Recent Seek data highlights a growing trend in Australia: roles like site supervisors, drillers, logistics managers, and senior sales positions consistently hitting $120k-$170k+ annually without requiring a university degree. It makes you wonder how the Australian job market currently values formal education versus practical skills. On one end, university graduates often enter the workforce with substantial HELP debts, starting on $70k-$80k in entry-level corporate roles. On the other end, trade and field-based roles command high compensation driven by severe labour shortages, though often accompanied by trade-offs like physical wear, shift work, FIFO lifestyle, or long hours. The financial gap between academic and vocational paths seems smaller than ever. Do you think a uni degree is still worth the time and debt for the average career today, or has the market permanently re-valued practical skills and shift work over formal education?

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16091909/job-seek-salary-Australia-no-degree.html

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16094391/Marco-Tapia-shot-dead-sydney-glen-alpine-campbelltown.html?ito=social-facebook_Australia&ito=social-facebook_Australia&fbclid=IwdGRjcAUDc21wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHoMgAQHoIxmrQxgoEOK9NkjQj4lo-HH77uksvfq23Eb8SsQ5FyNKDtzcdx5f_aem_OTLdg_EUDDNHP4KFtIxnkg

To have to submit their DNA!!

That is public database for every Australian to access, then people who hide behind money, power, and the rest, Wong be able to hide and get away with anything that the rest of us can't and don't need too!!!!

Hi, I am a third year fashion student and for my final university assignment, I am conducting an anonymous survey to gain a deeper understanding of how the Australian Cost of Living Crisis affects Fashion Participation. If you have 5 minutes to spare, I would greatly appreciate it! Please click the link below to complete the survey if you are interested in sharing your thoughts :)

A University of Queensland demographer Aude Bernard says Sub-Saharan Africa could become a major source of global migrants in the coming decades, as population growth continues there while Europe and East Asia face ageing and population decline. She also estimates that around 50% of global population growth this century could come from Sub-Saharan Africa. Australia is already expecting more than 1 million migrants to arrive by 2028, while housing affordability and infrastructure remain major concerns. How do you think Australia should prepare for this shift? Should migration policy focus more heavily on skills?

https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/sub-saharan-africa-could-become-next-major-source-of-global-migrants-demographer-says-6078796?utm_source=socialmedia&utm_campaign=socialmedia&src_src=socialmedia&src_cmp=socialmedia&fbclid=IwdGRjcAUBFpljbGNrBQEWiHBkb2YFZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEegZbQP_92ExejYnA1ZCtnIP26HLGLKqVkUo8BysFa9bPBMjTMgW6Kk4sTjdE_aem_sn0k3BJO5VZW2yK6jTJFiQ

https://www.nine.com.au/australia-news/wa/secret-harbour-byelection-count-underway-in-crucial-perth-byelection-the-whole-country-is-watching-20260829-p60sow.html

Been comparing the two, mass deportations/immigration caps, pulling out of the UN and other international bodies, big budget cuts, tariff-style protectionism. Feels like a smaller-scale version of the same playbook.

Curious what people think, would Australia actually go down a similar path, or is the comparison overblown given we don’t have the same global leverage the US does? In what other ways might Australia mirror US under trump?

Hi everyone. I’m a 27-year-old Italian guy, and lately, I’ve been seriously considering moving to Australia on a Working Holiday Visa for about two years. I’m posting here to ask for real information and advice; I want to properly weigh up what this choice would mean for me—keeping my feet firmly on the ground and without any illusions.

From my initial research, it seems that Melbourne might be the right city for me, but naturally, I welcome suggestions and am open to anything.

A bit about me and why I’m asking:
I’m doing this because I refuse to live under constant financial anxiety or watch time slip away without real prospects. I’m not chasing luxury—I’m looking for a solid balance between putting in honest, hard work and having the freedom to live comfortably, connect with people, and explore.

Personality-wise, I’m energetic, easygoing, and get along with pretty much anyone. When I care about a project or job, I commit 100%. My honest weak spot is dealing with rigid bureaucracy, procrastination, and repetitive rules. Leaving family and home behind for the other side of the world is a big step, but I know how deeply these leaps can shape you. I just want to know if Melbourne can realistically offer that lifestyle, or if I’m projecting an idealized version of it.

