Hours range for suitable employment

Partners with work obligations must make themselves available for suitable employment of:

• at least 30 hours a week (partner with full-time work obligations)
• at least 20 hours a week (partner with part-time work obligations)

Although the target to meet work obligations is 20 or 30 hours per week a job can be considered suitable if the hours of work per week are within a range hours required to meet their work obligations.

Anna is a partner with part-time work obligations. She is an experienced hair dresser. A hairdressing vacancy arises for 16 hours per week at the local salon. The details of the job suit Anna's circumstances in all ways, including her caring responsibilities. This job is considered 'suitable employment' and Anna must apply and accept the job (if it is offered to her) or fail to meet her obligations. If Anna is offered the job, she would still be expected to be available for other work, training or other activities as she is in employment less than 20 hours per week.

Note if another job with more hours is found for Anna in another salon but the hourly rate is less and overall she would be no better off financially, the job would not be considered suitable. A suitable job would be one that was for more hours that paid the same or greater than what she was earning in her current part-time job.

James is a partner with full-time work obligations. A vacancy arises for a forecourt attendant at the petrol station for 25 hours per week. The details of the job suit James' circumstances. This job is considered 'suitable employment' and James must apply and accept the job (if it is offered to him) or fail to meet his obligations. If James is offered the job, he would still be expected to be available for other work, training or other activities as he is in employment less than 30 hours per week.

For more information see:

• Work obligations - partners
• Suitable employment
• Meeting job search requirements