Newstart

goldcoaster · Senior Member

Newstart

TheHeaths · Guru

As Newstart is a payment given when trying to access a job, the difficulty I would see in doing any necessary volunteer work while travelling is being able to convince Centrelink that you are actually making a reasonable effort to access permanent work.

That may see them stop payment. In this instance I would suggest the best and first move should be to discuss with Centrelink to get the completely accurate advice.

-- Edited by TheHeaths on Sunday 4th of December 2016 07:54:04 AM

aussietraveller · Guru

If you are travelling and on newstart you should as suggested talk to centrelink, you may well be able to travel looking for work and doing some seasonal work without loosing your benifits, and Centrelink are much more considerate of more mature members of our community.

goldcoaster · Senior Member

Advice taken and yes I will see them when the time comes . I keep reading that some towns and councils need Volunteers to spruce up Parks and community attractions etc , so I thought this might be a good way to work and travel , I will put that to them. I was hoping someone is doing that now and could explain.
Cheers
Mick

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

I have no experience in Newstart Allowance.

However, given the rate of payment for the Newstart allowance I would suggest you, and perhaps your wife, would have little trouble gaining paid employment in rural areas of Straya.

At $477 each on Newstart that is about $8 per hour each - assuming a 30 hour week - and if doing volunteer work you would gain no additional income.

You can easily get double the Newstart 'hourly rate' even if just doing basic harvesting work.

Newstart 01.JPG

You will find that, being a qualified tradie, you would have little trouble finding work in many rural areas while travelling. If you were able to land even the lowest paid position doing wheat harvesting, for example, you would triple the Newstart 'hourly rate'. I would be fairly confident both you and your wife would have little difficulty getting work.

If you feel you can survive AND travel on Newstart and volunteer work only, then when you obtain some paid work, ensure you save to cover any coming period when you either choose not to work, or can't find work in an area you are in.

Given the recent kerfuffle regarding the tax rate on backpackers, and the apparent expected impact on backpacker participation in rural area, there are quite likely to be many options to gain seasonal employment on your journey. Farmers very often prefer the 'older/mature' worker as we tend to be more reliable, more stable, and put in a full day's work.

Centrelink provide 'Work Credits' which may also be to your advantage if gaining seasonal work.

Newstart 02.JPG

I can understand the wish to have a 'back stop' financially on your journey but seasonal work is a very viable income stream and definitely not arduous.

The above 'snips' are from this website (which I am quite certain you have already accessed and read) -

https://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/centrelink/newstart-allowance

I have had no trouble finding seasonal work in the past six years while travelling to supplement my income. The problem when getting such work, if you are a 'typical' reliable type of worker, is the farmer/employer is loath to let you move on and tries to convince you to stay.

Cheers - John

-- Edited by rockylizard on Sunday 4th of December 2016 09:31:09 AM

travelinglew · Member

As you are over 55, you can do 15 hours of voluntary work a week rather than look for a job. From what I can see the big issue with this when on the road is that the organisation must be registered with center-link for them to be able to offer a position. The work must also be performed every week ie you can not work 60 hours this week and spread the hours over the coming weeks. You will also loose newstart any time you stop doing the work or you would need to visit a center link office, have them change your status from voluntary work to looking for a job, have a service provider assigned, go to them and go thru the process then apply for the number of jobs they set every two weeks until such time as you get your next position. All this with a changing address.

On the other hand, this could work if you intend to stay in one location for a substantial length of time ie six months or more.

As others have said. Talk to center link. They are the experts and will give you the facts rather than our guestimates.

Hope this helps

Bruce and Bev · Guru

you will find it very difficult to travel and be on Newstart unless you intend to spend some months at the same location.

Problems are:

1. The Fed Govt is increasingly tightening up the rules to cut back their spend on Newstart

2. You will need to report every fortnight to a service provider (like Max or Comminicare etc) and when you move location and change the service provider, its a drama

3. States (not the Fed Govt) decide who are recognized charities to do volunteer work and get paid. Some of these charities will not accept you (the Salvos are a good example) if you are a traveler as usually they can get permanent residents in each area as volunteers. The charities have to fill in too many Centrelink forms for people on Newstart.

