Providing care to loved ones while struggling to balance work or study is a challenge that all too many people face in Australia, particularly women, who make up seven out of ten of primary carers.
Oftentimes, unpaid caregiving such as providing support to family members and friends who have a disability or mental illness, can mean that an individual ends up juggling full-time caring responsibilities on top of full-time paid work.
*** Take the short survey here.
This reality means women carers are less likely to have and maintain employment, according to the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA).
For employers looking to gain and retain top female talent, supporting caregiving responsibilities through diversity, equity and inclusion policies isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a business imperative.
Flexible and supportive work environments not only support the wellbeing of carers, they’ve also been shown to boost productivity, boost financial performance, enhance employee morale and foster a culture that retains top talent.
In October 2023 the Australian Government launched a groundbreaking initiative looking to make workplaces more inclusive to caregivers, in response to recommendations from the Australian Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit.
Since then, Carer-Inclusive Workplace Initiative has been driving progress and opportunity for those who provide care in the community, as well as helping workplaces to retain valuable talent. It is delivered by Carers Australia.
Resources provided in the initiative have been supporting employers to make meaningful changes to accommodate the unique needs of carers in their workforce, and in turn, help these employees to thrive in their careers.
To maintain this momentum, Women’s Agenda has created a survey, in partnership with Carers Australia, to delve into this issue even further and are seeking insights on how workplaces can better recognise and support carers at work.
Whether you’re an employer or employee, this short survey will take just a few minutes, and your responses will help inform important conversations on how Australian workplaces can improve support for carers at work.
