I feel like I’ve spent my life chasing the illusion of social mobility, yet precarious accommodation still threatens my ability to finish my PhD
I don’t have any family support and spent time in “the system”, aka out-of-home care. I was homeless and couch surfing at times. I later ended up in community housing – social housing run by a religious organisation. Being on Newstart was a harrowing experience; I barely had enough money for food, and I was expected to attend redundant courses that were lower than the qualifications I already had, paid for by taxpayer money.
On receiving my PhD scholarship, I looked forward to finally be able to move out of community housing, where residualisation was evident and where I was acutely aware of the stigma . Unfortunately, private market accommodation has been very precarious. I’m also working as casual research assistant, looking at welfare policies, of all things. The way our welfare system works means that after I earn $180 in a fortnight, for every dollar, I lose 50 cents from my pension. I still cannot afford appropriate accommodation. Meanwhile, the government is proceeding with the stage three tax cuts, which will largely benefit high income earners.
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