So apparently, political reforms mean that university students have to be taking all 6 classes for a semester in order to be eligible for the monetary support that we (can) get. Previously, you just had to be enrolled in a study, and could spread it out if needed. This... Kind of might cripple my income for the next half year, at least. And why? Well, because i've had the gall to be suffering from severe stress, and thus being unable to deal with a complete full time study. Politicians figure that since the grant generally isn't enough to sustain oneself anyways, students could just work in their holidays to save up money.
Do you know what holidays are to stressed people like myself? They're the only things keeping us from crumpling. The idea of having to work in my holidays is NOT attractive. I believe i've said this before, but i am sick and tired of being treated as a conveyor-belt commodity to be pushed through the machine faster. Ugh, sometimes i wish i had been born 5 years earlier. Could have been done with all this before shit hit the fan.
* Shook is sad and salty
I'm in more or less the same boat, except that for me it's because if you study longer than your course's allotted time + 6 months you are cut off unless you can prove why you are studying longer. So as I'm full time (three subjects, but lots of contact hours), I can't use the job seeker thing because even if I'm looking for a job, I'm a full time student and therefore not eligible... but I'm not eligible for the student allowance until a mythical "student services" department answers their phone and says "yes your transcript and medical certificate are correct here have more time". Of course, every time I've rung said department, it's either on hold for longer than I have available (2hr++ wait times are not unheard of) or simply goes to engaged or dial tone signal. I can't go in, because I'd be told "call them" instead, rendering the visit useless.
In the meantime I'm having to leech off my parents again (of course I am only taking $20 a week for transport and nothing else) but it is galling to be back in this stupid rut because few people will hire a 23 year old full time student who travels 68km twice daily already.
It makes me feel infuriated. I've applied for jobs out my way, but there are few about, and the chances of being hired in retail as a male 23 year old are nil. I could probably find factory work, but the only place semi-viable to fit in with uni would be in Werribee, which is another massive trip. That'd probably be well over 200km round trip every day I would be working and studying. I'd love to live closer to uni / study closer to home, but that's not doable, because to move out you need a job, and to get a job out there you need to live near there.
I recall the time I handed out 52 resumes in one day at a shopping centre close to uni, where there were many jobs being advertised, and every person who did more than just glance casually basically went "nope cos you live 68km from here and are a uni student".
I'm effectively put back into the position I was in in 2012-2013 and I really don't want that to continue. I am so sick of not having a job. I'm sick of using government money, because even if it's legitimate and I'm on student allowance, I still feel as if I'm leeching from people who need it more. I'm sick of having to sponge off my parents at 23 even as they cajole that it is okay as long as I am studying and putting effort in... but it's so galling.
All of this could be so neatly solved if only someone would bloody hire me!
Arrgrgrghrghgrgrhrhhrghrghgrh.