I'm going to have a look into the crystal ball here and think about what I might be future career might be like based on demand and supply (me). I'll have a look on the supply side first, ie me. I have an undergraduate degree in Resource Economics and a Masters in Health Services Management. I now have 6-years post graduate work experience in the health, government and NGO sectors, one of which was in SE Asia. I don't envisage myself doing a PhD, but may consider doing another university degree or further study with my professional college if I can see a demand for this. I enjoy working both in health, and am willing to work in the government, NGO and private sector. I have the potential to use my skills in economics more.
Now I'll consider the demand side. I will stay in the health sector because it is growing sector where work will be available. Plus I like working with people, I know it well enough now and know the people. Aged care will increase in the future, and maybe when it gets to a stage where it's big enough to hire more support/ corporate people that's when I might work - 15 years maybe? I think people will demand more information, eg from websites and the ability to write well will be important. Communicating this way still has a lot of potential for productivity eg admissions and discharge information, where people can log in and view their health information. I may be directing this in future.
I think as Australia becomes more populous and even wealthier, people will demand more health care, medical and surgical procedures like in the United States. This may not be my favourite thing to do, but would enjoy doing this temporarily. There is a chance that as developing countries become wealthier, they may need some advice from overseas, which I might be able to provide. The more populous the country, I'm not sure whether we'll have the issues of drugs and crime maybe related to social disconnection. I hope not, so I predict I won't be working for decades on end in this sector. I think with the communication and organisation tools available on the internet that assist with productivity, it is important to keep up. Otherwise it would be very possible to be unproductive compared with your younger colleagues.
The conclusion? So I suppose my future career is likely working in a support role in aged care or hospitals. Probably more likely to be in the private sector than ever. Now what should I do? I need to work on using those electronic tools that assist with productivity and discovering new ones, and keep my communication and information management skills up-to-date with the times. I'm learning to micro blog at the moment. It's probably good to keep up-to-date with politics. I think the way we use internet that there may be a general drop in the level of people skills and therefore more valued. I'd better keep those up too. I would like to become an expert at all of this and become a consultant toward the end of my career, hopefully with friends/ peers who I enjoy working with in the industry.
I'll have to look back at this for years to come to see how much of this is right or wrong.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
More money, more what?
I have had some significant changes in income levels, and thinking take a look into what's changed in my life. Travel, accommodation, social activities, goods and services - what has changed? When I graduated and started full time work, I got a whole lot more money. I lived in Laos for a year, and my purchasing power increased. When I came back home, having had some work experience by income went up again. I don't get paid huge dollars as I've now mostly worked in NGOs, but live very comfortably and don't really need more money to keep up my current lifestyle. I'd be quite happy to keep the lifestyle I have with the same incomae.
My overseas travel, I think, has remained quite similar to when I was a student. I still backpack when I go overseas, but now I have less time I pay for Intrepid tours to help me get from place to place. I still choose Asia as a destination because I love it and it's cheap. As long as I don't have a desire to go to Europe or the US, I'll be fine. I have been able to afford more weekends away and short trips within Australia, booking hotels at Wotif.com when I go for about $100 a room, this has probably been quite a significant improvement to my lifestyle come to think of it.
Accommodation-wise, I still pay the same rent as I first did when I moved out of home, marginally more. In Laos I paid little rent, and this allowed me to have a lot more disposable income. I think this is still a good money saving strategy. Life would be very different if I had to pay off a property, hence I'm not very keen to buy one. It wouldn't suit my current flexible lifestyle, and am not convinced it would make me happier.
As for social activities, I think an increase in income has made a bit of a difference. Mostly theatre, comedy, and eating out, probably drinking more. It probably doesn't make me hugely happier, but I think my life is more interesting. Maybe I can consider doing more free stuff - I think I'd be equally happy most of the time.
I do think I have nicer clothes as a result of more income, and probably better quality stuff. I think this makes my life better. Paying for evening colleges, and sport I would have always managed to budget for, but having more money makes this a bit more manageable, and I have played more sport as my income has gone up. Massages have been a major luxury with more money, an addiction I picked up in Laos. I probably have one every month or two, and this is sensitive to income levels. With more money I would have even more.
So coming down to it, it seems my increase in income has been spent on more weekends away, with a few more social activities and better quality clothes and other goods. I'm very happy with my lifestyle and income level right now, I think my life's still pretty simple, and I think with more money I'd have more problems. With more money I'd probably start to pay for services such as cleaning and laundry, and probably more weekends away still.
My overseas travel, I think, has remained quite similar to when I was a student. I still backpack when I go overseas, but now I have less time I pay for Intrepid tours to help me get from place to place. I still choose Asia as a destination because I love it and it's cheap. As long as I don't have a desire to go to Europe or the US, I'll be fine. I have been able to afford more weekends away and short trips within Australia, booking hotels at Wotif.com when I go for about $100 a room, this has probably been quite a significant improvement to my lifestyle come to think of it.
