Hi all. Has anyone thought of registering a non-profit organisation with Centrelink so that newstart and youth allowance recipients could be contributing Open Source code as part of their Mutual-Obligation/Work-For-The-Dole requirements?
I used to write Windows software, but I'd convert to Linux/Open Source in an instant, if it got me out of another lame work-for-the-dole activity. >From the Centrelink site: "Work for the Dole is about helping job seekers improve their employment prospects by providing opportunities for work experience. Communities are involving job seekers in local projects providing facilities and services of value to the community." Open source development sounds valuable to the community. The main hurdle would be public liability insurance*. The requirements for registration with Centrelink are here: http://volunteersearch.gov.au/org_register1.aspx?WHCode=13&TextOnly=0 Basically, to be registered with Centrelink, a volunteer organisation needs a minimum of $5 million public liability insurance for the actions of the organisation and its employees and volunteers. Centrelink will pay for public liability insurance and accident insurance for any work-for-the-dole participant. If there's already an appropriate organisation that I can officially "volunteer" for, then I would appreciate being pointed in the right direction. If not, I would be interested in helping to start one (and possibly being its first volunteer/participant). Adelle. *The other hurdle would be reams of beaurecratic paper work as required by Centrelink, but you could always get some work-for-the-dole person to take care of that. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
