Specific employment engagement

Specific employment engagements are engagements clients have with MSD in the 13 weeks before their expiry date that satisfy the employment part of the reapplication. This is because they are discussions with MSD about what the client is doing or needs to do to find or prepare for suitable employment.

Specific employment engagements include (but are not limited to):

• engaging with MSD to apply for jobs (e.g. has been referred to a vacancy by MSD)
• participating in one of MSD's employment services (e.g. Rapid Return to Work)
• discussing job search activities with MSD as part of recomplying a work obligations failure
• participating in active case management and has an assigned case manager
• getting Course Participation Assistance or Training Incentive Allowance to undertake employment-related education or training
• discussing what steps they need to take to move towards or into work with MSD and what supports they need from MSD
• participating in an engagement that is considered suitable for improving their work readiness, such as discussing their job search activities or help with removing barriers that prevent work readiness.

For more information see:

• Specific Engagements [no link find out why] Doogle

Employment engagements only count for the person who completes the engagement. This means that specific employment engagements must be completed by the client and their partner separately.

If a client has completed a specific employment engagement in the 13 weeks before their expiry date, only the client is considered to have met the employment part of the reapplication. The partner must complete the employment part of the reapplication separately.

If a client or their partner has completed a specific employment engagement in the 13 weeks before their expiry date, that person will only need to complete the remaining parts of the reapplication when they reapply:

• confirm their circumstances for the purposes of an eligibility check and
• agree to their obligations and confirm their intent to reapply for Jobseeker Support

Example

Hana's Jobseeker Support commenced on 23 February 2026, with her partner included in her benefit. Her expiry date is 24 August 2026. She and her partner have full-time work obligations.

On 18 June 2026, Hana contacts MSD about potential job opportunities in her area and MSD refers her to a vacancy. Hana applies for the role but is unsuccessful.

From the conversation held on 18 June 2026 about her job search MSD can confirm that Hana is available for and seeking full-time employment. She is also taking reasonable steps to find work and is willing and able to undertake employment. As this specific engagement happened in the 13 weeks before her expiry date, the engagement satisfies her employment part of the reapplication.

If Hana still needs Jobseeker Support in August 2026 she will only need to complete the eligibility part of the reapplication, agree to her obligations and confirm her intent to reapply.

Hana's partner had no engagements with MSD recently and attends an appointment with MSD to discuss their job search activities and any support they need from MSD. At the appointment the partner also completes the eligibility part of the reapplication, agrees to their obligations and confirms their intent to reapply.

For more information see:

• Specific engagements
• Completing the 26 week reapplication process

If a client or their partner have not completed a specific employment engagement in the 13 weeks before their expiry date, they must complete the employment part of the reapplication when they reapply.

During the notice period if the client or partner still need to complete the employment part of the reapplication, they may need to attend an appointment or seminar.

The client and their partner will still need to complete the employment part of the reapplication before their expiry date. If they do not do this, their benefit will stop. This applies even if one person in the couple has completed their reapplication process on time.

Note not all clients and partners need to complete the employment part of the reapplication.

For more information see:

• Effect on payments due to not completing the reapplication process
• Employment part of the 26 week reapplication
• Employment part of the reapplication not required

Example

Nahani's Jobseeker Support commenced on 8 December 2025, with their partner included in their benefit. Their expiry date is 8 June 2026. Nahani and their partner both have full-time work obligations.

Nahani and their partner attend a work seminar soon after they start getting Jobseeker Support. However, they have no other interactions with MSD.

On 1 May 2026 they are sent a letter advising what they and their partner need to do to complete their reapplication.

Because they have had no employment engagements with MSD recently (in the last 13 weeks), both Nahani and their partner attend an appointment with MSD to discuss their job search activities and any support they need from us (such as help with removing barriers preventing work readiness). They also complete the eligibility part of the reapplication, agree to their obligations, and confirm their intention to reapply.