This report is based on a second survey of users of Jobactive employment services, the first of which was published in 2018. The title of this report reflects ACOSS’s commitment to amplifying people’s experiences of employment services.

This briefing provides an update on Per Capita's earlier estimates of the cost of Jobactive, given the significant increase in the number of unemployed people needing assistance, and reflects on how the system has adapted so far to the unforeseen surge in case numbers.

This report looks at the history of superannuation for Australian women, marks its progress towards equity, and identifies what more could to be done to improve the system in order to mitigate women’s vulnerability to poverty in retirement.

Per Capita's key recommendation in this report is that 'work for the dole' be disbanded and replaced with a genuine work experience program for people experiencing long term unemployment. A work experience program could be established through community economic regeneration grants for job creation projects.

Current estimates suggest as many as 700,000 people may soon be signed up to Jobactive employment services. This discussion paper argues there is a need to redesign employment services to better meet the needs of people experiencing unemployment after the COVID-19 economic shock.