\n <\/a><\/a>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Income is money you receive for things like work, interest on savings, superannuation withdrawals, returns on investments, and government support. Paid work is the main way people tend to earn an income and support themselves financially. Because of this, many of Australia\u2019s programs for helping people experiencing financial hardship push people to get a job before most other considerations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On this page, we\u2019ll take you through different sources of income, getting paid, and where to find support for the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Generating a consistent flow of income through conventional employment can prove to be challenging at the best of times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The job market can be tricky to navigate, and applying for and securing a job requires complex communication. A position will likely have multiple people applying for it and, even if you\u2019re well qualified, job seeking can often come with a lot of rejection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Quality of work is also an important factor in a person\u2019s wellbeing. Some jobs don\u2019t pay well, don\u2019t give enough work hours or too many hours, or have poor workplace conditions. So, having a job is no guarantee that your income is secured, or that you won\u2019t find yourself in stressful conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even though many people have limited capacity to work, they\u2019re usually expected to have a job to support themselves. Having other commitments like caring for a loved one, or if you live with disability, might reduce your ability to work, but there are only limited supports to help people in those situations make ends meet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Waged work is any work you do for an employer who then provides you with pay. Employment typically takes three forms \u2013 full-time, part-time, and casual \u2013 though there are plenty of others, including self-employment and contracting. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Australia has many laws that regulate conditions of work and define types of employment. You can visit the Fair Work Ombudsman<\/a> for details. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Full-time work <\/a>is a type of employment in which people work around 38 hours a week and are employed on a permanent or fixed-term contract. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Full-time workers are entitled by law to paid leave and written notice when employment ends, or payment instead of notice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Part-time work<\/a> is much like full-time work, except that it\u2019s for less than 38 hours a week. Part-time workers are employed on a permanent or fixed-term contract. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Part-time workers are entitled by law to the same entitlements as full-time workers \u2013 paid leave and written notice when employment ends, or payment instead of notice. The difference is that entitlements are given on a \u2018pro-rata\u2019 basis for part-time workers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pro rata is the portion of the full-time pay and entitlements equivalent to the portion of part-time hours worked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A key risk is \u2018underemployment\u2019, which is when someone isn\u2019t being given the number of hours per week that they would like to earn enough to get by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Casual employment<\/a> is a form of employment with no agreed-upon pattern of work and no fixed entitlements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A key risk is \u2018underemployment\u2019, which is when someone isn\u2019t being given the number of hours per week that they would like to earn enough to get by.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several other types of paid work under Australian law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n The \u2018gig economy<\/a>\u2019, is where people work in on-demand services such as ride share, food delivery, and other personal services booked through apps and websites. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While gig economy employment offers flexibility, it comes without many of the workplace conditions and guarantees that other traditional work arrangements have under Australian law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay and other workplace conditions are usually set by the Fair Work Commission<\/a>, which is an independent government agency, via \u2018awards\u2019, which are generalised standards for employment in each sector of the economy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternatively, some workplaces may have an \u2018Enterprise Bargaining Agreement\u2019 (EBA), which is an agreement between employers and employees represented by a union that is approved by the Fair Work Commission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use the Fairwork pay calculator<\/a> to learn about awards and check what you should be paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Income tax<\/a> must be paid on all forms of income. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It’s important to recognise that unpaid work<\/a> has value, regardless of the form it takes. There are a lot of tasks people perform that are essential to everyone\u2019s wellbeing, but because of the way that waged work is organised by society, they are not paid for it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Many people who care for a disabled or elderly loved one are not paid to do so, even though it is inherently valuable work and can be extremely tiring. Parenting and housekeeping responsibilities are also examples of unpaid work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Check your eligibility for the Carer\u2019s Payment through Centrelink<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Internships can be tough. Interns often work without pay to the benefit of the organisation and are promised future career opportunities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To a person who is struggling to get by, this sort of arrangement might seem unfair. It might even be impossible for someone in financial hardship to undertake a period of unpaid work such as a potentially career-progressing internship at all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Visit the Fair Work Ombudsman<\/a> to learn about internships and the work arrangements that should entitle interns to payment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Volunteering is usually done by someone who is interested in \u2018giving back\u2019 to their community, but it\u2019s also important to see that their work, while unpaid, is still valuable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Centrelink payments, which include income support payments and disability support payments, are run by the Australian Government through Services Australia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ideally, Centrelink income would be sufficient to allow someone to build their own financial stability, or support someone long-term if they have limited capacity for work \u2013 for example, if they\u2019re caring for someone or have a disability. However, Centrelink payments are set at very low rates and come with a lot of eligibility requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 📌 See our dealing with Centrelink<\/a> page.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Operating a business can be challenging, but it will mean that you oversee your own income, have greater control over your ways of working, and might be able to pursue your personal passion. We\u2019ve compiled some information and services to support you in starting and running a small business in our Small business support section below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Any money that you earn from an investment<\/a> is also considered a form of income. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When a person retires, they are usually supported in their retirement through superannuation or the Aged Pension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 📌 See our understanding superannuation<\/a> page.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a range of service providers, membership organisations and supports available to everyone from job seekers to small business owners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting a job isn\u2019t as simple as walking into a potential employer and presenting your resume. It can be a lengthy process and you might hear \u201cno\u201d a lot before you hear \u201cyes\u201d. You may also find that looking for jobs, applying for roles, and going through the interview process can take a lot of time and money. The resources following are a practical place to start. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/studiokettle.com.au\/wip\/living-costs\/wp-content\/uploads\/Investing_v002.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nChallenges<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The job market<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Finding a balance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Capacity to work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Types of waged work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Full-time work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Part-time work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What is a \u2018pro rata\u2019 basis?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Are there risks?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Casual work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Are there risks?<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Other forms of work<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
What is the gig economy?<\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Getting paid, awards and agreements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What are the standard pay rates?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t forget about tax<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Unpaid work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Care and parenting <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Internships <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Volunteering<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Other kinds of income<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Centrelink payments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Is it enough?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Operating a business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Investments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Income in retirement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/studiokettle.com.au\/wip\/living-costs\/wp-content\/uploads\/Support_v004-1-1024x1024.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nWho can help you?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Finding and applying for a job<\/h3>\n\n\n\n