4. Centrelink offices are a mix of poor advice and good advice. You can visit one and be given the "good oil" only to find the next one will say "no - that's not how it works"

5. All in all, Newstart is a drama for travelers, particularly if you are new to it and have poor service providers (Max is one of the best)

We were on Newstart for about 10 months and were glad not to use them anymore as we now earn money. Its worthwhile to consider do you have skills/experience that will be in demand in most parts of the country or think about re-skilling part-time (like Carers jobs in aged care - other than in WA, there is a real shortage of carers. Hospitality is another and you can do your Responsible Service of Alcohol and Gaming certificates on line for less than $100 - these are good for life and in any State

oldbloke · Guru

Bruce and Bev wrote:
you will find it very difficult to travel and be on Newstart unless you intend to spend some months at the same location.

Problems are:

1. The Fed Govt is increasingly tightening up the rules to cut back their spend on Newstart

2. You will need to report every fortnight to a service provider (like Max or Comminicare etc) and when you move location and change the service provider, its a drama

3. States (not the Fed Govt) decide who are recognized charities to do volunteer work and get paid. Some of these charities will not accept you (the Salvos are a good example) if you are a traveler as usually they can get permanent residents in each area as volunteers. The charities have to fill in too many Centrelink forms for people on Newstart.

4. Centrelink offices are a mix of poor advice and good advice. You can visit one and be given the "good oil" only to find the next one will say "no - that's not how it works"

5. All in all, Newstart is a drama for travelers, particularly if you are new to it and have poor service providers (Max is one of the best)

We were on Newstart for about 10 months and were glad not to use them anymore as we now earn money. Its worthwhile to consider do you have skills/experience that will be in demand in most parts of the country or think about re-skilling part-time (like Carers jobs in aged care - other than in WA, there is a real shortage of carers. Hospitality is another and you can do your Responsible Service of Alcohol and Gaming certificates on line for less than $100 - these are good for life and in any State

mmmm I think Bruce has summed this up well. Im also in this situation, recently made redundant. Centerlink can be very difficult to deal with at times.

4. Centrelink offices are a mix of poor advice and good advice. You can visit one and be given the "good oil" only to find the next one will say "no - that's not how it works" How true

goldcoaster · Senior Member

Thanks All for your advice and comments,
Given me food for thought .
Cheers
Mick

PeterD · Guru

goldcoaster wrote:
I was wondering if Newstart Volunteer work can be done on the road , while travelling.
Mick

Mick, Judging from the number of different answers you got here you have not got a definitive answer. The only way you will get that is to approach Centrelink.

I think the best answer is the one from Rocky. If you are prepared to spend a few weeks at some of those little outback places with your tools of trade then your income will out perform what you can glean on New Start. If you can turn your hand to some simple carpentry then you may find you could stay at some places for months. If your wife has retail and/or accountancy experience there are plenty of small businesses that will snap her up for a few weeks. I can vividly remember several businesses in Karratha pleading with my wife for us to stop a few weeks there and give them a hand.

madaboutled · Guru

Past dealings with Centrelink taught me if you want advice get it in writting. If they won't give it in writting then it's not worth a knob of goat $h!t.

villatranquilla · Guru

Bruce and Bev wrote:
Hospitality is another and you can do your Responsible Service of Alcohol and Gaming certificates on line for less than $100 - these are good for life and in any State

Not all states recognise RSA and RSG 's obtained in another state. The WA certificate states it is a national ticket but is not recognised in Victoria. My grand daughter has just had to re-do hers here in Vic, where face to face training is mandatory.

I guess it ensures that the person answering the questions is really who they say they are. I know somebody in WA who's wife did the on-line certificate for him but he gets the credit.