expressed frustration at the length o f time which elapsed before they were able to access training and labour market programs. Several suggested that they would have benefited from the opportunity to take part in employment and training programs at the time when their initial optimism began to fade.

"For tAe ybst yew mowtAs youFe sort o/" Ao%?e/uJ ... tAere's got to Ae sometAiwg tAere, 7 must get tAe wext owe, Aut tAew you reaJJy Jo Jo.se Aeart. WAew you start out you sort o/*jAicA awJ cAoose a Ait. TAew it gets Joww tAat youy'ust tuAe awytAiwg awJ every tAiwg AwowiwgyuJJ weJJ tAat you3e wot eJigiAJe Aut, you Awow, you y'ust weeJ ay'oA so mucA tAat you 'JJ y?ut

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"VMAew you 're uwem/rJoyeJ ybr tAe yirst tirwe or tAree weeAs it s great, JiAe aw extewJeJ AoJiJay ... a/ter two or tAree weeAs you've got wotAiwg to Jo ... tAe r a s t e r ... fa t GES/ ... tAew it starts to Ait Aome tAat 7'm wot goiwg to get ayoA."

Male, to 24 years, Ballarat"7 was quite iwtimiJateJ reaJJy at tAe Aegiwwiwg. 7t was quite a sAocA to tAe system to Ae witAout ayoA awJ 7yeJt reaJJy, tAis Aig wAew 7 was asAiwg aAoutyoAs etc., ... mayAe a Ait Ao Ae/uJ too. Fou wever Awow. 7t's JiAe a JucAy Ji/r sorwetirmes. B ut a/ter tAat your cow/iJewce starts to JimiwisA aw J it gets more /rressure awJ it maAes me yeeJ as tAougA 7'm a Jazy /rersow."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"îcA o / JooAiwgybryoAs, sicA oyJooAiwg^rr courses, stiJJ JooAiwg."

Female, to 24 years, Ballarat

78

"7've Aeew Aere /BaJJarat awJ uwem/rJoyeJ/ ybr aAout 74 or 73 mowtAs, Aut 7^waJJy JeciJeJ to AiAerwate. Now 7'm a very outgoiwg/rersow, 7 Jove to Ae iwvoJveJ, 7 Jo wot get iwto Je/rressiow Aut you Awow, Aut suJJewJy

if !y Aiffiag Mg 7 fAiaA fAg yAocA q/^yaddgaAy Agiag a/fgr 72 MoafAy, aof ggffiag aaywAgrg. A ad jAgq fg afzgayy fgdiag a^g yoa 'w gof fo Ag oaf fAgrg a a d yoa'ag gof %o fooA good a a d yoa 'ag gof fo yMifg a a d yoa Tog gof fo Ag AajA y a a d yoa 'ag gof fo yAota 'if' ia yoar a^garaacg . A/fgr a ygar or wAafgagr % faAgy toAgrg do yoa ggf ifyroM. Foa caa 'f yMifg a a d caa'f ...Mo M affgr Aoto yfroagyoa arg."

Female, 50 years and older, Ballarat"7? ngaiiy dogy ggf yoa dotaa dogya 'f if? Foa get fAaf a/ay yoa Aafg Aaaiag fo go fo ... 7 yif fAgrg a a d fAiaA 7 yAoaid go fo fAg CES fAiy a/fgraooa' a ad 7 fAiaA, Wo 7 caw 'f - 7'd go foMorroa?'."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"7'ag acfaafAy doAAora^Ty aof goag fo a a iafgraigw. Ti S go^ MM o fAaf yfagg fAaf 7 Aavg yaf fAgrg af Aoatg a a d 7'ag yfayfgd fo ggf drgyygd a a d 7'ag fAoagAf, WAy AofAgr?'"

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"TAg A?aggryoa^rg aagMÂfoygd fAg Morg aoficg fAgy faAg o/^yoa. A^gr ygaga MoafAy fAgy Ariag Mg ia ybr a fafA. 7 aayA fAgy'd doag fAaf a ioag fiaM ago."

Male, 24 years, Brisbane"7f fooA wg M% MoafAy fo ggf oafo EEAP, yix MoafAy, a a d 7 Mgaa 7 wgaf fAroagA %Ag ?a%7gry, Tladaraf a a d AfgfAoarag jAa^gry, CE^, oA Cgafrg, did rgyaa^, Aad yoA coaaygEiag; gagryfAiag 7 coafd jAoyyiAfy do a a d 7 Aad aof Aiag aow 7 doa 'f ygg fAgyayficg ia if af a d ."

Female, to 24 years, Ballarat"7f y fwo ygary Ag/org yoa yfarf ggffiag aayfAiag oaf o/ GES. 7 Mgaa 7'ag Agga aagM^foygd ôr fa/o ygary a a d 7'og oaAy yayf yoaad oaf fAgrg arg goarygy a&ai&zAfg fo Mg. 71Agy'og agogr oagg ... 7 frigd oacg oa a^y owa fo ggf a coaryg fAroagA ÂifASAarg a a d way AaocAgd AacA oa if a a d if wasa'f aa fii fAiy iayf fimg fAaf 7gof fAroagA fo fAg GE& "


3 . COPING WITH UNEMPLOYMENTMany people spoke about their efforts to build activity, structure and routine into their days. The means by which they attempted to do this differed according to individual circumstances, most particularly on the basis of whether there were children to be looked after and the limits to personal mobility. For some it involved voluntary work. For some it meant

getting up and dressing each day as they would if they were going to work and putting in a full working day at the local SkillShare either studying or seeking work. For many it involved finding things to do around the home.

"7 MMia/Zy aw ^rgffy good of wy^gy fo do io?HgfAmg gpgryday .so fAaf if faAgs wy mind o y fAi^gi o^d 7'vg Aggw ^roôcfiog w iO?ng orga an d fAof moAg wg g / wmcA Agffgr oAoof my^gy "

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton'7 Agg%? wy^gyjArgffy Aoyy. 7 worA j&reffy Aard, aroaad f Ag yard a a d go oof JooAmg ybr toorA."

Male, 50 years and older, Ballarat"W^Tog AoogAf o ar Aomg, wg'vg Ag^f occa^^d, wg'vg doa^ a /of q/*toorA oa fAof. 71Ag wi/g Aad fArgg wta/'or o^grafio/M, ô 7'w more or /g^j fAg AotMgwi/g of Ao?ag /ooA/ag q^gr fAgm."

Male, 50 years and older, Ballarat"7jf7 a/ana 'f ta a roafiag 7 woa/d Ag :a a rga/ r a f ."

Male, 50 years and older, Melbourne

4 . BARRIERS AND DIFFICULTIESThe people we spoke to identified a range of barriers which they confront in their efforts to find employment. In very broad terms the biggest obstacle which people believe they face is that there are simply not enough jobs. Beyond this, however, people identified a number o f specific barriers with which they are confronted. These included a lack of jobs; the cost of job search; employer attitudes, expectations and practices; a lack of adequate or affordable transport; and discrimination of various kinds. They also pointed to issues relating to age, skills, experience and qualifications.

4.1 Cost o f job searchThe costs o f job searching - typing, photocopying of resumes, postage, telephone calls and interview dress - were cited by many people as a significant drain on already limited financial resources. Some participants said that they have had to limit their job search activities because of these costs.

"/Pofgofio/ gwy/qygrs/ gx%?ggf you fo Ag a?g// MTMgMfg<Z Aofyoo coo'f qy?T(% fAg c/ofAgs or fo go fo fAg AoirdraMgr. "


2 0

"C#wA%wY ^ g?^ Y)^mg CE$ wyB wAwazAy ... ybMM(% a wyw worM. 7 Y ja^M^zwg Âaf wy'H worA, wow^y is woi iA iwzôrtaw^ â?t o^ i% as /owg ay 7 Aaw %wowgA Zo gei Ay ow aw<%Jwy, yAr ybo7 awJ iAai. 7 s^^wd %70 a zyyyA, rawwiwg aroMwd waiwiy ÂiwgyAryAAs awzi cawyiwg owi Ay vaJwwiary wozA 7 <%o. "

Male, 50 years and older, Ballarat"7 cawwci ^ y awd 7 Aav wY goi a vyry good awi iwg y%y%y awd 7 cawY aÂrd io jAay a iy isi %30 %o do ^ yrysM^y/."

Male, 25-50 years, Ballaraty%s% OM% /ooAiwg ybr zoo/A cawY ryady soy Aozo zwwcA wzowgy, 7'w ow y

gyMmg %i33 a zoyyA awd o gy arowwd WM?st%y 7'vy Ayyzz iooAiwg iArowgA /?a%?yyy, igÂowiwgyow cawY aÂrd fo star? jAayiwg traiw ydryy or Any ydryy yvyryday, ii adds w%), yoM ywsi caw Y aÂrd d, yo 7 gy Ay Mowday â^yr ZAyw Ay W&dwasday jAajAyz; a ioi zworyyoAy awd %Ayw Ay âiwrday jâ^yr awd yow go aM arowwd %Ay jAJacyy iooAiwgyAr worA."

Male, 25-50 years, Brisbane

4.2 Employer attitudesPeople were critical o f the attitudes, expectations and practices of employers. A number said that some employers are unable to properly assess the skills and qualifications o f those applying for jobs, they do not understand what certificates or other qualifications signify and do not recognise the skills or experience gained through voluntary and unpaid work. Some said that employers are often unclear about the requirements o f the jobs they are offering. Many were critical of what they saw as unrealistic employer expectations, particularly as represented in the listings on CES jobs boards.People generally, expressed disappointment at the failure o f employers to acknowledge or respond to job applications. Quite a few expressed anger at what they saw as being a widespread practice o f publicly advertising positions to which an internal appointment has already been made or is likely. They suggested that this practice was particularly common amongst government bodies and those which receive public funds. In one or two places people spoke about large employers taking on additional staff while telling existing casual staff that there was no work.Older people expressed concern that younger managers and employers are uncomfortable with supervising an older, possibly more experienced worker, and are therefore reluctant to employ them.

"Ccrfi/zcatcs arc gzvcw ow Ay TAAE wwd ow Awt cwz/?Zqycr$ dow't Awozo zoAzzt tAey zweww - zoAwt yAz/L tAqy zwdzcate. TAey Aave wo zdca oy tAc yAdL wycd m vo/wwtazy zoorA."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"7tS cownwow wot to get tAc coMrteyy o/â Zetter or/?Aowc czzZZ zw rcsôw^c /to a^KcatMW$7. Evcw a wotzcc zw t/zc yw/zcr zoowZd Aci z. 7t!s vczy dMAczzrtcwzwg wot Awozozwg toAat AzM Azz/z/zcwcd."

Female, 50 years and over, Brisbane"7 a/%?Zzedybr rcZzcvzwg zoozA. 7 toon Zater toZd tAat /tAe czz^Zqycr/ zoawtcd soooraZ zcZzcvois io Ac cowZd rotate tAczzz owd avoid tAc ^zz/zcrawwzzatzow Gwarawtee aywewt."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"Lots o^ zco/zZc zw Awsiwess are zw tAczr 20s awd 30s awd tAey ybcZ tAzeatewed Ay oZde qwa/i/ied yzco/zZc. "

Female, 50 years and older, Brisbane"WAy caw't yozz, z/*yow'vc Aeew zw a sMjAeroisoyy %?ositiow ybr wost o^yowr Zz/c, go awd a%%?Zy ybr a y'oA zoAerc you've got a SMperuisor over you? Doesw't zwaAc awy dz^crcwcc to you. ... 7s it tAczzz, or is it you? CouZdw't tAey do tAat? Dow't tAey expect awy otAer eysow to Ae aAZc to taAe a ste/? dozowzoazzi;? You dow't start a t tAe to/z so you caw't stay tAere attyowr Zz/c caw you? ô a t sowe stage you'vc got to taAe ayoA at a tesser ZcvcZ."

Female, 50 years and older, Rockhampton"7 yiwd tAat /zcq/zZe dow't Awozo zoAat tAey re ZooAzwg ybr. LAere's a jztuatzow o^youTc too oZd, yow 're ovcz^quaZz^cd or Aasica/Zy, tAey dow't Awozo zoAat tAey zoawtyoa to do."


4.3 Discrim inationA substantial number o f participants said that discrimination, in various forms, was a barrier to them obtaining employment. Some said that they were discriminated against on the basis o f their race or ethnicity. Others said that employers discriminated on the basis o f appearance and pointed to the increasingly frequent practice by employers of requiring that job applications be accompanied by a photograph of the applicant. Women, particularly if they were sole parents, said they had been discriminated against because they have children. Young people in Rockhampton said that employers discriminated against those who attended State schools.

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A number o f participants said that employer and social attitudes towards people who are unemployed, and particularly to those who have been unemployed for a long time, created difficulties for them in obtaining employment.Many people said that they had been discriminated against because o f their age. (The issue o f age is largely dealt with under a separate heading.)

