impossible. ” People all over Australia are in this exact scenario, and this is an adult working a good trade. Just imagine how rough a minimum wage worker or a student ’ s situation would be.The financial strain of inflation also significantly impacts the mental health of working university and TAFE students. According to a report from November 17, 2021, by Headspace, a youth mental health organization, financial stress is a significant contributor to mental health issues among young people. The report found that 44 percent of young people reported financial stress as a significant source of anxiety. This is in addition to the frustrating and seemingly never - ending studies to pass their university courses, yet we somehow expect them to be high achievers. If there was an alteration in either the minimum wage or the current housing and tax laws, stressed students could potentially lower their working hours and focus on their studies, increasing their mental focus, and therefore enhancing their future job options. According to a report by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the current minimum wage of $19.84 per hour is inadequate to cover basic living expenses. If students can ’ t afford to purchase sufficient sustenance, how should we expect them to afford a house? However simply increasing the minimum wage may not be the solution, as this may lead to a wage - price spiral, where the increasing minimum wage will inevitably result in rapid inflation.
THE ENEMY OF STUDENTS AND WORKING YOUTH By Karim T, Year 11
It could happen to anybody, your brother, sister, son, daughter, even you. Young adults are suffering just to get food on the table, struggling to live independently during their studies. Inflation is an ongoing issue, with increasing prices and a low minimum wage. This is the future that my peers and I are facing. How are we able to survive? University students are a large part of the future of the working force, and if they can ’ t complete their studies because of unaffordable housing, food, and other rising living expenses, what kind of future will we face? The minimum wage needs to increase to combat inflation or housing adjustments must be made to accommodate struggling, stressed students. High housing costs for both buyers and renters compared to the low minimum wage have been a relevant and pressing issue for many years now, and it only gets worse in the future unless change occurs. My brother, Ahmed is suffering due to this issue, and I will most likely be even worse off if this continues. He is 24 years old, working hard as a fully qualified electrician, and still struggling to get out of our parent ’ s house due to the significant increase in housing costs. “ I don ’ t even know if I can buy my own
Minimum wage increases in Australia from 2000 - 2018.
Housing cost increases in Australia from 1993 - 2018
house in the next few years, renting is not a viable option for me, yet purchasing is already close to
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