Accommodation-wise, I still pay the same rent as I first did when I moved out of home, marginally more. In Laos I paid little rent, and this allowed me to have a lot more disposable income. I think this is still a good money saving strategy. Life would be very different if I had to pay off a property, hence I'm not very keen to buy one. It wouldn't suit my current flexible lifestyle, and am not convinced it would make me happier.
As for social activities, I think an increase in income has made a bit of a difference. Mostly theatre, comedy, and eating out, probably drinking more. It probably doesn't make me hugely happier, but I think my life is more interesting. Maybe I can consider doing more free stuff - I think I'd be equally happy most of the time.
I do think I have nicer clothes as a result of more income, and probably better quality stuff. I think this makes my life better. Paying for evening colleges, and sport I would have always managed to budget for, but having more money makes this a bit more manageable, and I have played more sport as my income has gone up. Massages have been a major luxury with more money, an addiction I picked up in Laos. I probably have one every month or two, and this is sensitive to income levels. With more money I would have even more.
So coming down to it, it seems my increase in income has been spent on more weekends away, with a few more social activities and better quality clothes and other goods. I'm very happy with my lifestyle and income level right now, I think my life's still pretty simple, and I think with more money I'd have more problems. With more money I'd probably start to pay for services such as cleaning and laundry, and probably more weekends away still.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Falls Festival
Myself and 5 friends drove from Sydney to Lorne on Australia's Great Ocean Road to bring in the new year over a 3-day music festival. I was thinking that this would be the last party before people get married, hit 30 and have children.
I had a surprisingly relaxing time and managed to take a yoga class. I enjoyed listening to music whilst lying and napping on the hill in the sun. I enjoyed the big acts: The Living End, Public Enemy and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Some other acts I liked: Jezabels, The Beautiful Girls, Ash Grunwald. I did go for the variety and enjoyed the other music, but it wasn't so memorable for me. Peaches DJ show was pretty funny though. I found myself the last person standing that night dancing to her music.
The camping situation was quite incredible. There were 16,000 people camping on site. cars were parked in rows next to each other and tents behind the cars. The loos and showers weren't too bad too. The crowd was the best I'd experienced, there was no pushing at all, which I have not experienced. I didn't feel too old like I think my friends did, I think it's about attitude. We were older, but I was okay with that. Everyone seemed to be wearing denim cut-off shorts, ankle boots, ray bans and a loose fitting singlets with huge arm holes.
I liked the surroundings, it was a farm with some forest. One night I went to bed with my gloves, beanie and thermal on. I woke up that morning really hot, and that day high a 39 degree high. We went to the beach at Lorne, it was a truly beautiful day at the beach with hot, dry heat, cool waters and blue skys.
Looking forward to going for another camping trip and listening to more music. It really is good to spend time with friends while on holidays.
I had a surprisingly relaxing time and managed to take a yoga class. I enjoyed listening to music whilst lying and napping on the hill in the sun. I enjoyed the big acts: The Living End, Public Enemy and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Some other acts I liked: Jezabels, The Beautiful Girls, Ash Grunwald. I did go for the variety and enjoyed the other music, but it wasn't so memorable for me. Peaches DJ show was pretty funny though. I found myself the last person standing that night dancing to her music.
The camping situation was quite incredible. There were 16,000 people camping on site. cars were parked in rows next to each other and tents behind the cars. The loos and showers weren't too bad too. The crowd was the best I'd experienced, there was no pushing at all, which I have not experienced. I didn't feel too old like I think my friends did, I think it's about attitude. We were older, but I was okay with that. Everyone seemed to be wearing denim cut-off shorts, ankle boots, ray bans and a loose fitting singlets with huge arm holes.
I liked the surroundings, it was a farm with some forest. One night I went to bed with my gloves, beanie and thermal on. I woke up that morning really hot, and that day high a 39 degree high. We went to the beach at Lorne, it was a truly beautiful day at the beach with hot, dry heat, cool waters and blue skys.
Looking forward to going for another camping trip and listening to more music. It really is good to spend time with friends while on holidays.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Lessons from Laos
Who said spending a year overseas is a waste of time and money? I volunteered for a year overseas in Laos, am thankful for the experience and the Lao people for helping me learn some things now part of me!
Passing on information
In Laos I discovered my inner Asian, dedicating more time than I usually would to chatting, eating together with people and laughing. I had read an article about how ethic people in the workplace form interdepartmental networks more than non-ethnics. I’m ethic, and a woman, so I decided I may as well use these strengths and network to the maximum. Whether it be information about jobs, soccer, cycling or shopping, I’ll pass on information and connect people.
