Why unpaid internships need to end | Yash Jayachandran | TEDxQUT

TL;DR

The rising costs of living and the requirement for unpaid placements in healthcare degrees have severe financial, physical, and mental health impacts on students, particularly women.

Transcript

[Applause] I'm not your typical 23-year-old I stay in every weekend eat frozen fruit instead of fresh and honestly I couldn't tell you the last time I went out for a coffee or meal with my friends it's not because I don't want to it's because I can't afford to raise your hand if you're feeling the pressure from the rising cost of living the cost of... Read More

Key Insights

• 😮 The rising cost of living is making it increasingly difficult for students to afford essential expenses while undertaking unpaid placements.
• 🧔‍♀️ Unpaid placement perpetuates workplace gender inequalities, undervaluing women's skills and contributions.
• 🥺 The mental health toll of unpaid placements on students is significant, leading to increased anxiety, depression, and burnout.
• 😘 Students from low-income, diverse, and First Nations backgrounds are disproportionately affected by unpaid placements, further exacerbating existing societal disparities.
• 👩‍⚕️ The healthcare industry heavily relies on women, who are often expected to work for free during their training, further reinforcing gender inequalities.
• 🥶 The expectation of free labor during unpaid placements sends a damaging message to students that their skills and knowledge hold no inherent value.
• 🧑‍🎓 Unpaid placements hinder students' ability to maintain their physical, emotional, and financial well-being, impacting their overall learning and future prospects.

Questions & Answers

Q: What impact does unpaid placement have on healthcare students?

Unpaid placement places a significant financial strain on students, forcing them to work for free while juggling their studies, part-time jobs, and personal well-being.

Q: How does unpaid placement perpetuate gender-based workplace inequality?

By normalizing the expectation of free labor, unpaid placements undermine the value of women's skills and contribute to systemic issues such as gender wage gaps and wealth disparities.

Q: Is there a correlation between unpaid placement and mental health issues?

Yes, the stress, mental exhaustion, and fatigue caused by unpaid placements can have severe impacts on students' mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and a decreased desire to pursue a career in the field.

Q: How can the current system be improved to support healthcare students?

Revising placement requirements, providing paid placements that follow an apprenticeship model, and offering additional government support can help alleviate the financial burdens and prioritize students' well-being.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Students in critical healthcare industries are required to undertake mandatory unpaid placements, creating financial burdens and impacting their overall well-being.

• The expectation of free labor normalizes gender-based workplace inequalities, perpetuating wealth, pay, and superannuation gaps.

• The current system of unpaid placements needs revision to prioritize students' learning while maintaining their physical and mental health.