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I'm now in employment, which I fought my ass off for, but I wanted to add my voice into the #MOstrike so here's a thread spanning the 9 or so years I was unemployed, and under mutual obligations on Newstart.
I have been connected with a range of job service providers including mainstream and disability. None of them ever accepted my disabilities and refused to take them into consideration for MO activities or jobs.
I was at one point made to do work for the dole in landscaping. I have a physical disability and at the time was not able to access mobility aids, was expected to mow lawns the size of several football fields. Wasn't allowed inside to use kitchen or toilet.
My next close call with WFTD was as a kitchen hand. I requested something like admin/data entry because I accepted I needed to do something. I was forced to complete "job skill" courses multiple times.
I was threatened with losing my payments if I didn't participate in these "courses" or if I wasn't able to sit in the tiny computer rooms and search for jobs with others as a group activity. My anxiety/paranoia was never taken seriously despite it being part of my schizophrenia
I had managers of disability providers tell me they didn't need to consider my disability needs and I should be grateful for the kitchen hand work they were pushing. I was cut off my payments several times when I wasn't able to physically access my disability...
I'm now in employment, which I fought my ass off for, but I wanted to add my voice into the #MOstrike so here's a thread spanning the 9 or so years I was unemployed, and under mutual obligations on Newstart.
I have been connected with a range of job service providers including mainstream and disability. None of them ever accepted my disabilities and refused to take them into consideration for MO activities or jobs.
I was at one point made to do work for the dole in landscaping. I have a physical disability and at the time was not able to access mobility aids, was expected to mow lawns the size of several football fields. Wasn't allowed inside to use kitchen or toilet.
My next close call with WFTD was as a kitchen hand. I requested something like admin/data entry because I accepted I needed to do something. I was forced to complete "job skill" courses multiple times.
I was threatened with losing my payments if I didn't participate in these "courses" or if I wasn't able to sit in the tiny computer rooms and search for jobs with others as a group activity. My anxiety/paranoia was never taken seriously despite it being part of my schizophrenia
I had managers of disability providers tell me they didn't need to consider my disability needs and I should be grateful for the kitchen hand work they were pushing. I was cut off my payments several times when I wasn't able to physically access my disability...
service provider because the office could not be accessed with my rented mobility scooter. I was not allowed to move providers, and they called me lazy and a liar when I tried to demonstrate what happens when I try to walk.
I spent a year with a Catholic provider, and was told to suck it up when I complained that they were pushing their religious ideals on me. I have had providers refuse to apply for jobs for me unless I "got rid of" my tattoos because they aren't meant for girls.
I have been forced to enter into TAFE course study time and time again, once when I didn't have access to mobility aids again, and upon completion told it would be useless and to pick something else.
I had a 'consultant' tell me my only options would be childcare because I was a "woman" and therefore must love children. I identify as non-binary and do not want to work with children, and working with children presents risks in relation to my physical disabilities.
I have been bullied by consultants and managers, I have been threatened and belittled. I have been called lazy, a liar, gross, a waste of time. In 9+ years with JSA's I never had a single interview. I was chased for 4 months by a DSA to give them my job details...
For a job I had found myself so they could claim it. I had been with them 3 weeks and hadn't even met my consultant yet. I have had consultants ruin job trials and opportunities by pushing them to hire me and taking over the conversations.
Since my experiences I have tried to gain employment in the sector on a few occasions in the hopes that maybe I could start changing things and working with empathy and compassion. I have been knocked back time and time again due to my disabilities.
I have been with the following agencies: Max Employment, Ability Options, Wise Employment, Global Skills, Nova Employment, Jobfind, breakthru and 2 others that seem to no longer be operating and I have spaced on the names.
Unemployed people and people with disabilities connected to these "providers" are treated like dirt, bullied and hopes are dashed. #MOstrike is long overdue because Mutual Obligations are a load of shit.
