Adulting: 2/10 would not recommend

What’s behind the surprising rise in adulting courses? (And they might be more useful than you think).

The fact a YouTube clip explaining how to change a light bulb has been watched more than 39,000 times says a lot about our diminishing life skills. Not to mention the four million people who have watched how to change a tyre.

At the risk of sounding like your nanna, it seems that common knowledge isn’t really that common anymore.

It’s Gen Z copping the heat, with claims they’re the most life-challenged generation in history, flying the nest with little knowledge about how to do everyday tasks from cooking and cleaning to basic home maintenance.

The problem is so bad, two universities in Canada made international headlines this year after adding Adulting 101 online classes to their curriculum in order to help students struggling with living away from home for the first time.

This life-skills crisis isn’t confined to North America. Aussie medical student Mai Abdelmawgoud told the ABC recently that when she moved out of home in regional Victoria to take up a medical degree interstate, she realised she didn’t even know how to change a light bulb. While high school had prepared her for university, she says, it hadn’t really prepared her for life.

Mai isn’t alone in feeling the education system could do better, with several petitions in Australia and New Zealand urging schools to embed more life skills such as how to apply for a loan, or what a credit score is, into the curriculum.

But is it just schools who are responsible? What about parents? And Gen Z themselves?

Depending on who you listen to, everyone seems to get a fair share of blame: it’s helicopter parents; it’s schools ditching home economics and manual arts; it’s the housing crisis, meaning kids live at home for longer, often without shouldering their share of household tasks.

But whatever the cause, the solution could actually be surprisingly helpful for all of us, because everyone from universities and councils to private organisations and TAFEs are putting together useful short courses to help us all improve our adulting.

Onkaparinga Council, on the southern outskirts of Adelaide, was an early adopter, first launching in 2019 three-week crash courses in How to Adult. These covered topics such as: Can you get a refund on a car you bought on Marketplace? What are your rights as a renter? And how on earth do you change your MyGov password?

Whether you’re looking to sign your kids up or do one yourself, it’s a simple way to upskill because, truth be told, it’s not just Gen Z that struggle to change a tyre or fix things around the house.

Now, there’s less stigma around asking for help. As one commentator noted – ignorance isn’t bliss, it’s expensive. Which is why upskilling can save you more than it costs. Here are a few ideas on where to get started.

1. Show me the money

Ever feel like you need a translator when you try to tackle anything finance related? Learn to demystify everything from salary sacrifice to compound interest. TAFEs around the country run financial literacy short courses to help teenagers (and adults) better understand their own finances.

2. Rev up your knowledge

There are a huge number of private organisations running car maintenance programs aimed at absolute novices, taking drivers through things like how to:

• Change a tyre, fuse or headlight, or jump start a car with a flat battery.

• Understand mechanic lingo.

• Replace wiper blades and filters (fuel, air and even ones you didn’t know existed, like pollen filters).

• Understand systems such as brakes (rotors, pads and shoes) and air-conditioning (including when re-gassing is needed).

• Check fluid levels and perform preventative maintenance.

3. Ensure the house always wins

Again, it’s TAFEs providing the know-how but there are some fantastic courses that can help householders take their skills to the next level and make big savings on hiring tradies for simple tasks. An eight-week basic home building and maintenance course offered through SA TAFE includes:

• Instructions on the safe use of general hand and power tools.

• Fit skirting and architraves.

• Door repairs, fitting door locks, handles and latches.

• Wall repairs.

• Basic wall and floor tiling.

Luckily, there’s plenty of inspiration online, so it’s a great time to get Googling.