"Even rfyoM^w wo? ?oo oM, Aow oA% aw your cArMww? W& dow'? want yoM Aoorwg doyy q ^ Or rw wry caw, 7'm divorced, wAow'y yowr AwyAowd ?7 Aod r? j&M? ?o aw owg ?rww, wAa? wotdd 7 do ?Ag cArYdww go? yrcA? 7 yard ?Ag yaww ay any marrwd mo?Aor - y%wwd ?:ww wr?A ?Ao cAddww dq^wwdmg ow Aow yrcA ?Aqy wow. 7 way wa??y awgry wr?A ?Aa? q!wy?row."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"7 way ?o?d Ay owo /ômÂyor/ ?Aa? - 'oar <7ww?oA M Aag/o-âxoa awd

yoa 'w wo?, yoyoa wow/d wo? Ao ywdaA A "Female, 50 years and older, Brisbane

"A rowow wAo!y Aoow oa Awg-?orm wwowr Joywww?, ?Ao yby? ?A:wg ?Aqy do M yoo yoa'rg wwowrÂyod awd aM ?Aqy yay M w/'oc?. Ra?Aor ?Aaw yowwAody wAo Aay Aoow AAo yAor?-?orm wwompAyod, ZrAo yorrwAody wAo Aayyayt /oy? ayoA Jay? wooA wrA^roAaAJy go? ayoA qwwAor ?Aaw a ôryow wAo Aay Aoow ow? o/ worA yor maay yoary. "

Male, 50 years and older, Rockhampton"77ww way owo omÂywww? agowqy ?Aa? 7 rawg ap A ^w d do?arA awd ?Aqy yard yowd rw yoar wywrwo wr?A Âo?ograÂ yc 7 drdw'? go aay ybr?Aor ... 7 cAyod oÂocawyo7JoJ? woJJ wAy aw ?Aqy dorwg ?Aa?FBw? aow, wowJd yoa Ao/rooo ?Aa? 7'oo go? a /<Ao?o, 7'oo dowo ary wyaaw a/? awd oa ?Aoyrow? cooor 7'vo go? a ?rwy Jr??A owo o/^ww? 7'vo wooor wyod ?Ao wyaaw yrwco."

Female, 50 years and older, Rockhampton."Too waJAod a^ ?o ayoA, Aawdod ary wyaaw ?o a a owrÂyor awd Ao JooAod a? r? awd yard 'OA yoa wow? A /)Aar?rcaArr j&aAAc ycAooJ/ cJoyod ary wyaaw a^, Aawdod r? AacA ?o aw."

Female, to 24 years, Rockhampton

4.4 Age, skills, qualifications and experiencePeople o f all ages said that their age was a barrier to gaining employment. Older people spoke about being rejected for jobs in favour o f younger people and o f feeling that because o f their age they have been thrown on the scrap heap.' However, even young people in their late teens and early

2 3

20s said that employers preferred to employ younger people. Some participants suggested that employers prefer younger people because they can pay them less.Younger people, in particular, said that a lack o f skills, qualificadons and especially work experience hampers their efforts to gain employment. Lack of current experience was also cited as a problem by older people who have been out o f work for some time and who are seeking work in areas, such as clerical work or motor mechanics, where there has been significant technological change. On the other hand, many people said that they were constandy told that they are over-qualified for the jobs for which they are applying. This applied even to some young people, pardcularly those who have some terdary qualificadon.

"Ready, you get tAe opiaioa wAea yoaê over 40 or 43 tAat yoa^re ready ybr tAe .sera/? Aea%? Aecaase aoAody yast waats to Aaow y oa ."

Male, 50 years and older, Rockhampton"71AM age /woAiera Aecoaws evea greater wAea tAe distaace Aetweea yoa a a d tAe iastyoA Aecoaws evea greater. "

Male, 50 years and older, Brisbane"Z've worAed siace 7 was 761 / doa 't ted eo^te /ôteatiai ea%dqyersj tAat 7ased to adariaister a coryroratioa. 7yast say yeaA, yeaA, 7 caa tyê'."

Male, 25-50, Rockhampton"7 Aave a wide sco%?e. Foa re tooAiag a t a tot o/years oêxêneace. Now, wAat tAey w aat is soawAody witA wy exêrieace, /ra t iato a 7Pyear-otd Aecaase o/ tAe diêreace ia tAe wages AracAet. 7 go ia a a d xoaÂody wid say, OA yes, yoa 're wAat we w aat Aat we caa 't a^drd to %?ay y o a "

Female, over 50, Rockhampton"ZZow otd are yoa Mate? 7t was very dtsajAôtadag to aw. 7 weat iato ftAe

yactory/ it woaid Ae qaite a yew years ago aow. 7 waiAed ia tAere a a d tAe gay said to aw 'we raigAt Aaae soawtAiag goiagyor yoa aayway Aegoes a a d cAecAs it oat a a d says 'Aow o/d are y o a ? '7 said, 34^ 'oA a Ait oidÂe says, 'tAey w aat soawoae yoaagen 7 doa't tAiaA yoa'd Ae aAte to Aaadie tAis worA fstacAiag Aoxes/. '7 said, 'wed try aw '."

Male, 50 years and older, Ballarat"7 was asAed oa tAe /rAoae wAat age AracAet yoa are ia - 20 to 30, 30 to 40? A ad 7 said over 40 a a d tAere Is dead sdeace oa tAe /rAoae a a d tAey'd say, 'TAat doesa't worry as, Aat, yoa Aaow, we've got qaite a yew Aere.Leave a /rAoae aaraAer a a d we'd get AacA to yoa i/* tAe otAers area 't

2 4

.sattaAtg.' ... AaotAgr AitcAga Aaad owe 7 wgat jAa; tAgy wgat to gygat tgagtAy to tg/t mg ^ was 3^ Aoaw a wggA, mostly wasAiag a%? aad tt wen tgm'Aty, toag Aargt, AacA-AwaAtag worA. Dogsa't tAat tg/tyoa tAat 7 m too oM? <So 7ygg/ m owe way tAat tAg GES arg wroag. TAat, yoa Aaow, tAgy sAoatd Ag aott^gd wAg Agr tAgy waat a yaaior or a sga:or aad !t's aot so dgmorattstag ybr as oMtgs A? Aaag A? go a%oag aad yacg a/? to tAg sitaattoa."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"Oaeg yoa get to 27-2d or so yoa get jAasAgd asz&, too oM ybr a tramggyA^. t%'rg stacA m tAg aa'êttg (as 2d-24) Agtwgga tAg yoaager oaes aagt tAg gx^grwacg^ oags."

Male, to 24 years, Ballarat"7'm 2d aagt tAgy waat ôawoagyoaaggr/"


4.5 Incom e support and tax arrangementsA relatively small number o f people indicated during the discussions that poverty traps associated with withdrawal rates for social security payments and fringe benefits were a barrier to them seeking or accepting employment. However, it is perhaps worth noting that a much larger number o f people were concerned about how the $30 payment they received for their participation in the focus groups would affect their social security entitlements. One person questioned the degree to which current tax arrangements penalise people who have several part-time jobs given that this may be the only option available to some people in future.A substantial number o f people, especially in those places with a limited range o f employers, spoke about the difficulties which they experience in fulfilling the requirements o f their NEWSTART agreements. One young man in Rockhampton had been warned by a large local employer that Security would be called if he turned up again seeking work.

"7 woa't tet my AasAaad worA wow Â e dogsa't get a? %gast #300 a wggA, ofAgrwMg wg gad a%? mow ia <%gAt, EAg yoa Aavg to Aorrow moagy o ^y o ar Mam ybr jAgtroJ."

Female, to 24 years, Ballarat"yoa tga<% to yggt a Att AAe gnanaats, taAa'ag aay casaat worA yoa caa

ggt, aagt yoa %?a?%?oswety gtoa't g^getaw it as yoa Aaow tAgy % rgdacgyoar Agag/it Ay wAatgogr."

Male, 25-50 years, Melbourne

"7fS coMAiwgd, yoa caa worA yoar Aaff o ^ a a d jfdf ggf fgjj fAaa yoa ggf oa tAg dofg, jo wAaf'j fAg %<o:af."

Female, to 24 years, Ballarat"Aad fAg ofAgr fAing M fox. SoMgAody wAo Aaj a fof o/ jMaK yoAj - yoa arg affowgd 07tg ggagra/ gxgM^fioa aad aayfAmg f Agrga/fgr yoa ggf faxgd fo ? ra fg ... 7% giugyoa a a gxaM^fg. Oagygar7garagd %7000 odd doHarj a a d do yoa Aaow fAaf fAgy fooA %2000 oaf m fox. Now, wAaf w aj fAg j&owf o/* wg doiag worA or joMg o/ fAgjg jMaff Aajiagjjgj, ybr fAg j^M^fg rgajoa fAaf 7 was rgaffy ây:ag fAgM fo do fAgir worA. ... 7 was rgaffy Agiag faxgd of yoff fox ybr, jay, gigAf Afffg ^go/?fg aad oa^y oag oa gxgM^fioa. Now, ^ fAgy waaf go^fg AAg oarjgfogj fo Aoog ay'oA, wg coaM Aoog ayoA, wg coafd Aovg yad-fia^ yoAj, wg coafd Aovg yiog yoAj ia oag wggA, Aaf fgf MJ Ag faxgd oa fAg oag fox."

Female, over 50, Rockhampton"7%g foaggr yoa'rg aaga^foygd fAg Morg crq^ yoa 'og gof fo do ybr aayway. Now ybr Mg yajf fo ggf fAroagA My NEWS71ART acfw^fy ogrggMgwfs gogry s:x MoafAj 7'og gof fo go oof aad caavajj gogry day fo aad a d fArggy'oAj. 7f's ffAg rgaffy aarga/. 7 woa'f goga fgff ôciaf &gahfy 7 do :f. TAqy jqy yoo 'og gof fo do :f gog?y doy. 7f Syajf foo MocA. TAgrg'j yajf oof gaoagA /docgj :a T ocAy."


5 . JOB SEARCHPeople said that they search for jobs mainly by scanning local and daily newspapers; by regular visits to the local CES office (as often as daily or even twice a day for some people); and by canvassing employers either in person or by telephone. Many spoke o f the demoralising experience of submitting dozens and sometimes hundreds o f applications without ever hearing any sort o f response. Some said that their job seeking activity had, in varying degrees, diminished after a long period o f fruitless activity.Some said that they had to job search every day in order to fulfil their NEWSTART agreements. They spoke o f the difficulty of doing so, especially, when there are limited sources o f employment in their local area and when potential employers are unwilling to sign forms.

"Bajioaffy, 7 'ug gof fo ggf aAoaf 3 a.M. ia fAg Moramg raw down fAg jfrggf, mgA joMgoag'j wgwj%?a%?g7; Aavg a jAowgr aady'ajf Atf fAg jfrggfj. "


2 6

"My searcA yor a yoA May ocry âgmeafcd af yfryf, acm 7 am acffoefy fooAfag ybr ayoA aad fAcre's a d f^ eacc fa fAfaAfag 7Yf a ^ fy yor fAaf, mayAc 7Yf gefd, aoM 7'm acffocfy fooAfagyor ayoA."

Female, 25-50 years, Ballarat"A/ier a mAffe caaoayyfag's wo good. 71Acy gcf yfcA o^ yecfag yoa. 7Ac ofAer day fAe gay af fdnge Focaf cvaÂycr/ fofd me fAaf f / 7 come AacA fa asAfagyor ayoA AcYf cad ^ccarffy...77c safd - 7'm aofgofag A) gef yfcA o^ yearydcc a a d o ^ r y o a a y'oA, 7'm gofag fo gef yfcA o^yoar ydee a a d cad Secarffy. * Foa caw oafy do yo macA eyêefaffy fa 7?ocAy. yCE$7 doaY fed yoM fAaf yoa Aaoe fo ycaaoassY Aaf ff's fAe oafy May yoa reaffy gef oaf fAcrc a a d yAoM em^fqycry MAo yoa arc, yAoM fAem yoa Ye Aeea, Aaf a/fer a MAffc fAey gef a Ad e ra s e d o^rndA Aeeaaess a a d sfarf fooAfag af yoa ay a aafsaace ."

Male, to 24 years, Rockhampton"My /jfoA ycarcAY AcAaofoar Aay goae dgAf doMa, my addadc fo em^foyers Aay goae rfgAf doMa. 7f May good fo sfarf o^MffA, fAca 7 Mcaf fo WorAready, oy coaryc, 7 dfd a aamAcr oy coarycy fAere, fAey Aoosf yoa rfgAf ay, fAca yoa MafA oaf fAe door aad sfarf fooAfag agafa, aad fAca yoa yee some o^ fAe affdades yrom fAe em%?fqye?y, aad yoa AaoM, yoa Mrdc amay ydr y'oAy aad fAey MoaY coca aayMeryoa. 7 Mcaf aad Aad aa faferofeM a coa%?fe oy MccAy AacA fAere aad fAey aeocr coca Aad fAe dcccaey fo coaâc^ we, 7'oe ayydcdydr W - 7 W oocr fAeydaryears. "

Male, 25-50 years, Ballarat"Wdd afyirsf 7 Mayyeedag^refiy eafAasfasffc. 7 May dofag a fof o^Mriffea ayydcaôay, fAea 7 Meaf fAroagA a period MAca 7 May yoa AaoM, yoa 'oe gof fo a^ fy ydr Ârcc j'oAy a MccA, aoM dY Ârcc y'oAy a yo?7a:gAf, Aaf 7 ready d:da Y Maa^ o do d, Aad o Mrde Âcw doMa, Âca 7 Mea% ÂroagA a ychod MAca 7 dd%a Y ayy/y yor aayddag aad aoM 7'w yod oy AacA ay o MAcrc 7'w yâdmg o ^cJ caÂayâydc agam. 7'w do:ag yowc voZaa^ccr MorA."

Male, 25-50 years, Ballarat"Foa gc dc^rcyycd, ^yyoa Ye oaf fAcrc cocryday fooAmg fAcre'y oa/y, yay ay fa Cafray Aecaaye fAafY MAcre 7 MO)Acd, fAen?Y oafy yo w aay yfaccy yoa caa %ooA ybr MorA, yo 7 yay ... 7YJ come AacA fa a moafAy ffme, fAcy yay come AacA fa a moafA, yoa come AacA, a a d fAere'y yffd aofAfag a/fer a mAffe yoa %AfaA mAy Mayfeyoar moacy? 7Ae CES Acre (BrfyAaac) Aavc a a earfy yfad, 7, yo fa fAc m orafag 7 gef fAere carfy a a d aay yoAy may Ac aoadaAfe yor fAc day a a d ayA yor fAaf card, ff yoa Ye fAcre a a d yoa caa gef fo fAcy'oA yoaYf gef a day or fMO days MorA or may coca morA oaf fo ydd-ffme MorAyoa aeoer AaoM, Aaf yoa caa f?y."

