A few years ago, I lived in an apartment that cost about $600 usd (~$800 aud?) a month. I had 3 roommates, my room was a loft that I couldn't stand up straight in, had no AC unit or window screen in hot humid weather, the common areas were dilapidated, and the bathroom was covered in black mold. I was a student at the time so I didn't mind knowing it was temporary but one of my roommates wasn't so lucky. She tried to get the landlord to do something about the mold because it was impacting her health, but this slumlord decided to go malicious compliance on her/us for daring to expect livable conditions, so he made our bathroom unusable while his handyman "took care of" the mold and "allowed" us to use another unit's bathroom that I heard was even more neglected somehow (I used the university bathroom instead).

My point is, she's likely doing repairs herself not because she knows what she's doing but because she's scared of a slumlord retaliating if she asks anything of them. It's a horribly stressful way to live as I've seen first hand.

[–] Mothra@mander.xyz 3 points 1 day ago

That's nasty, I'm sorry you went through that. Having lived in a couple shitty places in Australia I didn't get that kind of experience with a slumlord. It probably does happen, I'm not saying otherwise. But the system here has so much red tape which combined with the culture's laidback attitude results in landlords taking an eternity to answer requests from renters, if at all. The cheaper and shittier the place, the worse this gets. The classic is the landlord will wait for the contract to end so they can get rid of you. Most likely the real estate agent will then suggest a coat of paint or something similar that doesn't fix anything, and then a ridiculous hike up to the rent price for the next bunch of desperate plebs. Agents are often just as bad if not worse than the landlords.

But yes Maria's story here is pretty spot on. Centrelink is ridiculous. If you live in a shit hole it's easier to do repairs yourself than complain.

[+] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone -6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

My point is, she’s likely doing repairs herself not because she knows what she’s doing but because she’s scared of a slumlord retaliating if she asks anything of them.

Sure but I think you've missed my point, my main point was, she has skills, skills she could earn actual money with

Is she in a tough spot? yes. is there any mention of getting a job, studying, anything to suggest she is trying to get out of this position? no.

the article might as well be a single line: being on jobseeker is tough

no shit

[–] hanrahan@slrpnk.net 2 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

dude, i can use a drill, do heaps of DIY around my old cottage and have even illegally done some of my own wiring, zero people are going to be employing me to do trade work.

[–] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone 1 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

For sure, this only shows that you have the capacity to work, it also shows that she is utilising her time in the wrong direction, she's doing all this extra work to make do with being out of work, I'm saying instead she should be focusing not on being comfortable poor, but escaping by getting a decently paying job which was not mentioned at all.

We have free education in this country, actually look:

People from the following groups are strongly encouraged to apply:

First Nations Australians
Young people (17-24)
People who are out of work or receiving income support payments
Unpaid carers
Women facing economic insecurity
Women undertaking study in non-traditional fields
People with disability including autism and neurodivergence
Certain categories of visa holders

https://www.tafesa.edu.au/courses/fee-free-tafe-courses#courses

Are you suggesting she is incapable of work despite the article showing the opposite?

Also believe it or not but as someone who has to do god awful job interviews if you explained how you have fixed your own shit around your house that'd show initiative which would put you ahead of so many applicants

The critical point is:

Is she in a tough spot? yes. is there any mention of getting a job, studying, anything to suggest she is trying to get out of this position? no.

the article might as well be a single line: being on jobseeker is tough

[–] TheHolm@aussie.zone 2 points 12 hours ago

Good luck getting a job in construction if you’re not part of the “licensed” mafia. Three years of unpaid apprenticeship and no one is willing to take you on, because no one wants to create a competitor. Yes, you can do things illegally, but it is different story.