Information for Employers

Important information for employers

Important information to pass to staff members in the event they have to be laid off

For anyone who needs to register with Centrelink (Services Australia) for the new Supplement Payments (formerly called Newstart).

Under no circumstances should they be putting themselves or others at risk by attending Centrelink Offices. They are under enough stress at present without putting themselves at further risk without any need

Ideally people should REGISTER ONLINE. The process is:

Go online and log in to your existing MyGov account or create a new one
Create a Centrelink account (If you've ever received Centrelink payments in the past, including as a young person or while studying, you may already have one. If so, see 3.

If you don't have an online Centrelink account, but you've received payments in the past, try to track down any old concession cards, letters or emails from Centrelink to find your Customer Reference Number (CRN) or Customer Access Number (CAN). If no luck, call Centrelink and they'll ask you some questions to get your CRN.
Log in to your MyGov account and link it to your Centrelink account. Once this is done, you'll be able to log into the MyGov portal and click through to your Centrelink account
If you are still working but there's a reduction in your hours, you will need a letter from your employer confirming this.
Previously when someone lost their job, they needed to fill in an employment separation certificate for every employer they'd worked for in the past 12 months — but this requirement will be waived from April 27. Depending on your situation, you will need to upload other documents throughout the claims process
Log in to MyGov and go to Centrelink. Then Select Payments and Claims from the menu, then Claims, then Make a claim.
Choose the category that best describes your circumstance and click Get started.
Then upload any required documents, and you'll have 14 days to submit any supplementary documents.
As part of the claim, you'll need to book a phone appointment for Centrelink to call you.

If your friends / family members don’t have the confidence or IT skills to register online, they should call 13 28 50 (possibly a wait of around 40 plus minutes – but definitely better and a lot shorter than queuing at a Centrelink office). They will have their ID taken over phone, be given a customer reference number and stepped through the MyGov online process. People can provide full ID at a later time. The 13 28 50 contact line is currently open from 8am to 8pm Mon to Fri, but times are expected to be expanded to weekends – hopefully soon.

Before letting staff go

Staff & Jobs

Luke Arber is the Gippsland Employment Facilitator for the Department of Employment Skills, Small and Family Business. If you are thinking of standing down staff or letting them go, talk to Luke first.

Luke can advise on the best ways forward for both you and your staff. You may well find with the significant subsidies and support provided by the Government in its recent Economic Stimulus package that you are not out of pocket by keeping your staff on.

If you really must retrench staff, Luke can provide them and you with sound advice pathways forward. He can guide and support individuals who have lost their jobs by stepping them through the government support programs.

Luke Arber

Employment Facilitator

P: 0439 713 482

E: luke.arber@gippslandfacilitator.org.au

Materials for Employers

Posters/Resources from Dept of Health that may come in handy for businesses you are working with.

The posters are downloadable and some are able to be customised.

Poster links:

Important Information for Manufacturing businesses

AMGC COVID19 Manufacturer Response Register

The Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC) has launched a portal for Australian manufacturing, component suppliers and skilled design, engineering and manufacturing experts to register their interest and core competencies in support of the national response to COVID-19.

The COVID-19 Manufacturer Response Register portal is live now with all contact treated in strict confidence.

The response of Australian businesses and individuals to the current COVID-19 pandemic to-date has been outstanding, with manufacturers shifting focus to how they can support our health and critical manufacturing sectors during this unprecedented event.

Australian manufacturers across multiple disciplines have already pivoted or expressed a desire to support in any way possible to address the current COVID-19 threat.

For those Australian manufacturers wishing to assist, but unsure of where to start, this portal will allow others to gain a clear understanding of the skills, supplies and capabilities that exist right now, and potentially connect with the right government department or manufacturer.

Beyond this new registration portal, AMGC has increased its support of Australian manufacturers and will be boosting its online Manufacturing Academy learning portal, providing online webinars, while current State and Federal Government tenders and Expressions of Interest will be broadcast via the organisation’s website and social media platforms.