Male, 25-50 years, Brisbane

2 7

6. SERVICES AND PROGRAMS

6.1 Governm ent agenciesIn each o f the discussion groups people talked at length and with considerable strength o f feeling about the Commonwealth Employment Service and Department o f Social Security. These agencies were rarely spoken o f in a positive light.

"7A% GowrwwMwt worA ow a %Amg o / Aaumg as wawy Aa?rwryay jAoyyiA so ow(y tAg ^go^^ wAo AwA rgaJ(y AarJ can ge^ ÂrowgA ^ Aarrigry awd tA âw o/^goM a t tA "

Male, 25-50 years, Ballarat"7 Aa% tAg CE& 7tAwA %Aqy 'rg a way^g o/*^ww. 71Aqy twatyoM KA^you'r<e dirt. TAqy act HAc tAcy 're paying you oat o / tAcir AacA %?ocAct. âmc a/itA ôciat Security - tAcy treat yoa tAe yaww way. Foa go m tAere and asA tAew ybr Ae A and MM yy yoa Anow exactly wAat yoa w ant tAey wiK not Aet^ yoa. TAey % ted yoa to go so?%ewAere eise and do it yoarye^... iiAe a j&iace to ytay, getting a aywent eariy, or i/^... on tAe day yoa're yaôyed to %?at yoaryimw in yoa don't mnAe it in and yoa go in tAe next day tAey % waAeyoa wait a n tii tAe next day or if/wyyiAie two."

Male, to 24 years, RockhamptonThe possibility that the dynamics o f group discussions may tend to encourage people to recount negative rather than positive experiences should be borne in mind. However, the perceptions and experiences which participants conveyed to us appeared to be very broadly shared and were repeated so often as to form a consistent pattern. They were not confined to particular age groups or locations and, significantly, the highly negative accounts which people provided o f their dealings with these agencies contrasted sharply with the much more favourable assessments which they made o f their interactions with community-based agencies.There were a number o f common themes in the criticisms which people made o f both the CES and DSS. These related to:

* their perception that their contact with both agencies was often of a demeaning and impersonal nature,

* difficulty in obtaining adequate and accurate information,* a lack o f privacy in discussing one's financial and personal

situation with staff, and

2 8

"%m Awow, you Jo w J eve?y wow awJ agaiw tAereS someAoJy Arittiawt Aut tAey 're wever tAere agaiw."

Female, over 50, Rockhampton."Foa wever get tAe same guy. 7t woatJ Ae gooJ to get AM waww awJ see tAe same AtoAe att tAe tiwu Ant you are seeiwg att Ji^rewt peopte. Fou get so?we tAat witt Aet you aw J some tAat wow 't Aeip you ."

Participant, 50 years and older, Ballarat"WAew 7 go to Sociat' wow, 7 asAyor tAe same persow every time. 7'm sicA awJ tireJ opgettiwg tetters awJ pAowe catts âytwgyow Aavew't Jowe tAts, you Aavew't Jowe tAat. 7'm a tittte Ait ittiterate awJ 7 caw't write ve?y goo J. 7 wawt to see tAe same persow or 7 Jow't wawt to see awyAo Jy."

Male, sole parent, Melbourne"7 was totJ Ay a persow owce, wAew you go Joww to Sociat Security awJ someAoJy iwterviews you, it's most importawt to get tAeir wame, it Is most importawt."

Male, 50 years and older, Ballarat"7've come across, eve?y time 7 go to Sociat Security, owe persow 7 avoij, tAe saww questiows sAe asAs me over awJ over agaiw. 71Aree times witA tAe same girt."

Female, 25-50 years, BrisbaneParticipants spoke about their frustration in dealing with the DSS Teleservice. They felt that the introduction o f this service had made their interactions with DSS more difficult, circuitous and time-consuming.

"OA, yrom Feppoow to t/y awJ get Sociat Security you caw wever get tAroagA ow tAe pAowe, aw J owe Jay 7 rawg tAroagA awJ tAe voice totJ me to riwg BrisAawe aw J 7 rawg TlrisAawe awJ tAis voice came ow awJ sAe saiJ 'tAere's a two Aour waitiwg tist, caw you riwg AacAF'AwJ 7 tAougAt wett..."

Female, over 50, Rockhampton"You see a w mowtAs ago tAe Sociat Security was cAawgeJ to BrisAawe awJ i/^you rawg you automaticatty got BrisAawe awJ 7 Jett so JevastateJ.7 tAougAt wow, Aow iw Aeavew's wame woutJ tAey uwJerstawJ RocAAa??:ptow aw J my comptaiwt ? PWtt 7 tAiwA you 're ow tAe pAowe y"or tAree-quarters o^ aw Aour awJ wo-owe coutj Aeip you iw tAe ewJ. 7 ewJeJ up gettiwg tAe wumAerybr RocAAamptow to riwg tAat op5ce awyway. So it seemeJ a comptete waste o time ... 7 meaw, tAey say, 'oA, it's rigAt, maJam, we ve got your yite ow computer rigAt Aere wow' - wAicA tAey sAoutJ i/* you reaJ your wumAer out - Aut wAew it!s a comptaiwt or aw

36

"for a s?ar? 7 sAoaid ?gd yoa ?Aa? 7'vg A n oa? o f worA for ?Areg ygors and ?Awg won?As, Aa? 7've oniy A n ge??ing ?Ag doic for a yâr and seven won?As. Now one o f ?A reasons 7 didn'? ge? i? earner on was ?Aa? wy wi/e was worAing and ?Aon sAe was w?wncAed and a/ er sAe was re^rencAeJ 7 w^n? on? and saw %Ae ôcia? &cari?y pôpig and ?Aqy gave we ?A% wrong advwe and ?Aqy ?oid we ?Aa? wy assess were ?oo AigA and .7 coaidn '? gg? in. So 7 wa:êd and wai?gd for oAoa? anofAer gigA? won?As ?id 7 go? wiid and cAecAed ?Ae gare and 7 wen? down ?Aen and signed ap and ?Aey said yes, yoa 're gn?i?Jgd ?o a Aene/:?'. And wAen 7 was in ?Agir o^ce 7 said ?o ?Aew jns? a wa??er o f in?grgs?, wAa? did yon worA wy asse?s on? as and ?Aey ?oJd we ?Ae gares, and 7 was %72,000 AgJow ?Ae iiwi? and 7'd Aeen wisJgd a?? ?Ae ?iwg 7 wissgd on? on ?Ae Aene/:? ybr gigA? won?As, 7 sAoaJd Aave go? 7?."[And in the meantime you'd used up some of your assets?]"7'd Msed ap wy capi?ai, yes, 7 was Jiving q^ wy capi?aJ. "

Male, 50 years and older, Ballarat"Foa'vg go? ?o Anow wAa? yoar r:gA?s are. 71Aey won'? voJan?ggr :n/orwa?:on ?o yoa. ... WAen weyirs? cowe ap Aere, we Ao?A wear glasses and ?Aey were Ao?A proAaAJy ?Aree years oJd. WbJJ 7 coaMn'? even read ?Ae newspaper ?o n d ay'oA, even wi?A ?wo pairs opg/asses on, and 7 coaJdn'? see wysgJfEnding ano?Aer ?o %300 ybr a new pair of glasses, so weasAed ?Ae DSS Aere and sAe says, 'OA, 7 don'? Anow so we wen? oa? ?o Fgppoon /DSSf and ?Ae girJ ?oJd as gxao?Jy wAa? ?o do and we Aad glasses wi?Ain a weeA."

Female, over 50, Rockhampton"71Aere are a Jo? o f ?Aings ?Aa? peopJe aw gn?i?Jgd ?o Aa? ?Aey 're no? aware of i?. CAiJdrgn wi?A as?Awa are gn?i?Jgd ?o cJaiw for disaAiJi?y aJA)wance,Ba? ?Aey fDSSf don'? ?gJJyoa aAoa? ?Aese ?Aings, yoa've go? ?ofind oa? yoarse^ "

Male, 25-50 years, Melbourne"7 was very JaoAy Aecaase even?aaJJy 7 spoAe ?o a sociaJ worAer wAo Anew wAa? 7 was gn?i?Jgd ?o - Ae was a? Cane/bree - and Ae go? we organised,Aa? SociaJ Secarify ?AewseJves did no?Aing ?o AeJp w e."

Female, over 50, Rockhampton.People complained about constantly having to deal with different staff and of having to repeat their personal histories. They also expressed concern about having received different information from different DSS staff. Some had instituted a strategy o f asking to see the same person each time they visited DSS.

3 5

"And fAqy don'f fcii yon aAonf any q/" fAc di^rcnf ^facc^ yon caw go fo,JiAc wAen toe did a -SAiJASAarc conryc we wenf over fo fAe ybnfA Acc&n Cenfre and fAqy were reaffy nice over fAere and fAqy give you Aea%M o / irôrmafion and 7'd never even Aeard o / if Ae/ore."

Female, to 24 years, Rockhampton"... going AacA fo fAe CES again, its very imporfanf fAaf fAey are aAie fo direct yon every wAen?."

Male, 50 years and older, Ballarat"... got fo oêr more foo, edneafion, fraining^rogrann, worA reaîne^

^rogrann ... directing yon, ieffingyoa Anow wAafls avaiiaAie. "Male, 25-50 years, Ballarat

People complained about being called into an office when a phone call would suffice, particularly since these visits often meant that they had to spend money on travelling.

"7 want fo ring fAem. 7 do nof want fAe exfra expense o / ... caAydrey or Any ydre wAen fAey can y'oiiy weH feii me iy fAere !s anyfAing in my cafegwy over fAe Âone. 71Aen 7 can come down. 7?nf fAey re coifing me money."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"TAey 7GES7 Aee%? dragging yon in raying 'we wanf fo êeyon, we wanf fo ee yon. * Once 7 gef on fo fAe person wAo signed fAe ybrm 7 can wnaffy deai wifA if over fAe y?Aone. TAey /fAe CES7 wanfed me fo go inynyf fo yind onf iy 7 wa^ going fo affend ffAeybA C/nAJ. 71Aaf wonid've co^f me fAree-and-a-Aay Aonry oy my fime. 71Aey ynjf don'f do A%nnaM on fAe y?Aone wAen fAey Âon/d."

Male, 25-50 years, Melbourne

6 .7 .2 D eârfm enf o/"ôcia/ &CMrify )

The people who spoke to us through the discussion groups raised a number of specific concerns about DSS. A strong and consistent theme in the comments which they made was the failure o f DSS to provide comprehensive and accurate information about entitlements. Even amongst those who were reasonably satisfied with their interactions with DSS this was noted as a problem.

3d

tAey dida't Aave a^rarôM, tAey drda't Aave aayy'oA^ 7êy dr'da't Aave a ydactioa ybr we Aecaase tAey coaMa Y %?ut a raAAer stamp oa me. "

Male, 50 years and older, Ballarat"7've aever Aeea aaempdjyed Ae/bre. Afy AasAaad aad 7 got to 3 3 aad me Aad aevergot tAe do e :a oar dves, me've aJmays AadyoAs, Aat me d:daY go and get tAe dote aatd 72 moatAs Jater mAea ad oar moaey may goae aad tAea mAea me meat tAey totd me 7 coa/daY register Aecaase oaTy oae :a tAe yaadTy aeed register, so 7 didaY get yOBS71A77T or aaytAiag dAe tAat evea tAea."

Female, over 50, RockhamptonThe job boards at CES were the subject o f much comment. People spoke about the demoralisation and disappointment which they experienced when - as seemed to be the case more often than not - jobs, although still listed on the boards, were gone by the time they inquired about them. Also frequently mentioned were the unrealistic, even impossible, requirements o f some o f the jobs listed.

"TTemyoa are de5%?Fra%%y ... yoa'veyastpicAed ayoA o^tAe Aoard;ybr dm yirst dam yoa tAiaA, QK, 7've got a y'oA Aere, 7'm goiag to get to tAe coaater aad its aot goiag to Ae taAea dAe every otAery'oA yoa get yrom tAe Aoard a/? tAere - aad tAey say, yeaA 7'm sorry it s taAea'."

Male, to 24 years, Rockhampton"7 arn ay'oA oa tAe CES Aoard - 76year-o7d mitA C7ass A dceace/"

Male, to 24 years, Brisbane"TAere Y Aeea Mam //'oA adsj at tAe CES tAat Aave said tAey maat AaaA recoacidadoaj, tAey maat tAis, tAey maat tAat, tAey maat iometAiag eise ybr a 73 to 7 7year-o7d. Norn a 73 to 7 Tyear-oid Aas ao may, evea ip tAey've doae it at scAooi tAere 's ao may y oa've got tAo.se sAitis."

Female, 25-50 years, RockhamptonParticipants considered that CES did not do enough to inform them about the training and labour market programs available to them or about other sources o f assistance.

"At CES tAey doa't maAeyoa amare op ad tAe opportaaides you Aave aad courses you caa do, ao-oae actaaity te/Ts yoa tAat itY tAere, yoa Aave to go aad yiad it ybr yoarset/! 7tY oaTy Aecaase 7 ybaad oat tAat tAere is a ^ro/esîoaatybA C7aA Aere aad 7 Aad aa aôiatm eat mitA tAem tAat tAey pat am iato tAe ybA CtaA."

Female, to 24 years, Brisbane

3 3

"7've evew asAed yor www 's y'oAs, yow Awow, AAe go owt awd drive a trwcA or sorwetAiwg. 71Aey yCES/ said it was goiwg & too Aeavy o r ... too Aeavy ywst to sit tAere awd go AAe tAat/ A womaw wowid wot Ae aAie to do it.Awd evew iawdsca/?iwg. 7wowid iove A) do it /trwcA driviw g/."

Female, 25-50 years, RockhamptonOthers felt that the CES had given up on them. This applied particularly, but not exclusively, to older people.

"A/ter aAowt six rwowtAs tAey corwpieteAy forget aAowt you Aecawse yowSie classed as iowg-term wwempioyed s o ..."

