This workshop is open to First Nations community workers only, there are limited places.

Learn practical skills and tips to support women and families experiencing family and domestic violence to access Centrelink and Victims services.

This session will provides a heads up about common Centrelink issues many older people face in relation to Centrelink payments. It will be interactive, including time for questions.

The LOVE Project aims to empower older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities, including people living with HIV, to lead healthy, active and more social lives. LOVE stands for Living Older Visibly and Engaged.

This session is for staff of the Gadigal Centre, the University of Sydney’s dedicated student centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

It will address common issues encountered navigating the complicated ABSTUDY system. ABSTUDY is not a single payment, but a group of payments designed to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with the costs of study or undertaking an Australian apprenticeship.

The session will explain the claims process, eligibility criteria for each award, and the type of assistance a student or apprentice may receive. We’ll cover the allowances payable, the rules about study load, and the issue of reasonable time limits. We’ll also outline the appeals process – which is not the same as for most other Centrelink payments.

Are your clients facing problems with Centrelink after the floods?

We’re joining forces with our colleagues at Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre to run training sessions for community workers in the Northern Rivers area. The sessions will cover:

• Problems with Centrelink and how Welfare Rights Centre can help
• Centrelink issues with assets, particularly for those who’ve received insurance payouts, have had to move out of their home, have sold their home,or are part of the NSW Government’s buy-back scheme
• Centrelink and NSW Government domestic violence payments & services
• Assistance for clients at risk of eviction from pods and other emergency housing

We’ll also make sure there is time for public discussion and private questions.

• Tues 23 May   Lismore
• Wed 24 May   Ballina
• Thurs 25 May  Tweed

This session organised by the St George and Sutherland Employment, Training and English Network is one of a series of workshops aiming to help migrants and refugees learn new skills, become work ready, and take up employment opportunities. Our Solicitor, Julius Golab will explain:

• What social security payments are
• How Centrelink works 
• How employment affects Centrelink benefits

Attendance is open to those invited by the Network. 

We’d like to thank Sutherland Tradies for their ongoing support which has made it possible to take up additional training opportunities in the St George and Sutherland region

This session at NSW Health’s Aboriginal Family Well-Being and Violence Prevention Network’s ’Well-Being and Connection’ Forum will outline the work of Welfare Rights Centre, with a particular focus on social security responses to domestic and family violence. 

Using case studies, speakers will explain commonplace scenarios where people are off payment or are told they have a Centrelink debt. The session will also include:

• tips for troubleshooting common problems 
• information about Centrelink appeals
• referral pathways to Welfare Rights Centre for casework support. 

These two sessions for staff of NSW Trustee & Guardian aim to support their staff who routinely assist their clients/customers to resolve issues with Centrelink payments. The sessions will include a primary focus on:

• Disputing Centrelink Decisions – 27 April 
• Understanding Requirement for Disability Support Pension  – 11 May

We’ll be proving our social security expertise at this session organised by Economic Justice Australia and Community Legal Centres Queensland. 

The webinar aims to provide a practical guide to TPD (Psycho-Social Disability) claims – financial relief for permanent disablement (ill or injured). Join David Coorey, Special Counsel at Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers, as he identifies some of the practical issues involved in identifying and running TPD claims:

• Undertaking a TPD (mental health) assessment, identifying a potential TPD claim on behalf of a client and referral pathways for caseworkers
• Navigating the TPD pathway, including flagging barriers, practical tips 
• Understanding outcomes for clients, including forums for resolution of TPD disputes and lump sum payments

Our Principal Solicitor, Natalie Ross, will be explaining the relationship between TPD claims and Disability Support Pension, NDIS and other social security benefits/schemes

Join us for this free webinar on the intersection of domestic violence and immigration status for NSW community workers supporting clients from refugee backgrounds who may be at risk of domestic and family violence.

Hosted by NSW Refugee Health Service, this partnership brings together experts to share their experience and advice:

• Immigration Advice and Rights Centre – How to support women on visas with family violence provisions
• South West Sydney Legal Centre – Domestic violence dynamics and client safety needs
• Welfare Rights Centre – Help your clients access financial support

Do your clients have problems with Centrelink? We’re running information and training sessions on the Mid-North Coast from 7 to 11 March 2022: Coffs Harbour, Macksville, Kempsey, Port Macquarie and Taree. We can visit your service to provide information about Welfare Rights Centre and how to refer people to us. We can also tailor our training on social security to your needs. 

Isn’t there something about Centrelink payments you’ve always wanted to know? Contact us on 02 9211 5389 to book a visit or discuss ideas for a training session.

Want to gain a better understanding of Disability Support Pension (DSP), Carer Payment or Carer Allowance? 

Hosted by MND NSW and presented by Welfare Rights Centre, this 2 hour session will cover:

• Who is eligible for each payment and how you can show Centrelink you are eligible
• The medical evidence you need for the Disability Support Pension (DSP) 
• The most common pitfalls faced by applicants and some top tips for applying for Carers Payment, Carers Allowance and Disability Support Pension
• What to do if your claim is rejected