Activity 1: Exploring Multiple Perspectives

 

I asked two individuals about the topic of homeownership and the future of work, and this was their response and my reflections on it.

 

Person 1: Uncle (Sales Head )

 

Homeownership:

 

 • He thinks that having a home is necessary for lifelong financial security but believes that the traditional ‘Australian Dream’ no longer fits the contemporary economic reality.

 

 • He would welcome alternatives to buying such as long-term rental or co-housing options to reduce debt and give himself financial options he clearly wishes he’d had before – ‘at the least I’d have had a mortgage!’

 

Jobs of the Future:

 

 • He thinks automation is a disruptor but also an opportunity. He feels safe in his job as sales head: ‘My skillset is not going to be automated away.’ However, he stresses that he needs to keep learning and adapting.

 

 • He will future-proof his career by keeping up with technology, taking professional development courses, and networking with other professionals in the field.

 

 

Person 2: Aunt (Cyber Security Manager)

 

Homeownership:

 

 •  She follows the housing market closely and considers homeownership part of her personal and financial security, but worries about rising costs and young people’s struggle to get into the market.

 

 •  She is determined to save for a home, and is looking at buying property outside of the capital and big cities where property prices are cheaper. She is also keen to downsize when the time comes to ease the financial pressure.

 

Jobs of the Future:

 

 •  As far as she’s concerned, being  in cyber security is advantage, a field she expects to grow as digital security becomes more important. But she also knows that she needs to keep learning as threats evolve.

 

 •  She prepares by focusing on gaining skills in the latest cyber-security products, engaging in continuing professional development, and considering career shifts within the tech sector.

 

Reflections

1. Connections Between the Two Issues:

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Both issues are about the need to adapt ahead of time; just as the housing market needs new ways of finding and maintaining stability and security, the job market requires lifelong learning and upskilling to stay relevant.

Changes in the affordability of homeownership, as well as fluctuations in the housing market, echo many of the same worries we have about technological advancement and automation in the job market.

 

2. Changes in My View:

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  I was initially inclined to suggest that the aspiration of owning a home had become less important, but after we discussed it, I realise that for many it’s still a major goal, though the way to get there is often changing.

  My perspective on the future of work has become more nuanced. I’ve come to recognise the larger forces at play on the job market, as well as the significance of retraining, learning, and creating our own opportunities throughout our lives. My conversations with others confirmed the need to be adaptable and proactive.