December 2, 2016
Centrelink is warning residents to defer non-business next Monday and Friday afternoons due to industrial action by the Community and Public Sector Union.
This industrial action has the potential to also affect Medicare and Child Support services on both days.
General Manager Hank Jongen said customer payments would not be affected.
“We are focused on making sure staff are available to help people who are in financial hardship and need immediate assistance,” Mr Jongen said.
“So we’re asking customers with non-urgent business to consider contacting the department at another time.”
Customers are also encouraged to use online services through their myGov account or the ExpressPlus Apps.
“Our online services and ExpressPlus apps are really well used, and make it easy for people to do many things without the need to contact us,” Mr Jongen said.
The Express Plus suite of mobile apps are for Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support, and are free to download for customers using Apple, Android or selected Windows 10 devices (Medicare app only).
“Through all these apps, you can update your contact details and access your online letters. Each app is also tailored to specific needs,” Mr Jongen said.
“For example, you can make a claim through the Medicare app and report your income through the Centrelink app.
“We appreciate the community’s patience during this time and I reassure you we are working hard to minimise disruption to the services they need,” Mr Jongen said.
Centrelink warned there could be further disruptions to services.
“We will provide as much notice as possible of any service disruptions, and encourage people to regularly check humanservices.gov.au/servicechanges for updates.
Information on the digital self-service options is also available at humanservices.gov.au/selfservice
