Community Work Experience: What you need to know

It appears the Social Security Amendment Bill to introduce new Community Work Experience requirements for some job seeker beneficiaries as a ‘non-financial sanction’ will be passed very soon and may take effect as soon as 26 May 2025, although this is yet to be confirmed. 

We don’t know how many job seeker clients will be referred by WINZ Case Managers to Community Work Experience, but we wanted to give community organisations the heads up that you may be approached by job seeker recipients needing to meet these obligations.

The aim of the Community Work Experience (CWE) is for MSD clients to build community networks and connections, skills, confidence and work experience which they can add to their CV.

What This Means for Your Organisation

If a job seeker recipient approaches your organisation for a placement, here’s what you need to know.  Community organisations will be expected to:

• Agree and confirm with MSD specific activities the client will undertake.
• Supervise the client for the duration of their placement.
• Notify MSD if the client stops attending the placement. Confirm with MSD when the placement is completed, along with any relevant feedback.
• Provide a written agreement using a form the client provides that includes your organisation’s name and contact details, a description of the activities involved, the location, and planned hours of work.
• Provide tools, resources, training and support needed for the tasks.
• Comply with health and safety obligations — note that the person is to be treated as an employee for these purposes, although they are unpaid.
• Note full background checks may not be possible because the client has two weeks to find CWE before starting.

The Requirements on Job Seeker Recipients

Job Seeker recipients subject to this obligation must:

• Secure a suitable community work experience placement within two weeks.
• Complete at least 5 hours of work experience each week for 4 weeks.
• Have their proposed activity and host organisation approved by MSD before they can begin.

Concerns from the Sector
 

• The unfunded nature of the programme, increased administrative burden, and lack of time and support to properly assess or supervise individuals.
• The unrealistic time frames for a beneficiary to find a suitable placement and lack of flexibility regarding when the work experience is undertaken.
• Introducing community work as a sanction is unlikely to be viewed positively by clients, which may negatively impact on their approach to engaging in the work and constructively engaging with community organisations.
• Complete lack of consultation with the tangata whenua, community and voluntary sector.

How to Prepare