QxA May I? it is many years past but as one survivor of 16 children, the oldest in fact I went to work to feed my siblings.
Bush kids did that, if you wanted work it existed, maybe we are getting back to those times.
But will it be forever? no sorry not ever, you highlight a truth about to day parents do no always care.
Are not always accountable for their own actions or the kids, education should be for life at home too.
Some think I have sold out my childhood social concerns for those who can not look after themselves never!
But every one with a social conscience should know it is outcomes better outcome that matter.
As a trade unionist I find jobs for those who want them, I live in a community that has unemployment.
The best leave home and make it, some are afraid to take that step some are just dole bludgers forever , like mum and dad.
I can not give them casual jobs, on more than $21 an hour.
I can not get them to mow a lawn at twice the going rate.
Or cut a load of fire wood for cash and twice the contract price.
Why should you and I feed them.
Foxy is fighting cancer, let us not forget that, may you get every bit of strength you need my friend and know we are with you all of us every second of every day

Dear Q & A,

I wasn't able to reply earlier because I'd gone over my allowed limit of posts so I had to wait.

Of course I realize just how much it matters to have parents involved in their children's lives. That is something I took for granted, that's why I didn't mention it in the earlier post.

My children are my life. And I've been involved from the very start.

It was while watching a TV program that I saw youngsters with very poor self esteem who simply didn't know anything else but the dole that got me worried. Their view of life was so narrow. That's why I'm hoping that the new government's education program may help.

These kids didn't appear to have parents who were involved in their lives - and perhaps that was part of the problem. We didn't get to find out to much about the kids themselves - it was simply their attitude to the dole that was a worry.

Dear Belly,

Bless You, You Dear, Dear Man. I don't want to get personal or embarrass you, but to me since the very first time I began reading your posts you've been a pillar of strength of wisdom. Like a good solid oak, you've withstood so much, yet you're still standing. You give me hope. Thank-You.

I know that I tend to chant "education" "Education", "Education" like it was some bloody mantra, but in my experience it is the basic solution to so many problems.

We now have a situation where some kids at school leaving age are from third generation dole families. The question of self-esteem is pertinent here: but if both one's parents and grandparents - the authority figures - have never worked where are these kids going to get a work ethic and self esteem from?

I vehemently agree that schools should take a more holistic approach to education and tackle the kids...but the parents need guidance as well. Eighteen year old parents (I know of many even younger) are ill-equipped to pass on positive life lessons (especially those concerning birth-control!) and this goes even more for those whose parents in turn were teenagers. I tend to think that adult education classes on everything from hygiene to nutrition to civic responsibilities are every bit as necessary as these same lessons are in schools.

I think there should only be a 12week period per year where any person that is in dire need of money can access welfare payments.

Employers use to get a $7500 tax incentive to train an unemployed person in a job role. Now it is network agencies that get $7000 if they can find a long-term unemployed person a job position (they are not real interested in finding jobs for the short term unemployed people).

Employers should be given incentives to take on extra staff, instead of extra expenses of putting on new staff. (workcover, public holidays paid by the government, etc)

People who cannot find a job should be given training incentives in TAFE or other learning institutions.

They need to put the word "Trade", "Trades Person / Tradesman / etc" back into the award. Under the current award there is no specifications for a trades person, only an apprentice (which is now certificate 3 instead of diploma level). There is not much incentive to become a trades person when there is no such thing.

Instead of money being handed out freely, there can be food vouchers to pay for food and rental vouchers to help accommodation needs. If they are paying off a $40,000 car over 5 years and spending 2 years on the dole, they not receive welfare for luxury items, only needs (schooling, medical, and living (home & food)).

There are circumstances where young girls and young men are living in shared housing (upto 8 young people (16/17 year olds) per house) and all receiving $350 to $480 each per fortnight (around $3840 tax free per fortnight) against their parents wishes. Majority of these circumstances I would think work out in a negative way and the young girls learn to depend upon welfare for a long long time. Its sad, and it is the system of unemployment, it needs to be broken.

I have always been told that you get bugger all for free, but in Australia it seems you can come here and live a life of luxury with compliments of the hard working people.

Foxy,
I am sad to here your not feeling well. And I'm not happy with some of the things I've said to you. So from the bottom of my heart I apologise for any rudeness or sadness I may have caused you.
I'm passionate about our great country and dont want to see it go the way of the UK. So keep up the good fight, I dont mind your posts even though I reckon your a lefty Ha Ha. Scotty xo
Its not personal!

As one whos been on the bones of may arse more than once, I think everyone should be given a second even a third chance on the rockin roll. People get down on thier luck for a variety of reasons and whos to make the decision of who the bludgers are and who are not.

However if you come to this country to live on welfare, you should be turned around and booted up the arse back to where you came from, because we have plenty of bludgers here without importing them.

Judging from one or two comments it seems that the feeling persists that the majority on the dole are those who are from low income families, are unskilled, bludgers, or con-artists.

Things have changed a lot I think, since people made those judgements and set them in stone in their minds. The unemployed are University lecturers, ex-business owners, corporate employees - you simply cannot tar everyone with the same brush. Yes, of course, the problems I spoke of with 3rd generation dolers apply to some...but this stigma of the "undeserving poor" is just untrue as a blanket observation

We hear constantly of accountants who have been caught ripping off their firms..but don't claim all accountants are immoral. We are told of developers who rort the system... but don't want to stop people becoming developers. We don't tell politicians they can only serve for twelve weeks because some of them have been caught out indulging in criminal behaviour.

No dole after 12 weeks? Why? Who is going to magically wave a wand and leap in and offer employment in the twelfth week that wasn't available in the eleventh? Are we destined to go and live in cardboard boxes under bridges like the growing thousands in America? For the sin of losing our jobs/marriages/health/safety or whatever?

Why assume that everyone who can't find a job doesn't want to work? I worked continually, laboriously and time consumingly when I was on the dole: for a Government Department, in conjunction with psychiatric staff,and running a safe house and advisory centre for kids in trouble AND made documentaries, interviewed and petitioned parliamentarians and gave public lectures...all for no pay but to "earn" my government subsidy. Considering the expertise brought to these jobs and hours of overtime it was THEY who were getting the better deal. I am not saying this to puff out my chest and say Oh what a good girl am I. I am pointing out that I am not alone: hundreds of volunteer positions, advisory positions, outreach programmes, assistance schemes and more rely exclusively on "dole bludgers"