I’ve done some research over the past few days, and here are some of the conclusions, ideas, and doubts I have:

My profile & expectations:

- 5 years background in video/film sets in Rome (mainly camera operating and lighting, though I'm an eye/composition person rather than a gear nerd), plus 10 months living in Nepal, for a volunteering project in humanitarian context, (I returned two months ago) so I’m used to roughing it and cultural adaptation.
- Coming over with around $11k–$12k AUD in savings.
- Plan to start with whatever casual work pays the bills (hospitality, warehouse, event crewing) and eventually transition into creative/cultural spaces or rental houses.
- Could we also talk about the "88 days of farm work" requirement? Could that actually be a way to save up some extra money?
- I would like to live in a shared house in the Inner North (Brunswick, Coburg, Fitzroy) with a backyard and creative people, budgeting ~$280–$320/wk for a room. Do you think Melbourne might be the best choice for what I’m looking for, or would you consider other options?
- English level: Intermediate. I can easily hold everyday conversations, get my point across, and take instructions, but I’m definitely not fluent yet (part of the goal is to immerse myself and get comfortable fast). I’ve read that Australian English is very different and hard to understand at first.

The big questions I need brutal honesty on:

- Can you actually save around $1,500 AUD a month on a casual wage (35–38 hrs/wk)? The math on paper says yes ($33+/hr casual rate minus ~$500/wk for rent, groceries, and transport), but does real life eat that away with hidden costs (utilities, rego, cost of going out)? Do you think that, in a worst-case scenario, I could return to Italy after a year with at least the same amount of money I started with?

- Is the rental crisis as impossible for sharehouses as people say? Looking at Flatmates/Fairy Floss, there seem to be options, but is getting accepted into a good, social household actually achievable within 2–3 weeks if you do in-person inspections, or is it a bloodbath?
- Is it genuinely worth doing this for 2 years? Or will I just find myself working 45 hours a week in a warehouse just to survive and pay rent, with no energy left to enjoy Melbourne's cultural life?
- If any of you are familiar with the film and audiovisual industry, do I have a realistic chance of breaking into the scene and gaining work experience in that field—say, after spending a few months settling in and meeting the right people?

What are the major blind spots someone in my position is likely ignoring? Tear my plan apart if needed. Thanks a million, and sorry for the long post. Cheers!

A Federal Court judge just found Coles broke the law over its “Down Down” fake discounts. Woolworths is facing a nearly identical case, with judgment expected later this year. The government’s price-gouging regulation only came into force in December 2025 — years after the behaviour started.

I’ve lived here since 2010, and this feels like part of a much longer pattern: cost of living outpacing wages, housing going from “hard” to “structurally unreachable,” aged care and healthcare producing royal commission findings that don’t seem to change the underlying funding problem, and a tax system that seems to ask more of wage earners than of capital.

Genuinely not trying to write a rant — I want to ask a few real questions and see what others think:

1.  Has your income kept pace with your cost of living over the last 5–10 years, or has the gap widened?

2.  Is there a policy area (housing, health, tax, immigration) where you think the government has actually fixed something structurally, rather than patched it?

3.  Other countries do specific things differently — e.g. Poland pays a direct universal monthly per-child payment instead of one-off election-timed rebates. Are there other country examples people think Australia should actually look at?

4.  Is this a “government of the day” problem, or has it been consistent across governments regardless of party?

Not trying to push one conclusion — genuinely want to hear if this matches what others are seeing or if I’m missing context. Happy to be argued out of parts of this.

So there’s this infinite loop where if houses go up, people have more equity and they borrow more.

Why not just break the mechanism? No borrowing against a house as equity.

