Stop asking marginalised people to work for free

Exposure doesn’t pay the bills!

Stop asking writers to write for free. Stop asking speakers to speak for free. Stop running unpaid advisory and consultation committees. Stop asking marginalised people to share our lived experience and expertise for free. Value us. Especially when you’re paying everyone else but us.

It’s not just an article or speech we are writing and delivering. It’s the years of experience we’ve had honing our skills. Its the time it takes to write, rewrite and practice. It’s needing to put aside money for tax and superannuation. It’s the time we spend travelling to and from the venue. And it often involves reliving our trauma. We deserve more.

And if you’re asked to work for free, stop saying yes. You’re worth more than exposure.

This video details just one of the times I’m asked to work for free or little fee. I get asked regularly. And I’ve been seen as difficult or ungrateful for wanting to be paid for my work.

You can book me to speak or write here, and if this post has helped you, you can buy me a drink.

Thank you

Video: Carly talking to camera. She’s a woman with a red face and short dark curly hair, wearing an apricot tee with coral coloured flowers and green leaves on it, and a brooch that’s a bunch of coral coloured flowers with green leaves and clear wrapping. There are captions above her – white text on coral background.

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