Chapter 3. Direct Registration

Supporting Documents for this Chapter:

• Direct Registration Formsign-in required (sign-in required)

3.1. Chapter OverviewCopy citation · §3.1

Some Participants who are not in receipt of Income Support Payments are eligible to voluntarily engage in Services and can Directly Register with a Provider.

(Deed Reference(s): Clause 102)

3.2. Eligibility for Direct RegistrationCopy citation · §3.2

Providers must only Directly Register a person who has a legal right to work in Australia and is:

• a Vulnerable Youth or Vulnerable Youth (Student),

• a Pre-Release Prisoner, or

• a Structural Adjustment Program (SAP) Participant.

• an Early Access Participant (retrenched worker or their partner).

Where the Provider assesses a person as ineligible for Direct Registration, they should direct them to contact Services Australia to assess their eligibility for Income Support (if relevant) and advise them they can register for the Online Base Service by linking through myGov.

3.2.1. Confirming a person’s legal right to work in AustraliaCopy citation · §3.2.1

The Provider must confirm whether a person has a legal right to work in Australia. Two resources can be used to assist the Provider in this regard:

• The Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) service can be used to check a non-citizen’s visa status after sighting their international passport, or

• Schedule 8 of the Migration Regulations 1994 sets out the visa conditions that prohibit or restrict the work that a visa holder can do in Australia.

The Provider must not proceed with the Direct Registration process if the person does not have a legal right to work in Australia or the Provider has any reservations. If the person’s legal right to work cannot be established, the person should be encouraged to contact the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to check their legal right to work in Australia. The person should also be referred to Services Australia or an appropriate community service for assistance.

Note: Providers can be legally liable for referring non-citizens who are not allowed to work or are restricted from undertaking certain work in Australia to a job. See the DHA’s guide for businesses for information and examples of the steps that Providers can take when assisting non-citizens.

3.2.2. Vulnerable Youth and Vulnerable Youth (Student)Copy citation · §3.2.2

Where a Vulnerable Youth or Vulnerable Youth (Student) presents to the Provider without a Referral, and in the case of a Vulnerable Youth (Student), no appropriate local youth services are available, the Provider must:

• assess their eligibility for Transition to Work (TtW) and if eligible, refer them to TtW unless the participant chooses to be serviced by the Provider,

• if they present in crisis, immediately provide, or refer them to, relevant crisis assistance, and

• within 4 weeks of the Direct Registration, refer them to Services Australia to determine their eligibility for Income Support Payments, regardless of whether the Provider expects them to be eligible for Income Support or not.

Refer to Referrals from Workforce Australia Services to Transition to Work for further information about TtW eligibility.

3.2.3. Pre-Release Prisoner (PRP) initiativeCopy citation · §3.2.3

State or territory corrective or youth justice services refer suitable people for the PRP initiative to Providers. Suitability depends on factors such as proximity to the location a person is in custody and a Provider's performance and experience in servicing people in custody.

People must meet the PRP initiative eligibility criteria before Direct Registration. Refer to the Pre-Release Prisoner initiative Chapter for further information.

3.2.4. Early Access and Structural Adjustment ParticipantsCopy citation · §3.2.4

Retrenched workers are eligible for assistance through the Early Access initiative, regardless of whether they are in receipt of Income Support. Partners (spouse or de facto) of retrenched workers are also eligible for support if they are looking for work or looking to increase their working hours.

Structural Adjustment Programs (SAP) provide additional assistance in exceptional circumstances only.

Retrenched workers can register under Early Access if they are not participating in a SAP. Refer to Early Access initiative for further information.

3.3. Commencing a Directly Registered ParticipantCopy citation · §3.3

A Directly Registered Participant will Commence in the Department’s IT Systems when the Provider records attendance at the Initial Interview.

As part of Commencing a Directly Registered Participant, the Provider should:

• confirm whether the Participant has a myGov account which is linked to the Workforce Australia website,

• conduct a Registration search in the Department’s IT Systems as part of the Registration process. This will determine whether the person has an existing Registration that may contain relevant information, such as a Job Seeker Identification Number (JSID), or to confirm the receipt of an Income Support Payment. Refer to the Registration search for further information

• conduct a JSCI for the Participant, and

• help the Participant to establish a career profile in the Department’s IT Systems, and

Where the Participant does not have a myGov account, the Provider should assist the Participant to create one.

Note: If the person is a Services Australia customer, the Department’s IT Systems can obtain information from Services Australia, such as current Income Support Payment type, recent Referrals or Mutual Obligation Requirements. For this to occur, where the records are not already linked, the Provider must link the JSID to the Customer Reference Number through the Department’s IT Systems.

• Documentary evidence — The Provider must use the Workforce Australia Direct Registration form and retain a copy of the completed and signed form. Providers must also retain a note that they sighted relevant identification and the form of that identification (for example, a driver's licence).

3.3.1. Registration searchCopy citation · §3.3.1

Where the person has:

• A current Registration and is on the Provider’s Caseload—the Provider must provide Services in accordance with the Deed (Direct Registration is not applicable).

• A current Registration and wishes to transfer to the Provider but is on another Provider’s caseload—the Provider must follow the Transfers process (Direct Registration is not applicable).

• A current Registration, is eligible for Services and is not connected to a Provider—the Provider must connect them to their Caseload and provide Services.

• An inactive Registration and is eligible for Services —the Provider must re-register the person, connect them to their Caseload and provide Services.

• No Registration and is eligible for Services—the Provider must create a new record for the person prior to connecting them to their Caseload and providing Services.

People wishing to register for the Self-Employment Assistance program do not need to first be Referred to a Provider’s Caseload. These people should instead be directed to the relevant Self-Employment Assistance Provider, who may complete a self-referral if appropriate. A Registration establishes a Participant’s identity in the Department’s IT Systems, and results in a JSID.