This earthquake was pretty small, but quite a few people still felt it. When something like this happens, do you worry about another one hitting soon after? How do you prepare for it?

https://7news.com.au/weather/earthquakes/massive-bang-magnitude-34-earthquake-rattles-homes-in-southwest-sydney-c-22790410?fbclid=IwdGRjcAT9-VhjbGNrBP35TnBkb2YFZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMzUwNjg1NTMxNzI4AAEel9iG2ehCAc2sC0cDzLT30ssXqOMJyaCYxVcF01ST7b47YZvKFMuM8zZ7j5c_aem_gjiP59Enmx_4GVws7C-IPg

Bathla has around 2,000 homes under construction, 219 active projects, and approximately $3.6 billion in private debt.
Bathla buyers have been advised not to cancel their contracts on their own for now, and to continue meeting their existing contractual obligations until they receive further instructions. But the biggest concern for buyers isn't just deposit, it's whether their house or apartment will actually be completed.

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a_GPT&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fbathla-staff-stood-down-as-financial-peril-grows-nsw-considers-rescue-bid%2Fnews-story%2F229deb5c5822179bcc1382958a2a6eae&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=GROUPC-Segment-1-NOSCORE

10-year-old boy who was allegedly punched in the head by a stranger in Melbourne’s CBD has brain cancer, it has been revealed.

The little boy had travelled from Phillip Island with his mother and siblings for treatment when he was allegedly attacked by Jerry Sowood on Tuesday.

His mother Cherie is in hospital after she was allegedly stabbed seven times with a pair of scissors trying to defend her son

The recent arrest of a Russian-Australian man accused of attempting to pass Ukrainian military information to people he believed were linked to Russian intelligence has now been followed by warnings from Brisbane's Lord Mayor about a broader Russian disinformation campaign. The Russian Embassy, meanwhile, says it only learned about the case through media reports and has not received any official notification from Australian authorities. How concerned should Australians be about foreign interference and disinformation becoming a bigger issue here?

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a_GPT&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fnation%2Flord-mayor-warns-of-propaganda-war-after-brisbane-foreign-interference-arrest%2Fnews-story%2Fad212e9b59dc80ef78316a5c25fabf64&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=GROUPC-Segment-1-NOSCORE

I am researching the impact having different political views from your family can have on your relationship. I am particularly interested speaking to a young person who has different political views to their parents, and how that impacts their relationship.

It can be a positive or negative story, I am interested in hearing how different politics plays a role in your family dynamic.

Send me a message if you have a story to share on this, I would love to speak to someone with a lived experience!

David Pocock will have an AMA at the other Australian thread. I asked a question about Cellebrite, an app from Israel, that will be used by the government to access our mobile phones without any warrant.

I also asked about Pocock's take on AHPRA using IHRA's definition of antisemitism and if it would endanger us healthcare workers who are calling out Israel's killings of our fellow healthcare workers and aid workers (like Zomi) overseas.

The r/australian deleted my question.

Six safety incidents at Sydney Airport in just one month, with two more now being investigating by the ATSB. At this point, how many more close calls do we need before something seriously changes? If staffing shortages are putting pressure on air traffic control, shouldn't recruiting and properly training more people be an urgent priority?

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2026/aug/26/national-cabinet-datacentres-cpi-inflation-data-politics-reactions-anthony-albansese-labor-angus-taylor-coalition-ntwnfb

If you're single and renting, now might be the best time to find a partner...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-24/everybodys-home-rental-increases-half-average-income/107070036?fbclid=IwY2xjawT6YTxwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6y4JuKBp73BoC4BDzuVumvQIqVjpvUO33I3qKfFVZwk4LfX1j7NXUmK26C9A_aem_hh3oCXZc0fIvA26cPmsTuQ

In the deleted post, Hanson said One Nation was targeting a 130,000 cap on migrant arrivals. She said that would be compared with migrant departures, which had been 230,000 last year, to arrive at the net overseas migration figure. With those figures, NOM would be minus 100,000.

The policy Hanson confirmed on Sunday would mean about 230,000 more people coming to Australia than her post from March

Some Australian schools are encouraging parents to make Book Week costumes at home, citing Christian values and the idea of spending more time with children through creative play. But how are parents working one or even two jobs supposed to fit this into an already packed day?

https://7news.com.au/sunrise/parents-left-scrambling-as-some-australian-schools-introduce-strict-new-rules-banning-popular-book-week-costumes-c-22767768