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.
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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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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
Oh where is that advert??
Could you do it while walking with kids in a pram??
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.
More information here.
I saw an ad for this too, am considering doing it. Only thing stopping me is having to go with Moo.
Thanks very much!!!
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!
Anybody else get an interview? I had mine this arvo.
Really? Nope I've not heard a thing....
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...
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!!)
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!!:
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!:
So I got a phone call last week for an interview and the interview is tomorrow..
Im actually nervous about it, I havent had an interview in years and Im not sure exactly how to prepare for it. I mean the man who rang who was very elderly by the sound of it and that has actually thrown me off a little, strangely enough!
can someone give7 me some encouragement please? Im a little flustered!
Beans, the friend I have who is the area coordinator said the interview is nothing to be worried about. You need to be able to prove that you have a car, licence and are a responsible person and in his word 'not an idiot' - so have some basic ability to use your brain!
You'll be fine!
thanks ausgirl!
The word interview always brings on the nerves... Also not so sure I can have an adult conversation after 3.5yrs at home with kids! But Im determined to do a great job. I am in need of doing something for myself! And hopefully this is it! :D
Just an update on how I went. The interview went really good, and I walked out of there pretty happy with the way it went. That was tuesday...
Then this afternoon the interviewer rang me to tell me that I got one of the positions!!!
So very happy, I havent worked since DD1 was born so I was lacking a fair bit of confidence.. But now Im thinking I may just have what it takes to get back out there!!!
:dance: Very happy tonight!!
Yay! great news.
Thank you :):
They do a reasonable amount of training before you start to make sure you are totally clear on what you have to do. If it is the same as when I did it, the video you watch is awesome ;) very very staged and cheesy, but after watching it you do feel like you can do it easy enough.
Way to go beans!
Thanks ausgirl, your help dfefinately came in handy, thank you!
Now that sounds like something to look forward to Trillian!! :D
Yay! i got a collector position too. i was a reserve collector last time so got to see the cheesy videos :lol: but this time i will be a proper collector.
money will come in handy to pay for my midwife :dance:
Woo Hoo!! Congrats!!
Im actually really looking forward to it, training and all!! I suppose thats what happens when you're out of the workforce for so long! :lol:
I am doing it too for the first time - we have a training session on 9th July and I am looking forward to it. Have my area but not my contract amount.
Congrats to all the new census collectors! I believe the abs is still looking for collectors in some areas so if anyone is reading this who is interested but thinks they got in too late, it might be worth a phone call, esp in regional areas.
I also applied & had the interview, he called yesterday to say they will send me the paperwork to fill in. DH is going to be a reserve collector. Hope it goes ok, and I don't get any psycho's who kill me to eat my liver (a-la silence of the lambs)...
:lol: Yael I don't think there have been any psychos in the entire 100 years the census has run
I got a spot as reserve collector. I will do the training and everything, then step in if i'm needed in my area or neighbouring areas :)
How is everyone doing? I had my training last Saturday, and have started my Workload Review. I drove 60km when checking out my area!
Trying to organise baby sitters so i work out when i will do my main deliveries. DH works shift work and unfortuantely has a heap of weekend work coming up. I was hoping to do most of mine during daylight hours but might have to do some night work as well.
I had my training last monday, first time I had ever spent so much time away from the girls in their lives so that was interesting.
Im still trying to work out my area, The map I have been given isnt exactly correct, which is really frustrating!
Im also trying to work out babysitters and when the best times are going to be to do this.
I have 430 deliveries, and the supervisor wants half od that done from fri 29th to the sunday, so 3 days to deliver 200 odd and DH is working all three days.
Yeah, my supervisor said they want half of all done the first weekend too. It took me 3 hours to drive around the route, without getting out of the car! Will be interesting to see how long it takes.
I know my area quite well, but i still keep finding things on the map that i hadn't seen on previous times that i looked at the map. My area is rural so some places i am trying to work out if there is a house on the property now, so i don't waste time if there is no one living there (just paddocks).
you know where I am if you need me :):
Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!
thanks mate, i don't want to wear you out!:
just saw this - I have been a collector previously - were there still any Qs about it?
the money was worthwhile, it was reasonably easy work - lots of walking etc, but nothing strenuous.
no major issues, except for one lady who appeared to have dementia and was quite upset because she'd locked herself in her house and couldn't remember how to get out (we got it sorted out, with a neighbour, my manager and the police eventually I think) and then a few other places where there were very lonely older people who wanted me to come in and have tea and biscuits. I was only 19 or 20 at the time and reasonably small, so wasn't comfortable going into people's houses, though I did feel bad when they looked so disappointed and lonely :cry:
made me vow to spend more time with my grandparents and great-uncles and aunties!
but it was good.