Centrelink

Most women I know who deal with our social security system experience a truckload of frustration.

The support is indispensable, often the difference between putting food on the table and not, which only raises the stakes.

My experiences with Centrelink have been across the spectrum, from incorrect advice to gold class support.

My learnings from this system are these

• Always speak slowly and clearly
• Centrelink is an enormous organisation, with differing rules across the departments, try to hold your emotions in check while the operator clears the system checks and establishes who you are and whether they are the correct department to speak to, even if you’ve rung the correct number
• I always call, not go in if I can help it. My time is precious.
• Speak to the problem,  not your (maybe reasonable) frustration
• If you aren’t feeling understood ask to speak to a manager
• Always request a receipt number, you can do this at the beginning of the call, and keep It handy for the period of time it is relevant
• Remember the person at the other end is also a human, who maybe has pressures we don’t know about (do you know Centrelink calls are often time managed?) and maybe they don’t know everything (remember Centrelink is enormous and the system complex)
• If you are frustrated, do take time to calm and ground  yourself, call back if you need to.

There are organisations that can help you engage with Centrelink if it’s too much, including legal support if you have a dispute such as Basic Rights Qld.

It’s not a perfect system, but it is what we have to work within, so be gentle with you, and the worker at Centrelink as you do it.

What about you? What are your special learnings from dealing with this organisation?

Most of all, breathe and be gentle with you

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Photo credit Kelly Silkema Unsplash