mja blog

Category: Study

  • CPR renewal

    So last month I went along to renew my first aider skills in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). I think the first aid certificate is every three years, and CPR is every 12 months. I was pleased to see the same trainer as last time and he seemed to remember me (or at least recognised that I had attended his class previously).

    It was a smaller class than last year, but we were all there only for the CPR, not the full first aid course. About 7 or 8 people in the class. As an icebreaker we each explained to the class why we were there. Everyone except me was employed in work that required them to keep their CPR certification up to date. I explained simply that I wanted to keep my skills sharp in case I was in a situation where they were needed, and chances are that it would be for someone I cared about. This last point had really been driven into me in the class last year.

    Most of the others were health workers who had done CPR classes many times before, and even administered CPR in real life, in one case. We had an initial practice run before the lesson began and not one of us got the technique absolutely right. This was an important lesson for us all and at the end of the class, the trainer told us to reflect on what went wrong in that initial run, to help reinforce the correct technique. In my case, I completely forgot about needing to tilt back the head to open the airway after checking it is clear. Even now I catch myself reflecting on this. Brilliant trainer.

  • Changing nature of work assignment

    First assignment for my unit on Theories of Work and Organisation is due this weekend. We have to draw on the topics we’ve covered over recent weeks to explain how the COVID-19 pandemic and the changing nature of work has impacted on young workers and their career opportunities.

    It’s an interesting situation. Many academics are saying the world is approaching a capitalist crossroad and that governments must step up to address the flaws in our economic system, exacerbated by the effect of globalism and technology on the labour market. Capitalism relies on consumption, but what will happen when too many people are living below the poverty line and household debt becomes unsustainable?

    This is why the constant mantra of politicians is “jobs, jobs, jobs”. However the nature of work is changing. Young people in particular are finding it more difficult to get into regular work and we see high levels of casualisation and the rise of the ‘gig’ economy as business and government policy favour a ‘flexible’ workforce. One that forgoes basic conditions such as paid sick leave and in some cases, superannuation – when workers are no longer classed as employees but ‘contractors’.

    The pitfalls of this situation were never more evident than in the recent public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time of border closures and lockdowns, ‘non-essential’ businesses were unable to trade. This affected many workers in service industries such as retail, food services, accommodation, construction, of which a high proportion are young workers. The Australian government implemented the JobKeeper allowance which helped keep businesses afloat and many people in jobs. However JobKeeper did not apply for casuals employed for less than 12 months, or others who earn their living through work platforms such as Uber and AirTasker.

    Since borders have re-opened we are seeing immediate signs of a healthy recovery. The government’s stimulus measures have created a boom for business and unemployment is currently at record low levels. Some commentators are pointing out that the present low rates are temporary due to the effect of fewer foreign workers in Australia at the moment. As international workers return, so will competition for jobs.

    What about the quality of the jobs? How do young workers tackle the challenges and leverage opportunities (if any)? I will elaborate in my assignment.

    Add to my reading list:

  • Liberty week four

    My last day of paid employment was Friday 14 January, filling in on the front desk. I’m now in the fourth week of my new life as a student / semi-retiree. During this time I’ve:

    • twice carried out volunteer duties as company secretary
    • worked out my study plan for 2022 and enrolled in my first two subjects
    • started the unit in Business and Corporate Law – we are presently covering the history and nature of law, interesting!
    • traded in my 2018 Mazda 3 for a 2021 Mazda CX 30 – my first auto and a hybrid. Took a little while to get used to the change but I’m loving the new car now.
    • got rid of a lot of old stuff we no longer wanted to keep when H. and I did a massive declutter and clean-up.. only my office left to do
    • had an Eggs Benedict breakfast at the local Coffee Club with H. and friends
    • had my first iron infusion to treat iron deficient anaemia, starting to kick in I think
    • bought myself a Brother Laser printer from Officeworks. It was cheap and is so handy to have for my studies and co-sec work.
    • had my first try of the whipper snipper in our yard and had great fun with it, ended up going back and doing more of the yard!
    • joined the local library and been listening to a few Jack Reacher tales on audiobook
    • persuaded Jo to join her local library

    Uni results from 2021 also came in, I got a couple of High Distinctions and a Distinction for the most recent subject. I completed three subjects, and gained credit for eight. I have seven units in my study plan for 2022, which leaves a final six units in 2023. I think a nice holiday sometime in 2023 will be called for.

