Centrelink

Making decisions about your future can be daunting. There are so many things to think about. Do you want to stay at school, do a course or go to uni? Are you ready for work? What sort of work do you want to do? How do you go about finding work?

Whatever you decide to do after school, Centrelink can help you. Even if you don’t know what you want to do, Centrelink can still help you work through your options to make a decision.

Centrelink offers a range of services to meet the different needs of young people. Whether you’re studying, training, doing an apprenticeship or looking for work, Centrelink’s Youth and Student Services can help you.

Contact Centrelink on 13 2490 for information about career options, training and study choices and about looking for work.

Thinking of leaving school before you get your VCE?

If you are under 18, leave school before completing Year 12, and you don’t plan to do further study or training, you are unlikely to receive income support from Centrelink. If you can’t fi nd a job you need to consider whether you’ll be better off going back to school or doing some other
study or a training course.

Leaving school might not be your only option. Before you make your decision talk things through with your parents, a teacher you like, the Transition Broker, your school counsellor, Careers Adviser or youth services staff.

Career Information Centres

The more you put into researching your career options, the more likely you are to choose one that’s right for you. Centrelink’s Career Information Centres may assist you with your career, training and study choices.

If you’ve decided you’re ready for work, you’ll also find a range of information to help you improve your job search and interview skills. The Career Information Centres have a selection of printed, and computerised information to help you plan or decide on a career path.

As a starting point visit www.myfuture.edu.au

Specialist services

Centrelink has professional social workers who can help you with personal counselling and give you support through difficult times. They may be able to help you find accommodation and assist with advice about budgeting. Social workers can also provide referrals to other services and community support programs.

If you’d like to make an appointment to see a social worker, call Centrelink on 13 1021.

YOUTH ALLOWANCE

Youth Allowance is a payment for young people who are studying,
training or job hunting. You may be eligible for Youth Allowance if:

• you’re a full time student up to 25
• you’re between 18 and 21 and looking for work full time
• you are combining part time job search and part time study or doing other approved activities
• you or your parents have income and assets under certain amounts.

ABSTUDY

ABSTUDY helps Indigenous people who want to stay at school or go on to further studies including:

• secondary school studies
• approved full or part time tertiary courses.

IMPORTANT
Even if you don’t think you’re eligible for an income support payment it is a good idea to register at Centrelink, as you may be still be eligible for a range of services or able to get some ‘extras’
like a Health Care Card. To find out if any extras are available to you, call Centrelink on 13 2490.

13 2490 for Youth Allowance and extras like a heath care card
13 2317 for ABSTUDY
13 2850 for Employment Services
13 1021 for an appointment to see someone about payments or talk to specialist staff like social workers
13 3276 report employment income

Free call 1800 810 586 Teletypewriter Service for hearing or speech impaired people.

Listed below are the Centrelink offices in and around the City of Whittlesea

Broadmeadows
16-22 Pearcedale Pde
Broadmeadows 3047

Darebin
273 High St
Preston 3072

Epping
62-70 Johnston St
Epping 3076

Fitzroy
713 High St
Fitzroy 3065

Heidelberg
21 Yarra St
Heidelberg 3084

Moreland
172-186 Moreland Rd
Brunswick 3056

Greensborough
9-13 Flintoff St
Greensborough 3088