Latest news with #Wilding
9 News
6 days ago
- Business
- 9 News
'A drop in the ocean': HECS debt relief welcomed but some say it won't go far enough
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Young Australians say they are still facing decades of repayments for their student loans, despite Labor introducing a bill to slash HECS debts by 20 percent. Education Minister Jason Clare tabled the bill on Wednesday as the re-elected Albanese government's first act in parliament. Clare said the legislation would cut the debt of three million Australians, with the average HECS debt of $27,600 being reduced by around $5500. Julia Wilding says she will still be saddled with an enormous debt, even after a 20 percent reduction. (Supplied: Julia Wilding) The reform will also raise the minimum amount before people have to start making HECS repayments from $54,435 to $67,000 and reduce minimum repayments. "This is a big deal for three million Australians, in particular, a lot of young Australians," Clare said. "Just out of uni, just getting started, this will take a weight off their back." Western Australian Julia Wilding graduated from six years of study to become an optometrist in 2023. The 25-year-old was left with a HECS debt of $130,000, and also paid $34,000 for her final six months of study upfront as she had reached the cap on the amount she could borrow from the government. Wilding said while she welcomed the $26,000 reduction in her HECS debt, it still felt like "a drop in the ocean". Wilding calculated it would take her about 30 years to pay off her HECS debt, and that was before the annual indexation applied to her loan was taken into account. "At this rate, I'll still probably be in my 50s when I finally pay it off - and I was 17 when I started uni. It's quite depressing." Wilding said she loved her job and did not regret going to university to study in her chosen field, however, the cost of her education was onerous. "The financial road is very difficult. When I think about it, it's just such an inordinate amount of money, that you just have to laugh about it sometimes," she said. Sydney woman Katie, who asked for her surname to be withheld, has a HECS debt of around $110,000 after graduating with three degrees - one in the arts, another in classical music and a third in publishing. She now works in the not-for-profit sector and estimates that she will be in her 80s by the time she pays off her HECS debt, assuming she continues to work full-time. "I appreciate any reductions," Katie said. "However, I do think that all HECS debts should be erased. It's a little bit difficult to take seriously the argument for not doing that when most of the people making those arguments got their education for free, but any relief is good relief." Students are seen walking through the Sydney University's campus. (Flavio Brancaleone) Katie said there were a number of ways the government could make things easier for students struggling with growing HECS debts, including bringing back government co-payments for voluntary contributions, or making extra contributions tax deductible. A common complaint of the current HECS system is its yearly indexation schedule. While HECS repayments are taken out of a person's salary throughout the year, these payments are kept aside by the ATO and not deducted from the total amount owing until after indexation is applied on June 1. Katie said this process seemed particularly unfair and should be changed. "They take your money out of our paycheck each pay cycle, but they don't actually pay it off until they've added the indexation, which kind of feels a bit like a slap in the face." It's a call echoed by Senator David Pocock, who told parliament he wanted to see the date of indexation altered. "It is outrageous that people with HECS debts are being charged indexation, effectively interest, on money they've already repaid to the ATO," he says. Pocock said the federal government needed to "stop going for the headline" and "embrace hard reform" when came to higher education. A wide-ranging review of the entire university system, called the Universities Accord, was commissioned by the federal government, and its findings were released in February, 2024. Clare said the government had already taken steps to address some of the recommendations included in the report, including introducing payments for students completing practical work placements as part of their studies. "There's a lot of work to do to make our higher education system better and fairer," Clare said, adding the next move would be to look at changing the funding system to be more "needs-based" and follow individual students, a reform which would benefit disadvantaged backgrounds and students from regional Australia. education university national Australia federal politics CONTACT US Auto news: Why Australians are still driving around without insurance.
