Youth worker post
Jun 15th 2018, 11:29 am
#1
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Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Belfast
Posts: 21
Youth worker post
Hi all,
After returning home from my WHV to my post as a social worker in a children's home in NI in 2012, I recently stumbled across an ad for Youth Workers in Australia. I completed the interview and whilst not officially, due to experience and qualifications, I was advised that I could count on an offer. My query is around the pay, it's 55k salaried in Queensland. I'm 39 and single, would this be enough for a reasonable standard of living? I know that's subjective to everyone, but it is actually less than I earn here when you convert it. I guess I'm trying to work out if the pay is a fair reflection of the work in Australia, I don't have the luxury of a career break on this one. Thanks in advance.
Colin
After returning home from my WHV to my post as a social worker in a children's home in NI in 2012, I recently stumbled across an ad for Youth Workers in Australia. I completed the interview and whilst not officially, due to experience and qualifications, I was advised that I could count on an offer. My query is around the pay, it's 55k salaried in Queensland. I'm 39 and single, would this be enough for a reasonable standard of living? I know that's subjective to everyone, but it is actually less than I earn here when you convert it. I guess I'm trying to work out if the pay is a fair reflection of the work in Australia, I don't have the luxury of a career break on this one. Thanks in advance.
Colin
Jun 15th 2018, 12:29 pm
#2
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Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Canberra
Posts: 8,378
Re: Youth worker post
No, it’s a pathetic wage. Youth Workers (and it may vary from state to state) aren’t necessarily hugely qualified and their pay reflects this. When you consider the average wage is now around $80k (think, would you be happy on less than 70% of the UK average wage (£19k give or take). Could you survive? Possibly but you wouldn’t be comfortably off - all depending on where you would be living, after the rent is paid you’d probably get used to beans on toast.
Jun 15th 2018, 12:41 pm
#3
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Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Brisbane, QLD
Posts: 2,046
Re: Youth worker post
Hi Colin,
Honestly, we pay our Interns just less than that and they are definitely not living large. It's about $1710 take home per fortnight which in my opinion (for what it's worth) is going to be tight on a single wage (if there were two of you it would be easier).
I am a similar age and single and have following expenses in Brisbane - it may be cheaper or more expensive if you would be living regionally;
Rent $700 per fortnight (2 bed, 2 bath) nothing flash but nice - you could get a one bed for maybe $600 per fortnight and obviously share houses are less but possibly not ideal
Fuel $75 per fortnight (1 tank in a medium car)
Utilities $80 per fortnight
Other costs (Car costs, health insurance, other costs, basic clothing, household expenses) $200
Groceries/personal care/household items $300
That's already ~$1350 and I would consider that pretty basic (no meals out, no travel etc.). You would, I imagine, want to be saving for your future (super/pension or buy a house etc.) and this might mean more of a pay-to-pay existence.
People can certainly manage on $55K but setting up a new life can be costly (car, furniture etc.) so it would be challenging initially. You'd have to be a conscious spender and stick to a budget - which is definitely a factor for some people in moving countries.
Hopefully some others will post their opinions.
Best of luck.
Honestly, we pay our Interns just less than that and they are definitely not living large. It's about $1710 take home per fortnight which in my opinion (for what it's worth) is going to be tight on a single wage (if there were two of you it would be easier).
I am a similar age and single and have following expenses in Brisbane - it may be cheaper or more expensive if you would be living regionally;
Rent $700 per fortnight (2 bed, 2 bath) nothing flash but nice - you could get a one bed for maybe $600 per fortnight and obviously share houses are less but possibly not ideal
Fuel $75 per fortnight (1 tank in a medium car)
Utilities $80 per fortnight
Other costs (Car costs, health insurance, other costs, basic clothing, household expenses) $200
Groceries/personal care/household items $300
That's already ~$1350 and I would consider that pretty basic (no meals out, no travel etc.). You would, I imagine, want to be saving for your future (super/pension or buy a house etc.) and this might mean more of a pay-to-pay existence.
People can certainly manage on $55K but setting up a new life can be costly (car, furniture etc.) so it would be challenging initially. You'd have to be a conscious spender and stick to a budget - which is definitely a factor for some people in moving countries.
Hopefully some others will post their opinions.
Best of luck.
Jun 15th 2018, 10:18 pm
#4
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Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Belfast
Posts: 21
Re: Youth worker post
Hi guys,
Thanks for your replies and your honesty. You confirmed what I was thinking really. I thought the wage was pretty low, so therefore qualifications might not be high. It's a shame really as these are traumatised kids that need skilled and resilient staff to look after them, not a high turnover of inexperienced staff. However, as much as I would love to come back out and try my hand again, it would be lunacy to leave a well paid and established post here for less money before the cost of living is even factored in. I used my career break on my WHV or I'd do it for a year or two for the experience but it's my future too that I need to consider. Looks like this wasn't for me... 😕
Thanks again for your advice, much appreciated.
Colin
Thanks for your replies and your honesty. You confirmed what I was thinking really. I thought the wage was pretty low, so therefore qualifications might not be high. It's a shame really as these are traumatised kids that need skilled and resilient staff to look after them, not a high turnover of inexperienced staff. However, as much as I would love to come back out and try my hand again, it would be lunacy to leave a well paid and established post here for less money before the cost of living is even factored in. I used my career break on my WHV or I'd do it for a year or two for the experience but it's my future too that I need to consider. Looks like this wasn't for me... 😕
Thanks again for your advice, much appreciated.
Colin
