Failure within the position period – good and sufficient reason

A partner must be able to complete 5 hours of Community Work Experience each week during the 4-week period.

The position duties or conditions may change during this period and make it impossible or unreasonable for the partner to complete their Community Work Experience.

A partner must inform MSD as soon as possible that they are no longer able to complete their Community Work Experience so that MSD may place them onto an alternative recompliance pathway.

A Grade 1 financial sanction will be imposed from the date MSD has been informed and is satisfied that they are unable to complete their position and a recompliance activity must be arranged for the partner to complete as soon as possible.

Marco has had Community Work Experience imposed and is searching for a suitable position. Marco quickly found a suitable position doing odd jobs at his church.

This worked well for the first 2 weeks, but in week 3 there was very little for Marco to do and the church only needed him for 2 hours that week. He contacted MSD to let them know he would not have enough hours for this week.

As this is a change outside Marco’s control, MSD informs him that his period of Community Work Experience will be ended, and a financial sanction is imposed from that day. MSD also arranges the first available recompliance activity he can complete, so that Marco can recomply quickly and his payments can return to normal as soon as possible.

Marcia started a Community Work Experience position with her local sports club. One of the volunteers hears that Marcia is there because she’s on a benefit and this position is a sanction for her.

They tell other people who volunteer there and some people start picking on her, making unkind comments about why she’s there. Marcia feels very uncomfortable and contacts MSD to let them know what’s happening.

MSD decides that the position is no longer appropriate for Marcia to complete, because she’s being bullied and feels unsafe. MSD imposes a replacement sanction from that day and arranges for her to do a different recompliance activity.