An op-ed in today’s Sydney Morning Herald Barbara Pocock and Elizabeth Hill say the Australian Work and Family Policy Roundtable findings call for a new wave of work and family reforms ”Australia is experiencing profound demographic and workplace change.  With more women in the paid workforce and an ageing population, the way we work and care for our families has become a serious policy challenge.  But will these issues be addressed in the election?

Most Australians combine caring responsibilities with paid work. Recent years have seen some helpful changes – including paid parental leave and childcare reform – but more is needed. In the long run, productivity, growth and national wellbeing are all dependent on our ability to work and to care well. A group of 30 professionals from 18 Australian universities – members of the national Work and Family Policy Roundtable – published on Monday a series of evidence-based benchmarks against which election proposals can be assessed. Priorities for action include childcare, parental leave, job security, flexibility, pay equity, the tax/transfer system and superannuation.

Families are deeply concerned about the affordability, accessibility and quality of childcare. The price paid by consumers has increased at three times the general rate of inflation since 2009 despite growing government subsidies. Public investment is needed to support decent wages for childcare workers and making direct payments to childcare services that provide high quality care should be considered.

All political parties now support paid parental leave. It is a winner for parents, infants and long-term fiscal health and, there is a good case for increasing the period of paid leave, encouraging employers to top up the payment to usual earnings and making sure those who take it accumulate superannuation.

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Provision of unpaid care is essential to national wellbeing. Public policies that rely on both the provision of unpaid care and increased labour force participation are unsustainable unless good quality jobs are available offering flexibility, security and predictable working time. This is critical for sole parents – including those with children in primary school – to ensure adequate income and time to care for children.

Despite some tweaking of the tax-free threshold from July 1, 2012, our tax/benefits system remains biased against women’s workforce participation. More needs to be done to reduce the tax and welfare penalties for those in the middle-income bracket.

Part-time work is a central plank of work-family management for many. Unfortunately, much of it is casual, insecure and lacks paid leave. All workers engaged on a continuing basis should have access to paid care, annual and sick leave, which are essential to managing work and care.

Existing research also shows how important flexibility is to working carers. The existing right to request flexibility has not been effective, probably because it is only available to a limited number of workers and most don’t know about it. It lacks any protection or appeal mechanisms for those who ask or are refused.

The right to request flexible work must be extended to all workers and include a rigorous appeal mechanism.

The gender pay gap remains a problem with no significant change in the past 30 years. Some female graduates experience a gap even as they leave university. This will not improve without leadership and a new national plan of action.

Recent changes to superannuation did not address one of the system’s most obvious inequities: the gender gap. Women’s super savings are about half men’s, creating a new frontier of gender inequity. This demands action. The superannuation contribution tax rebate of up to $500 a year for lower earners is a positive step but much more is needed: for example, introduction of ”carer credits” for those who step out of work to provide care to others.

The ageing population creates new policy challenges. Older workers are being encouraged to work longer and workplaces need to support older workers and those caring for the frail aged. A flexible and sustainable
aged care system is critical – especially to women’s labour force participation. Extending current respite services for the aged and chronically ill, and introducing new paid leave and flexibility rights
for the increasing numbers of workers who are going to be affected, is essential.

Workers and families are facing unique new challenges that make the development of a fair work and care regime essential to Australia’s future wellbeing, economic productivity and social inclusion. Australia is a wealthy country and well placed to become a global leader in the area of work, care and family policy. The election is an opportunity for positive new steps.”

*Professor Barbara Pocock and Dr Elizabeth Hill are co-conveners of the Australian Work and Family Policy Roundtable.*

Read more:
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/political-parties-only-starting-to-get-the-message-20130421-2i850.html#ixzz2RAdJXue

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“The dynamics of the labour market are changing, and we must ensure we have a child care system to support those changes; one that gives working parents the flexibility they need to secure employment while reassuring them that their children have the highest quality care available” said Sandra Cook, chair of eS4W. “This increased funding for some wages in the sector is a good step to improving recruitment and retention in the industry. eS4W particularly favours the additional focus on Out of School Hours Services”.

“This increased investment is good for the nation as well as for parents and children” said Sally Jope, Acting Executive Officer. “We restrict a powerful driver of productivity in Australia when we lag behind our OECD equivalents in rates of female workforce participation. Restricted access to care for children once they start school limits the choices that many workers, particularly women, have in job selection and ultimately impacts on their economic security”.

“We will wait with interest for the results of the trials with Family Day Care Australia teaming up with shift workers; with Goodstart long day care centres extending their hours of operation and with out of school hours care, announced by Minister Ellis. The members of eS4W have advocated for increased attention to this care for many years, understanding that different local communities require different solutions”.

