Cari's story

I am female, 28 and live in NNSW. I haven't always lived here though. I have a a number of Cert III qualifications and am about to start a bridging course at uni with the hopes if starting a bachelor of nursing mid year.

There are multiple incidents which happened over the years that just irked me. One that really made me livid is when I had to go to my aunt’s funeral (which was a 15 hour car drive from where I lived in Brisbane) between 2005 and 2007

I was meant to be doing Work for the dole. I headed down to where my aunts funeral was. Totally forgot that I had work for the dole on (obviously the last thing on my mind), so i had forgotten to call them. I got a phone call about 2 hours before the funeral while I was at my cousins house (the children of my aunt who died) from my job agency demanding to know why I didn't show up. I had told them that where I was and that it was the last thing on my mind. They accused me of lying about it and said they were contacting Centrelink about it. 

I felt pissed off to say the least. And I felt hatred. Simply because I felt that they had no compassion for the situation, that they didn't care.  The hatred was mainly towards my case manager, but there was some hatred to the whole establishment there.  It felt like not wanting to go there, like I was just another excuse for them to receive more money from the government to go into their back pocket.

I felt scared about having no money, most certainly. And that I was going to end up homeless.  If I hadn't gone in and sorted everything out, I would not have been able to pay bills such as rent, mobile recharge, electricity. Wouldn't have even been able to afford to catch a bus to my job agency to search for jobs and attend appointments. 

I think it’s right for the government to do this if someone had purposely avoided their obligations then yes, they shouldn't be paid, but in extenuating circumstances, such as mine, where you're grieving the loss of a loved one, and the last thing you think of is to make a phone call, then no, they shouldn't cut payments off. 

Another incident that irked me there was a day I was in one job agency looking for work and they sent me home for no reason.

- my current agency (different branch) tried to get me to go get a medical certificate for depression so they can push me up a couple of streams so they can get more money from the government and so I didn't have to look for work for 3 months (even though I desperately wanted a job, and not having a job made me depressed)

when putting me for jobs, my old agency would put me for jobs that I wasn't qualified for and wonder why I never made it past the interview stage, thinking I was purposely sabotaging myself.

I’ve been made to go for jobs I didn’t want to take multiple times. Once was at a meat works. Being someone who doesn't eat meat or cook much as the smell makes be feel sick, I felt vile by the end of the day.

Another time was at a fruit pick/pack place - had another job to start (that I got myself and wanted to do) the day after I started at the fruit place. Then another was at a warehouse while I was working part-time.

I have to do work for the dole a few times. The last time was a complete waste of time and petrol. All I had done was sort clothes for the salvo's - not something that I can put on my resume, and I never gained any useful skills. Work for the dole can be useful, it all depends on the project.  Some projects give you skills that are transferable, whilst others (such as the sorting of the clothes) are a complete waste of time.  In the past I have done computer based projects, which have been useful in enhancing my skills.

The first time I was on Centrelink payments, yes I felt like I was stereotyped, but now after working and as I am about to go to uni, I don't feel as though I'm as stereotyped as before.  I felt like I was getting dirty looks from people passing by as I am walking into Centrelink, and into my job agency.  Once I'm in the actual offices and see those around me, I seem to be in a much better place than some others there.

I think there are plenty of cheats out there, I have known and do know some now. The ones I do know now only do so in order to make sure they have enough for their kids. If they didn't cheat the system then there'd be a chance their kids would be without a home.

Some places treat you differently to others.  Yes, some places seem to be better than others, even within the same company there's a variance between staff members.. Some have treated me like another excuse for them to get money off the government, others have treated me like a person.  I put these differences down to Individual personalities and beliefs.

I research my rights by spending time online looking around, reading forums.  If I felt that I have been wronged I will say something.  I feel its important to stand up for myselfas I have an  understanding of my rights. And I don’t want them to get away with things they don't deserve.

After this incident I called Centrelink and rectified my situation.  I complained to Centrelink and the job agency. Centrelink made sure I got paid, job agency didn't give a crap.  I have complained to a couple of agencies.  I felt bad, but it needed to be done.  They treated me pretty averagely. Could have treated me better but could have treated me worse.I am able to stand up for myself because I don't like taking crap that I don't deserve.  I also try to help other people online, so they know what their rights are, know my story of what I've been through.