The tedious wait for hours at Centrelink offices is about to end with the introduction of a new appointment system.
Centrelink recipients can now book a 15-minute telephone appointment or a 30-minute in-person meeting at more than 300 service centres across the country.
The launch follows a trial of the system in Hobart, Tasmania, which Government Services Minister Bill Shorten hailed as a huge success.
“This new service offers the best of both worlds for people who want or need to visit their local service centre,” Shorten said.
‘People can go online and choose a time that suits them best for an appointment, either by phone or at their chosen service centre, and they don’t have to waste time standing in queues.’
More than 81,700 appointments have already been booked online, but customers also have the option of booking their appointments by phone.
“You can book an appointment by phone or in person by calling your usual payment line,” Services Australia said.
Appointments can be booked for JobSeeker, Aged Care Pension, Carer’s Payment, Digital Coaching, Disability Support Pension, Parenting Payments, Youth Allowance, My Aged Care and ABSTUDY.
The monotony of queuing at Centrelink offices (pictured) for hours is about to end with the introduction of a new appointment system.
The launch follows a trial of the system in Hobart, Tasmania, which Government Services Minister Bill Shorten (pictured) hailed as a huge success.
Appointments can also be cancelled and rescheduled online.
To make an online booking, recipients will need to log into their MyGov account and select “documents and appointments” from the menu, before clicking on “appointments” and “manage appointments.”
Bookings can also be scheduled using the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app, where simple instructions are displayed on the home screen.
Clients are advised to arrive 10 minutes prior to any scheduled appointment to check in and must bring identification with them, along with any relevant documents they may need.
“We know people want the convenience of online services, but sometimes they need to talk to someone,” Services Australia said.