“We also recognise the increased investment in child care over the last three years and are appreciative of efforts thus far; however we are mindful of the complexity of increasing women’s participation in the workforce. That is why eS4W has written to the Prime Minister requesting the matter be referred to the Productivity Commission where an in-depth analysis can be made of the provision and financing of childcare and out of school care services” said Ms Cook who represents Business Professional Women Australia in eS4W.

“The Grattan Institute has already identified improvements to child care access and the reduction of tax disincentives as one major ‘game changer’ in seeking to improve national productivity” said Ms Marie Coleman, a representative of National Foundation of Australian Women, another member of eS4W. “The PC review needs to include consideration of changes to current policy settings for Family Tax Benefit Part B, provision patterns and user costs for child care (including for school age children) and as well, the introduction of measures to mitigate against the trends towards increasingly insecure work. Findings from the trials announced this week can be fed into such a review”.

Media contacts:

Sally Jope 0423198567 Sandra Cook 0409 608 344 Marie Coleman 0414 483 067

For a copy of eS4W’s Media Release can be downloaded here - eS4WMRChildOOSHCare20130322

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The WA Goldfields Project – Karlkuria Gold is the latest NFAW-AWAP exhibition at www.WomenAustralia.info

The online exhibition was launched on 11 February by Robyn McSweeny, WA Minister for Women’s Interests.

“Spanning the past 175 years, these real life  stories offer some unique insights into the  sacrifice, creativity and hard work the  pioneer women of the Goldfields contributed  toward the progress of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, the engine room of Western Australia’s prosperity,” said Mrs McSweeney.

The exhibition contains over 30 individual women’s stories from the 1860’s to today. Women  included in the exhibition include:

• Michelle Berryman, employee of  Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines since 1993
• Carmel Galvin, brothel owner
• Pantjiti Mary McLean, award winning indigenous artist; and
• Savia Patroni a former Milanese tailor turned market gardener.

Explore the exhibition:
http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/wikb/wikb-home.html>http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/wikb/wikb-home.html

Please publicise the exhibition through your channels, social media and networks so that the importnat role of women in the development of  this region is remembered and celebrated. The media release and info sheet are attached.

The post NFAW-AWAP Exhibition: A History of the Women of Kalgoorlie-Boulder appeared first on National Foundation for Australian Women.

This online exhibition documents the contribution of women and women’s organisations in the development of Canberra’s social, political, community and cultural life. With more than 200 entries this is a new feature on Australia’s premier online women’s history resource the Australian Women’s Register

http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/ldkg/

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However the National women’s groups expressed regret that the proposed scope of the Opposition’s reference of child care to the Productivity Commission does not address the key issues that affect women’s work-force attachment.

eS4W and the NFAW previously suggested that the Productivity Commission should be tasked to examine both the supply of quality, affordable child care, as well the effect of the taxation and welfare transfer systems interacting with the cost of child care. This would have the effect of improving productivity, as well as taking account of appropriate service structure for child development.

Sandra Cook, eS4W Chair said ‘ we know that for many women the decision about whether to work  part -time, or to work at all is dependent on how much net return they receive after factoring in possible loss of Family Tax Benefit Part B, plus the net cost of child care and other expenses of returning to work.

‘Moreover, we know that Australian women have the highest rate of part-time work of all OECD countries. Balancing work and family, and the lack of good quality school vacation programs play a part in decisions about work. It is a pity that the Liberal Party proposal does not address out of school hours and school vacation care, and makes no reference to the interaction of the tax and welfare benefits with the cost of care.’

The national women’s groups plan to write to the Prime Minister asking for a reference to the Productivity Commission that will be broad based in scope and include a review of the tax and transfer measures which would encourage female workforce participation.

economic Security4Women  and the National Foundation for Australian Women calls upon the Government and the Opposition to broaden the terms of reference of any inquiry to include matters that would further identify pathways of increased participation in the workforce.

Media contact

Sandra Cook – eS4W – 0409608344

Marie Coleman -NFAW – 0414 483 067

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Helen Conway gave an entertaining overview of the amendments to the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace legislation, noting that the Act and the Agency were to be re-named the Workplace Gender Equality Act and Agency. The focus would be on equal remuneration and family and caring responsibilities as the keys to gender equality. Companies will be required to meet minimum standards set by the Minister and the Agency will develop benchmarks. This photo from left to right: Alison Osmand (Dobinson,Davey, Clifford,Simpson), The Hon Mary Crawford (new NFAW President), Helen Conway (EOWA), Julie Dobinson, Lois Clifford, Di Simpson (all Dobinson,Davey,Clifford,Simpson), Marie Coleman (NFAW Social Policy).

