An Irish backpacker has claimed traffic control work in Australia is actually a ‘scam’ – despite some workers earning as much as $180,000 a year.
The tourist, called Kerry, recently shared a TikTok revealing why she wouldn’t recommend the job to others travelling Down Under.
Kerry said that while she was making a whopping $45 an hour in Sydney, shifts were hard to come by and she also had to spend $600 of her own money on courses and uniform.
‘It’s the biggest scam in Australia for backpackers,’ she said in the video.
‘People are coming to Australia spending hundreds on traffic control courses thinking they’re going to get loads of hours and it’s going to be a full-time stable job.
‘If that’s the case just go work in bar work or hospitality because it’s so much easier.’
Kerry explained to work in a bar, staff only needed to complete their Responsible Service of Alcohol licence, which in NSW costs $124.
She said she worked for two traffic control companies and had to complete a range of courses ‘in the middle of f***ing nowhere’, and then had to buy the uniform.
The main problem was the work was casual, meaning some weeks she didn’t get any shifts at all.
‘I’m like sorry, sir, I actually have to pay rent here, can I have some hours?’ Kerry continued.
Some traffic controllers can earn up to a staggering $180,000 per year
The tourist, known as Kerry, recently shared a TikTok revealing why she wouldn’t recommend traffic control to others travelling Down Under
‘My boss used to text me at like 11pm at night and say ”oh you’re in at 6am”, like can you at least give me 24 hours notice?’
The Irish woman said that even once she secured a shift, the work could be hours away, and her company did not supply a car for her to use.
‘Don’t be rushing over here to be a traffic control worker, it’s nothing like it’s made out to be and it’s f**king boring!’ she said.
Kerry added there was also a danger factor, claiming some cars would speed right past her, nearly hitting her, despite the fact she was holding a stop sign.
The boredom was also unbearable, with Kerry saying in another video she spent 45 minutes watching ants crawl around the ground.
Kerry said that while she was making a whopping $45 an hour in Sydney , shifts were hard to come by and she also had to spend $600 of her own money on courses and uniform
Those working in traffic control jobs who are members of unions seem to fare better, with Kerry saying she knew other women who’d ‘made bank’ at union jobs over five years.
Many others who’d tried their hand in traffic control agreed that it was hard to secure shifts.
‘I agree!! It’s sooo hit and miss- I did it in Darwin and got one full week of work and the rest got 2days sometimes one or non!’ one person commented.
‘Same in WA, most unstable job haven’t had hours for weeks now and sometimes we find out we fly one day before,’ said another.
CFMEU NSW boss Brian Parker said in 2018 some traffic controllers can earn up to a staggering $180,000 per year.
‘They stand outside all day in all sorts of weather and they cop abuse from the public,’ he said at the time.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
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