Good and sufficient reason for failure to find or complete Community Work Experience

A client may be unable to find or complete Community Work Experience for a good and sufficient reason. These reasons may include, but are not limited to:

• a client has made reasonable efforts to find a position but has not found one during the 2-week search period – for example, if a client has contacted many volunteer organisations but they do not have any available positions
• they are unable to complete the required hours in any of the 4 weeks for reasons beyond their control
• the conditions of the organisation and/or requirements of the position make it unsafe for the client to continue

If a client is delayed in notifying MSD of their good and sufficient reason, the delay must only be for a reasonable period. MSD will determine on a case-by-case basis whether the length of the delay is reasonable or not.

If MSD determines that they are unable to complete Community Work Experience for a good and sufficient reason, and a client has notified MSD within a reasonable period, MSD must impose a Grade 1 financial sanction. The date the financial sanction is imposed depends on where the client is in their Community Work Experience period.

When a client is in their search or position period, the Grade 1 financial sanction is imposed from the day a client meets with MSD and MSD is satisfied there is a good and sufficient reason and they have notified MSD within a reasonable period.

When a client's search period has finished and they did not secure a position, the Grade 1 financial sanction is imposed from the day after the search period ended.

MSD must assign a recompliance activity to the client as soon as possible.

If a client does not have a good and sufficient reason for failing to find or complete Community Work Experience, or they did not notify MSD within a reasonable period, they will be considered non-compliant.