By June Ramli
Recently, I’ve been seeing a lot of people in the journalism world who have been furloughed, let go, or — in simpler terms — made redundant for no apparent reason, even when they were at the top of their game.
I know some of these people personally. Unfortunately, I have much experience dealing with job losses myself, especially since moving to Australia from Malaysia.
When the Work Stops
Losing a job in Australia and being unemployed for months on end is quite common. That’s one of the reasons why the taxation rate here is so high — many people lose their source of income from time to time.
Centrelink isn’t just for those who “don’t want to work” — it also supports people who are in between jobs.
This is why it’s important to have an emergency fund and keep your expenses low while you’re earning — so you can ride out any kind of storm.
I’d like to take you back to a common scenario.
Most of the time, people who’ve lost their jobs have been in their writing gig for years — sometimes close to 10. When they suddenly lose that job, they’re often already deep in debt.
Tons of loans with the bank, probably even a couple of kids — school fees, extracurriculars, the whole lot.
Eventually, they stay unemployed for too long, and that makes landing the next job even harder. Employers tend to favour candidates who are already employed.
From Deadlines to Daycare
Getting a job these days isn’t as easy as it once was — especially with talent specialists screening applications before they even reach the hiring manager. And now with AI in the mix, it’s even more competitive.
So, here are some tips I can share — especially if you’re a woman writer out of work and trying to re-enter the workforce without ever stepping into a Centrelink office.
Well, get into childcare.
There are heaps of roles available in childcare in Australia right now. It’s one of those industries where you can work with babies or toddlers even while you’re still getting qualified.
All you need is a Certificate III in Childcare and you’ll be able to get a job in no time.
The industry is in such demand that the government is offering permanent residency pathways to migrants who take up this work.
That’s why you’ll notice a lot of childcare workers come from different countries — not necessarily native Australians.
But if you are a local and still able to work, and if media jobs aren’t coming your way, then childcare might just be the answer.
The casual rate starts at around $31 per hour while you’re studying and goes up to $35 per hour once you’re qualified.
Sometimes, the kids you look after at the centre might turn into your own little side business — parents often pay around $35 per hour for nannying services at home.
The Cert III Route
You’ll need that Cert III though — it’s the minimum requirement to legally care for children in Australia.
If you’re in NSW, free TAFE courses will be offered next month, which means you can get certified without paying a cent.
However, you will have to do a 160-hour placement at a childcare centre as part of the course.
Keep in mind: trainees can be paid, but you can’t be left alone with children until you’re fully qualified. You also can’t administer medication or feed the children, since they may have allergies that, as a trainee, you won’t be fully across.
If you aim to become a centre manager, you’ll need to complete the Diploma in Childcare — and that opens up opportunities to earn close to $100,000 a year.
The hardest part of the job? The cleaning.
There are no dedicated cleaners at most centres, so you’ll be doing a fair bit of mopping up after poo and vomit if it happens (and it does).
But aside from that, it’s a fairly smooth-sailing job with little drama, I’d say.
This is just something you can do to get back on your feet.
I was a full-time trainee at a childcare centre not far from where I live, but I had to quit as I had other things going on.
Now, I’m doing the course online — but I’ll have to redo the full 160 hours of placement, which is a bit of a pain.
Still, I think the investment is well worth it. As more journalism roles become obsolete, this is the only way forward.
Media & PR: editor@dailystraits.com. Copyright 2021–Present DailyStraits.com. All rights reserved.