How many of you watched the ABC's Four Corners last night? While I am focussing on planting, saving and living more gently on the planet, parts of Australia are facing the reality of the GFC head on.
"Despite stimulus packages including cash hand-outs, Australia's unemployment lines are growing by 1,000 a day. It's now estimated that by the end of this year one million people will be unemployed" from Here
This programme is repeated on Tuesday 21st April at 11.35 PM
My eldest daugher is currently studying Year 12 and hopes to get into Uni next year. She has been told by all of the school course counsellors to expect that the grades needed to get into the courses she wants will be dramatically raised as more and more people apply for Uni places because there won't be any other options.
The jobs are drying up.
She had planned to defer for a year or two and travel around the World but now realises that that may not be such a good idea until she has some serious qualifications under her belt.
What's scary though is what the future holds for kids who can't get into Uni. Traditionally they would become an apprentice or look for what is referred too as 'blue collar' employment. But what the hell happens when the older generation don't retire and the places aren't freed up for school graduates?
We are all living in interesting times, that's for sure!
1 comment:
5 Responses to “Another reminder for me of how lucky my family is”
1.dixiebelle Says:
April 21st, 2009 at 6:36 pm e
Could nursing be an option for her? May be an easier Uni course to get into, it’s a valuable skill, and nurses are always in demand! She can then travel the world once qualified… perhaps complete a years post-grad program to ground her new skills and knowledge, and save some $$$ to travel with. So many specialities to get into, you can usually find something you like, whether it is critical and technical, or even natural and preventative nursing are options…
Teaching would be another option along similiar lines.
Good luck to her in her studies, and to all young people in similiar positions.
2.admin Says:
April 21st, 2009 at 6:40 pm e
Great advice DB but she has her heart set on getting into WAAPA to study music.
3.dixiebelle Says:
April 22nd, 2009 at 8:51 am e
Well, is doing a teaching diploma after that an option, if things are looking grim
4.river Says:
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:02 pm e
“The jobs are drying up” This is not only because the older generation won’t, or can’t afford to, retire. A lot of our jobs have simply been moved off-shore. Companies and factories where our young folk could have gained employment are now in places such as India, Vietnam, Fiji. “Our” jobs are being done by others for much, much less wages, while we back here are now relying on Centrelink handouts and being criticised for not working.
5.admin Says:
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:50 pm e
That’s a really good point River which was the main focus of Four Corners. The programme looked at the Illawarra region and how many factories have shut down in the last twenty years and now, since the end of the mining boom, the docks are cutting back because there is nothing to ship.
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