Female, to 24 years, Rockhampton"Awd 7 tAowgAt we'd Ae tAe j&eoj&ie tAey 'd Ac reai y iooAiwg a/ier - tAe iowg- tenw wwerwpioyed - Awt it's wot. 7/* sorweAody cowws iw o^tAe street /dwd says/ 7'vey'wst iost myy'oA, 7'rw wwerw ioyed wow ... sorweowe at tAe CE^ wowid give tAerw aw Aowr o / Ac A wAereas 7 cowid go iw tAere ajêr two years wwerwpioyed awd tAe gwy wowid go 'OA, y'wst go awd cAecA tAe Aoards, mate, tAatS tAe Acs? 7 caw do ybr you.' 7 Awow iw Victoria yow waiA iwto tAe CES, go w/) to tAem awd say, iooA tAere S wotAiwg ow tAe Aoards, cowid you do a Aig compwter cAecA o / sorwe otAer CE& yor me awd

Aene tAey wow't evew do it. 71Aey wow't evew taAe yow iw, sit yow doww at tAe coTWjAwtcr awd go 7'd try sorwe otAer CESs awd see wAat Is avaiiaAie.TAey twrw aroMwd to yow awd go 'TAere !s tAe Aoard awd tAere S tAe

ybtders over tAere, wow Awry wjA tAcre 's sorweowe AeAiwdyow'."Male, to 24 years, Rockhampton

"7 wewt to tAe CES awd tAe wowaw 7 iwterviewed, sAe said 'weii, dow't expect awytAmg iiAe, yow re 62 years o / age, dow't expect awytArwg ngAt^ sAe sard, 'woAody S gor'wg to Arre yow awyway Aecawse yow've owAy got tAree years 7e/i '."

Male, over 50, Rockhampton.Some people, because they were not eligible for income support payments, had experienced difficulty in becoming registered with CES. In particular, married women who were not eligible for income support, were unclear about their eligibility for labour market programs and felt excluded from them.

"CES, waste o/* trrwe, deweawrwg. W%ew 7yirst started ow wwerwj&Aryrwewt 7 registered witA tAe CES Aecawse 7'd worAed ow tAe otAer side o/ tAe desA 7 Awew wAat was Aaêwiwg. 7 registered, 7 tAiwA aAowt Aay a dozew tiwzes iw six twowtAs Aecawse tAey Ae t teariwg w%? wy registratiow witAowt teAiwg me wAy ... fTAey did tAisJ Aecawse 7 did wot receive a Aewe/it awd Aecawse

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"TAe CES doesa '? Aave eaoagA de?aiis oa yeoyie aad ?Aeir sAiiis. TAey doa '? AaiM ay a yic?are o^yoa aad so ?Aey re ao? aAAe ?o ma?cA yoa wi?A y'oAs yoa coMM do."

Male, to 24 years, Brisbane"My resaate- 7 ?AiaA ?Aey'vego? a co/y o^?Aa?- Aasgo? wAa?7 ve doae ia my Aas?yoA, rtgA? aa?t? scAooi. Note, i? says ?Aa? 7 owaed aad oyera?ed my owa /AaAeryj Aasiaesses, 7 maaaged Aasiaesses, 7 ?aagA? a? 71A7E, 7 ?aagA? ia Eayaa New Caiaea aad aAA o / ?Aa?, AM? 7 Aavea'? Aeea ayyroacAed or Aeea oêred ... ?Aey Aavea'? evea asAed ate woaM yoM AiAe ?o go AacA ?o ?eacA or ... yoM Aaow, ?AereS Aeea ao?Aiag. Foa Aaow, i?s 'Aeiio, Aow are yoa?'... 7a CES7'mregis?ered on AaAety maaagemea?. 7've said ?o ?Aem 7 coM go ia?o AaAety worA ... 7 was comiag ia owe 7*rMay ?o ya? my ybrm ia aad yoM Aaow Aow ?Ae radio gives ?Ae CES OM?, aad ?Aere teas a yoA ybr a AaAer/ as?rycooA soatewAere aroaad Acre. Aad 7 wea? s?raigA? ia aadya? myybrm ia dowa a? ?Ac CES... No? atea?ioaed."

Male, 25-50 Rockhampton"... a? ?Ae CES, 7 ?AiaA ?Aey coaid do more. 7 wea? ia ?Aere ?Ae o?Aer day ?o sec soateAody wAo 7 sor? o vagtteiy Aaow, aever ac?aaMy me? Ae/ore aad wAea Ae ... 7'veya? my ia/orma?ioa ia?o ?Aa? coatya?erybar ?imes Ae/ore aad wAea Ae AoagA? a/? ?Ae screea i? was AAaaA, i? oaiy Aad my aame, so wAere did ?Ae ia/brma?ioa go? So 7 said, wAa?, do yoa ya? ?Ais ia/brma?ioa dowa aad ma?cA i? a/? wi?A yoAs ? Aad Ae says weA? ac?aaiiy, wAea 7 came, ?Aa?'s wAa? 7 ?AoagA? ?Aey did, Aa? ?Aey doa'?, ?Aey doa'? do aay?Aiag a?? ?Aey do, is yeoyie Ariagy'oAs ia, ?Aey ya? ?Aem oa ?Ae Aoards, aad i?syirs? ia,yirs? served; ?Aey doa'? ac?aaiiy do aay?Aiag ?o Ae^yeoyAe ge? worA, ?Aey doa'? Aave a Ais? qy yeoyAe wAo Aave Aeea ?Aere Aoager AooAiagybr worA, wAo ?AoseyoAs are sea? oa? ?o, ?Aey doa'? ao?i^! yeoyie ?Aa? yoAs Aave coate ia, ia ?Aeir area. Wi?A ?Ae eqaiyatea? ?Aey've go? i? sAoaM Ae reaiiy easy ?o ao?i^ yeoyie."

Male, 50 years and older, Ballarat"77te iay?rma?ioa ?ecAaoiogy is yas? ao? Aeiag a?iiised, iacrediAie coaâ?eryower aad ?Aey 're ao? maAiag aay a?iiisa?ioa oa? oî? Aecaase ?Aey area'? doiag aay ma?cAiag o/yoAs aad sAiiis. "

Male, 50 years and older, Brisbane"71Aere are o?Aeryec%de a? CES ?Aa? aimos? worA as yrt'va?e coasa??aa?s ia a way. WAa? yoa've go? ?o do is ?ay ia?o ?Aose yeoyie Aecaase emyioyers doa'? waa? ?oya? ?AeiryoAs dowa oa ?Ae Aoard. TAey're sayiagy'as? give ate ?Aree or ybar yeoyie ?Aa? 7 caa ia?erview, so yoar yroAiem is ?o yiad ?Aa? yersoa ?Aa? ?Ae emyioyer is deaiiag wi?A aad maAe coa?ac? wi?A Aim.Ea? yoa oaiy yiad ?Aa? oa? Ay ?a?Aiag ?o o?Aeryeoyie aad i/*yoa Aayyea ?o come across Aim ?Aea O E."

Female, 25-50 years, Ballarat

3i

"7t'y yayt AouzcaAy tAezr attztaAe tcwarA yoa. 7 go za tAere wztA a azce azztc OK azy yace - 7'az a prct^ AoJ^y-go-tacAy pcryoa - yoa watA oat oy zt

aaA yoa yeet AAe yoa^c aotAzag agaza. TAey reatty cat yoa Aowa. Yoa caa Ae oa a ncaAy gooA day aaA go zato tAe CES aaA tAcy y'ast cat yoa Aowa."

Male to 24 years, Rockhampton"Soaze .Mat oyea%?atAy, geaazae cazpatAy, yoa Ye crawfzag za tAat door tAere, yeetzag EAc reat Azzt, zy tAey 've acvcr Acea aaeaz%Aoy3A, zty aot yoar

jfaaA."Female, Ballarat, four years unemployed

"-Sozzze oy tAeaz are exceEeat. aad yozzze oy tAeaz coatAa't care ten z/* yoa were ytaaAzag tAere or aot, Aat yoaze oy tAeza are yo Aei A/at tAey y'zcyt caa 't do eaoagAyoryoa."

Male, over 50, Rockhampton" WAea yoa qaeae ap Aowa tAere yoa Aaoe a JooA to yee wAo 'y oa aad yoa Aaow zy yoa 're gozag to get a good Acarzag or aot tAat day, Aecaaye yoa Aaow tAe dz^rea^ zaAzvzAaaE. Yoa 'A jee a certaza Jeziyoa tAere aad AeS tAere day a/ter day aad yoa'A ây, weE wAat aaz 7 za tAe qaeae ybr Aecazzje tAzs AtoAe coatAa It care te&s zy7 way Acre or aot. ^

Male, over 50, RockhamptonVery few people felt that the CES had provided them with active or useful assistance in finding a job. As many as half o f the participants in the groups had never been contacted by CES about possible job opportunities during the time in which they had been registered as unemployed. Participants felt that the CES made little effort to actively match unemployed people to jobs and that it did not collect enough information about the skills and capacities o f those registering to allow it to do so. A further disappointment was the unused potential o f the computer technology available to CES. A few people reported that they had been discouraged by CES from applying for jobs which they had found on CES boards.

"TAey've got tAe wroag aazzze, zayteaA qy CozazaoaweaEA Ezzzytoyzzzeat -Sez-ozce, zt yAoatA Ac CozzzzzzoaweaEA Uaezz%ztqyzzzeat Bervzce. TAey Ao aAyotatety aotAzag to Ae%z, except J a t tAeyoAi ay oa tAc AoarA. TtSy'ayt a

yree aAvezAzyzag yervzce Jzr ezzz/ztoyers."Male, 25-50 years, Ballarat

"7've Acca to tAcaz a yew tzzzzes aaA oacc 7 wcat aad tAey gave zzze a JORS71ART' card aaA yazA, TTere yoa go, go aaAyzaA ezzzy&ryzzzeat. 7cA tAcaz tAat yoa 're JOB-START etzgzAte' aaA tAat way zt."


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* the lack o f adequate amenities, such as toilet facilities and spaces where children can play.

"7'm going to .start tqA a wow Ausiness - :t!s caiicd tcacAing Cowtrworuo attA Department %?ersonnet at tAc yront counter Aow to react witA pcopic on tAc otAcr side Accaasc -sorwctwHas tAcy can Ac quite rude."

Male, 50 years and older, Rockhampton"%a go into tAc oîccs down tAere, tAc CES or tAc DSS and yon Jeei cwAarrasscd and yon 're sitting tAere and tAere arc Attic caAicics iiAc tAis and jAcopic next door can Acar wAat yon arc saying; wAen yon arc discussing yoar assets, yoa very seidom get into an o/pice. 7 mean tAc ydet tAatyoa Aaoc got to Ac Acrdcd in tAere and asAcd ad tAosc questions wAcn reaity its sort opAcg to tAc Governmentpor some money it Aarts."

Male, 50 years and older, Ballarat".Some op tAc Acoptc arc OAT. 7've met two at tAc CES wAo arc nice and tAere S one gay at .Sociai Security tAat's 07^ Aat tAcy past treat yoa AAc com Aictc and attcr sAit, tAcy rc rcaAy degrading. TAcylrc radc, arrogant, tAcy ignore yoa, pat yoa down."


6.7.7 CommonwenAA Em%doyment Service (CES)Many participants indicated that they had felt demeaned, demoralised and badly treated by CES staff. Participants reported that the treatment which they received was highly dependent on the competence, attitudes and approach o f individual CES staff. Even those who were most critical were generally prepared to concede that some CES staff were 'OK'; that they were helpful and respected the dignity o f clients.

"/7 Aecp my mornic apj Ay not going to tAc CES Accaasc tAc sta/p tAere arc miscraAicjAco%?ic."

Male, to 24 years, Brisbane"TAere arc some AorriAie peopie in tAere, tAeyyust Aaity yoa and yoa can't a/ybrd to say unytAing to tAcm."

Male, 25-50 years, Ballarat

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cwqwwy aAow? yowcÂmg :w RocAAwwÂ^w, Acw wowM wwyowc m BAyAwwc wwbcryAzw<7 7A)cAAawp ow wwAyy Aqy*d Avcb Acre?"

Female, over 50, Rockhampton"A AtAe o/* Âc:r jbwAAc neAzAowy, tAeir c^c:cwcy A M getAwg Awrder wwd Aardcr wow Aecawye ^yow Wag Âcw wjA you caw Y gW yfrw:gA %ArowgA o BaJAitra i^yow Aaac a qwery yoa gc fAc waAowaJ yyyfcw or yowc o Acr area, yo tAcy Awow yoa eaew Ayy, yo i/*yow go tw yoa Aave A? yee a dozew jAco c reêa^wgyoaw^ wo-owc eaew gcA to Awowyow awJ ASywyt..."

Male, 50 years and older, BallaratLong queues and waiting times were mentioned by a number o f participants as were problems caused by breakdowns in communication between DSS and CES.

"Owe o/*;Ae AAwgs tAwt awwoyy we iw D&S M tAe waiAwgêWod. Foa get tAere ... AAe 7 Aad aw iwytwwce toyt weeA wAere iw tAe CES wy CESy:te way tajAyed :w error Aecaaye oy a AwaAdoww :w cowwaw:cahowy ÂroagA tAe tAmg yo tAere/bre 7 way cat o%y tAe wwewytoywewt Aew ity awd 7 Aad to race aroawd ybr aw Aoar ybow Socmt SecaWty to CES awd AacA to Sociat SecaWty awd wAew 7 got AacA to Sociat -SecaWty tAey yaid, 'FeaA, weYt get tAiy xed a^ ry o a . 7%/ tAat Attte ybrw m awd y:t doww.' Wb were tAere ybr tAree-qaartery oy aw Aoar awd tAere way owty aAoat tAree or ybarêo^te worAiwg or teyy. Awb tAat 'y owe oy tAe woyt iw/aWatiwg tAiwgy aAoat Soc:at SecaWty :y tAe wa:t:wg Awe tAat yoa Aaoe to Aave."

