You didn’t plan to be here. And yet, here you are. Maybe a redundancy came out of nowhere. Maybe a toxic workplace finally took its toll. Maybe a contract ended before you were ready.
Whatever brought you to this moment, the Career First Aid Kit is going to help you figure out what to do next.
It’s the resource you can reach for when the thought of making one more decision or taking one more action (even a good one, even for yourself) feels like too much to ask.
It’s digestible and built for someone who might be reading this on a peak-hour train or mid-2-AM meltdown. If ever there were a moment for spoon-feeding, this is it!
And it covers everything you need to take the crisis down a notch or two.
Your legal rights, the money you can access right now, your exit strategy and your job search. And (because none of this works without it) your wellbeing.
The transformation can wait. Right now, we just need you steady.
The paperwork, the entitlements, and the one deadline most people miss. We cover it all, in order, without the fluff.
The first 48 hours after a job loss are the ones that count most practically. The handful of steps you take now will protect your money and your rights before certain clocks start running, ‘coz some things have deadlines most people don’t know about until it’s too late.
So it’s best to focus on what you can do to help yourself and navigate the upheaval whilst you’re feeling all the feelings.
The essentials:
Time-sensitive: If you think your redundancy wasn’t genuine (your role was filled by someone else, or you weren’t properly consulted), you may have an unfair dismissal claim. The Fair Work Commission handles these but the deadline is tight: 21 days from dismissal.
Australia has solid workplace protections, but most people don’t know how to access these until they need to.
The Fair Work Act covers most private sector employees with minimum entitlements, protection from adverse action, and a free national tribunal where you can file a dispute without a lawyer (praise be!).
Here’s the scoop:
Need help right now? The Fair Work Ombudsman offers free advice on pay, entitlements, and dismissal. No lawyer needed to make a first call (13 13 94).
It’s the money stuff that probably keeps you up at night. The financial uncertainty of sudden job loss is one of the hardest and most anxiety-inducing parts.
But you have more access to support than most people realise, and several options move faster than you’d expect, provided you know to ask.
Here’s what you can access:
Time-sensitive: If you received a redundancy payout, an income maintenance period may delay JobSeeker payments. Apply the day you stop working to reduce the wait time.
You haven’t been made redundant, and you’re still clinging to your job, but you’re barely hanging on. Before you hand in your notice, pay attention:
Resigning without a plan can cost you Centrelink support for up to eight weeks. And that’s entirely avoidable with a bit of prep.
What to know before you leave:
Once the immediate crisis settles, a different kind of pressure takes its place. But panic-applying for jobs is how people end up in roles that are a worse fit than the one they just left.
A bit of strategy upfront makes a real difference. Plus, there are free government employment services available to you right now that most people don’t know exist.
Worth knowing:
Job loss is one of the most significant stressors a person can experience. What you’re feeling right now, the whole gamut of emotions, is real, reasonable, and deserves paying some attention to.
You don’t have to process it alone, and you don’t have to be in crisis before you’re allowed to ask for support.
Where to start:
This kit gives you the practical scaffolding to survive the immediate storm.
But sometimes, once you’ve got the paperwork sorted and the finances stabilised, you find yourself contemplating deeper questions.
If you’re feeling stuck, burnt out, or questioning what’s next, this quick check will help you understand where you stand and how we can turn those lemons into something far more flavourful.
Every Australian state and territory has additional support programs for people navigating job loss. From funded training to workplace safety bodies to legal centres, here’s where to find what’s available where you are.
| MY SITUATION | WHO TO CONTACT |
| Unsure about pay or entitlements | Fair Work Ombudsman | 13 13 94 | fairwork.gov.au |
| I may have been unfairly dismissed (act fast!) | Fair Work Commission | 1300 799 675: within 21 days only |
| Need free legal advice | Community Legal Centres |
| Apply for income support now | Services Australia | 132 850 |
| Struggling with debt or bills | National Debt Helpline | 1800 007 007 |
| Workplace bullying or safety issue | Your state WHS authority (see above) |
| Mental health support | Beyond Blue | 1300 22 4636
GP for Mental Health Plan |
| Crisis support | Lifeline | 13 11 14: available 24/7 |
| Find a job | seek.com.au |
| Free training and upskilling | yourcareer.gov.au |
| Superannuation hardship access | ATO | 13 28 61 |
| Union support | Your relevant industry union: find via actu.org.au |
| Redundancy entitlements information | dewr.gov.au |
| Step-by-step what-to-do guide | myGov Recently Unemployed Checklist |
The complete Career First Aid Kit – every section, detail, and link – is available as a free PDF you can save, print, or pull up without Wi-Fi.
Disclaimer: This guide is intended as general information only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Always verify current rates, thresholds and eligibility criteria at the relevant government websites. Last reviewed July 2026.
At The Sorbetto Group, we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging and celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who also work and live on this land.
