Food delivery rider Yang Xihan checks his phone before starting his shift in St Kilda, Melbourne on September 29, 2024. Like many Australians embracing the gig economy, Yang values the freedom to choose his working hours. “In Melbourne, you can choose work that interests you,” he says. “It’s about building the life you want, step by step.”
Yang Xihan arrives at a customer’s apartment in St Kilda, Melbourne on September 29, 2024. During the rainy delivery, Yang knows the building’s security system with ease. “Every building has its own characteristics,” he says. “Learning these is part of the job.”
Yang Xihan holds a Mondo Di pasta delivery bag in St Kilda, Melbourne on September 29, 2024. The bright yellow safety jacket stands out against his gloves as he prepares to deliver a customer’s order. “I handle every delivery with care,” Yang says while checking the order details.
Yang Xihan displays his Uber Eats earnings screen in St Kilda, Melbourne on September 29, 2024. The app shows he earned AUD214.15 for 19 deliveries during a 10-hour shift on September 14. “Some days you might only make just over AUD20 an hour,” Yang says, explaining the ups and downs of food delivery work. “But this job is flexible – that’s why many young people choose it.”
Yang rides his delivery bike down a wet street in South Yarra on September 29, 2024. His bright yellow jacket catches the eye as he moves past old brick houses and parked cars. Someone with groceries crosses the street as Yang heads to his next delivery.
Rain covers Yang Xihan’s white helmet on a wet morning in St Kilda on September 29, 2024. A food delivery rider for three months, Yang works in Melbourne’s wealthy areas. “Toorak customers are the most polite,” he says. The rain doesn’t stop him from making his rounds.
A collection of empty bottles and cans fills a corner of Yang Xihan’s shared house in Clayton, Melbourne on October 2, 2024. “Each empty bottle is quite clean,” Yang explains, showing his recycling system that helps offset his AUD300 weekly rent. The blue Pocari Sweat bottles stand out among soft drink cans and juice containers, waiting to be exchanged for Coles credit points.
Yang Xihan stands with his e-bike at Clayton Station in Melbourne on October 2, 2024. Having worked various jobs from cafe manager to teaching assistant, Yang now dreams of trying 100 different occupations. “I don’t want to follow the traditional path,” he says. “Each job teaches you something unique about business and life.” His social media posts about Melbourne’s gig economy attract hundreds of followers.
Yang Xihan works at his repair bench in West Melbourne on October 2, 2024, his orange gloves gripping repair tools amid boxes of spare parts. His AirPods and focused expression show his concentration at work. “At first, I couldn’t even tell the difference between a controller and an inverter,” he says with a laugh. The small workshop, squeezed between a cafe and boutique shop, buzzes with the sound of repairs throughout the day.
Yang Xihan and his colleagues inspect a scooter at their workshop in West Melbourne on October 2, 2024. Three mechanics huddle around the bike, a scene during their busy repair days. “We just clicked during our chat. When I mentioned my previous experience fixing e-bikes, they let me try some repairs,” Yang says.
Yang Xihan shows off his e-bike repair skills in the West Melbourne workshop on October 2, 2024. His orange work gloves and cheerful expression reflect his enthusiasm for the job. “It was fate that brought me to this e-bike shop,” Yang says, explaining how he found the workshop through social media while searching for a rental bike.
Yang Xihan stands next to his delivery bike while checking his phone in Clayton, Melbourne on October 2, 2024. Like many young people in this area, he juggles multiple jobs, delivering food and repairing e-bikes at a local workshop, all while pursuing his own dream. “I check the delivery app to find the best orders,” Yang says.