CNBC
02-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Americans are struggling with layoff anxiety: It's causing workers to 'burn out faster,' experts say
In the wake of high-profile layoffs, many workers are feeling anxious about job security. U.S. employers reported nearly 700,000 job cuts in the first five months of 2025, according to outplacement services firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas, an 80% increase compared to job cuts in the first five months of 2024. It's little wonder, then, that 46% of Americans report feeling "concerned" about layoffs in the next year, according to a recent Indeed survey. The fear of losing your job can be all-consuming, affecting everything from your productivity to your personal relationships. According to executive coach and licensed social worker Melody Wilding, layoff anxiety can create a "vicious cycle" of overwork for employees. Concern for their jobs is "causing people to work much more, maybe in areas that are not productive, and burn out faster," she says. Below, experts share tips to keep layoff anxiety from affecting your well-being, both at work and at home. Layoff anxiety can make it difficult to stay focused, even on tasks you usually handle with ease, Wilding says. "It's always in the back of your head, so you're not really bringing your best to anything you're doing," she says. "There's just a hum of anxiety in the background." According to career and leadership coach Phoebe Gavin, constantly thinking or talking about your job is another red flag. "If it's something that is just popping into your mind, even at unrelated times, and you're having a hard time distracting yourself or redirecting yourself from that thought, that is definitely a telltale sign that you should probably do something about that anxiety," she says. On a larger scale, layoff anxiety can create a negative environment at work. According to Wilding, when people are on edge, they're more likely to be "reactive and maybe even defensive or snippy" with their co-workers, which creates an atmosphere of "tension and fear." Equally, Gavin says, it can strain your personal relationships: if you're constantly "stress venting" to your loved ones about your job concerns, you run the risk of overexerting your support system. "Anxiety from any place in your life is going to seep into the rest of your life," she says. For many of Gavin's clients, the hardest part of layoff anxiety is "feeling like you have absolutely no control over the situation." While anxiety may feel "paralyzing," coming up with a clear action plan can give you a greater sense of stability, she says. "When my clients are catastrophizing about this sort of thing, I always ask them, 'what would you do? I know you would bad, but what would you ?'" she says. "Often we're able to come up with a list of actions that we can take." If you have a good relationship with your supervisor, Gavin recommends having an honest conversation about the prospect of layoffs, as well as doing some industry research on your own time. Even if you do get laid off, Wilding says, "it usually isn't as catastrophic as we make it" in our minds. You may have to tighten your budget and put more energy into job searching, but being laid off doesn't mean that your career is over. Wilding suggests sprucing up your resume and reconnecting with your professional network so that you're ready to hit the job market if necessary. "It can give you a feeling of agency and control that should something bad happen, at least I'm ready to go," she says.
Sydney Morning Herald
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Could this be the new world's best business class? A resounding yes
The seat Standing ovation, gold medal, this cloud-like flat bed with quilted topper and fluffy 400-thread-count duvet is a sky cocoon. There are 45 Aria Suites in a 1-2-1, herringbone pattern divided between a forward and rear cabin and three dedicated bathrooms. The seats themselves are 21 inches (53.3 centimetres) wide, with a pitch of 43 inches (109.2 centimetres), and 75 inches (190.5 centimetres) long when flat. Every whisker of space is working hard; an armrest flattens, widening the bed at the shoulder, the foot well accommodates knees-bent side sleepers, and a shoulder-high sliding door provides privacy. Leather-clad headrests and oyster hues add to the premium hotel feel. Entertainment + tech Woah, now that's a screen, 24 inches (60.96 centimetres) of 4K ultra-high-definition awesomeness. There's even a dedicated 4K movie category and I go into a short-list frenzy, covering all bases with the realistic bloodbath of Gladiator II and more sedate Wilding with phenomenal macro nature images. There's Bluetooth for personal earphones, an in-table phone charger (the USB-A and USB-C charging ports are faster) and I develop a design crush on the innovative inbuilt control panel and screen app for checking lavatory status. Micro details like the light diffuser (but why no spot lamp for reading?) and the cubby's non-slip pad for potentially sliding items whisper quiet luxury. Service A passing staff member responds to a seat belt adjustment request with 'I'll be right back!' and disappears into the void. I press the call button to un-Japanese the TV language and end up waving at a crew member