WHAT IS WRONG WITH CENTRELINK?

The people who know me well would understand that I have a strong passion for the public transport industry and it was with no surprise that I began working with the STA straight out of High School as a naïve 15 year old.  I recently resigned from the industry I loved bringing an end to my career of 29 years 7 months.

I had become jaded with the industry and it's lack of vision and in October last year I embarked on a new career path by entering into a course with Careers Australia.  I am studying for a double diploma in Counselling and Community Service.  As I got further into the course the study work steadily increased and I was struggling to cope with my full time job as a bus driver.  So, upon discussing things with my wife, I decided to bite the bullet and resign.  A tough and risky decision indeed. 

However, prior to handing in my resignation, I attended a Centrelink branch at Modbury and enquired about obtaining Ausstudy.  I sat down with a lovely staff member and went through the process of creating my account, 100 points of ID etc etc.  The lady I was talking to, made it feel like a seemless process going from work to Ausstudy, primarily because I was already studying.  This first contact with Centrelink was on 1st March.

I then went home and set up my online account and filled out the required forms.  I then only had to wait for the Employment Seperation Certificate which was filled out by my employer after I ceased employment.  I could handle that, I only had to wait 3 weeks, uploading the form only took seconds.  What could go wrong?  I thought, finally something is going along nicely and I can now focus on my study and after a month or two perhaps pick up some casual work for two or three days.  How wrong and deluded was I?

It is now 15th June (2 months after I ceased employment) and I am still no closer to receiving my Ausstudy than I was at 1st March.  After waiting weeks and after repeated phone calls that required sitting on hold for 60-70 minutes only to be told yes we have everything it is being processed as quick as possible, I receive a abrupt phone call last Thursday morning by this rude bitch telling me "Your Ausstudy claim has been rejected as you have not filled out a Mod P and a Mod I form.  You also do not study full time" then she hung up on me.  Well Bitch.

I got extremely emotional and if it wasn't for my loving and understanding wife I think I may have gone over the edge.  She rang Centrelink herself and ultimately spoke to someone different than the rude cow that rang me.  We went and got the appropriate forms, filled them out, uploaded them on Friday.  Whilst doing this I enquired about getting the process sped up as I need to get medication.

I was put onto a Financial Counsellor at Centrelink who informed me that if I require medication then go to St Vinnies, Salvation Army and ask them for the money for my medication which totals $71 as I am yet to get concession.  What the fuck is this shit I thought.  This is not what these wonderful charity organisations are there for, to pick up the slack of Centrelink!

I believed I had done the right thing from the get go.  I enquired on the processes involved before resigning and have been sadly let down by my Government.  We are barely keeping our heads above water.  We have no money to register my motorbike or the car.  Our Commodore shit itself last week with $2000 required to fix the computer.  When it rains it pours.

I would be better off getting in a rubber dinghy and land back on the beach and then claim asylum.  I would be given money, a house, a Tarago to drive and my study would be paid for.

Oh and Mr Joe Hockey, you are an arrogant goose.  You have no bloody idea of how tough it is out here in the REAL world.  Quite simply, you are an arrogant prick.