Male, over 50, Rockhampton.

6.2 Non-governm ent agenciesParticipants were generally very positive in their assessment o f the nongovernment agencies with which they had contact. This tended to be the case regardless o f how useful they had found the courses which they had undertaken through these agencies. Key factors identified by participants in their positive assessment o f non-govemment agencies were that they:

* provided a caring and supportive environment in which people were encouraged and treated with dignity;

* provided active and personalised assistance in finding employment;

* had good knowledge o f the local labour market, good links with employers and that they actively sought out job placements for participants;

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* provided opportunities for social interaction and for developing ongoing relationships with staff and other participants.

Participants in one group, for example, noted that of the eight people who completed the Skill Share program in which they had recently taken part three already have jobs.

"/just dAd a matare age ea%doyawat o tAoay tAAag. Zt wayybr sAx weeAy.eaded aj maAAag a AAtt e âmÂAet. AAAASAare way goAag to gAve ay

moaey Aat we eaded a^ goAag oat to AayAaeyy Aoayey aad ayAAag tAem to yôayor ay aad At way reaAAy good. Zt AroagAt wore coatact wAtA yeo bAe. -SAAAASAare Aay a good reâtattoa Aere Aa RocAAamptoa."

Female, over 50, Rockhampton"WorAready Ay tAe oaAy yAace tAat actaaAAy AeAyy yoa, SocAaA &carAty AayyAey yoa, CES AaveyoAy oa tAe Aoard Aat At'y Aet yoaryeA ao-oae actaaAAy they to Aeiy yoa, wAereay at WorAready tAe yeoyAe are very good aadyayt go Aa tAere aad Aave yoawoae ymAAe at yoa ."

Male, 25-50, Ballarat"Z weat to SAAAASAare Aecaaye a yhead o / mAae way goAag yo Z waadered Aa aadybaad oat aAoat At aad got Aato, Z tAAaA At way tAeAryAryt coa^&ater coarye tAey ever raa wAAcA way yo AayAc At waya't yaaay - Z Aaew more tAaa tAey taagAt aw Aecaaye my 10-yeai oM cAAAd Aad taagAt me tAat aad Z've Aeea a tyyAyt - Aat tAe yrAeadyAAy Z made, Z'm ytAAA awetAag ay wAtA oae o/* tAe yeryoaaeA aad tAey've arraageJ ybr my AArtAday tAey 'AA meet ybr AaacA. Foa Aaow At'y y'ayt yeoyAe Z've doae coaryey wAtA aacA tAere y ytAAA tAAy yoh o/yamAAy yeeAAag."

Female, over 50, Rockhampton"A Aot o/* e7M Acyery aow aren't goAag to tAe CE& TAey 're goAag to WorAready, tAey 're goAag to tAe BrotAerAood o/* & Eaareace Aecaaye tAey've aAA got Aetter aaawy aow tAaa tAe CES, Aecaaye tAey Aaow wAat tAe CES Ay AAAe. AyZ'm goAag to get ayoA Aa tAeyatare At'y goAag to Ae wAtA tAe BrotAerAood o/*& Taareace, or tAroagA tAem Z yAoaAd yay."

Male, 25-50 years, Ballarat"A good examyAe Ay, Z way over at tAe CES tAe otAer day aad Z yyeat aAoat Z3 mAaatey Aa tAere. Z weat over to .SAAAASAare aad way oaAy Aa tAere two mAaatey aad a gay tAere raag ay aAoat a AaAoarAagyoA ybr aw aad Z'm waAtAag to Aear aAoat At aow. Z've Aeea Aa RocAy aad goAag to tAe CES ybr tAe Aayt Z2 moatAy aad Z yAaaAAy go to SAAAASAare, Z've Aeea at SAAAASAare aot evea ybar weeAy aad tAey 're goAag 'Aang oa Z mAgAt Aave a yoA^?ryoa'... TAey'reyaytydataytAcyoa Aaow. TAey yAoaAd yway o Acey ZwAtA CE^7."


3 3

6.3 Training coursesParticipants were mixed in their assessment o f the value and effectiveness o f training courses.A number o f people spoke in very positive terms about courses and their experience o f them. Some said that training courses, quite apart from the role which they may play in assisting people to obtain employment, can serve an important function in building morale and motivation and in providing some structure in people's days or weeks.Other participants were more critical o f the content and conduct o f courses which they had undertaken. Quite a few people, and in particular a substantial number o f young people, said that very short courses o f perhaps three to six weeks did not provide them with an opportunity to adequately develop skills or to acquire the depth o f knowledge which they needed to obtain a job. On the other hand, people generally said that short computer courses had been useful, especially in bringing their skills up-to-date. This was particularly the case for women who had been out o f clerical or office work for some time.Many people said that work experience and the opportunity to put into practice the knowledge and skills acquired in training courses is essential. Without this, they said, skills are easily lost.Some participants said that further training was not an appropriate response to their particular needs and circumstances. They said that what they needed was an opportunity to put to use the skills which they already have. A number o f people spoke about the difficulties which they were having in keeping their skills or qualifications up-toîate.

"They wightw't aiways yiwd worA yor j&eopie Aut gee it does tots yorWOTaie. "

Male, Ballarat, unskilled, four years unemployed"Courses are Aasicaity good tune yiders. They give you sowetAiwg to do iiAe iooA Aey Thursday wights d've got this ctass. ft AreaAs up the weeA."

Female, to 24 years, Ballarat"ft was reaity satis/îwg ... it was good weetiag wore di/?erewt y?eopte,

getting out w ore... Awowiwgyou'd waAe up awd thiwA you caw go AacA to .steep Aecauseyou Aavewt got awytAiwg to do, Aut we had the course, you get up awd wewt to the course. "

Male, to 24 years, Ballarat

39

"Wtga 7 togaf AacA aad dzd fAg TAKE coarse 7ybaad 7 Aad a Araza - 7 acfaady Aad a Araza. 7f Aad sfagaafgd ad fAgsg years. ô 7 fAoroagA/y ga/oygd fAg TAKE coarse aad fAaf S toAerg 7 tooafd /zAe fo Ae za ve years - zs Aaog ayoA toAere 7 caw ase toAaf S ay Aerg. 7 azeaa cfeaazagyoa doa'f aged a Aram fo c/eaa. 7'za aof decryzag cfgaazag Aecaase 7'og doae foo azacA oy zf za azy fzaze, Aaf Tyasfyee/ zf'd Ae azcg fo aseyoar Aram -yaZZ- fzzzze or yarf-fzwze, yazd-fzazg tooaZd sazf aze yiiag, Aaf oa a yerazaaeaf Aaszs."

Female, 25-50 Rockhampton"VM? doae a coarse af fAg BrofAerAood, a rgfazZ coarse - szx a ggAs - tog gof

ybar days toorA eêrzeace oaf oy zf, doag zf af a cAezazsf zf toas reaZZy safzs^zag 7 reaZZy ZzAg zf."

Female, to 24 years, Ballarat"Wtea tog gof oaf tog togaf fo â/etoay, tog syoAe fo fAg zaaaagez; aad Ag foZd as Aoto fo go aAoaf yoAs, fAga tog togaf fo fAg azaaaggr oy BaZZaraf BooAs aad Ag syoAe fo tzs aAoaf ayyZyzag ybr a y'oA. 77g toas reaZZy ay- yroaf, tog'7 toaZAed dotoa fAere, toearzag y'asf oar aorazaZ eoetyday sftz^ aad Ag sazd toAaf ZyT'd toaafgtf oag o/yoa aad toe're toearzag fracAy daAs aad saeaAers, so agxf AaZy Aoar tog saf fAgrg fAzaAzag toAoa/ 77g sazd fAzags ZzAe fAzs, yoa sAoaZd dress yoarseZy a y .' 7f toas a reaZZy good yozaf."

Female, to 24 years, Ballarat"7'd ZzAe fo go fo a coarsg. 7 Aaoto CES do o//er soaze goarsgs Aaf 7'og agogr acfaaZZy Agga oa oag ... 7 fAzaA zf's azorg or /ess^zryoaaggrygoyZg ... fAey y a f fAgwz oa a coarsg ybr so Zoag aad fAgy gef exyerzeace oaf oy zf aad fAga sozagygoyfg do, yoa Aaoto, gazayoAs af fAg gad o/ zf."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"Oa Afoaday 7'za sfarfzag a TTiXPyrograaz, toAzcA zs yfaafzag frggs tozfA fAg Sfafg D afa Cgafrg ybr 26 toggAs za Badaraf, wzzgAf fgad fo soazgfAzag aad zfs soazgfAzag dz^crgafyroza ad fAg fAzags 7'og fgaraf."

Female, to 24 years, Ballarat"71A7E coarsgs arg ay'oAg, fAgy 'rg foo azzy yaz'ry, foo coadgasgd. TATE dogs aof Aatzg zfs yggf oa fAg groaad. TAg âccoaafzag yrograwz faagAf af 7ATE/ zs cadgd Baraaza, zf's Baraaza accoaafzag so/ftoarg, f Aaf Is toAaf tog dzd, aad zf zs aof cozzzazgrcza/fy aoazfaAfg za Aasfrada. Noto toAaf's fAg yozaf oy fAaf ? TAKE Aas aof gof zfs yggf oa fAg groaad. TAqy aggd fo /tsfga fo fAg toorAyfacg."


4 0

"7 did a yix-waaA Aayic Aorticaitaw coarya. 7t waya't aaoagA to & aay aya. Ew^toyary aw aot goiag to iooA at ay wAaa waba oaiy Aad a yaw waaAy Aaw aad tAaw. Coaryay doa't do wacA. Foa aaad ^racticai axâriaaca."

Male, to 24 years, Brisbane"TAa AitcAaaAaad coarya way irraiauaat... 7 waat aroaad t/yiag to gat worA aâr 7'd âiyAad tAa coawa aad tAaw way aotAiag tAay waatad tAwayaary axâriaaca. "

Female, to 24 years, Ballarat"Hb Aava airaady got tAa yAiiiy too, tAatS tAa y?oiat, Aa^ tAa traiaiag coaryay tAat wa do, wa aw airaady yAiiiad ia, wa coaid taacA tAaw oaryaioay.""71Aay caa Ariag ia aii tAa traiaiag /wograwy ia tAa worid, Aat iy tAaw aw aoyoAy wAat'y tAa aya? Foa aaad to jAat traiaiag iato /aactica or yoa ioya it ."

Female, 50 years and older, Brisbane"7t'y yiaa ybr îacay iiAa WorAwady or wAataoar yiwiiar to oâr ywaii coaryay Aat a jAawoa wAo Aay doaa yioa yaary o / tartiary ytady Aaeaaya tAaw awa'ty'oAy aw a't oat tAara, to aw ity a Aaadaid to gioa aayoaa a ywaii coarya. OAay, yoa gat yoar woraia a^, yoa go oat tAaw aad yoa caa't gat ayoA, yo woraia dro^y agaia, do aaotAar coarya aad wAatS tAa ôiat?"

Male, (B Sc., Dip. Ed.), Ballarat"7o Aa a viaAia competitor ia tAiy awa, wAat 7 aaad iy yix woatAy yaii- tiaw worAiag oa aaw aqaipwaat - to gat awoagyt it, pwyy tAa Aattoay,Aava aa adacator aad tAaa yoawoaa wigAt gioa aw ayoA."

Male, 50 years and older, Melbourne"7'oa doaa a Aarwaa y coarya, wytaaraat coarya, yoa iaara ait tAaya tAiagy Aat ay tiaw yiipy iy witA aoy'oA to ybiiow ap witA yoa'ua ioyt it a t/."

Male, 25-50 years, Ballarat"Ay ydr ay gattiag axtra carti/icatay aad iicaayey, watt 7'oa got two qaaii/icatioay aiwady. WAatly tAaôiat o^ Aaoiag tAwa orybar?"

Male, 25-50 years, Ballarat"Edacatioa yAcaid Aa ywa. 7tS aot reaiiy aow. Cittia SAiiiSAaw coaryay Aaa yoa occaîad Aat raaiiy aw aot tAat aya/ai fAatJ 7ATE coaryay coyt wow tAaa yoar doia cAaqaa. "

Male, 25-50 years, Rockhampton

474

A number o f people spoke about difficulties which they had experienced in accessing training.

can ggi iw a CaicA-22 MiMaiiow. TJAg 7 wwA m %Ag wgi/Jrg aw J 7 Aavg go a cg?ti^caig iw yociai wgi/arg. 7 way ayAgJ io Jo yowg a)^- iww %acAiwg a 7ATE w:TA AAoWgiwaJ y?MJgw& ... awJ 7ATE woaJJ

Aavg jArq/grrgJ ww io Aavg aw iwy^rwciiawaJ yAJly cow yg iiAg, %raiw-fAg- iraiwgr ^ g q / cowwyg AgAiwJ ww awJ yo 7 way ^wqârgJ o Jo iAai Aa% (Ag cow/*yg coyi aaJ wAgw yow rg oa iAg Joigyow Joa'^ ygg iAa( woaqy. 7 %AoagAt mayAg iAg CES iooaM cowg gooJ wiiA Ag iwoaqy aaJ iAqy yaiJ iAgy wggJ rgayywrawgg iAai 7'J ggi fAgy'oA Ag/brg Agy caw aaJ J aaJ yoa wggJ a /gMcrJro?w TATE, aaJ 7go^ a igMgrybom gacAgry iAgrg, ao% a /giigr ^ w a 7ATE yayiwg AgrgS a Jg/iwiigôyiiiow waiiiwgjbryow. TATE way waiiiwgjw* ww io Jo Ag coaysg aaJ TooaMaT Jo iAg cowryg. TAqy waw^gj wg /o igacA Aat 7 AaJ io Jo iAg cowyyg wyi aaJ ^ way ywyi goiwg aroaaJ iw circigy."

