2011 Census - Anyone ever been a collector?

[Floweryfields]

Just wondering whether it would be something you could do while working another job - ie after work and on weekends?
And if it is financially worth it?
Thanks in advance.

[Trillian]

I was a reserve collector for the last census - which meant I filled in if someone was sick or unable to do their collection etc. it would be - afterall most people would be out during the day anyway so it would be best to catch them at night. But during our training they didn't recommend going at night. Weekends would be fine though. The money depends on the size of the area you collect from. Larger areas get more money and it can be worth several thousand dollars to you if you have a large one. I imagine city ones would all be pretty similar in terms of size though, but where I am the areas could be really large. I would do it again only I don't have the time this year.

[Razzberry]

I was looking at doing this, as I saw an advert in the paper today. I was worried about going round at night cause would'nt be very safe! How many hours approx do you work Trillian?

[Trillian]

The hours vary depending on the size of your area, but there is work you have to do at home in writing all of it down and accounting for all the forms. In my area, because it was rural, most of the time was spent driving to get from house to house.

[AnyDream]

It's a much better pay rate than it has been in the past, for the first time they are paying per hour and not a set amount per number of dwellings collected. I know a few people who have worked on it in the past and they all said it was great. I believe some collectors do it parttime alongside their normal job.

[beansbeans!]

I applied to do this this time round. I really hope I get a job with it. Would be nice to have mine own 'job' and to be walking at the same time!

I heard its about $18/hr. Well I think thats what the news said the other night

[feeb]

Oh where is that advert??
Could you do it while walking with kids in a pram??

[beansbeans!]

They did a story on it, I think on monday on the news about them wanting people for it. They said you need a lockable car, but I am assuming that it would be like catalogue people, who drive to an area then do that block or section and so on. Well that how we did it years ago.

[AnyDream]

More information here.

[~Hestia~]

I saw an ad for this too, am considering doing it. Only thing stopping me is having to go with Moo.

[feeb]

Thanks very much!!!

[Amity]

My Dad does it every time. He says it's great fun. He walks around our local area to do it - he lost about 5kgs last time due to the extra exercise!

[HotI]

Anybody else get an interview? I had mine this arvo.

[Floweryfields]

Really? Nope I've not heard a thing....

[mooks]

I just received a call to ask if I could attend a face to face interview. I haven't had a phone interview yet though. Do they often bypass that?? Any ideas/hints on what I should expect at the interview?? I have been a SAHM for 7 years now and toddler conversation 24/7 isn't terribly stimulating to the mind... I hope I don't make a complete fool of myself...

[Cally]

I did it in 2001. I was working fulltime, but living at home and no kids, not married etc. I would go around in the evenings and also weekends. I had part of the suburb next to where I was in Canberra, a reasonably well off area so almost needed to do it at night time to try and catch people otherwise they were at work. I remember that it was pretty full on, especially the pickups as you had to try 3 times before giving up. I understand that you can do it electronically this year so that would make it a lot easier for the pickups. For the last round of pickups my dad drove me between the houses as they were pretty spaced out so that helped. Night pickups were also hard though as elderly people would not answer the door - I could hear the TV going, lights would be on and they just wouldn't answer!

I couldn't see a problem doing it with little ones, unless you had somewhere with lots of apartments so stairs to deal with. A lot depends on the area you get, they try to put you near your residence, but not your immediate area.

2001 I made about $1600 for my area. I remember at the time that I made a similar amount at my fulltime job just by using my personal car and being reimbursed for mileage and it was a heck of a lot easier (and warmer - August nighttimes in Canberra are not pleasant!!)

[HotI]

I just received a call to ask if I could attend a face to face interview. I haven't had a phone interview yet though. Do they often bypass that?? Any ideas/hints on what I should expect at the interview?? I have been a SAHM for 7 years now and toddler conversation 24/7 isn't terribly stimulating to the mind... I hope I don't make a complete fool of myself...

My interview was pretty quick and simple. They went through the criteria (drivers license, lockable car, somewhere at home to keep the papers....), i had to identify on the map where my street and house was (to show you can read maps), asked what admin/organisation experience i had. i think that was it. good luck!!

[Floweryfields]

Really? Nope I've not heard a thing....

Heard from our area coordinator who I know well (the beauty of a small town), there is only me and 1 other person registered for here so far, so I am guaranteed, probably won't have to have an interview either as he knows me already!