Working Full-Time But Still Poor: Australia’s Cost of Living Crisis

"Could You Survive On The Breadline" / In Episode Three attention shifts to the job market, as our three contributors experience the challenges of trying to find work and survive on an irregular pay-packet in this tough new era of employment in Australia. From applying for non-existent full-time jobs to working as underpaid and under-employed food delivery drivers on zero-hour contracts; to small business owners having to work multiple menial and low-paying jobs to get by. In inner-city Sydney, conservative journalist/commentator Caleb Bond discovers that to get off welfare and into work can mean having to do multiple jobs. He takes on shifts as a food delivery rider, only to discover that the work is not only hard, but the money is not enough to live on. A fellow delivery driver tells Caleb that for a 20-hour week, he can expect to earn between $150-$200. He then has to take on a second job as a cleaner on minimum wage of around $21 an hour. Will the experience challenge his belief that the best form of welfare is a job? In south-west Sydney, Julie Goodwin hits the streets to see if she can find work in retail or hospitality. She meets a local cafe owner who was forced to close her business because of the pandemic. She’s now working multiple part-time jobs to survive. In the Illawarra region, NSW Greens PM Jenny Leong also tries to find work in the shops and cafes of Port Kembla. She gets a trial shift as a kitchenhand (average wage $19.54 an hour) only to discover that a combination of low-pay and not enough work hours means that many working Australians can still find themselves living in poverty. 00:00 - Introduction: Is it really possible to survive on welfare? 00:32 - Introducing the participants: Jenny Leong, Caleb Bond, and Julie Goodwin 02:27 - Wrap-up after 6 days: The reality of daily life on welfare 03:14 - Julie Goodwin: The challenge of job hunting after age 50 04:58 - Door-to-door canvassing: The challenges of the local job market 06:27 - Caleb Bond: Living in substandard housing in Surrey Hills 07:09 - Entering the “Gig Economy”: First day as a bike delivery driver 08:00 - Meeting with Muhammad: The risks and pay for delivery drivers 10:20 - Stress and vulnerability: A look back at Caleb’s first deliveries 12:18 - Jenny Leong: The hidden cost of basic necessities (laundry, food) 2:01 PM - Looking for casual work in Port Kembla 4:21 PM - Pete’s story: Changing careers at 55 after COVID 6:58 PM - Caleb juggles multiple jobs: From delivery to cleaning 8:30 PM - Meeting with Jorge: Job loss and family pressure 21:30 - Race Against the Clock: Cleaning a 4-Bedroom House in 2 Hours 23:05 - Jenny’s Trial Shift: Kitchen Helper at a Trailer Park 25:20 - John’s Story: Living in a Cabin with His Daughter Isabelle 26:15 - The Cost of Education: Obstacles for Children Living in Poverty 28:33 - Julie and Small Businesses: The Pandemic’s Impact on Cafés 29:44 - Sonia: A Restaurant Owner Burdened by Debt and Juggling Four Jobs 32:40 - Jorge’s Reality: The Feeling of Failure in the Face of His Children’s Needs 34:53 - Physical Labor and Exhaustion: Caleb Finishes His Cleaning Shift 36:42 - Julie Goodwin: Reflections on an Unsuccessful Job Search 39:13 - Port Kembla: The Impact of Deindustrialization on the Community 40:00 - Volunteering and Solidarity: Distributing Meals on Friday Nights 41:25 - Community Testimonials: Lack of Jobs and Exorbitant Rents 43:57 - Caleb and the “Gig Economy”: A source of supplemental income, but not a sustainable solution 47:50 - Final Thoughts: Is it really as simple as “just finding a job”? 49:50 - Conclusion: A broken system and the need for real opportunities #documentary #society #international A documentary by David GALLOWAY First broadcast : 2022 🌍 Subscribe to 100% Documentary Overload @documentaryoverload 🌍 Produced by Hat Trick International