10 Years With Disability Employment Services

“I’ve been on the JobSeeker Allowance for 10 years.

During that time, I’ve had the misfortune to deal with a number of DES Providers. The name Disability in that term is insulting, and ableist for starters.

I thought they would actually help me when I first started my job search. That was about ten Providers ago. The System clearly isn’t working. If you need help to achieve a simple goal – suitable employment – and still don’t get it after ten years, and numerous people attempting to help, the only conclusion is that something it very wrong.

I’m with a DES Provider, because I have a medical condition. Due to privacy laws, my DES Provider don’t even know what it is I have. I have tried to explain it, but it doesn’t seem to be understood, and I get pushed into unsuitable jobs.

A recent Case Manager told me to lie on an application, stating that I didn’t have any medical issues that might affect my ability to perform the role. I refused to do this and felt so uncomfortable that I made a complaint.

The State Manager of the Provider actually became involved, and my concerns were addressed. I was however transferred to a new Case Manager, and my previous Case Manager was “counselled.”

So, in summary my experience with Job Agencies has been very poor. They’ve done the opposite of what you’d expect, and the few temporary roles I have landed I got myself with no help from them.

And as an aside, I recently completed a Pre-Employment Medical for a role with Australia Post. I did not meet the requirements for the role, therefore I did not proceed any further.

I’m yet to work out what a suitable role is for my circumstances. Centrelink thinks 8-15 hours per week is what I’m capable of. I can no longer work in my chosen career field, despite it being highly specialised.

Employers just hear I’ve got a medical issue, don’t say anything else, then might let me know a few days later that I haven’t been successful. There are Government rebates available, for workplace modifications. Still not interested.

Meanwhile, my medical issue is slowly getting worse, as the medical literature says it will, and eventually I’ll need another operation. Which on the public system waiting list is in terms of years.

Being long-term-unemployed I don’t have 30k lying around to use in the Private System.” – Andrew.