AUWU media

The Ratchet in Action

How Australia's Education System Fails Job-Seekers

Apr 9 • 

Jemma Hooper

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AUWU

March 2025

Trapping us in poverty: Welfare recipients urge government to raise the rate

Five years since the announcement of the Coronavirus Supplement, welfare recipients have had enough.

Mar 20 • 

AUWU

December 2024

APM wins award for worst job agency of the year

In a crowded field, the WA giant has taken out this year's "Golden Demerit" for its commitment to tormenting the poorest segments of Australian society.

Dec 1, 2024 • 

AUWU

September 2024

Payslip harassment: another scandal of maladministration and exploitation in the Australian welfare system

New documents obtained by AUWU under FOI expose the use of payment suspensions by privatised employment service providers who aren’t held to account by…

Sep 22, 2024 • 

AUWU

May 2024

Friends and family are “scared I will starve to death": Welfare recipients tell government to raise the bloody rate

A new expert committee of single parents, JobSeeker recipients, and Disability Support Pensioners have detailed the hardship and abuses they’re…

May 8, 2024 • 

AUWU

Dirty toilets and dirtier welfare rorts: What I found at the bottom of the cistern and at the bottom of the system

If there's one thing dirtier than the rorts in the mutual obligations system, it's a public toilet after a day of heavy use. And Tess should know…

May 1, 2024 • 

AUWU

April 2024

Time's up for the Minister for Nothing

The government’s own experts know the rate of income support needs to be “significantly increased”. So why aren't they doing it?

Apr 26, 2024 • 

AUWU

March 2024

Single mum on JobSeeker faces eviction

After her child turned 14 last November, Therese was dumped on JobSeeker. She's now being threatened with a Notice to Vacate by her rental provider.

Mar 25, 2024 • 

AUWU

Government worker cut off vital support after Centrelink made “computer-generated error”

When her employer reduced her hours, Emily* applied for JobSeeker to help pay for medication and food. Centrelink blocked her calls, kept her waiting…

Mar 13, 2024 • 

AUWU

February 2024

Victims of Centrelink failures petition the government to fix the service

The government must suspend Mutual Obligations, and debt recovery, to free up more resources to service people properly.

Feb 28, 2024 • 

AUWU

November 2023

What it's like to be homeless with mutual obligations

A single mother, living in a van in Melbourne's south-east, shares her experience dealing with a job service provider and the threat of payment…

Nov 14, 2023 • 

AUWU

October 2023

The raw numbers are in: Centrelink's service stinks

The mass breakdown of Centrelink's service is jeopardising people's lives. After 500 days in office, Minister Shorten has had more than enough time to…

Oct 26, 2023 • 

AUWU