Wednesday 17 May 2017 11:00am
From next January, anyone applying for Newstart or Youth Allowance in one of three as-yet-unnamed areas could be tested for drug use.
Not everyone gets tested. Job seekers and students will be profiled to identify the ones most likely to be taking drugs. We don't know what the profiling will be based on, only that it will be "relevant characteristics that indicate a higher risk of substance abuse".
That could be anything from age, to income, to gender to school leaving age.
But we do know what criteria the government will use to pick the three trial sites:
The office with the highest number of payment recipients in December 2016 (the most recent data we have), was Corio-Norlane, in Geelong's northern suburbs. It had 2804 Newstart and Youth Allowance payment recipients on its books.
These are just payment recipients - the number of applicants would be lower. That means the areas has to contain one or more really busy Centrelink offices.
Read More
MediNat Comment:
It is going to happen no matter how concerned we are.
Our main concern with any profiling it is prone to discrimination, privacy concerns and manipulation, we all know how data driven profiling by Centrelink has been questionable to say the least.
Others are also echoing this concern Read Here
Secondly the system of welfare testing has been used in many other countries and is broadly recognised as a failure.
Last but most important, there should be a strategy in place to get any positive participants into a support program, community resource program, or drug rehab if required, make it an intervention not just a punitive cut of welfare. Build some social bridges!
All we can say is pre test yourselves and stay safe.
Drug Tests are available at MediNat Australia or Drugtest Medinat.
From next January, anyone applying for Newstart or Youth Allowance in one of three as-yet-unnamed areas could be tested for drug use.
Not everyone gets tested. Job seekers and students will be profiled to identify the ones most likely to be taking drugs. We don't know what the profiling will be based on, only that it will be "relevant characteristics that indicate a higher risk of substance abuse".
That could be anything from age, to income, to gender to school leaving age.
But we do know what criteria the government will use to pick the three trial sites:
- High rates of welfare;
- High rates of drug use;
- Available counselling services.
The office with the highest number of payment recipients in December 2016 (the most recent data we have), was Corio-Norlane, in Geelong's northern suburbs. It had 2804 Newstart and Youth Allowance payment recipients on its books.
These are just payment recipients - the number of applicants would be lower. That means the areas has to contain one or more really busy Centrelink offices.
Read More
MediNat Comment:
It is going to happen no matter how concerned we are.
Our main concern with any profiling it is prone to discrimination, privacy concerns and manipulation, we all know how data driven profiling by Centrelink has been questionable to say the least.
Others are also echoing this concern Read Here
Secondly the system of welfare testing has been used in many other countries and is broadly recognised as a failure.
Last but most important, there should be a strategy in place to get any positive participants into a support program, community resource program, or drug rehab if required, make it an intervention not just a punitive cut of welfare. Build some social bridges!
All we can say is pre test yourselves and stay safe.
Drug Tests are available at MediNat Australia or Drugtest Medinat.
- Get link
- Other Apps
Labels:
at home drug testing
Australia Drug use
cost of alcohol in society
cost of the illicit drug market
drug testin as a deterant
drug tests
drugs and society
- Get link
- Other Apps
Comments
Post a Comment