How quickly one's life can collapse...

...over here in the States, things have gotten kinda sluggish since 9/11. While it has been some time, The ripple effect we anticipated has almost made it way across the entire economy, with some areas already rebounding. IT folks are still in a pinch, but they kinda were before all of that.

You may consider trying to take your business up a notch and apply for some sort of loan and focus on an more international clientele. This may provide a reprieve. Your description of Centrelink sound something like our Internal Revenue Service (basically a government sanctioned extortion matrix to collect taxes). The IRS will work with folks to set up payment plans for folks whom they deem to owe more money than can be paid off within a reasonable period of time. Bottom line is that they want their money, and will work with you to help you pay. Perhaps, you should consult you local tax officer(s) to review what your income and expenses are with respect to your tax system, and inso doing, they may help you rather than harm you.

As far as employment alternatives, try looking at larger computer stores, many over here have a repair service affiliated with them. You could do what you do know, but under someone else's umbrella. You could also look at local private schools, and see if any of them need a computer guy, or help in this area. Perhaps picking up a part-time cotract with them under your current business.

We all hit a bump in the road every now and then, hang in there. I found out in June that my pet project (orignally stated to be critical to the company's future) was to have all staffing resources pulled due to budjet overruns in areas of the company outside of my own (we were on track with our budjet, but had to pay for other's failures). Since then, the reality has sunk in that my skills are so specialized that my options are limited.

--DDTM

What is Centrelink?

The function of Centrelink other than giving unemployed people and students money has never quite made sense to me... but they keep track of everyone who's ever set foot in their doors, and send massive packages in the post to check up on you every few weeks(on student allowance it's EVERY week).

And if they decide you're keeping something from them, you give them money. It's beyond me.

I'm still a little confused. It almost sounds like welfare, but here in the States, if you have a job, and are still getting money from welfare, it's usually a crime. I happen to know a guy that was bilking welfare for a about 8 months after he got a job, and they came after him for the money...

Yegads. Just looking at the website makes me break out in hives. One Stop Socialism. It's almost indescribable how bad an idea that is.

They didn't come looking for you because you went shopping for a BeoVision 1 while collecting a student dole, did they? ;^>

--Peace

Actually 1) I'm not on student allowance anymore, and 2) the thought had crossed my mind that they found out about the EFTPOS purchase of my grundig amira 45 teevee... and decided I couldn't afford it or something. Creepy... we'll see what happens there.

...and on looking at their website I've just had a vision of a 233 iMac pop into my head...weird.

If she's your best friend's Mum then you know she and MICK are SPEED ADDICTS. Cut the crap, everyone knows about Zina and now her daughter's an addict too. Nice people.

...do you even know this guy?

If you're having a problem with the government tax agency, call/write to your Member of Parliament (I am most certain that Australia has a similar style of gov't as Canada). When the CCRA (Canada Customs & Revenue Agency) started crawling down my throat I called my MP. He was really helpful in sorting out the problem. These gov't bureaucrats don't seem to like it when you go over their heads to your elected officials.

Cheers,

The Czar

I think that the relevance has expired.