“Mutual Obligations, what do they actually achieve? If the measure of success is getting a job, they haven’t helped me achieve this. I need my Income Support payment, so do whatever is required, otherwise I’ll be unable to pay my bills.
Mutual implies input from both parties. My DES Provider is supposed to help me find employment. I’m currently on my 8th or 9th Provider, none of which have achieved the measure of success.
So what is the problem? For me it’s very simple, a chronic pain condition as a complication from a previous rare childhood bone disease. The pain limits the type of work I can do, and employers are wary of employing people with pre existing medical issues.
I need something desk-based, otherwise I develop quite severe pain.
Centrelink knows that I have a medical issue, and has reduced the number of jobs I have to search for according.
I’m still struggling to meet my MO, and in the rare instances when I do get an interview, it’s always thanks but no thanks.
So the end result is no job, stress from not having a job, stress from not having enough money, stress from trying to meet MO, stress from not getting solutions from the DES Providers.
I’ve lost 10 years worth of Super contributions, due to not working, which will have a ripple effect on my financial future too.
MO do not work, cause harm, and should be scrapped immediately.” – Andrew
Anti-Poverty Network SA 