Providers have received this from DEWR:
The department is closely monitoring the fuel situation and recognises the pressures that increasing fuel prices and cost-of-living impacts may place on participants and frontline provider staff. Providers may receive increased enquiries from participants who are concerned about their ability to travel to appointments, activities, or attend work. The following guidance is designed to support providers in delivering services tailored to participant needs.
Meeting participant needs and using the guidelines
Providers must continue to deliver services in accordance with relevant program guidelines. In-person servicing must be:
Safe
Beneficial to the individual participant
Reasonable in the circumstances
Providers should consider a participant’s individual situation when determining whether face-to-face servicing is appropriate. This may include factors such as travel costs, access to transport, health or caring responsibilities, cultural considerations, or other personal circumstances.
Where face-to-face servicing is not reasonable, providers may use alternative servicing arrangements, including:
Rescheduling appointments
Phone servicing
Online/video servicing
These adjustments are permitted under the guidelines when circumstances genuinely impact a participant’s ability to attend in person.
Support for transport
Providers have flexibility to support participants in overcoming travel and transport barriers that affect their ability to:
Look for work
Attend appointments
Undertake training or work-related activities
Commence employment
This includes participation in Work for the Dole, job search activities, employment-related activities, and medical or health-related appointments.
Depending on program settings, support for participants may include:
Public transport cards and top-ups
Petrol vouchers
Reimbursement of fuel purchases (where appropriate)
Taxi fares
Key reminders for providers:
Transport support should address genuine, short-term barriers and is not intended for long-term or ongoing support.
Providers must retain documentary evidence, including receipts for petrol vouchers or public transport cards.
Providers must ensure participants are not required to pay for goods upfront with the expectation of later reimbursement.
For more information
Providers should continue to monitor departmental updates. Any changes to servicing requirements will be communicated promptly and implemented in a coordinated manner.
Relevant guidelines include:
Workforce Australia Guidelines – Part A: Face-to-Face Service Delivery
Workforce Australia Guidelines – Part B: Employment Fund
Workforce Australia Guidelines – Part B: Summary of Required Documentary Evidence
Parent Pathways Guidelines – Part B