The nature of work has changed and so must our empathy.

I have noticed that the recent debate about whether the amount of Newstart Allowance should increase has centred around how much tougher things were in the past.  This is nothing new.  How many of us grew up hearing stories about how our parents rode a horse with a broken back for three hours through the snow to get to school (or some variation of the theme)?

It is true that welfare rates a few generations ago were less generous.  However, the workplace has changed beyond recognition in that time.

As a student when I was campaigning for a fairer deal for future University students, an elderly man complained to me that, in his day, only rich kids got to go to Uni.  “That’s true,”  I told him.  “However, kids who wanted to be teachers, nurses, engineers and even lawyers didn’t need to go to Uni in your day.”

It always astonishes me when I receive a report from a doctor suggesting that a labourer in Biloela who is no longer capable of lifting could find alternative employment as a parking attendant.  How many parking attendants do you see now even in capital cities?

A neuropsychologist explained to me once that a person suffering from even relatively severe neuropsychological deficits from a head injury or age related dementia could cope in the workforce and living independently more easily a few generations ago.  A person who had difficulty with memory, organisation or concentration could usually manage a routine job with payment in cash.  These days, they may struggle with even the most routine of jobs because, at a minimum, it requires the worker to be able to use an ATM or Internet banking to manage their money.

Work has well known benefits for all of us – psychologically, socially and financially.  Of course it is always better to have any job than none at all.  However, we need to take a reality check about the genuine challenges many people are facing in finding work that fits with their skills, experience, education and physical capacity in an ever changing world.