customer service representative

Centrelink

Extremely busy job in relation to KPI's to be acheived daily, meeting customer needs whilst adhering to policy and procedure when working towards a mutually beneficial outcome.  
Enjoyed the challenge of each call relevant to uniqueness of situation caller was in, using guidelines and policy & procedures to achieve a mutual and legal outcome.
I learned the hard lesson of not taking my work past the door at night when i went home from work (ie not to worry about some of the unenviable situations people were in that I had spoken to that day).
My co workers were wonderful and we all had a very positive attitude towards teams and how they create a great working environment especially in the type of service we were providing to the public.  
I had good management who always respected me, encouraged me.
The most enjoyable part of my job was when my customers called back to advise us of the positive steps they took and the unexpected outcomes achieved, and this information was given to us in our weekly meetings with our team leaders.

I had varied roles during my employ with Centrelink, Broome over four years.

Initially as the Administrative Officer, which I found challenging as this involved skills I had to acquire and learn on the job and during this time I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to train a young lady with a hearing impairment and I found that I learnt a thing or too as well!

I learnt a lot about Government practices and it was very very interesting and I got the opportunity to travel to Darwin to do the 3 month training course to become a Personal Adviser - which was a job that was made for me, as you had to have excellent communication skills to perform this role.

I also got the opportunity to perform the role as the Carelink Regional Manager of the Kimberley WA for 6 months until this role was then taken over by HACS.

The hardest part of working for Centrelink was it was constantly busy and time constraints led to not getting constructive training, to learn the knowledge that is required to answer customers questions, which could be quite frustrating.

Overall i thoroughly enjoyed doing this job.. turning up every morning was great!! .... the people for the most part were good to work along side. Some of my Co-workers are still friends of mine to this day which is also great!! but unfortunately this wonderful job was marred by an ethos of cloak and dagger dealings behind closed doors where members of a team where encouraged to report on one another which unfortunately provided those with little work ethic to prevail by disposing those that got in their way through lies and manipulation. also Job security and advancement were virtually non-existent or at best very rare. the 2/12 years that i worked there of my 3 year contract we were promised the possibility of permanent jobs which only came into fruition for some employees after that three year mark. Overall its a pity that the weakness of a few people ruined what was a very enjoyable job in a department who's aims and goals i believed in!!

I was employed on a casual contract to assist with the introduction of e-learning facility in each office of Centrelink.
I received computer training and was soon training clients on how to do various tasks on the internet including reporting and entering income if they had worked while receiving Centrelink benefits. 
Other duties included keeping the pamphlet rack filled and setting up and manning public displays. Other tasks included assisting clients by printing off copies of forms and concession cards and directing them to appropriate waiting areas - I would enter their details into the 'Walk-in' appointments section on the data base for other permanently employed staff to assist.

A typical day at Centrelink involves responding to customer queries and assisting them with payment choices or explaining outcomes of applications they have made.  It also involves discussing many and varied life events experienced by customers and their respective families.

The hardest part of the job is dealing with difficult life events presented by customers.  It is a very emotionally challenging role.

The most enjoyable part of the job is having the privelege of working with extraordinarily capable and resiliant people.  The complexity of the role makes it challenging and worthwhile.

Every day at work is a typical day for me as I learn new information about my work place, meet different people and enjoy what I am doing.
I well manage difficult customers through listening to them and my explanation to them. I don't lose temper.
I have a great respect for my co-wrkers.
The hardest part of the job is traveling long distances which causing limitation of working hours.
The most enjoyable part of the job is meeting different people and helping them according to their cases and needs through communication skills.

I worked with Centrelink in a number of different capacities and department. I found working in this very large organisation in small teams to be a family within a family. I have nothing but admiration for the role Centrelink plays in the broader community, not just as the provider of welfare payments but also the great work that they do in emergency situations. They are usually on the ground first and doing business helping people to organize their lives in times of disaster at home and abroard.

A typical day was to Look after my mothers every need, from helping to and from the bathroom to preparing meals to medications to doctor and hospital appointments all the way to bed time and all in between.
 What I learnt was life is way to short. 
 Manager was none. 
 My co-workers there was none.
 The hardest part of the job was watching somebody you love being so helpless and i'll. 
 The most enjoyable part of the job was the fact that I was helping my mother by being there for her.

Learned about prioritising work load. Communicating with all levels of management, social workers, psychologists, and customers.

Great team work - understanding and sympathetic management. Helpful team mates.

Hardest part of work - ensuring customers are patient and wait for their turn to see a Customer Service Adviser.

Most enjoyable part of the job is when a job/service is seen and done to completion. Happy to have provided great customer service/help to a satisfied customer.

A great opportunity to learn about people and their day to day life issues.  A fast paced environment with an excellent work life balance.

This was a very complex position as the Government policies change on a daily basis and we were required to learn this information in a ten minute time frame.

Ongoing training was provided by Management when required which made it a work friendly environment.

Working at Centrelink: Company Overview and Reviews

Centrelink

Centrelink Ratings

Popular jobs at Centrelink

Salary Satisfaction

Job Seeker Tools

Employer Tools

Browse

Stay Connected