Entry #1

31/07/24

2 Weeks ago I did my tax return. Without adding any tax deductions, I owed the government $248.00. This was due to my HECS debt that I added up over 4 years of becoming a high school teacher. I faced the same dilemma last tax time and I'll keep facing this for an estimated 15 years at this rate. I don't have the money to make voluntary contributions and pay it off. Nor do I want to. Each fortnight 1 third of my salary is consumed by tax. I work in a unique job that doesn't run on profits. We are running at losses in education. Money can help some aspects of school to thrive, but without the right attitude and approach to being in a school to help young people learn and grow, everything runs at a loss. And oh boy are we losing right now from what I see. 

In the last 12 month I have seen 7 teaching staff I worked close to leave. Since their departure, 4 new staff have come aboard. It often feels like the ship is sinking but is being repaired with tissue paper. I love this job and I worked hard to get this job. I want to continue working hard but that becomes more challenging each month.