Male, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"7 cgriaiw(y Ao^g iAa T ocAAatw iow caw a J Ag!r way io Ag%? ÂJASAarg raw morg q/ iAgyg iy^g o/* coarse iw %%%?ooa. TAgy yaiJ fo ay iAai ^ wg wawigJ io coahaag oa wg coaM co?ag io iAg TZocAAaw iow oag Aaf iAg aa/wtaaa^g /?art aAowi it iy tAat tAgrg M ao traugi aiiowawcg aaJ Jbr aw to traogt *oat ayy Aoaw to 7?ocAAaa%?toa it!y ovgr 3 0 AJoawtrgy, yo tAat wwawy itly ovgr 700 Aaw roaaJ tr^ aaJ tAat wo?Ay oat ratAgr gx^gwyivg wAgw yoa 3g oaty ggttiag a gaiioa. "

Female, 50 plus, Rockhampton.

6.4 Labour market programsDuring the course of the discussions participants expressed views about a number o f labour market programs. Their views on these programs are outlined below.

0.4 .7 JO R S 7 A R T

A number o f people said that they had JOBSTART cards and most indicated that were informed about the JOBSTART process. Participants generally expressed the view that people who gain employment with a JOBSTART subsidy are almost invariably dismissed when the subsidy runs out.

4 2

"My %w%?Jqy#r gu% 7S toggAy Agcddyg 7'ug Aggd odJ o/* tooiA ybr 7S modJAy,... ddd JAgy wow vgry d^wgoJdJiog o/^:J, Aid7 didd Yggj jAgy'oA Abating q/JAdJ, Adding 7 dJddY JgJJ JAgid 7 KMM gJJgJAJg ybr :J MdJJJ JAgy JoJd iwg 7 Add JAgyoA."

Male, over 50, Rockhampton"&MMdAidg7 do going dcroyy wAgdyodYig od ybA SgdrcA dddyORS7X7?7^ d Jot oy gm^Joygiy wiJJ odJy gid^Joy jAgo Jg 10A0 do JAdJ, ddd toAgd JAg dJJowddcg n id i out JAgy y?dt JAgid o ^ ddd ggJ yoidgAody gjyg. 7'oe cowg dcroyy JAdJ d Jot idtA wy yhgddy dy togJJ."

Female, one and a half years unemployed"7 Adoa? Âgo Jg toAo Advg dodg ioo?A gx^giigdgg ddd ydAyJdJygd tooiA ddd JAgy rg jAnt o ^ gdcA JJidg wAgd :t m in out. 7tY JAg ydidg wdA

JORS7XR71"Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton

'!Ed%tJqyory wddt gx^grJgdggd gJd Ant ggj yDBS7A77T dJJoioddcg ybr yJx idOdJAy JAgd ggJ Wd q/7Ag?d."

Male, four and a half years unemployed"%200 ybr 76 wggAy, JAdJY wAdt you JdAg to your gw^bJoygr ddd JAgd dy yood dy your 7 d wggAy Jy i%? tAdt'y it - Jyg Ayg. "


d. 2 TVbzo E d Jgy%niyg Tdcodtiuo ScAg7dg (NETS)

Quite a few older people said that they had ideas for and had thought about starting a small business or setting themselves up in self-employment. Some, but not all o f them said that they had been informed about the NEIS scheme. A number of people said that they were unable to access the scheme because they were too old (62 years old), because they were not eligible for social security payments, or because they wanted to buy an existing business rather than start a new one.

"7 JAodgAJ 7 'd go id Jo AdyJdgyy ybr wyygJf yo 7Yd Jgdididg cow%?MJgr yAJJJy, 7'w Jbdididg yiddJJ Adyidayy iddddggidgdJ d d d Jra id id g oJAor ^gq^Jg id codMdddicdJJod toAJcA Jy d yAJJJ 7Y/g dgogJo^gd JArodgA dJJ JAJy. B dJ wy d i/^ worAy, yAgY d dMiyJdg yiyJgr, yo 7 odd Y ggJ ddy Agdg/iJ dJ dJJ. 7 tood Y go id Jo wry jAoiyoddJ circMidyJddcgy AdJ zog'yg yJiJJ JJvJdg JoggJAgi; /?dJ :J JAdJ woy. So 7 Add Jo Adog zooiA d d d 7 Add tooiAgd dJ ddyJAmg 7 codJd Jdy dry Adddy od - doJdg zoo?A d d d 7 dJyo woiAgd ooJddJdiy Jtoo ddyy d wggA id JAg Jdw oodrJy dy d dgJtooiAgr. B dJ JAdJ dJddY ^?dy ddy idodgy. B dJ JAg /?oidJ dAodJ JJ id JiyJdg Jo yJdiJ d AdyJdgyy, 7'og JdvgyJJgdJgd

43

%w?y jAoyyiAio gooornmont aoonno tAiy MAo tAo NETS ycAomo and tAoyo yort o / tAingy, Ant tAqy don 't aiA)n y oo to MAo ny in Aocanyo to Ao otigiAio yor anytAingyon'vo got to Ao roiiant on tAo%, and moyt o / ny don't nant to A reiiant on tAe gooornwnnt, n^ don't nant to norA Jor tAo naxt 20 ygary. 7'm not going to retire tomorron, 7 can't. 7 can't aôrd to. AM 7 nant iy a grantyor a yen tAonyand doMays nAicA 7'?n qnite niMing to jAay AacA - to get tAc Anyineyy going. 7'oe got tAe ideay and 7'oc got tAe nnynAcry ybr tAe nAoie tAing."

Male, 50 years and older, Ballarat"7 don't tooA MAc getting a JoA Ay ay^^yingyor one and ay 7 yee it 7'oe reaiiy got to Any a Anyineyy. 7 Aave yo?ne capita/, yo 7'oe reaiiy got to Any a Anyineyy, to Any me a yoA or 7 re%y on tAe doie and ywoAaAiy need, and Aecanye yon get nyed to a ytandard q/îioing tAe dote doeyn't reaMy yn^ce yo tAat 7 nontd yee myyey i /7 didn't got a JoA or 7 didn't Any a Anyineyy,7'd Ae eating into wy capita/ and tAen 7'd Ae retying on tAe pension nAen 7 nay 63."

Male, 50 years and older, Ballarat

6 .4 .3 JbA C/nAy

Almost all o f those who had participated in Job Clubs reported that they had found them useful and enjoyable. The most often mentioned benefit of Job Clubs was that they had helped to reduce the cost o f job seeking. Participants also valued the opportunities which Job Clubs provided for interaction with other people.

"7 nay wry imyweyyed nitA it. TAey jAaid Jor tAe y?a%?er. 71Aey Aad tyênritery, comy?nter... TAey jAaidyor tAe coyty more or teyy and % didn't coytyon anyÂmg to go tAere, Jnytjyonr time. And tAey none very tAorongA at y&st and tAen tAey te^ it n^ to ny to do onr onn r&ynmey and yiiing typing and it nay n^ to onryetvey to go at onr onn y%?eedy and tAat y nAat no aM d id ... 7ybnnd it reatty en/qyaAie."

Female, 25-50 years, RockhamptonA few, however, felt that referral to a Job Club had not been an appropriate or useful response to their particular circumstances and needs. One woman, for example, had herself previously been employed teaching TAPE students the skills, such as preparation of resumes, which were taught at the Job Club.

4 4

7 . ASPIRATIONS, NEEDS AND WANTSThe overwhelming majority o f those to whom we spoke said that they want employment and that they see themseives as being employed in the future. Some indicated that they did not necessarily need or want full-time work. A number o f sole parents, for example, said that they would prefer part-time and flexible work options which could be structured around the requirements o f what for them is their first priority - raising their children - at least while the children are young. Many o f those who said they needed full-time work indicated that they would be prepared to take on several part-time jobs if they were unable to obtain full-time work through one job. In the short-term most people were prepared to accept any job which they could get.Most commonly people spoke about wanting stable and secure employment which would provide them with a reasonably adequate income for themselves and their families. Younger people noted the connection between employment and having the normal things' in life to which they aspire - marriage, children, a house and a car. Older people spoke about their need to get a job in order to consolidate resources for retirement. Those in between often talked about wanting to be able to provide their families with the sorts o f things which others take for granted and about providing their children with an education.Whilst financial considerations were usually cited as the main reason for wanting employment, participants also spoke about their need to be active and to participate in or contribute to the community.

"Having ofoA weans Aaving cAoices. "Female, 25-50, Rockhampton

"7 need anotAar %700 a weeA. 7 don't wind doing two or tAree f?art-tiwe foAs, if 7'w going to Ae a good f?art o f tAe cowwanity tAen 7 need a good wage. B at 7 need to sarvive at tAis stage and tAat s ait 7w tiying to do at tAis stage, and 7'w antitied to survive, 7 faei. EnoagA tAat gives we tAis tAing tAat 7 can survive, jAay wy Mortgage, gas Aiii and eiectricity. 7o Ae on tAe ievei o f a person wAo is entitied, or Aas rigAts. 7 aw not trying to taAe, yoa Anow, earn a iot of woney or 7 don't Aave %)ians any wore of tAings 7'd iiAe to do in wy ii/e, 7 fa st want to iive. 7've got to f?ay a

fortnigAt oat o f afortnigAt, now 7 can't iive on it. 7 can't go oat and en/'oy wyse^ 7'd sooner Ae worAing a faii-tiwefoA and say get - #400 a weeA and its tAere eve?y weeA. Hot waiting a fortnigAt to get tAe anewfioywent. 7 fast want to worA, 7 woaidn't give a dawn if 7 worked Id Aoars i f 7 Aad woney yoa Anow. 7 fast want to get a%7 in tAe w om ing and say yenA, 7'w going to worA and not Aave to worry aAoat patting tAat doieform in again '."


4 5

"7'd ynyt AAc to Ac aAic to Aave tAat good /permanent j'oA and Ae aAie A?Avy a cay and a Aonye."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"7'd AAe to worA 50 Aonry a weeA. 7 never worAed ieyy tAan tAat wAen 7 worAed ynA-time. 7 Anow /pec/pie tAinA 7'm nnreaiiytic to yay tAat 7'H ever get awotAeryhA-tipppejoA - 7 don't tAinA 7'H ever get anotAeryhA-timeyoA - Ant iy 7 can get tAree or onr/part-time joAy, weii great - or one tAat wid Ahng in enongA to ynrvive on and 7 anti yiii tAe reyt o^ wy ii/e witA voluntary wo?A."

Male, 50 years and older, Ballarat"Fon can't /pian evepytAing tong-term, AAe 7 ivontdn't mind Aeing aAie to yave np ybr a car, or/plan a Aotiday, or Any a Actcse or meet someone and Aave a /ntnre Antyon/tMt don It Aave tAoye o/<tiopM, tAat'y tAe ymytrating jAart and tAatS mAereyon ytart toeing motivation. "

Male, to 24 years, Brisbane"Tjf7'm not worAing itjnyt maAey meyêt taxy ... 7tynyt teavey meyeeiing deyoiate. 7've got too mncA time on my Aandy."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"7 a/onidn't can? wAat 7 Aad to /pat a/p witA ay ayoA ay tong ay 7 got tAe

/pay Aome eacA weeA, at teayt a weeA, and 7 don't tAinA tAat'y too mncA to ayA."

Female, to 24 years, Ballarat"Fey 7've mowed tawny and done gardening. Foayayt graA at anytAing."

Female, over 50, Rockhampton"Ay tong ay 7'm worAing 7'm Aa/p/py. 7 wontd tove to get AacA to worA Ant tAe Aidy an? a A ityonng... 7've teamed tAe Aard way tAat tAere iy more to Aeing a Aonyewi/e tAanynyt yayinggo out in tAe AacA yard and /day Aidy.7'd tiAe my wi/e to come AacA and we contd mayAe AotA get/part-tippteyoAy."

Male, sole parent, Melbourne

7.1 Retirem entWith one or two exceptions older people in their 50s and 60s did not view themselves as being retired and were not keen on the idea o f retiring before they reached the standard retirement age. Most said that they needed to work so that they could accumulate the financial resources which they would need in order to enter retirement with some minimal degree of

4 6

security. Many were convinced that there would be no old age pension in future and that they would have to rely on their own resources. Older women, in particular, indicated that they felt especially insecure because they had not, in the past, had the opportunity to participate in superannuation schemes. A number o f older people reported that they had used up their assets because they did not want to be on the dole and had delayed claiming benefits for as long as possible.Many older people also said that they would feel wasted and idle if they were to retire early. They wanted to be active and felt that they still had things to contribute. They spoke of their resentment at being rejected and discarded after working hard all their lives.

"Foa caw't a^brd to retire tohga yoa^re aot 60 or 65 that's ybr sare, hat 7 toaat to toorh. 7t^syast a straight aastogr - 7 toaat to toorh."

Male, over 50, Rockhampton"7'ta Moody agar dgstitatg at thg taotagat. 7'ta 3 2 - togh hy the titag 7'ta 65 that s aaothgr 7 3 ygars o/* ah/get jhovgrty. "

MzJe, 50 years and older, Melbourne"What coacgras tag is that tog havg ohvioasiy ah toorhgd ybr ah oar toorhtag hogs, tog havg ah ^taid taxgs. No to 7 havg agvgr hgga taarrigd, gvgtythiag that 7 havg is tohat 7 havg taadg ybr taysg^ aad 7 /boh at thg j&a grs aad 7 hstga to tohat thg Ttitag M iaistgr says aad hg tg/is tag that thgy 'rg goiag to havg sa^graaaaatioa ybr ah thgsg go^/g. Noto 7 caa't sgg that this is goiwg to tooth hggaasg 7 havga't got sa^graaaaatioa. Thgy say ... tog thiah tog'h gxtgad thg toorhiag o/ thg tooaiga. My God/ 7/* thgy do that hy thg tiaig 7 ^ ready to rgtirg thgrg toih aot hg a ^gasioa ybr wig.Noto 7 havg /?aid taxgs ah tay /i^, hat tohat ata 7 goiag to hvg oa ? Toga 70 ygars ago oar gta^/oygts dida't say to as, tooh, yoa shoatd havg sa^graaaaatioa. 7t toas agvgr o^gred to a s ."

