CPSU industrial action to disrupt Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support services this week

ALL non-urgent matters with Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support services should be deferred today due to industrial action by the Community and Public Sector Union.

ALL non-urgent matters with Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support services should be deferred today due to industrial action by the Community and Public Sector Union.

This action by the Department of Human Services has the potential to impact certain services across Australia both today and Friday.

The union has flagged further industrial action the following week, although detail of this action has yet to be formally provided to the department.

DHS general manager Hank Jongen said customer payments will 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 on Apple, Android or selected Windows 10 devices.

“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.

DHS will provide as much notice as possible of any service disruptions and is encouraging people to regularly check humanservices.gov.au/servicechanges for updates.

Information on the digital self-service options is available at humanservices.gov.au/selfservice.

Originally published as CPSU industrial action to disrupt Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support services this week