    Photo by Grant Ritchie on Unsplash

  • New Year, New Chapter

    Fourteen years with the same company is a long time. I made the firm decision to leave after my boss of nearly 18 months gave her notice in the middle of last year. The seventh leader to leave in as many years. One of my colleagues commented that she didn’t have the energy for another leader (and subsequently resigned as well), and I felt a little the same.

    Sometimes I saw myself continuing in the role until I reached retirement age. On the other hand I knew there were other things I wanted to do. So I gave notice and seven months later I have finally left my position to become a full-time student.

    My career plans are a little vague but my immediate goal is to finish the Bachelor of Business degree I started last year. All going well it will take two more years to complete my studies. I have to admit I am a little nervous about being out of the workforce that long at my age.

    It’s a new chapter, we will see how the story develops. For now I am enjoying the break until study term resumes at the end of the month.

  • Results BEA111

    UPDATE: Second assignment results are in – 88%. Busy studying now for the final exam, on Saturday 5 June. It is an online, open book exam, and I’ll have 8 hours to complete it. It will probably be a lot harder than it sounds.

    Geez I don’t envy the markers, what a tedious job it must be, grading assignments! Results have come back for my first assignment 96% (originally 93% but adjusted for a mistake by the marker). Looking at the feedback, I’m kind of amazed I did that well! Anyway, I’m happy.

    Next assignment is due next week. I have started, but I am falling behind again in the lectures (blame it on my newest addiction to TV detective show Bosch). Thankfully it is another long weekend coming up, I intend to get stuck into finishing the assignment and then some serious catch-up. No more TV till I’ve finished!

    PS – Average mark for the class of over 300 students was 74%. One tenth of the students did not submit an assignment.

  • Macroeconomics is a long word

    Gross domestic product, inflation, unemployment, business cycle, recession, government policy. Macroeconomics zooms out to view the economy on the scale of an entire country.

    We are so lucky in Australia, touch wood, to have been relatively unaffected by the current global health crisis and my heart goes out to the people who have lost loved ones, lost their job. What is going on in India and other parts of the world right now is heartbreaking.

    But studying economics right now, in the midst of this global ‘event’, is interesting. Our Australian economy is kind of fascinating. We’ve had low wages growth, low inflation, relatively low unemployment for many years. Then COVID hit our shores and suddenly no more travel, tourism or hospitality. Massive job losses, but the pain of this has been cushioned by government stimulus. At the same time there is a continuing boom in housing and construction (more stimulus).

    According to an Australian economist John Adams, in a Youtube video, this is a recipe for disaster. I can see his point with the housing market and prices going up, and people able to borrow more than ever. When interest rates go back up, or household income is impacted by underemployment, people will have difficulty servicing their debt.

    John says the reason for this is lack of macroeconomic system checks in our institutions. Housing prices are not considered when the Reserve Bank of Australia adjusts interest rates. Not considered in the consumer price index (used to measure inflation). Not our problem, say APRA, who regulate the banks.

    Apparently the Kiwis have just introduced a measure to avoid this risk. The Reserve Bank of New Zealand looks at the price of housing before altering rates. John comments that New Zealand is ahead of Australia in this respect. Perhaps not for much longer.

    ABC News, April 2021 – Housing boom may be halted by regulators or economic trends, analysts warn.

    ABC News, September 2020 – Australian recession confirmed as COVID-19 triggers biggest economic plunge on record.

    The New Daily, March 2021 – Alan Kohler: The economic recovery is a work in progress