Government employment programs in Australia: what Workforce Australia does after redundancy
6 min read
Government employment programs: what Workforce Australia does after redundancy
You have been made redundant, or you can see it coming. Someone mentions Workforce Australia, or a job provider. You are not sure what it is, whether you have to use it, or whether it will help.
This page explains what the government's main employment program does, what it does not do, and what you can do alongside it. If you want to know where your skills could take you first, take the free Career Change Check. It shows the Australian roles people from your kind of work moved into, and the skills you already have for each one.
What Workforce Australia is
Workforce Australia is the Australian Government's main employment service. It replaced jobactive in July 2022 and is run by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.
It comes in two forms:
- Workforce Australia Online. You manage your own job search through the website or app. This is where most people who are ready to work start.
- Workforce Australia Services. You are matched with a provider, which is a private or community organisation paid by the government to help you in person.
Which one you get depends on your situation. An assessment when you sign up decides this, not you. The official site is workforceaustralia.gov.au.
Do you have to use it?
Mostly, it depends on whether you claim a payment.
If you get JobSeeker Payment, you will usually have mutual obligation requirements. That means you agree to do certain things, such as applying for jobs or doing approved training, to keep your payment. Workforce Australia is where you report those tasks. Each task earns points toward a target.
If you do not claim a payment, you usually do not have to take part. You can often still join as a volunteer to use its job search tools. Check the details on the Workforce Australia site, because the rules change.
A redundancy payment can affect when JobSeeker Payment starts. Services Australia works this out from your own case. Our post on Centrelink after redundancy covers how that works.
What it can help with
A place to search and report. The online service lists jobs, keeps a record of your applications and tracks your points.
Help to pay for things that get you into work. If you have a provider, ask about the Employment Fund. Providers can use it to pay for things such as a short course, a licence, work clothes or travel to an interview. It is not always offered, so ask.
Wage subsidies. Some employers can get a subsidy for hiring an eligible job seeker. You do not apply for this yourself, but it is worth asking your provider whether it applies to you.
Training. Your provider may point you to approved short courses. You can also look for yourself, which is often faster.
What it does not do
It does not plan a career change for you. A provider can help with a resume and job search. Mapping a move from a call centre into claims or NDIS coordination is not what the program is built for.
It is not a recruiter. Providers help you look. They cannot promise a job.
Points are not the goal. It is easy to send weak applications just to meet a target. A few good applications for roles you fit usually do more than many rushed ones.
Free TAFE and other help
Fee-Free TAFE is separate from Workforce Australia. It is funded by the Australian Government with the states and territories, and you apply directly to the TAFE or training provider. You usually do not need to be on a payment. Which courses are free, and who can enrol, differs by state. Check at dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe, and see our guide to Free TAFE in every state.
Your Career at yourcareer.gov.au is a free government site. It lists occupations, courses and job outlook data.
Your redundancy rights are set by the Fair Work Act. The Fair Work Ombudsman explains notice and redundancy pay. Our post on redundancy pay in 2026 walks through the numbers.
Training costs time, and a course on its own may not lead to a job. Read the job ads for the role you want before you enrol.
If you are still working
You do not need to wait until you are out of work to get ready. While you still have a pay coming in, you can:
- Take the free Career Change Check to see which roles your skills point to
- Start a Free TAFE course part time, if one fits the role you want
- Do a skills audit so you know what you have before you need to sell it
- Read what to do first if you are made redundant, so you are ready if it happens
Roles worth a look from call centre and admin work
If you are using Workforce Australia and not sure what to aim for, these four areas use skills that call centre, customer service and admin work build:
- Customer success. Looking after a set of clients over time. See why customer success is not a call centre with a nicer title and the customer success pathway.
- Claims. Insurance and workers compensation claims. See getting into claims and the claims pathway.
- NDIS coordination. Helping participants use their plans. See the NDIS support coordinator career change guide and the NDIS coordination pathway.
- Health administration. Bookings, records and patients in hospitals and clinics. See health admin roles: who does what and the health admin pathway.
None of these is a sure thing. Each is one option where the skills overlap is real.
If you want help with the move itself, the twelve-week Sprint is A$299. You get a resume, a cover letter and a LinkedIn line for every real job ad you bring in, interview practice out loud with AI feedback after every answer, and an Australian career coach who reviews a targeted resume or an application up to three times and answers your messages in writing.
Related reading
- Being made redundant in Australia: the first steps
- Outplacement in Australia: what it is and what to ask for
- Where jobs are growing in Australia
Frequently asked questions
What is Workforce Australia?
Workforce Australia is the Australian Government's main employment service. It replaced jobactive in July 2022 and is run by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Most people use it online, and some are matched with a provider who helps in person.
Do I have to use Workforce Australia after a redundancy?
Usually only if you claim a payment such as JobSeeker Payment, which comes with mutual obligation requirements. If you do not claim a payment, you usually do not have to take part, though you can often join as a volunteer. Check the current rules at https://www.workforceaustralia.gov.au.
Can Workforce Australia pay for training?
If you have a provider, ask about the Employment Fund. Providers can use it for things that help you get work, such as a short course, a licence or work clothes. It is not always offered, so ask. Fee-Free TAFE is a separate scheme: check it at https://www.dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe.
Is Workforce Australia a recruiter?
No. It helps you search for jobs and report your activities, and a provider can help with a resume. It cannot promise a job and it is not built to plan a career change.
What can I do before I lose my job?
You can take the free Career Change Check to see which roles your skills point to, start a Free TAFE course part time if one fits, and do a skills audit so you know what you have before you need to sell it.
This is general information, not professional career, financial, or legal advice. For tailored advice, consult a qualified career counsellor, financial adviser, or relevant Australian professional service.
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Want a hand with what comes next? The 12-week Sprint covers your resume, LinkedIn and interview practice, with up to three coach reviews of a targeted resume or an application from an Australian career coach, for A$299 paid once. Before you decide anything, you can read who we are or send us a question.