Does the job even exist??
 

Hi guys

Me and DH are new to the forum. We are just starting the adventure that means an eventual move to Aus in the next few years.

DH is on the wanted list for jobs and as he has family over there, we will be looking at getting a sponserd skills visa.

While all that is great for him, what I'd do while there is the puzzle.

Over here, I am a benefits assessor. While not classed as a skilled job, it is quiet specialist. Have been doing this job for almost 6 years now.
Basically for those that aren't sure what the job is, I process benefit applications for Housing benefit for those who can't afford to pay the entire amout of their rent/council tax. (not the place to rant about those who should but that's a TOTALLY different story :rofl:)

So my question is this. I know from doing some digging that Aus doesn't do housing benefit as such, but I feel that the skills I have had from dealing with the sort of claims I do, would be good to put to any simular jobs. I realise aus does have some kind of benefit system to help people out of work and with benefits for children but, and this is the big but, do these jobs come up often, if at all. Family assist and human services seem to be the area im looking at.

If these jobs dont come up, are there any jobs simular that I may be able to transfer my skills across to?

Sorry guys if none of this makes much sense, just getting a feel for things :p:p
xx

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Best place to look: http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/careers/

Not sure if you need to be a citizen or not to work there though!

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Australia does have rent assistance paid to low income families. It is administered by Centrelink along with many other payments. This might be similar to what you do? http://www.centrelink.gov.au/interne...assistance.htm

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Wow that is my job, well almost to a t!!

Thanks guys!

Now if I can get a job doing that that would make the move far less stressful for me, however do they come up??

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

You would need to be a citizen to work for Centrelink, or any other federal government agency/department. State government departments don't always have that requirement.

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Damn, thats a few years before I can go back to what I do now then!

Suppose I could transfer my skills across to customer services again, though a long time since ive been in a call centre!

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Commonwealth jobs are often, not always, located in Canberra. Maybe you should consider living there if Centrelink is mostly located in Canberra?

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Have a look at some of the State Governments rather than the Federal one which controls Centrelink. Might by worth checking out each State's Dept which deals with Community welfare, Housing etc :) You need PR to work for most of them, but not the citizenship required for Centrelink.

eg http://www.communities.qld.gov.au/gateway/

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Thanks, that site looks really positive.

Sorry for having to ask this (newby!) but what does PR mean?

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Permanent Residency. Something you can get on entry if you have the right type of visa, otherwise you would have to do what I did and come on a temporary visa and apply for PR after an alloted time frame (2 years when I did it).

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Yeah with hubbys skilled visa we will be coming in on a pr so thats ok then.

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

If you settle here then you qualify for Citizenship after a while too; four years in my case (from entry, not from when I got PR). Since I only got citizenship in August, I'm guessing it's still 4 years, but could change by the time you qualify.

Worth getting if you intend to travel in and out the country, otherwise you'll need a Resident's Return Visa after a certain period of time just to get back into Aus!

The Benefits industry here seems pretty big, so I'm prety confident there will be jobs.;)

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Well that's some good news, not saying my job is the best in the world but after doing it for 6 years, would be nice to know all my training and skills are put to use in SOME way.

Sad thing is will be DH job that dictates where we live to start with so may end up settling to the right job comes up!

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

The other possibility is to consider working for a Housing Association and doing assessments for their lists.

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

You have talked about the job you do but do you actually have any qualifications like a diploma or degree related to the job?

That will make a big difference over here. Most jobs working with people will require specific qualifications.

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

huh? Isn't there a Centrelink in pretty much all towns/large suburbs all over the whole of Australia?

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Retail offices yes but I think the OP is looking for a back office processing job.

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

oh ok, cool...didn't realise all the back office was done at 'Centrelink HQ'. Good point.

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

In relation to a qualification, there isn't one to take on this specific job. The training you do on the job is the learning you do. Takes two years for example to get even half decent at it.
Sorry it's just a very specific job I do.

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Then don't assume you will be able to get a similar job here....bits of paper (qualifications) are everything here.....that and knowing the right people

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Grayling, was there any need to be so hostile with that response??

I am not "assuming" anything! I was simply asking if the job existed in the first place! As a newby on here Im just putting the feelers out!

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

It's not hostile....it is reality.

Many people have found, to their cost, that experience does not count when they move countries.....you will be starting again

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

And unfortunately its especially common in the Aus government. They do love bits of paper :rolleyes:

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Just look into it, if a qualification is needed then you can study for it when you get here.

