Being over 50 and made redundant due to health reasons and now on a Disability Support Pension.I would love to return to the workforce but its very hard to find employers who will employ me.The employers only want young,full trained and experienced people or they go to the Australian government a say they want more migrants because they cannot find staff.Why cannot the employers be made to train or Aussies before allowing more migrant's.
Just need to vent.

It must be frustrating for you, especially as you seem keen to work. Also it depends on your situation in life as to how well you manage on the DSP, but look on the bright side. From a very recent date (can't be bothered looking it up right now) anyone in your position who suddenly finds themselves out of work even if they have some sort of disability, no longer get the DSP. They're put on the lesser paying "sickness benefits" which is roughly equivalent to Newstart. Makes it pretty hard for those people to exist if they're paying rent.

Also, if you go off the DSP for a certain length of time, you'll find yourself deemed "able to work" and won't be able to get back on it, so be very careful as to which jobs you apply for. The current system gives no incentive for anybody to go off the DSP. They might just loose that extra income the DSP provides thereby making their lives untenable

Sorry 50starting again, I am a bit further long than you 65.
And as an ex union official not yet finished my first year in retirement.
Sorry because haveing been a retread due to bad health you are branded now.
Just as some with injury's can no longer get a job insurance stops you dead.
Not the end however, my free time has bought me in contact with dozens of starting again, in self employment.
Lawn mowing, good income there gardening, even better plant growing to sell at market days, but at the right price.
Hope to see more of you and that answers come too.

Courier Driver?

Not in Sydney of course you'd go insane.

I think of your type of situation when I hear about the government 'encouraging' people back to work. It's a bloody joke, it's the employers that need the 'encouragement' not the oldies.

It's bizarre when I haven't even reached the dreaded 40 but I can see that problem coming up not too far away for me too because of my aversion to management. I see management as glorified messenger boys and yes men, and would rather create something than join their ranks and wear suits and ties and have coffees and go to meetings.

I'm also not the type to let my life be taken over by my own small business as I do like to spend time with my kids. Risk the house and turn into a stressed overweight angry prick? No thanks!

I realy think employers see someone over 40 who has shown no 'ambition' to get into management (That's what ambition means; moving into management and using buzz words), and think why would I hire him at twice the price of some graduate or mid-20s employee.

Here's to hoping I can convince them when I get to that age I have super Guru qualities that are worth the money to them.

A toast! To arrogant creative types like me who have an 'attitude problem' and hope their talent gets 'em through in the end!

Older people do not want to go back to work, they can't afford to live on the pension.

It is all too common and if you are disabled it is even more difficult. What sort of skills do you have and how many hours are you able to work each week? Are you rural or city?

If you are more in the clerical job market, many government departments now aspire to quotas for disability - maybe start the process of applying for base positions or higher (I don't know your background). Just be prepared to put up with a few tossers though but it might get you back on your feet and something on your CV.

There are a few agencies (yes the dreaded agency treadmill) who specialise in placing disabled people. I also believe you can easily access Centrelink Social Services for assistance in finding work or at least they will know who to contact. Do you have a case manager that can assist?