Even though many people moan & whinge in Australia about Centrelink,(the Social Service people),I have always found them very helpful.
At worst,he can get "New Start allowance" which is a lot better than $400 a month.
If older people are plainly incapable of searching for work,or working full time in a paid job,they are often offered the option of Voluntary work ,while still getting the "dole".
When my wife lost her job,as she was in her 60s,& had problems with her joints,Centrelink gave her this option.
This isn't cleaning road verges,but working part time for a registered charity.
NewStart will be reduced by the $400 a month,but he won't be any worse off than someone who doesn't have,or can't access any Superannuation.
He might be able to get a "Disability Allowance",but they have tightened up on that.
Most superannuation funds have ways of accessing the whole amount,(which is probably considerably greater than $10,000) if you can prove extreme hardship,so that's another possibility.