At a turning point : work, care and family policies in Australia / Marian Baird, Elizabeth Hill, and Sydney Colussi.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Baird, Marian, author.

Contributor:

Hill, Elizabeth.

Colussi, Sydney.

Series:

Public and social policy series

Public and Social Policy Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Child care--Australia.

Child care.

Employee fringe benefits--Australia.

Employee fringe benefits.

Family leave--Australia.

Family leave.

Flextime--Australia.

Flextime.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (190 pages)

Edition:

1st edition.

Other Title:

Path to Open

Place of Publication:

Sydney : Sydney University Press, 2024.

Summary:

Australia is at a much-needed turning point in work, care and family policy. Australian women, families and communities are struggling to manage the complex demands of work and care. Rapid social and demographic change, alongside new workplace, labour market trends and the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, requires a policy revamp that will allow all Australians to work, care and be cared for. In seven chapters authored by leading scholars in the field, At a Turning Point: Work, care and family policies in Australia provides a comprehensive account of key policy areas that shape the experience of work and care across the life course. These include reproductive wellbeing, paid parental leave, early childhood education and care, flexible work, elder and disability care, and equitable systems of tax and transfer payments. At a Turning Point argues that a new social contract that puts gender equality, economic security and the well-being of carers and those they care for at the centre of policy design is essential to national productivity and prosperity. It is the foundation of a good society.

Contents:

Intro

At a Turning Point

Contents

Abbreviations

Preface

The Australian policy context: Opportunities for a new social and gender contract

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Timing: The urgent need to turn policy around

1.3 A life course approach to work, care and family and the need for a new social contract that includes gender

1.4 Our focus in this volume

References

Reproductive policies: An expanding approach to work and care

2.1 Introduction

2.2 Reproductive policies in Australia: History and context

Current policy architecture 2.4 Entitlements in federal legislation

Personal ("sick") and carers leave

Leave for pregnancy loss

Employer entitlements

Menstruation and menopause policies

Family formation and pregnancy loss policies

Trade unions and bargaining

State government policies and regulations

2.5 Current debates and tensions

Design

Implementation

Evaluation and impact

2.6 Potential avenues for change

Public policy

Bargaining

Employer policy

2.7 Conclusion

Parental leave policy: Time to grow

3.1 Introduction 3.2 Current Australian policy architecture and terminology

3.3 The development and use of national statutory parental leave policies in Australia

The provision of unpaid maternity and parental leave

Use of unpaid parental leave

The introduction of Australia's Paid Parental Leave scheme

Use of the Paid Parental Leave scheme

3.4 Employer-provided paid parental leave

Public sector employer-paid parental leave

Private and non-government sector employer-paid parental leave

3.5 Current tensions and debates

Duration and gender-equal access

Level of pay

Superannuation Private sector

3.6 The future and potential avenues for change

Early childhood education and care: Policy renewal for strong foundations

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Brief history and context of the policy in Australia

4.3 Current policy architecture

Funding for formal ECEC services

Workforce and quality regulation

4.4 Current policy tensions and debates

Aim and purpose of ECEC

Cost

Inflexible provision and access

Low-paid workforce

Complexity in design

A pandemic highlights tensions

4.5 Potential avenues for change

References Flexible work policy: Building "good flex" across the life course

5.1 Introduction

5.2 The meaning of workplace flexibility

5.3 Current policy architecture

Casual employment

The right to request flexible work arrangements

Individual flexibility arrangements

5.4 Current debates and tensions

Training, entry and early career

Mid-career: Balancing work and family

Late career to retirement

5.5 Potential avenues for change

Informal care policy: Needs of older people and people with disability or chronic illness

6.1 Introduction.

Notes:

Title from online title page (viewed on March 27, 2024).

Other Format:

Print version: Baird, Marian At a Turning Point

ISBN:

1-74332-897-4

1-74332-898-2

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license.