Female, over 50, Rockhampton"7 regard as as hgiag ia thg taidd/g groa%?, ao t rga/Ty o/d. W%? arg s tih ah/g tagata/iy aad %7hys:cahy to tooth."

Female, 50 years and older, Brisbane"7 thiah ia reahty thgrg'h hg ao ^gasioa ^br tag, itls a ^taaic to ggt gstah/ishgd."


4 7

"7'vg got grgat ygats yor tAg ttarg Agcaasg 7'w sod sa/?/?ort o / tArgg Aids awd toitA tAg tArgat o^ wo %?gwMow at tAg gwd o/* % awd wotAiwg AgAiwd wtg gxcg/)t dgAts. f/wdss 7 toorA at sowtgtAiwg 7yast caw't sgg Aoto togê goiwg to sarvivg - %%gra%y saroivg."

Female, over 50, Rockhampton"7 tooaid jAossiAAy toorA yor awoÂgr vg or six years. 7 tooaid .say 7'd Ag ready tAew - eariy 60s."

Male, 50 years and older, Ballarat"7 weed a yoA tAat toid Ariwg wg a dodar so 7 caw iooA yortoard to tAe

yatarg witAoat Aeiwg yhgAtewed. "Female, 50 years and older, Brisbane

"71Aey Agg A sayiwg oA, toed iw /ater tiwes yoa way wot evew get a j&ewsiow Agcawsg tog toow't Aavg tAg wowey. 77oto does tAat waAg ^go^tg yeei toAew tAey've tost everytAiwg tAey caw't get ay'oA awd tAg Gougrwmgwt's saytwg tAere way wot Ag a ^gwstow ? Foa way as toed go awd yicA a/? a Aag woto awd go awd sit iw tAg corwer awd toatA aroawd as aw oid Aag tatty or sowgtAtwg. 77tat s Aoto 7 tcoA at ii/g at tAg wowgwt. 7 dow't Awoto y'ast toAatS goiwg to Agcowg oy a s ."

Female, over 50, RockhamptonWhilst older people generally indicated that they did not want to consider themselves to have retired some said that they should have access to the fringe benefits and concessions available to old age pensioners. In addition, some indicated that they believed there should be a relaxation for older people o f what they perceive to be some o f the more demeaning requirements o f CES and DSS.

"7 agree toe dow't toawt to go a Aewsiow awd Aesides toe caw't go ow % awtd toe're 63, Aat tAg tAiwg is ow awewpioywtewt Aewe/its tog dow't Aave awy o/* tAg Aewe/its tAg gwsiowgrs Aave. We stid Aave to j&ay oaryad yAowe Add, yad registratiow, y tog travei awytoAgrg ... tog caw't go dotow awd visit redies dotow iw T&isAawe Agcaasg tog stid Aave to jAay tAg /a d ydre ... dow't Aave tAg Aewe/its oy tAose toAo arg ow a jAewsiow. 7'w wot AwocAiwg tAg %?ewsiowers Aat, 7 tweaw, it is Aard to try awd wggt sowg oy tAg costs.We'd dAg to Aave sowg o/* tAg Agwg/its, yarticaiariy ybr tAg iowg-terw awewyioyed."

Male, over 50, Rockhampton"Peopie over 60 sAoaid wot Aave to go tAroagA tAg tigoars awd Aawidatiow o/saAwittiwg ayortwigAtiy yorw."

Female, 50 years and older, Brisbane

48

"7'm on a 72-weeA ycZe. 7 don't Aave to p at a yorm in every ybrtnigAt, 7 onZy Aave to p at % in every 72 weeAs, wAicA is good Aecaase 7 don't Aave toyront ap tAere everyybrtnigAt, Aat 7 stiZZ Aave to parsae ... searcAybr empZcyment. 7 stiZZ Aave to Aeep a record opwAat 7've done in case CES or

wants to Aave a ZooA at it. B at 7 wan ap antiZ earZier tAis year going every ybrtnigAt and yoa can see tAese oZd AZoAes - yoa Anow, oZder tAan myseZp no re/Zection on tAem - 7 tAoagAt it mast Ae Aow emAarrassing ybr tAese peopZe A) go in and Aand tAeirybrms in. 7 tAinA itS a Aetter idea oa a 72-weeA rycZe or even a ^x-woaÂ(y Q!cZe."

Male, over 50, Rockhampton

7.2 Voluntary work and *work-f or-the-dole'A substantial number o f those who took part in the discussion groups said that they were undertaking, or had undertaken some voluntary work. Some were motivated by altruism, while some said that it was a way o f staying active and maintaining contact with the outside world. Some viewed it pragmatically as a possible avenue to obtaining employment. Others, however, expressed frustration that the skills and experience used in or obtained through their voluntary work are not recognised by potential employers. A number o f people said that they had been forced to give up voluntary work because they could no longer afford the costs associated with it, especially where it involved long travel distances. All said that voluntary work was not an alternative to paid employment.

"Pe<%rZe say to me wAy do you worA ybnr days a weeA voZantariZy. 7 Zove it, it's Aeiping wo understand tAat 7'm not tAo onZy one going tAroagA tAe jAroAZews 7'm going tAroagA, 7'm aZso Ae%?ing otAerêo^Ze."

Female, sole parent, Melbourne"7 want money. 7 am doing voZantary worA - 7 Aave Aad as many as 72 street Aids at my Aome ... WAy can't ricA peopZe do it? Wb're tAe ones straggZing. 77ow many Aoats and caravans do tAey want?"

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"City CoanciZ Aas TTersonaZ Enterprise PacAages, ran Ay .... Ae is reaZ nice, yoa can taZA to Aim aAoat wAatever. 77e sets yoa ap witA oZder peopZe to Zeam sAiZZs and tAey get togetAer witA yoa wAatever yoa want to do ZiAe teacAing yoa sAiZZs 7 did a ZittZe Ait op carpentry sta/p not reaZZy interested Aat 7 did it Aecaase 7've got notAing to do and tAen 7 got invoZved witA QE (Qaeen EZizaAetA Geriatric Centre) oZd peopZe's Aome ybrybar montAs, 7 do voZantary worA tAere tAree days, 7^ Aoars and 7 did a voZanteer coarse tAere."


4 9

"B<p07e 7 started going AacA to scAoof or developing vofnnteer worA, 7 Aad wo reason to get Mp in tAe morning. 7 nsed to stay in Aed tid inncAtime.At feast going to scAoof or vofnnteer worA yon 've got a reason por getting ont op Aed in tAe morning and êdng Mse/ttf. Tecattse p* yon've got notAing to get Mp por yow migAt get M%? a% .2 or 3 w tAe mom mg and watcA a movie. TAinA 7 caw't Ac AotAered sAotocnwg or sAaving cocry (fay - wAat ybr?'

Male, unskilled, two years unemployed, Ballarat"1%% yow need cfotAes to Ac ont tAere, yon weed money to get tAere. W^d caw 7 say a^cr a wAife, it!s not tAat yon're Aeing nsed, tAey weed vofanteers Awt yow're not getting apoA ont op it. And ap!er yow 'd Ac Aeew Mwcm fqycd por a year yow can't aôrd tAings dAe awyÂiwg eise except getting apoA."

Female, 50 years and older, Ballarat"My wi/e did a iot opvofMWteer worA awd in tAe fast i2 mowiAs sAc came to Aer own decision tAat sAc a/owidw't do anymore awd 7 said to Aer yov nsed to fove iAat^ awd sAe said 'wed 7 Aad come to tAe decision tAat jAerAa s 7 was costing someone apoA'."

Male, over 50, Ballarat"Vofantary worA was very rewardiwg^r me Ant at tAe same time my sefp esteem was going down witA unemployment."

Female, over 50, Brisbane"And tAen tAe otAerpart op tAe vofwntary tAing it gets to me, 7'm apiaid 7 originndy tAongAt tAat tAere was going to Ae some recognition Ay government por vofuntary faAonr and worA and eaipertise and it doesn't mean a damn tAing to tAe government, in pact tAey compfetefy ignore it, tAey want yon in tAat position. TAey're nsing ns por vofnntary service.And we've got to recognise tAis point Aecanse even as par as Sociai &cnrity is concerned tAere is no recognition op voinnto?y service in oAtaining a Aenept."

Male, over 50, Ballarat"7've Aad id years experience in cfericaf. TAey fooA at yonr resnme, and tAey fooA AacA and see tAat yon Aaven't worAed in qpice worA - it doesn't matter tAat 7 Aave Aeen ... on varions committees pbr iO years as 7*resident, Secretary, Treasnrer so ad my AooA worA is np to date, my typing is np to date and tAat doesn't matter 7 Aave not worAed in tAat situation, so tAere/breyon're ont."


5 0

"7'fe yM t COMM ^*0M! an interview witA WMMOne witA wA0M 7 do votantary worA and Aer con:MMnt wen - 'TAM uotantaiyyoA witt tead into a Ait oy yart-tinM worA in a yew MM?ntA.s Aecaaye tAereY oMM watemity teaoe coM ing ay Aat we donY advertise anyn:ore Aecoaê we can Aire witAin tAeyoA itêy o yoa'oe got no Aoê anteM yoa 're in tAere doing ootanta^y worA'."

Male, 25-50 years, Ballarat"7 a%%?iied to teacA F^ngtiyA to Migrants and 7 was totd tAat 7 was aot qaati/ied, tAea tAey coatacteJ aw and ayAed iy7 woatd do it anpaid."

Female, over 50, BrisbaneParticipants were fairly eveniy divided in their views about the idea that unemployed people should be required to undertake some form of voluntary work as a condition o f receiving income support payments. Some said that this would be unfair and could further marginalise unemployed people. Some said that resources would be better spent on job creation. Others expressed concern that it could lead to the loss o f paid jobs. A number o f participants indicated that they would be more comfortable with the notion that unemployed people should undertake training as a condition o f receiving payments.Not all, however, were opposed to the idea. Older people, in particular, were inclined to say that they would prefer to do some work in exchange for their social security payments. However, even those who saw some merit in the proposal were concerned that there should be safeguards in place to ensure that arrangements o f this kind did not lead to exploitation.Some participants said that they would prefer that their social security payments were used as a wage subsidy to allow small businesses to employ them.

"7 don Y reatty want to Ae ytacA in a AortngyoA yor tAe dote. 7'd rotAer Ac oat tooAingyor worA and at teayt doing .soMMtAmgyor MM."

Male, to 24 years, Rockhampton"WorA ybr dote - it's notyair, 7 woatdnY tiAe to get ayoA tAat onty jAaid tAat nmcA MM?nqy."

Male, to 24 years, Rockhampton"Peo%?te are toeing j'oA now Aecaaye oy M!acAine?y - garAo tracAy are tAe

yer/ect exanÂte, tAree gays on tracAy wAen 7 te/t ycAoot. WAat do yoa do witA tAe eny? toyed in worA iytAoye wAo were anentp toyed Aave to worAyor- tAe-dote?"


"y itS goaâ Ag^ Mg ggt worA 7'm aMyor :t. 7 dow't tAmA it gAoatd Ac wwA yor yoar wowgy, wayAg ^rammg yor yoMr mowcy. OtAgrwigg tAg Govgramga^ tiAg att tAiwgg tAgy do, wiH gad M%? taAiwg adoa^tagg o/* Mg aad tog 7/ gad M worAiwg :a aH tAgir iitt/g jAiacgg aad domg aM rgg worA."

Male, to 24 years, Rockhampton"7a a way it's atrigAt, Aut ia a way it's rgaiiy wroag Agcaasg yoa ggt tAg gAityoAg ao-oag gisg waats, aad yoM rg doiag it or aotAiag/aagtigai^y, wAgrgas it coaid Ag a ayiagy'oAyor sotagoag gisg."

Male, to 24 years, Ballarat"7 said to yoa tAat 7 Aad a tot o/* sataii Aasiagssgs tAat 7 did tAg AooAs yor aad tAgy wgrg tAg sort o/* Aasiagssgs tAatyast waatgd tag to go ia jAgrAajAs a coaîg o/*tiatgs a atoatA aad ataAg sarg tAat gogrytAiag was writtga a A jAro grty, sgad oat tAg accoaats aad ait tAis sort o / tAiag, aad ait o / tAgsg sataii Aasiagssgs Aaog yaitga Ay tAg waysidg Agcaasg Got/graatgat rcatty Aas atadg it ogry di icMtt ybr tAgat. 7ygg/ tAat gomgAody iiAg atysgy coaid yiad ciigats wAo woaid Ag aAig to asg my sgroicgs y my doig atoagy was Âaid to tAg sataii Aasiagssgs as my wagg so tAat y 7 coaid do, say, yiog Aoars at tAis ?iacg tAis wggA aad yiog Aoars at tAat jAiacg, tAga tAgsg y?gq Aig are aot jAayiag yor gayioyiag aw oat o/* tAgir y?ocAgt, Aat at igast 7 yggi iiAg 7'vg got a yoA Agcaasg 7'm Agiag jAaid yor it iastcad o/* tAg moMgy yast aatoa^ticaiiy goiag iato tAg AaaA gvg?y ybrtaigAt. 7 tAiaA tAg Govgraawat sAoaid iooA at tAiags iiAg tAat. . . .To maAg it ayair tAiag; y it was a wage, it woaid Aavg to Ag at tAg award wage."

Female, over 50, Rockhampton

8 . SOCIAL DIVISIONSIt was clear from the comments made by people in the focus groups that unemployment exacerbates social divisions in the community. The desperation which people experience as a result o f long-term unemployment sometimes spills over into resentment towards others. Some people we spoke with were bitter about jobs being seen to be taken by migrants; irritated by what they see as preferential treatment being given to Aboriginal people; insistent that young people don't want to work; and concerned that married women are in their view taking jobs away from others.