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A child holds high a sign urging beheading of anyone disrespecting the “Prophet Muhammad”.

An affluent older man, nationally known as a radio commentator and former Prime Ministerial speech writer, orates in front of a crowd members of which held signs such as ‘Ditch the Witch’ and much worse, having previously told his radio audience that the Prime Minister of Australia should be “taken out to sea, put into a sack with a few Besser blocks, and dumped into the sea”.

Both are promoting violence, appallingly violent aggression against persons with whom they disagree. Is the child (or the individual who wrote the sign and gave it to the child), more to be blamed than the opinion leader who uses his public platform to encourage his audience to violence?

In the case of the violent demonstration at which the child was present, women leaders in the Muslim community of Sydney have stepped in to urge calm , ”The women are the ones who are often the most level-headed,” said Silma Ihram, project manager and former president of the Australian Muslim Women’s Association. ”Men have to defend the honour and women are, like, ‘hold on’.”

But the airwaves, print media, and social networking sites are alive with misogyny.

Anne Summers recently made an important speech in which she lists the many instances of sexist, violent rantings against the Prime Minister – there are two versions of her speech on her web-site, one ‘plain vanilla’, the other with the comprehensive citations – read that only if you have a strong stomach. Find both at www.annesummers.com.au

More recently, there has been a spectacular response on the Twitterverse…. click this link for a full copy of the report – JUST_WHO_IS_WRECKING_THE_JOINT_Marie_Coleman final

In addition, “A switch in time” restoring respect to Australian Politics by Mary Crooks, Victorian Women’s Trust – A Switch in Time ALL

To read what others are saying or have your say on facebook visit – http://www.facebook.com/DestroyTheJoint

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The Australian Government is investing over $900,000 in a range of projects and services aimed at bridging the gender pay gap and supporting girls and women in the workforce and the community.

The Minister for the Status of Women, Julie Collins, announced the funding, under the Gender Equality for Women program, at the Post-Budget Women’s Breakfast at Parliament House this morning.

“The Australian Government is committed to continuing to advance equality between women and men and we are backing this up through a range of new projects and services,” Ms Collins said.

“These include resources to help women with the cost of living and programs to help young women with personal development and to boost women’s leadership in male-dominated industries.

“The Government is determined to advance gender equality and women’s economic security and will respond strongly to gender inequality anywhere.

“This Government is proud to have continued the Labor Party’s long legacy of advancing the status of women with the passage in the House of Representatives this week of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Amendment Bill 2012.

“This legislation is a significant step towards the removal of barriers to women’s full and equal participation in the workplace and I look forward to the legislation passing through the Senate as soon as possible,” Ms Collins said.

The latest funding measures through the Gender Equality for Women program are:

• $225,000 for a second round of 70 Australian Institute of Company Directors board diversity scholarships, as announced by the Prime Minister last week.
• $150,000 to the YWCA to extend its successful pilot program Every Girl to 10 communities across the country. The program helps girls between 9 and 14 from disadvantaged communities to improve their self-esteem and build their leadership abilities.
• $51,625 to determine how to best support emerging women leaders in the community sector.
• $100,000 towards the Sports Leadership Grants and Scholarships for Women Program, to enable more women to access accredited training and education in sports management.
• $50,000 for a joint project with the Australian Human Rights Commission, in partnership with the Male Champions of Change, aimed at boosting women’s leadership in male-dominated industries.
• $89,106 to better understand how to promote women’s participation in the labour force and help inform the development of the new National Workforce Development Strategy.
• $52,500 to examine the reasons for the first year pay gap between male and female graduates from university and vocational education and training.
•  $60,000 to the 1 Million Women organisation for the development of resources to assist women in reducing their costs of living.
• $125,000 on incorporating gender equality into policy training and online modules for the Australian Public Service.
• $39,000 to enhance each portfolio’s capacity to meet the gender balance target of at least 40 per cent women on Australian Government boards by 2015.

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This Budget of multiple savings and few outlays not already announced focuses on productivity and work-force attachment, not least for women, including single mothers.

The majority of women with dependent children who are in the work force are working part-time. Many are in ‘feminised’ industries where wages are relatively low, and payment of the compulsory superannuation guarantee often evaded.

These low paid workers will benefit from numerous measures in the 2012-13 Budget.

Read more>>>

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A Statement that affirms the commitment to equality, with a strong focus on increasing women’s participation in the workforce and their economic security.

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