like I'm hailing a taxi. In the witching hours, I do a second call button test (for a hot chocolate) and a crew member appears within milliseconds – a more accurate depiction of the engaging and professional crew's famous standards. The full cabin of first-time Aria guests unfamiliar with the suites (it's also most of the crew's first Aria flight, one confides, making me immediately empathetic), means initially the five crew are simply run off their feet with questions. Cathay Pacific, do your exceptional staff a favour and add a sixth member until Aria-frenzy settles. Food Food is a highlight – a prawn amuse bouche is followed by a silky zucchini soup with deliciously crunchy croutons and tender braised chicken with mushrooms and bamboo shoots in oyster sauce. Sustainability Cathay Pacific aims for zero carbon emissions by 2050 and has been a pioneer of sustainable aviation fuel, co-initiating the Hong Kong Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition. One more thing The business class galley features artwork, a mindscape by Hong Kong artist Victor Wong (of the Gallery in the Skies program), an unexpected cultural nod. The price Loading Return business class tickets (all business cabins are priced the same, including those with Aria Suites) from London to Sydney via Hong Kong are from $9700 The verdict Could this be the best business class in the skies? A resounding yes. Famed for its design savvy legacy, Cathay has knocked the ball out of the stratosphere with thoughtful technology and style, deservedly the winner of best new business class at TheDesignAir Awards. The last airline to sport such innovation was the Finnair business seat, but the bonuses of privacy doors and exemplary staff in the air and in the stellar lounges make Cathay Pacific the one to beat.
The Age
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Could this be the new world's best business class? A resounding yes
The seat Standing ovation, gold medal, this cloud-like flat bed with quilted topper and fluffy 400-thread-count duvet is a sky cocoon. There are 45 Aria Suites in a 1-2-1, herringbone pattern divided between a forward and rear cabin and three dedicated bathrooms. The seats themselves are 21 inches (53.3 centimetres) wide, with a pitch of 43 inches (109.2 centimetres), and 75 inches (190.5 centimetres) long when flat. Every whisker of space is working hard; an armrest flattens, widening the bed at the shoulder, the foot well accommodates knees-bent side sleepers, and a shoulder-high sliding door provides privacy. Leather-clad headrests and oyster hues add to the premium hotel feel. Entertainment + tech Woah, now that's a screen, 24 inches (60.96 centimetres) of 4K ultra-high-definition awesomeness. There's even a dedicated 4K movie category and I go into a short-list frenzy, covering all bases with the realistic bloodbath of Gladiator II and more sedate Wilding with phenomenal macro nature images. There's Bluetooth for personal earphones, an in-table phone charger (the USB-A and USB-C charging ports are faster) and I develop a design crush on the innovative inbuilt control panel and screen app for checking lavatory status. Micro details like the light diffuser (but why no spot lamp for reading?) and the cubby's non-slip pad for potentially sliding items whisper quiet luxury. Service A passing staff member responds to a seat belt adjustment request with 'I'll be right back!' and disappears into the void. I press the call button to un-Japanese the TV language and end up waving at a crew member like I'm hailing a taxi. In the witching hours, I do a second call button test (for a hot chocolate) and a crew member appears within milliseconds – a more accurate depiction of the engaging and professional crew's famous standards. The full cabin of first-time Aria guests unfamiliar with the suites (it's also most of the crew's first Aria flight, one confides, making me immediately empathetic), means initially the five crew are simply run off their feet with questions. Cathay Pacific, do your exceptional staff a favour and add a sixth member until Aria-frenzy settles. Food Food is a highlight – a prawn amuse bouche is followed by a silky zucchini soup with deliciously crunchy croutons and tender braised chicken with mushrooms and bamboo shoots in oyster sauce. Sustainability Cathay Pacific aims for zero carbon emissions by 2050 and has been a pioneer of sustainable aviation fuel, co-initiating the Hong Kong Sustainable Aviation Fuel Coalition. One more thing The business class galley features artwork, a mindscape by Hong Kong artist Victor Wong (of the Gallery in the Skies program), an unexpected cultural nod. The price Loading Return business class tickets (all business cabins are priced the same, including those with Aria Suites) from London to Sydney via Hong Kong are from $9700 The verdict Could this be the best business class in the skies? A resounding yes. Famed for its design savvy legacy, Cathay has knocked the ball out of the stratosphere with thoughtful technology and style, deservedly the winner of best new business class at TheDesignAir Awards. The last airline to sport such innovation was the Finnair business seat, but the bonuses of privacy doors and exemplary staff in the air and in the stellar lounges make Cathay Pacific the one to beat.