"%q%dg tAiwA 7'm grggdy yor wawtiwg a yoA Agcaagg my AagAand ig gmpioygd. TAgy aggMmg tAat Agcaagg Ag'g worAmg at tAg amogryity Ag'g ggttmg totg q^moagy go Âg dogsw't aggd tAgyoA'."


52

"7%% vioieace fia towaj comeyyrom yoaag AtacA Aidy. ZAey Ve too yoaag to worA Aat tAey 're oat oyycAoot yoa Aaow yo tAey Sie aataraiAy goiag to & reat y, ready Aored aad w aat to do wAateuer tAey can. fa a towa tAat s got aotAiag tAey e goaaa do wAatever comey aext. "

Male, to 24 years, Rockhampton"AAorigiaai j&eo te go ia tAe jbaA aad driaA ad tAeir moaey aad wAea tAereS a ago/ Aoaye gettiag Aadt or yometAiag tAey mow ytraigAt iato it aad AereS ad tAe otAer oaeyyayt gotta /ooA aroaad ybr a Aoaye, aad tAey caa move s%ratgA% ia to a Araad aew AricA Aome."

Female, to 24 years, Rockhampton"ZAey yAoaid Aadd tAem dAe tAey do a/? at Aft Aforgaa Jor tAem, tAoye Aig Aeyyer AricA tAiagy, coacro^ ytoor tAat ad comey iato tAe middie aad wAea tAey move oat, tAey waiA ia tAere witA a yire tracA to taAe tAe re Aoye aad Aoye it ad o a t."

Young person, to 24 years, Rockhampton"ft maAey yoa AitcAy towardy j&eopie wAo Aave a yoA a a d wAo yoa tAiaA doa 't aeed tAe moaey."

Female, 25-50 years, Rockhampton"Peo%)fe ia tAird worid coaatriey are reâred to worA ybrybod aad macA o/* tAat ... womea aow worA wAere tAey ayed to ytay at Aome twice ay maay j&eo te tooAiagâ* A ay ay maayy'oAy."

Male, Ballarat"fa tAe iayt twoyoAy fo e Aad tAere've Aeea jAeo ie worAiag tAree aad ybar Aoary overtime a day aad f yaw oa 7V peopie are worAiag more aad o/tea. Ay RAoada yaid, yoa ayyociate witA reojAie yoa caa aôrd to ayyociate witA aad tAeyeêqîe are m aaagiag yoyoa^vegot to ."

Male, Ballarat'T a r too yew witA y ar too macA worA a a d y ar too maay witA aotAiag."

Male, Ballarat"Zoariym, tAatS wAy f'd iiAe to get iato it, Aat it'd Ae^ iy yoa're

ydâaeye."Female, Brisbane

"ZAey yay tAere'y ao diycrimiaatioa Aat wAea yoa get a a ay^dcatioa ybrm tAey yay oae o/* tAe ybdowiag are yoa AAorigiaat?, are yoa a Zorrey Strait fyiaader?, were yoa Aora overyeay? are yoa a yemaie?, are yoa Aaadica%%?ed?, aoAody d iatereyted ia a wAde A aytradaa m ate."

Male, 50 years and older, Brisbane

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A CONCLUDING COMMENT

As we discovered it is not possible to listen closely to 112 people out of work, and many for a long time, without being considerably stirred by people's experiences. It is not that the focus groups provide a whole new set of knowledge about unemployment. Rather it is that they provide an appreciation of the real problem of unemployment - the human devastation; the social isolation; the terrible uncertainty that is introduced to people's lives, possibly even for the rest of their lives; and the struggle people have to exist and keep their families and dignity intact.Long-term unemployment is exacting a heavy toll on the individuals involved, and on the broader community in terms of skills' wastage and the creation of a class of people forced into subsistence living.This research project sought to explore a number of research questions. We wanted to know about:

* the employment aspirations and expectations of long-term unemployed people;

* their education and training aspirations;* the factors influencing these aspirations;* the biggest problems or difficulties people faced as a

consequence of unemployment;* the coping or survival strategies used;* and the best ways services, programs or other responses could

assist people unemployed for a long time.These research questions have been clarified in a number of important ways through the focus group discussions.On the question of employment aspirations, for instance, the discussions affirm the centrality of employment in people's lives. The overwhelming majority of those to whom we spoke said that they want employment and that they see themselves as being employed in the future. Some indicated that they did not necessarily need or want full-time work. A number of sole parents, for example, said that they would prefer part-time and flexible work options which could be structured around the requirements of what for them is their first priority - raising their children - at least while the

children are young. Many of those who said they needed full-time work indicated that they would be prepared to take on several part-time jobs if they were unable to obtain full-time work through one job. In the shortterm most people were prepared to accept any job which they could get.People's educational and training aspirations vary. There are those who have deliberately chosen to undertake formal study on the assumption it will help them find work. There are many who feel that work experience, and the possibility of on-the-job training, is the best option. There are older people who know deep down they have the skills and experience to do the job if only others recognised it. And there are those who take up short course after short course in the hope that somewhere along the line they will pick up a job.The barriers which people confront are considerable. The overriding one is the scarcity of jobs. But others can be formidable, including the lack of experience, the attitude of employees about age, about people being 'too young' or 'too old', the cost of job seeking, the limits to people's mobility.In terms of coping and survival strategies there seem to us to be three critical ones which come through the discussions. The first revolves around people's efforts to build some structure and routine into their daily life. Courses help to do this, and for some, so does voluntary work. Otherwise people try and arrange their life and meagre resources, as best they can. The second concerns people's responses to the financial insecurity unemployment brings. The financial struggle is great. Insecurity and uncertainty are the order of the day. People try to manage by shuffling their bills, by meeting the fortnightly deficit as best they can, by keeping their fingers crossed that the fridge won't break down because there's no way they can replace it. More positively, there were people in the focus groups who identified as critical to their survival, their membership of a local group where practical supports and vital companionship could be drawn on.It is clear from our discussions that services and programs can and do play an important role in people's lives and in their search for employment, but they have to be designed in ways which genuinely reflect people's needs and, most of all, they need to be guided by the principles of respect and human dignity.On the basis of the comments made by those who participated in the focus groups it is hard to avoid the conclusion that fundamental changes are required both in the CES and in the DSS if they are to effectively assist longterm unemployed people. The contrast between the generally positive assessments which participants made of non-government agencies and the highly negative assessments which they made of the two imjor government agencies with which they have contact was striking. The features which participants valued in non-govemment agencies perhaps provide some

guidance to the changes which are required in CES and DSS. The experiences recounted by participants suggest that at minimum, greater effort needs to be put into staff training and into recruitment of appropriate staff in these agencies.In the case of CES greater efforts need to be made to actively seek job placements and to match clients to jobs. More regular up-dating of job boards and greater interaction with employers to ensure that listed jobs reflect realistic expectations and requirements would help to reduce the frustration currently experienced by unemployed people.The provision of the more personalised and individualised service which participants clearly desire from CES and DSS may well require more substantial operational changes. It might, for example, require the institution of an individualised case management approach within which each client would be allocated to a specific staff member.Participants valued training and labour market programs provided that their content was relevant to employment, and they allowed adequate opportunity to develop marketable skills. Our discussions suggest that there may be some degree of over-reliance within the current suite of labour market programs on very short training programs which are not always relevant to employer requirements and which do not always allow people to develop the skills or depth of knowledge required to gain employment. Work experience or post-program job placement which allow people to make practical use of the skills which they gain through training clearly emerged as crucial components of labour market programs.The costs associated with job seeking were identified as a major barrier by many participants. Services such as Job Clubs which help to reduce these costs were highly valued. Not all participants, however, needed or benefited from the training received through Job Clubs. More flexible mechanisms for providing assistance with the costs of job seeking, possibly for more extended periods, could be a useful supplement to current programs.Currently available labour market or training programs are not necessarily an appropriate response to the particular circumstances of all long-term unemployed people. A more flexible approach to resource aHocation which would allow assistance to be tailored to individual needs may be appropriate.In conclusion, the focus groups provided an immense array of insights into the experience of long-term unemployment. What comes through most, however, is a heightened conviction that the fundamental inhumanity of long-term unemployment and of the poverty associated with it demand an effective and urgent response.

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APPENDIX 1SCHEDULE OF FOCUS GROUPS

M elbourne

Venue: Brotherhood of St LaurenceEmployment Action Centre 288 Brunswick Street FITZROY VIC 3065

Date: Monday 23rd August10 a.m. -12 noon: Males and females 25 - 50 years 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Males and females 50 years and olderFriday 27th August10 a.m. -12 noon: Sole parents1 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Aboriginal people

Ballarat

Venue: Brotherhood of St LaurenceCentral Highlands Region Mining Exchange, Lydiard Street BALLARAT VIC 3350

Date: Thursday 2nd September11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m.: Females to 24 years 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.: Males to 24 yearsFriday 3rd September11:30 a.m. -1 p.m.: Males and females 25 - 50 years 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.: Males and females 50 years and older

Brisbane

Venue: SkillShare Woolloongabba,Employment Action Centre 5 Reid StreetWOOLLOONGABBA QLD 4102

Date: Monday 6th September12 noon - 2 p.m.: Males and females 25 - 50 years 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Males 50 years plus

Tuesday 7th September10 a.m. -12 noon: Males and females to 24 years 1 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Women 50 years and older

Rockhampton

Venue: Youth Trek6 East Street, Rockhampton Suite 2, 6 East Street ROCKHAMPTON QLD 4700

Date: Monday 13th September12 noon - 2 p.m.: Women 25 - 50 years 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.: Men 25 - 50 yearsTuesday 14th September10 a.m. -12 noon: Men and women to 24 years1 p.m. - 3 p.m.: Men and women 50 years and older

APPENDIX 2QUESTIONNAIRE ACCOMPANYING FOCUS GROUPS

GROUP:QUESTIONNAIRE

This information will help us to make sure that we are getting the views o f a range o f people. It will be treated as strictly confidential and will not be used in any way which could identify you individually. You do not need to give your name. Some questions only require a tick in the right box. For others you will need to write a word or two.1. I am D Female D Male.

2. My age is years.

3. I live i n ................................................................. (Suburb or town).

4. I am D 1am not D of Aboriginal descent.

5. 1 was bom in .........................................................-.....(Country).

6. I have been in Australia fo r .....................years (if bom overseas).

7. My first language is

8. I do D I do not Q have a disability.

9. I have.....................(number) children living with me.

10. The children's ages are:under 1 D i a 2 a 3 a 4 a 5 a

7 a 8 a 9 a 10 a i i a 12 a14 a 15 a 16 a 17 a 18 a 18+ a

11. At the moment I am:Living with my husband/wife/partnerLiving aloneLiving with my parentsLiving in a group household

aa Living alone with my children aa Living with other relatives aa Not living in any one place a

Other (please specify)

12. Have you had any paid job since you left school? Yes D No D

13. What was the longest time you worked in one job? ..........Years ...........Months

14. How long is it since you have had a job? ..........Years .......... Months

15. Are you registered as unemployed with the GES? YesD No D

16. What kind of work were you doing in your last job?

17. Was thatjob:Part-dme D Full-time D Casual D

18. For how long did you work in this jo b ? ..........Years ..........Months

19. Is your husband/wife/partner currently working in a paid job?Yes, in a full-time job Q Yes, in a part-time jobYes, in a casual job D No, not working in a paid job

20. If your husband/wife/partner is not working, , how long is it since they last had paid job?..........Years ..........Months

21. How many of the children who are living with you are:Still at school D Studying at a university or collegeWorking in a paid job D Unemployed

22. At what age did you leave school? ..........Years

23. Do you have any of the following:Higher School Certificate/MatriculationDiploma/DegreeTrades CertificateOther (please specify).............................

From Australiaaaa

From Overse

TH ANK YO U FO R YO U R HELP.

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APPENDIX 3INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATIONS

WHO ASSISTED IN RECRUITMENT OF PARTICIPANTS

1. In Melbourne* Staff of the Training Unit at the Brotherhood of St Laurence Fitzroy

Employment Action Centre.* Jan Simmons, Morrison House Neighbourhood House, Mt Evelyn.* Joe Narbaluk and Colin Dalton, Enmaraleek Koorie Community

Association, Dandenong.* Sandra Mounsey, Whitdesea Family Services.* Pam Quinton-Randall, Banksia Gardens Association Neighbourhood

House, Broadmeadows.* The Revd Phillip Huggins, Holy Trinity Anglican Church (over 40s

group), Williamstown.* Chris Ross, Dandenong and District Aboriginal Co-operative.* Bronwyn Parris, Council for Single Mothers and Their Children,

2. In Ballarat* Gerardine Christou and staff at the Brotherhood of St Laurence

Ballarat Employment Action Centre.* Anton Leschen, City of Ballarat Adrenalin Club.* David Davidson, Workready.* Don Gresswell, Rotary 40 Plus Group.

3. In Brisbane* Trish Schell and staff at the Woolloongabba Employment Action

Centre.* John Bennett, Salvation Army Employment 2000.* Logan City Employment Training Program.

4. In Rockhampton* Eileen Bauer and staff at Rockhampton Youth Trek.* Dawn MacNelly, CQ Personnel Services.* Anton Thompson , Logan City SkillShare.* Nanette Nissan, Capricomia SkillShare.* Jamie Burke, Job Club, Rockhampton.* Kevin Brown, CES, Rockhampton.

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REFERENCES

Department of Employment, Education and Training 1993, AzAoMrwmrAgKy m AGPS, Canberra.

Department of Social Security 1993, MofdA y oA SgarcA and NEWSTART AEowaMcgâRytAx, AAriJ 1PP3, Canberra.

Morgan, D. 1988, Ebcm os rg garcA, Sage, California.

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BROTHERHOODBROTHERHOOD OF ST LAURENCE

Documents

EXISTING BUT NOT LIVING - BSL cataloguelibrary.bsl.org.au/jspui/bitstream/1/4480/1/... · Department of Social Security (DSS) statistics show that in April 1993 a total of 4,642 Job