The work for the dole scheme is nothing but one big joke!!! A Rant!

[foreigncorrespondent]

I thought I would share my first day experience of working for the dole with you guys.

I chose to work with computers (the other schemes were more male orientated and quite frankly pitiful) for my six months of working for the dole. I was lead to believe that we would be working on government controlled Web sites, as well as putting together brochures for government run organizations. Well today I got the surprise of my life. I was expecting slave labour, but what I got was nothing but one big joke.

My day was spent with my intelligence truly insulted. When I got there the guy running the show today asked me if I have had any computer experience. I explained to him that my knowledge of computers is advanced. That I code Web sites without generators. And that I have self taught myself a lot in photoshop. But there is still more I would like to do with photoshop, that I just don't know how. What does he do? Gives me a printed out copy of the about.com PS basic to advanced training course. Gee thanks bucko! Everything in the course I already know.

So for seven hours, I played in photoshop, I read DU, I played online games. The guy running the show, sat at his puter doing homework, sending and replying to emails, and God only knows what else. Then guy next to me looked at PORN, checked out the online personal adds, sent and replied to countless emails and talked on net meeting all day. The other two I couldn't see what they were doing.

I have to do this two days a week 9 to 5 for the next six months unless I am lucky enough to land a job before the six months is up.

I thought we were meant to be actually working for the dole? But this, this is fucking torture. There is no work. And I feel like I am being _punished_ for losing my job.

There are a lot of other things I could be doing with my time, like cold calling places for work, than sitting in a place where the guy next to me constantly farts (I kid you not) and being totally bored out of my skull.

I am pissed! Howard made the scheme (like everything else) sound so wonderful when he introduced it, but it isn't wonderful. I got a 30 minute lunch break ONLY. There were no 10 minute morning breaks at all. That in itself is against OH&S rules.

I tell ya, I am really praying I find a job tomorrow, so I do not have to go back to that hell hole on Thursday! I am so stressed about this. :(

[Sapphocrat]

1. Bloody buggery bastards.

I chose to work with computers (the other schemes were more male orientated and quite frankly pitiful) for my six months of working for the dole.

Male-oriented? Like...?

I was lead to believe that we would be working on government controlled Web sites, as well as putting together brochures for government run organizations.

Your name is probably on Johnny's Shit List of Left-Wing Agitators, so no way will they let you near a govt site. (Just make sure they don't "accidentally" deport you to the Philippines. Although... it would be GREAT if they deported you to Sweden, 'cause then we could get married and live in a FREE country!)

And here I was hoping you could make some minor changes on Cruella de Vanstone's official site... ;)

Seriously, if they had any brains, they would use you, even if it's just grunt work (code clean-up, etc.). I'm sure they'd disagree with me here (on the "free" part), but in my eyes they'd be getting a skilled worker for free.

And that I have self taught myself a lot in photoshop.

No kidding. You're a heap more talented than I am!

But there is still more I would like to do with photoshop, that I just don't know how. What does he do? Gives me a printed out copy of the about.com PS basic to advanced training course. Gee thanks bucko! Everything in the course I already know.

Dickhead. (Him, not you, of course.)

I thought we were meant to be actually working for the dole? But this, this is fucking torture. There is no work. And I feel like I am being _punished_ for losing my job.

You are. Methinks they make it as miserable as possible so that you'll take any job to get out of it (although, you have to take anything anyway if you don't want to be penalized), or get so bored you don't come back (in which case they get to dock you).

I am pissed! Howard made the scheme (like everything else) sound so wonderful when he introduced it, but it isn't wonderful.

From everything you've told me (and what I've read) about the practical aspects of Centrelink, THAT is what needs to be "reformed." Too much centralization of anything is a bad thing, whether we're talking about the fed taking over unemployment offices, or something as expansive as globalization/"free" trade.

I got a 30 minute lunch break ONLY. There were no 10 minute morning breaks at all. That in itself is against OH&S rules.

Report 'em.

I tell ya, I am really praying I find a job tomorrow, so I do not have to go back to that hell hole on Thursday! I am so stressed about this. :(

And with good reason. I've been in similar situations (not through Calif., but an explanation would go way far afield), and I understand EXACTLY what you're feeling. It's depressing. It's miserable. It's fucked up. I wish I had a solution, other than winning the lotto. So, instead of feeding you some "Don't worry, it will get better" crap you won't buy anyway, I'll just say I do understand. And it's shitty. And it pisses me off too.

Now I need to get back to working on my designs, so we get so obscenely wealthy, we can buy that island. :)

Honestly, I'm proud of you, because I know you're not going to let them wear you down. OK, maybe they can wear you down a bit, but they CANNOT beat you. You won't let them.

[foreigncorrespondent]

2. More detail. LOL

Male-oriented? Like...?

Like... building caravans is the one which stands out in my mind. Only because my job network co-ordinator asked me if I wanted to build caravans.

They have a list of available work for the dole schemes. The learn how to build computers was full. :(

There was child care ones, but I am not up to looking after someone elses snot gobblers. There is also gardening, maintenace, and aged care givers.

Your name is probably on Johnny's Shit List of Left-Wing Agitators, so no way will they let you near a govt site. (Just make sure they don't "accidentally" deport you to the Philippines. Although... it would be GREAT if they deported you to Sweden, 'cause then we could get married and live in a FREE country!)