Getting to know people
The volunteer program advised spending at least a month doing nothing else but get to know people. I really saw the value in doing this, and have invested time to do this in subsequent jobs. It does make the working environment happier, and more productive I if people do. And I do.
Subtle negotiation
I used by best leadership skill to support people do things for themselves. The Dutch were pure about the development work they do, they advise but not implement. I adopted some of this mentality.
Spending a little cash for work
We had a very small budget to spend for little things to make our life more comfortable. I have adopted the same thing for my life here. I allocate $100 or so to make life better at work, and it's gone a long way. The cherries, blueberries and strawberries on the two days before last Christmas made people happy. Well, it certainly made me happy. I've bought lunch for birthdays, gifts from overseas and I really enjoy what I can do with this money to make people happy!
Spend a little time making people feel comfortable
When doing cross-cultural training to prepare for Laos, they told us to spend a couple of months to do not much else but get to know people. This is quite excessive for an Aussie job, but it's worth getting to know people to be productive.
Switching between cultures
This did take a lot of time and I still am working on this, but I do try to be more culturally sensitive and way less offended by behaviours than I used to be. And I used to consider myself a fairly tolerant person. I really didn't realise that so many of our social rules were arbitrary. My parents are from China, and I only think I learnt to be Asian when I lived in Laos. With more and more people working in Australia from overseas, it makes bridging that cultural gap just a bit easier, and get to enjoy people better. But trust me, I have a lot to work on, I have a few friends so good at this I don't compare.
Travelling to other countries
I can live pretty simple and cheap when going overseas, learning to travel a bit more simply in Laos has given me the confidence to do the same in other Asian countries. Fear no food poisoning. I think luck has had something to do with it.
Collectivist culture
I learnt that on the scale of things, Asians are a collectivist culture while we in Australia are an individual culture. I've enjoyed a bit of collectivism. If I don't place my own life right in the centre of my universe as much as I used to, it gives me the perspective that the stuff I do really isn't that significant. That's a relief - life's short, definitely so being atheist, so most stuff isn't really worth worrying about. Plus it allows me to place some more importance on making life better for others, which is good, because human relationships I think are what make us happy.
I've started to work on some things from Laos to work on this year!
Passing on information
In Laos I discovered my inner Asian, dedicating more time than I usually would to chatting, eating together with people and laughing. I had read an article about how ethic people in the workplace form interdepartmental networks more than non-ethnics. I’m ethic, and a woman, so I decided I may as well use these strengths and network to the maximum. Whether it be information about jobs, soccer, cycling or shopping, I’ll pass on information and connect people.
Getting to know people
The volunteer program advised spending at least a month doing nothing else but get to know people. I really saw the value in doing this, and have invested time to do this in subsequent jobs. It does make the working environment happier, and more productive I if people do. And I do.
Subtle negotiation
I used by best leadership skill to support people do things for themselves. The Dutch were pure about the development work they do, they advise but not implement. I adopted some of this mentality.
Spending a little cash for work
We had a very small budget to spend for little things to make our life more comfortable. I have adopted the same thing for my life here. I allocate $100 or so to make life better at work, and it's gone a long way. The cherries, blueberries and strawberries on the two days before last Christmas made people happy. Well, it certainly made me happy. I've bought lunch for birthdays, gifts from overseas and I really enjoy what I can do with this money to make people happy!
Spend a little time making people feel comfortable
When doing cross-cultural training to prepare for Laos, they told us to spend a couple of months to do not much else but get to know people. This is quite excessive for an Aussie job, but it's worth getting to know people to be productive.
Switching between cultures
This did take a lot of time and I still am working on this, but I do try to be more culturally sensitive and way less offended by behaviours than I used to be. And I used to consider myself a fairly tolerant person. I really didn't realise that so many of our social rules were arbitrary. My parents are from China, and I only think I learnt to be Asian when I lived in Laos. With more and more people working in Australia from overseas, it makes bridging that cultural gap just a bit easier, and get to enjoy people better. But trust me, I have a lot to work on, I have a few friends so good at this I don't compare.
Travelling to other countries
I can live pretty simple and cheap when going overseas, learning to travel a bit more simply in Laos has given me the confidence to do the same in other Asian countries. Fear no food poisoning. I think luck has had something to do with it.
Collectivist culture
I learnt that on the scale of things, Asians are a collectivist culture while we in Australia are an individual culture. I've enjoyed a bit of collectivism. If I don't place my own life right in the centre of my universe as much as I used to, it gives me the perspective that the stuff I do really isn't that significant. That's a relief - life's short, definitely so being atheist, so most stuff isn't really worth worrying about. Plus it allows me to place some more importance on making life better for others, which is good, because human relationships I think are what make us happy.
I've started to work on some things from Laos to work on this year!
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