Stay-at-Home Jobs in Australia
Working from home is growing increasingly popular as technological advances allow people to be just as productive at home as they might be in an office. In response to these advances, the Australian Government created the Australia Telework Advisory Committee, a group of agencies and small business representatives who advised on the advantages and disadvantages of working from home. Stay-at-home jobs in Australia offer flexible opportunities and a better work/life balance.
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Types
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Stay-at-home jobs include freelance writing, designing and programming, as well as owning your own business or teleworking. Teleworking, also known as telecommuting, is done when company employees work from home rather than from the office. The Brisbane City Council implemented a telecommuting policy in 1997, generally catering to permanent part-time staff or job-shares, that allows employees to work from home. Some Australian travel agencies also provide franchise opportunities for consultants to work from home.
Considerations
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Some stay-at-home job opportunities may seem too good to be true, so research is important before delving into them. For example, mystery shopper advertisements give the impression that you can get paid for shopping. The reality is that you may have to spend up to $10 of your money, document your shopping experience and wait for reimbursement. Additionally, in smaller Australian towns, your identity as a mystery shopper may quickly be unveiled, as staff will begin to recognize you.
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Benefits
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Working from home is particularly appealing to parents, as it allows them to spend more time with their children. Stay-at-home jobs allow for greater flexibility in balancing work and a personal life, allowing workers a higher level of job satisfaction. Further benefits include less transport costs due to eliminating commuting time, as well as reduced costs from purchasing lunches or work clothes.
Warning
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Stay-at-home jobs can also carry a number of disadvantages. Working alone from a home office can lead to isolation and loneliness, as there is less contact with other people. There may also be a lower quality of technology, as inner city offices often experience a better, faster Internet connection. Those living in rural Australia may be particularly affected, as technology services can be expensive or hard to come by. Finally, working at home brings its own series of distractions, whether they be children, household chores or neighbors
Misconceptions
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One myth associated with telecommuting is that managers will not know whether or not their employees are working. According to Telework Australia, most teleworkers produce more and higher quality results than those working from an office, and managers can measure their progress and monitor their work. Working from home is also seen as a solution to childcare for many parents. Although it can create a more flexible schedule, parents who work from home still require childcare, as they are working in their home office and are unable to keep constant watch over their children.
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References
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Ernst Moeksis
