A record number of Australians are working in multiple jobs to make ends meet as the rising cost of living bites into already stretched household budgets, according to job figures.
Victorian mother-of-two Donna Hawker says she realised about five months ago that her family wasn't "getting anywhere" financially and that she would need to take on a second job.
The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show the Hawkers are among a growing number of people juggling multiple jobs to keep up with the cost of living.
An estimated 867,000 Australians were working in more than one job in the December quarter — more than at any other time since the bureau started keeping such records in 1994.
Ms Hawker, who lives in Avoca, a small town just over two hours' drive north-west of Melbourne, works a couple of days a week as a disability support worker and recently took on extra work at an after-school care program.
Mr Hawker also has two jobs, as a relief teacher and a casual farm hand.
The couple has found it harder, financially, since Mr Hawker was forced to give up his shearing job six months ago due to wear and tear on one of his shoulders.
Ms Hawker said the family lived modestly and tried to cut costs where it could.
Impact Economics and Police lead economist Angela Jackson said the increasing number of Australians working multiple jobs suggested more people were probably struggling to find secure, full-time work.
"We have seen over the past 12 months the average hours worked across the economy go up," Dr Jackson said.
Dr Jackson said the increasing cost of housing was another big factor causing many people financial stress.
"We're seeing rents up particularly in regional areas," she said.
Data released by CoreLogic this week shows the portion of income required to pay rent in the regions now sits at 34 per cent nationally, higher even than in the capital cities, where people are handing over an average of 28 per cent of their income to landlords.
Disability support worker Elizabeth Naughton said she had to live in a mobile home at Deuchar, two hours south-west of Brisbane, due to high rental costs.
"The rent prices up here are ridiculous, so I rent just a small mobile home, cheaply, but it lacks running water," she said.
Ms Naughton said she had been juggling multiple jobs for several years.
She works two 24-hour shifts a week as a disability support worker, earning about $580 a shift.
Her work involves staying overnight at her clients' homes.
She also works one day a week drafting cattle at the local saleyards.
Ms Naughton said she felt cost-of-living pressures in many areas.
"I have a lot of pets, some of them are aged, so that factors into the cost of living a bit," she said.
She said high fuel prices had hit her hard.
"Fresh produce has gone up a bit, so I basically just live off frozen vegetables.
She said she could get a month's worth of meals for less than $100 if she bought some meat and used frozen vegetables and a bag of potatoes.
"There are heaps of people out there struggling and I don't even know what the government could do if they were willing to do anything," she said.