Business Insider
27-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
You need a 'resentment audit' to help set healthy boundaries at work, says this executive coach
If you want to improve your ability to set boundaries at work, you should try a "resentment audit." Melody Wilding, an executive coach and author of "Managing Up: How to Get What You Need from the People in Charge, told Business Insider that feeling resentment in the workplace is a "good emotional signal that you've let something go on for too long." A resentment audit is figuring out what areas you feel you're carrying all the burden, Wilding said. Your emotions can be a good indicator in these situations, she said. "It's like being the consummate gold-star student in the group project in school who's the only one carrying everybody else's weight," she said. "That is a good sign that you need to reset some of those dynamics." Starting is the hardest part Setting that first boundary, though, can be tricky, especially in a time of layoffs and restructurings. Wilding has had clients who told her they thought they were doing the right thing by working overtime and handling dozens of projects outside their job requirements — only to be told at their performance review they were struggling to balance all their commitments. One client described themselves as "the spray foam" filling in "all the cracks for everyone else" around them. "We may think we're doing the right thing, but in actuality it can create this perception that we don't know how to manage our time, that we are not leadership material," Wilding said. "And that's the ultimate punch in the gut." Rather than moving up, people get stuck because so many others in the company are overly dependent on them, she said. "Of course it leads to more resentment, it leads to burnout, exhaustion, and it becomes this vicious cycle." Do it for your future self The feeling of someone pushing back on our boundaries also runs along the same pathways in the brain as physical pain, Wilding said. "If you are someone who has been overly accommodating for a long time, it's going to feel really uncomfortable to put up boundaries. You're going to feel guilty, you're going to feel as if I'm doing something bad." That's just your brain tricking you, in Wilding's view. When sitting in this discomfort, she recommends asking yourself what your future self will thank you for. "Three months from now, I'm going to be really happy I didn't commit to this three-day retreat with my team, even if I feel a bit bad in the moment," she said. Boundaries lie on a spectrum. Some are rigid, like a fence or a wall with no holes in it — "nothing can get in, but nothing can get out either," Wilding said. On the opposite end are very porous boundaries that have huge gaps allowing anything to get in and out. "Healthy boundaries are right in the middle where we have certain non-negotiables or limits that we want to stand firm on," Wilding said. "But you're willing to be responsive to the moment, to the person, to the situation, and the circumstances of that request." You're not being too accommodating or too uncompromising, and "striking that sort of Goldilocks right in the middle," she said. Boundaries can boost productivity A good first boundary to put in place can be to protect your focus time, Wilding said, "instead of just yet another meeting or yet another check-in." "You can be more specific with your status updates on Slack or Teams to give people an expectation of what you're doing and when you'll be back," she said. "Say, 'I'm heads down in the budget until 2 p.m. and will respond to messages after that'." Frame it in terms of what's in it for them, Wilding added, rather than asking permission. "Going forward, I will be blocking out two hours each week on Friday in order to work on this project that I know is important to our Q3 goals," Wilding suggested. "Set them in the affirmative, so basically say what you can do, versus what you won't do." There's a good business case for a culture where boundaries are celebrated, because when people are focused on the right things, that leads to higher quality output, Wilding said. People aren't burning out or going on medical leave so much. "You're going to get higher productivity out of them, and they're more likely to stay longer, they're more likely to talk positively about the company," Wilding said. "It creates this virtuous cycle rather than a vicious cycle."
