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

A partner 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 partner has made reasonable efforts to find a position but has not found one during the 2-week search period – for example, if a partner 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 partner to continue 

If a partner 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 partner 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 partner is in their Community Work Experience period. 

When a partner is in their search or position period, the Grade 1 financial sanction is imposed from the day a partner 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 partner’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 partner as soon as possible. 

If a partner 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.