When I decided to stop my business and pursue full-time study, I knew I had my savings safety net. When I started the trimester, I applied for Austudy because I didn’t want to suck my savings dry, and I’d have two months of no casual work with the Rowers still away and then on break.
Understandably, the applications are extensive, and after providing all the information when I applied on the 17th of July, they came back twice to ask for MORE supporting information like proof my business had ceased and evidence that I was enrolled in uni last semester. Today, I found out my claim is successful, but I am not eligible for any payments before the 11th of October because of my available funds.
I am grateful we have access to this support, but it seems unfair because I saved my hard-earned money over the 16 years I worked. If I had earned the same but spent it all, it would have made me more worthy of receiving study assistance.
I believe the way this system works is a barrier to people pursuing further study or changing to a meaningful career. When looking for a career change, you often have more significant responsibilities, like children, partners, mortgage and other loans/expenses. Going back to study or changing careers usually involves a pay cut due to either cutting down work hours to add in study hours or having to start at entry level in a new profession.
For me, the process was easier because I only had myself to worry about, which is why I decided now is the best time.
This blog somewhat links in with a blog that
wrote, "Why do so many people feel like crap?".For 18 months, I studied uni part-time while running my massage business, working the sports teams, supporting my sister with Zoe, having a social life and going to the gym 5 days a week. When I thought about sustaining this lifestyle for another two years to complete my master’s, I almost saw my death happening. I remember reading a post in the group of a gym I used to go to, someone asking how people fit exercise into their day, as she listed off all the things she was doing: working full time, studying full time, volunteering on a couple of boards, the list went on and I thought to myself how are you even enjoying life right now?
I think we feel like crap because we are taking on too much.
We can’t afford to earn less money, so we add study to our plate to feel like we are somewhat heading in the direction we want.
We say yes to our family and friends because we don’t want to disappoint everyone. (When this happens to me, I remind myself that saying no to someone else is saying yes to myself.)
We have less time to connect with our family and friends, which makes us feel isolated and lonely (I know I just highlighted the need to set boundaries).
We are sacrificing exercise and fueling our bodies with wholesome food to work more hours, earn more money, and study too many units.
What did I miss that you would like to add to this list?
I enjoyed 2 nights in Merimbula on the weekend, and it was lovely to escape life. I didn’t check emails, I didn’t do any uni, and I didn’t even read any of the book I packed. If I were still running my business and studying, I would have spent the 3 days working on my assessment and course content.
I am so grateful to be able to live moments like these because I am not overloaded with work and study.
What has this got to do with Austudy, you ask?
What if support was available regardless of your assets to dive back into study or make the career change you desperately want but can’t afford?
If you knew you could study or start a new career without the fear of making ends meet?
Would you be doing what it is you are doing now?
If yes, what do you love about what you do?
If not, what is stopping you?
Recently, some friends talked about paying off their HECS and even commented that they regret going to uni because of the financial burden.
I reassured them that if you are going to invest in something, learning and education is one of the best things you can invest in.
I do see where they are coming from, though, when you look at the uni fees, and it’s thousands of dollars per unit per year. The information page says, please don’t let finance hinder your studying. Of course, please don’t pay for it until you’re earning enough money, but by then, your degree will cost you even more, with indexation being the highest it has been in more than three decades.
I don’t know the solution or where funding would be pulled from. I think there should be more government support to enable people to live meaningful and purposeful lives. Perhaps we wouldn’t need so much funding and resources for mental health programs if there were funding to support people through career changes and study aspirations. Enough support means we aren’t working 2 or 3 jobs and sacrificing our social and community connections to survive.
It’s what many of us seem to be doing: surviving instead of living.
I want to thrive, not survive. Sometimes, you don’t realise how much you took on until you cut back. I thought the life I had been living was fine; the clinic was always busy, I was running around between various sports teams, studying because I wanted to learn, and life was good. But I was always running. Now, I’m present in all the moments of my life.
It feels good to be present in my own life (and to be getting 8 to 9 hours of sleep a night!)
I never knew they did the means testing based on how much money you have in the bank! You should have transferred it to someone else for a little while. Seems incredibly unfair. Reminds me of people getting charged in a higher tax bracket when they work a second job to get a ahead or make ends meet. People getting punished for doing a good thing! It's absurd.
Merimbula is amazing! I'm lucky enough to work down there sometimes.
But I love your title. Too many people surviving and not thriving