Long read ... Should i quit my underpaying job without a new one lined up, or stay and let my mental health deteriorate for the sake of saving money to move interstate again

Hi folks

Im having a bit of a hard time making a choice whether to quit my job (without having anything lined up to start), or to stick it out knowing that im being underpaid.

Apologies for long read, but i feel like this needs a bit of a back story.. so i just moved interstate back home to be with my nan after my grandfathers passing has left her alone for first time in her life.. I was already struggling to survive interstate with the pandemic and all anyways , so i didn't mind so much coming home and not having to worry about rent/so many expenses that come with living alone etc.

So i decided to call this a 6 month to 1 year break to save money and get financially stable again and also make sure my nan is coping being alone for first time after death of my grandfather.

I'm a truck driver (although i really don't enjoy this kind of work but im just not sure what other industries to try), and there is high demand for drivers here, so i was working within 2 weeks of moving back home.. but here is the catch , it's quite physical work and also high risk work since it involves the use of heavy machinery (moffett forklift on truck).

For this kind of work in Australia, there is a transport award which states the minimum wage for a casual employee is $28.80 p/hour for first 8 hours, time and half up to 10 hours, then double time after 10h. So for a 55h week, i would expect to bring home $1872 gross / $1409 after tax.

The company which I've been working for the past 6 weeks is paying me a flat rate of $1100 per week (after tax) for approx 55h of work. This equates to around $25.50 per hour flat rate, so there are no overtime penalty rates being paid.

Essentially, im being underpaid around $300 per week.

I did agree to the money before i started working there, so im not sure if they legally have a right to pay this, considering i did verbally agree before i realised how many hours were going to be expected every day/week. There was no formal/written agreements ever made.

I've already told them that i don't want to work so many hours without penalty rates and they basically told me that it is what it is and if i don't like it then i can go somewhere else.

I'm having a hard time deciding whether i should quit without having something else lined up, knowing im being underpaid a decent chunk of money every week, or stick it out and save my a*se off until iv got enough money to move back north. If i did quit, there's a good chance Il be working within a couple weeks again, but it's fear i guess , fear of ending up in something even less money and satisfying..

I don't really have friends who can give me perspective on it and my gran is in a difficult place of her own so don't want to burden her with this stuff at moment.

I know $1100 a week when you're not paying rent is a lot of money and il be able to save quickly to move again very soon, but i really feel like it's sapping my of my energy and motivation. My dog at home is not getting proper walks and attention because im so tired and lazy after working so long. My mental health is totally suffering and the mercy of my employer and it's totally unfair.

Anyway, sorry again for such a long read. Thanks in advance for any advice or input you may have to offer me

Peace ✌️

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