Now that would be nice. :)

And here I was hoping you could make some minor changes on Cruella de Vanstone's official site... ;)

ROFLMAO "Cruella de Vanstone." Oh that is fucking hilarious!!!

Seriously, if they had any brains, they would use you, even if it's just grunt work (code clean-up, etc.). I'm sure they'd disagree with me here (on the "free" part), but in my eyes they'd be getting a skilled worker for free.

Thank you! I don't consider mytself to be that skilled, but I know I could do a better job than half the lackies who currently work for them.

No kidding. You're a heap more talented than I am!

Thank you, baby! Means a lot to hear it, even though I still say you are heaps more talented than me.

You are. Methinks they make it as miserable as possible so that you'll take any job to get out of it (although, you have to take anything anyway if you don't want to be penalized), or get so bored you don't come back (in which case they get to dock you).

Yeah! If I give up on it, I face losing my dole completely.

Report 'em.

To who? The government controlled body who probably won't listen?

Honestly, I'm proud of you, because I know you're not going to let them wear you down. OK, maybe they can wear you down a bit, but they CANNOT beat you. You won't let them.

Thank you, baby!!!

They have worn me down on the first day. LOL But I will not let them win. I will do this until I either land a job or my six months is up.

[foreigncorrespondent]

3. This is the actual...

...online discription of the one I am doing:

Participants will learn all aspects of Information Technology and multimedia, from basic computer skills to more advanced programs in web page design and multimedia. They will also be given the opportunity to learn basic video editing using a PC.

Now, the written one has a lot more detail again. But just that discription alone is enough to sucker plenty in. (Yes I am wearting a huge sucker sign on my forehead.)

[Matilda]

6. So we have to ask what it's really all about?

Seems to me they're wasting a good opportunity to really give some
people a leg up, but they're clearly not interested. I would guess
this is just more Howard-style idealogy - people on welfare are
just dole bludgers, so let's make sure they know they're not going
to sit around any longer. But doing something constructive is way
beyond them.

Maybe you should think about writing to a (non-Murdoch) newspaper,
or to someone like Stephen Smith, who may be able to use it. Just
point out that you have no objection at all to learning a new skill,
but they're just wasting your time and taxpayer money.

To say nothing of destroying your soul.

[Violet_Crumble]

4. Welcome to a day in the Public Service!

Except for the lack of smoke breaks, going down the road to buy a coffee, and morning and afternoon tea breaks, it sounds kinda like a few days I've had at work. Just be grateful they're not sending you to any meetings or steering committees ;)

Dumb question, but when you said you can code websites without generators, are you talking about doing it without using the magic of Frontpage or dreamweaver, or any of the custom-made publishing tools larger departments use?

Violet...

[foreigncorrespondent]

5. I wish I was in the public service. LOL

At least I would be making a tad bit more than I currently am. ;) And I would get coffee and smoke time. LOL

Exactly, VC. I code myself. I do not use any of the programs. I can, but I refuse. I much prefer to code myself. I taught myself (with the help of Sapph here and there) how to code, so why would I not want to use the talent I have?

[Violet_Crumble]

9. It's a pity yr not in Canberra...

There's so many jobs going in the APS, and you can take yr pick between Departments....

What yr having to do sounds pretty soul-destroying. I think WFTD is a pile of bullshit, because if they supposedly have employment for you, then they should be paying you award rates to do it and none of this slave-labour stuff they do...

If you haven't thought of it yet, try putting yr name down with an employment agency. That's the way a lot of my friends got their feet in the door with the APS. And hopefully, once yr in, you can drift yr way over to communications and web work..

Violet...

[gemini_liberal]

7. I know all about WFTD

I have been unemployed for over a year now, and have had to do it. Fortunately, I volunteer for a charity in my spare time, and get to use that for the WFTD activity. I really do not have any problems with the program, as it is something I can do to help society, as well as get certain job skills from. Having said that though, your tail demonstrates exactly what is wrong with the system. The government seems to use it as a system to just bury you away. The thing I dislike most about me being unemployed is my job network consultant organisation. Despite the fact that I am working my ass off to get back into the workforce (Including travelling to the other side of the metro area on a wild goose chase,) yet am still treated like I do not try hard enough because I am not successful. They are now suggesting I try for a job at flipping burgers or something of similar vein. It's rather pathetic. The only time they actively do something is when they gleefully can get you in trouble with Centrelink...

[foreigncorrespondent]

8. And that is the problem with job networks!

They get a bonus to get you OFF the books. So they will try anything to get you back into the work force.

I watched the manager of my job network (who was running the job club) try to force one girl into a job of child minding last year. The girl did not want to do child minding. And force another girl into joining the Christmas staff for one store. This girl was not interested in that.

My last job I found myself, but they took credit for it and got a bonus off me. Just a month ago the gear box on my car broke down. It needed a replacement box. I had just paid out my rego for it and didn't have the money. I called them for some help and they refused. Now I am in debt to someone and am unable to pay that person back until I have a job. That eats at me daily.

They have made two bonus off me in the last year and I want some help and they refuse?

Stand by your guns and tell them to fuck off if they expect you to go flip burgers. And if they continue, put in a complaint about them, and then request another job network take over your case file.

On edit: typo!