The price of rent in two of Queensland's most sought-after holiday spots has become so high that essential workers are being forced to find multiple jobs to keep a roof over their heads.
A major report has found some essential workers living alone would have to spend 80 per cent of their income on rentA major aged care centre says critical roles are vacant because workers cannot afford to live in the area
On the Gold Coast, it found dispatchers, hospitality workers, and aged care workers on the award would have to spend more than their entire income on rent if they lived alone.St Vincent Care Services runs a major aged care centre in Maroochydore, on the Sunshine Coast, that has 130 residents being looked after by 200 staff.
But Mr Hopper said some staff were asking for fewer hours so they could fit in their second job, or remain as casuals for the higher pay, simply so they could afford their rent."That's because people are working multiple jobs, to try to maximise their income.Mr Hopper said his not-for-profit had considered how federal debate over the award for aged care workers could help would-be staff.
"The Gold Coast is the least affordable city of any that we looked at, it's less affordable than Sydney," she said. "It's no way to live hand-to-mouth for some of these workers who we all really rely on to keep our communities going," she said. Federal Housing Minister Julie Collins said the government's $10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund, if it passes the Senate, would create 30,000 social and affordable homes in the first five years.
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