Helping you find meaningful work through Workforce Australia
Workforce Australia is the Australian Government’s way of connecting people looking for work with local employers. At WISE, we deliver Workforce Australia services in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
Our friendly team is here to support you to find work that matches your skills, interests and goals. Whether you’ve been unemployed for a while, are returning to work, or just starting out, we’ll be here to guide you every step of the way.
Who Workforce Australia can support
Through Workforce Australia, you can access government-funded job search assistance, local job opportunity information and advice on training, language, literacy and work experience.
You may be eligible for employment assistance by WISE under Workforce Australia if you live in NSW, VIC, SA or WA, you don’t identify as having a disability/injury/health condition, and you are looking for work.
You may be eligible for Workforce Australia services if you:
- Have been unemployed for a short or a long time
- Have worked for years and been retrenched
- Have never worked due to illness or disability
- Be returning to work after caring for a family
- Be an Indigenous or First Nations Australian, an asylum seeker or a refugee
- Be at least 15 years old but have not yet reached Age Pension age (currently age 67)
We also offer specialist services in the South East of Melbourne for participants who:
- Have a criminal record (Ex-Offenders program)
- Are from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds
Have a disability, injury or illness? You may be eligible for Inclusive Employment Australia (IEA).
How to register for Workforce Australia with WISE
To access Workforce Australia services, you’ll first need to be registered with Centrelink.
- If you’re already registered, you can ask Centrelink to choose WISE as your Workforce Australia provider.
- If you’re not yet registered, please visit Centrelink first. Once referred, you can register directly with your nearest WISE office.
Are you a digital servicing participant? Choosing WISE gives you access to extra tailored support beyond what’s available online. Call our Workforce Australia team on 1800 161 231 to find out more.
Job seeker support through Workforce Australia
Looking for a job
Depending on your requirements, we can offer you as little or as much help to look for a job, including:
- Tools and tips to help you search for a job
- Help to prepare your resume
- Advice about the local labour market
- Access to self-help tools and resources including online job search databases with instant job vacancies
- Referrals for suitable local, regional or national employment vacancies, based on your skills
- Help to create a personal email account on a free web-based service and provide information about cyber safety to protect your personal information online
If you need additional help, we can tailor our services and support to include skills training, language and literacy, work experience or access to other services.
Getting on with the job
Our services and support continue after you start your new job to ensure long-term success in your new role. We will stay in touch with you and your employer after you start work to make sure that your job is going well. If issues arise we can help solve them and organise extra training or special equipment if you need it.
Please read more about our employment assistance to job seekers.
Find out how Workforce Australia services can help you find employment
Points Based Activation System (PBAS)
Part of the Workforce Australia program for customers with mutual obligation requirements is the Points Based Activation System (PBAS). In short, you earn points by completing tasks or activities to meet your individual targets.
The WISE team are here to help you understand your targets and work with you on a plan to meet them. It’s our job to make sense of the requirements, and provide you with some options that fit with your job search journey, and your unique circumstances.
Your Employment Partner will be able to give you the best advice, but here are some examples of what you could do to make up your PBAS targets:
- Accredited training – your Employment Partner can advise what courses are available to suit you
- Non-vocational assistance – helping you remove barriers to employment including things like accessing counselling through the WISE Occupational Rehabilitation team
- English language tuition
- Help for mature-age customers to increase digital literacy and employability
- Completing online learning modules
- Undertaking driving lessons
- Gaining work related licences
- Attending a job fair
- Much more!
Workforce Australia for Employers
WISE also supports businesses to find the right people for the right jobs. Our recruitment services are completely free, and we’re passionate about helping employers build diverse and inclusive teams.
Your WISE Consultant will work with you to understand your business needs and match you with suitable candidates with skills and knowledge relevant to your business.
Our free recruitment services include:
- Screening applicants and arranging interviews
- Two reference checks for preferred candidates
- Police checks and working with children checks (if required)
- Advice on induction programs, mentoring and workplace modifications
- Access to government-funded wage subsidies (eligibility requirements apply)
- Industry-specific training for job-ready recruits
- Ongoing on-site support and training to help new employees settle in