What is Work for the Dole?
As part of the mutual obligation under the Centrelink guidelines, Work for the Dole is about helping job seekers improve their employment prospects by providing opportunities for work experience.

Not for profit organisations and groups involve job seekers in local projects providing facilities and services of value to the community.

Work for the Dole placements cover a wide range of activities, such as heritage and/or history, the environment, community care, tourism, sport, providing community services and restoring and maintaining community services and facilities.

Job seekers may be required to take part in Work for the Dole if they are:
· aged 18 or 19 years, recently completed Year 12, getting the full rate of Youth Allowance, and have been getting payments for three months or more, or
· aged 18 - 39 years, getting the full rate of Youth Allowance or Newstart Allowance, and have been getting payments for six months or more.

In addition, job seekers aged 18 and over who get the full (or part) rate of Youth Allowance or Newstart Allowance can volunteer to participate in a Work for the Dole activity.

All Work for the Dole participants get an extra $20.80 per fortnight. Protective clothing is provided by the project sponsor if it is needed. Essential training, such as occupational health and safety training, is also provided.

Wollongong City Employment Training has a huge variety of Work for the Dole projects for job seeks. We have experienced trainers and staff to help you get the most out of your Work for the Dole experience.

Just some of the pluses for Work for the Dole are:
* You learn practical skills
* You gain industry knowledge
* Great way to meet some people
* Contribute to not for profit organisations that would not otherwise be able to afford the manpower.
* Gain confidence

Some of the projects Wollongong City Employment Training offers are:

Chefs for the community
Develop nutritional balanced meals for youth & family services, kids and ads, Ladies Aux and the unemployed. Learn how to prepare, cook and present food in a fully equipped kitchen at WCET. Accredited training in hospitality, uniform supplied.

Office skills for the community
Administration and IT support for community groups, such salaries Aux & mental health program. Administration duties will be performed such as letter writing, flyers promotions,newsletters,database. Cert 2 business - Statement of attainment

Renovation / Refurbishment for the Housing Trust / 313
General maintain ace , refurbishment and repairs to Housing Trust Buildings & 313 Media Centre. Learning painting, carpentry, concreting and paving. Induction to construction and statement of attainment in construction. Safety Uniform supplied.


Mission - Retail/Warehousing for the Illawarra
Participant will perform a variety of tasks within the retail/warehouse & IT industry. These include warehouse reception, warehousing and general retail duties.

Community Retailing
Retail experience in various charity outlets within in the Illawarra. Learn customer service, stock display, stock control, warehousing (limited) etc. Certificate I in Retail is offered, training credits can be used for further study in the field.

Salvos, Retailing, storepersons and Warehousing
Retail work experience in Salvation Army stores in wollongong, Dapto and Warrawong. Learn customer service, stock display and rotation,pricing,teamwork, time management and general store duties. Receive full warehouse /retail uniform.

St Vincent De Paul's , Retailing, storepersons
Retail and sorting of clothing and bric-a-brac at St Vincent De Paul's (North Wollongong) store. Also available are places alongside the truck driver picking up donated items. Greencard and cert1 in Retail are offered.

Carpentry and Joinery for the community
Work in a joinery workshop with industrial machinery. Making of new and repairing used furniture for community groups such as Housing Trust, Mission, Illawarra Area Health, Angels of Hope , CHAIN and Vietnam Vet. Greencard available.

Craftwork and Fine Joinery
The design, construction and finishing of wooden toys for the disadvantaged children of the Illawarra. "Greencard" Induction to Construction is offered.

Job seekers will learn skills involved in carpentry and joinery; they will be using industrial machinery and some hand tools. Greencard Induction to Construction will also be offered to the participants. The supervisor is a fully qualified Carpenter by trade, holding all relevant tickets in the field.

Dapto Community Farm
growing vegetables for the disadvantaged associations within the Illawarra.Soil preparation, fertilising,planting,watering, weeding and composting. Identify pests and diseases & apply treatments.

Child Care
Helping non profit child care centres. Accredited training in 3 modules will be provided. Assist Day Care Centres in the day to day supervision of children. (Police Check required).


Projects south of Wollongong

Better community facilities / St Vinnies/ Jamberoo Pre-school
Located at Vinnies oak flats and Jamberoo Pre- School. Tasks include: painting carpentry, demolition and bathroom renovation. Greencard & Statement of attainment in construction offered. Uniform supplied.

PCYC Sales and marketing
Participants will learn sales and marketing to raise funds for the PCYC. Skills acquired will include basic computer, internet, cash register, cash/receipt handling, customer service , touch typing and event management. Located at Lake Illawarra PCYC.

Historical aircraft restoration society (HARS)
Located at the illawarra regional Airport. Participants will learn construction, refurbishment, gyprocking, painting, carpentry, joinery, tiling, concreting and assisting with the restoration of motor vehicles. Greencard & statement of obtainment in construction offered. Uniform supplied.

Salvation Army Sales Assistants
Retail work experience in Salvation Army stores at Warrilla, Shellharbour, Albion Park. Learn customer service, stock display and rotation, pricing, teamwork, time management and general store duties. Receive full retail/ warehouse uniform.

PCYC Community catering
Develop nutritional balanced meals for community groups within the region. Learn hospitality catering for PCYC youth groups. Learn skills such as hygiene, organise and prepare food, presentation. Located in the Lake illawarra PCYC fully equipped kitchen.

Southern Sales and Storepersons
Working in the retail/ warehouse second hand outlets in the Shellharbour and surrounding areas. Learn customer service, clothes sorting, stock displays, delivery and pick up of donation as a truck drivers assistant. Obtain a statement of obtainment in cert 2 retail.

Rags to Riches
Help Second Hand Retail Outlets and learn customer service, cash handling, stock taking and general shop duties. Cert I in Retail is also available.

While on the activity the participants will be involved in the everyday running of a retail outlet. They will learn all aspects of the retail trade, including stock display, cash register etc. They will also be offered the opportunity to study for their Cert I Retail. Participants will also have the opportunity to gain valuable skills within the warehouse. In the Warehouse sector the participants will be involved with truck driver offsider, aiding in the delivery and pickup of furniture etc.

Illawarra Retailing
Retail work experience in Salvation Army Salvos stores at Warilla, Shellharbour & Albion Park. Cert I in Retail and Greencard are offered. Learn Customer Service, stock display and rotation, pricing and general store duties.

Through this activity participants will learn skills that will benefit them in the workforce. Skills such as retail, customer service, stock control, display and rotation, effective workplace communication etc. Warehousing is another area where the participants have the opportunity to learn warehousing skills.