I found that in my job, they haven't so much cared about the bit of paper I studied for since arriving, they care more about the references I have had from all the employers I have worked for since starting work here. It did take me a year of temping with an agency to get a permanent position though!

On that subject, have you thought about contacting a few agencies with your current CV, ask them to assess it and ask for their advice on work when you get here? :)

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Thanks Wendy.

Yeah had considered it but wasnt sure how helpful they would be as I wasn't looking for work right now.

Think it might be worth a shot?

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

if you don't ask, you don't get :D The worst that can happen is they ignore your e-mail. ;)

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Thanks Wendy, will give it a shot!
:fingerscrossed:

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Exactly where was Grayling hostile? If all you want to hear is happy, upbeat, positive stuff you're going to be sadly let down.

What you do is indeed very specialised and unfortunately the same position here would be with Centrelink which is a federal department or a state government department. For Centrelink you need to be a citizen or eligible for citizenship. For state departments you need to be either a citizen or permanent resident. From the WA job boards I see the only thing that comes close to what you did is for pool only, which means if a job comes up you might be considered along with the other numerous people who are in the pool.

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Just a quick point I'd mention, just because you have six years experience with the British benefits system doesn't mean you are capable of working in the Australian benefits system. You may, I don't know. All I do know is that in some professions previous experience from another country is considered totally irrelevant by the Australian counterpart - the Fire Service for example.

I have no idea how the whole set up here differs from the UK so whilst it's not what you want to hear, you do need to bear it in mind.

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Stop being so hostile! :sneaky:

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Hey chill...bear in mind the written word can sound black and white and interpreted in different contexts. Yes he/she was being blunt but also perversely helpful, Australia is a strange place inhabited by strange people and common sense is illegal in most bureaucratic circles here! I jest but believe me some things will infuriate you when you get here.
Australia is not UK with sunshine, it UK 1970 with freak weather!! A lot of highly experienced people find they have to start at a lower level than they expect due to the way they do things here, which in my opinion is also slightly anti Pom but that's just my cynical perception. Ozzies don't like being told they are wrong or that you are better than them, which most of us Pommies are but lets just keep schtum on that hey!!

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Yes. And Centrelink has a big call centre in Coffs Harbour, NSW. I know because up until 5 months I used to live there.

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Spot on Dorothy. Centrelink, along with Medicare, the Child Support agency, CRS Australia and Australian Hearing all became part of the Department of Human Services last November which resulted in some job losses.

I am trying to get a job as a Customer Service Officer with Centrelink or Medicare in Perth but positions are few and far between in WA. When they do come up they are somewhere like Broome or Kalgoorlie or, like you say, pool only.

And there is a lot of competition for vacancies, hence a rigorous selection process which includes a full day of assessments.

I got a job with Medicare in Coffs Harbour in 2008 and I was only eligible because I had become a citizen 5 months earlier.

And I don't think I would have job the job if I hadn't worked for an Australian private health fund for 2 years.

The position at Medicare was not permanent. It was non-ongoing for 12 months only. I worked my socks off, took hardly any days off sick, worked extra shifts if asked and took leave on whatever days were available after the permanent employees booked theirs. I hoped I would be offered a permanent position.

Didn't happen but my contract was extended for another year and again in 2010 but that was it. I was told it would not be extended after July 2011 because of cutbacks.

And as I was a non-ongoing employee I could not get a transfer when I moved to Perth.

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

:hysterical::hysterical::hysterical:

True.

I try to tell 'em but they never believe it 'til they're here!!

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Thats very true especially in Govt roles, but.... if you are prepared to knuckle down, get a year or so OZ experience and then transfer your skills to the private sector, you can have a good lifestyle inside of 2-3 years.

At least thats my experience.

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

Oh that is soooo true. I remember when I got the ANZAC job I did about 8 hours of paperwork getting processed to start the job. Plus its the only job that I've ever been asked to supply original proof of my academic and professional qualifications :eek: and the only job where they have contacted every single one of my employers (including my uni summer jobs :eek::eek::eek: ). Talk about anal!!!

Re: Does the job even exist??
 

I remember having to dig through my newly-delivered mountain of boxes looking for my degree certificate when I first went for a government job here in 2004. It was a 3 month temp position, and the degree is in a totally unrelated field and dates from 1985! But they wanted the original, no photocopy would do. I don't think i ever showed it to an employer in the UK, not even when relevant to the position :rolleyes: