Work And Family Test Case ACTU Composite Exhibit – Part I
Section 1: Relevant International Instruments
ILO Convention (No.156) - concerning Equal Opportunities and Equal Treatment for Men and Women Workers: Workers with Family Responsibilities.
ILO Convention (No.111) – concerning Discrimination in respect of Employment and Occupation.
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Section 2: Labour Force, Families And Dependency
Babies and Bosses Reconciling Work and Family Life (Volume 1) Australia, Denmark and the Netherlands - Reconciling work and family life involves two key goals for both individuals and society: being able to work, to earn an income while participating in the most important social activity of modern life, and providing the best care and nurturing for one’s own children. (30-Oct-2002)
Work and Family Current Thinking Research and Practice – this report examines work and family issues, including the influence of work on family strength and wellbeing. (by Dr Graeme Russell and Lyndy Bowman, Macquarie Research Limited, Macquarie University. February 2000)
Demographic Perspectives on Social Policy and Intergenerational Inequity – This paper seeks to identify the main contemporary trends in Australia’s population and to spell out some of these implications for changes in the patterns of demand for social services.
Australia’s Welfare 2003 - Australia's Welfare is the most comprehensive and authoritative source of national information on welfare services in Australia. Topics include welfare services expenditure, the welfare services labour force, children's and family services, child protection, housing assistance, services for homeless people, ageing and aged care services and disability services. Australia's Welfare 2003 also features special chapters on informal care and indicators of the welfare of Australia's population.
Caring in the Community, ABS Australian Social Trends 2001. (Cat No. 4102.0, pp.46-53) In 1998, three quarters of carers lived in the same household as the person for whom they provided care.
The Spectre of Overwork: An Analysis of Trends Between 1974 and 1997 Using Australian Time-Use Diaries - This article uses four time use surveys conducted in 1974, 1987, 1992 and 1997 to examine three dimensions of change in working time: the average length of the working day, the distribution of working hours and the amount of time spent at work in non-standard hours.. (Bittman M., AND Rice J.M, Labour and Industry, Vol.12, No.3. April 2002, pp.5-25)
Colliding Spheres: Work and family initiatives and parental realities This paper explores the actual affect that caregiving has on the differentiation of employment and employment experiences by gender. (Gray E., Just Policy No.24, December 2001, pp.33-40)
2002 Census of Childcare Services – This booklet details the findings of the 2002 Census of Child Care Services conducted by the Department of Family and Community Services. It provides details of child care users, staff and carers and operational details of child care services. The specific week in which services were surveyed Is referred to as the ‘reference week’ for the Census. (Dept. of Family and Community Services).
Home Alone Before or After School - Self care before or after school is believed to be becoming more widespread due to increases in the number of working mothers and one parent families. Based on data from the Australian Institute of Family Studies' Australian Living Standard's Study, this article looks at which families use self or sibling care for primary school age children and examines whether or not poverty, class or minority group status predicts the use of self care when compared with other circumstances. Contrary to prevailing stereotypes, the use of self care was not linked to minority groups, poverty or sole parent households. (De Vaus, Millward C., Family Matters No.49, Autumn 1998, p.34-37, AIFS)
Minding the Children During School Holidays – (Qu L., Family Matters No.65. Winter 2003, p.18-21, AIFS).
Work And Family Test Case ACTU Composite Exhibit – Part II
Section 3: Organisation Of Work And Provision Of Care (Cont’d)
Caring for Those Who Depend On Us, Chapter 8 of the Work/Life Collision - We must again find our own approaches to care for our own time and place, argues Barbara Pocock (Pocock B., 2003, PP.189-211).
Work and Family Life, Reciprocal Effects - An examination of data from the AIFS's Australian Family life Course Study, looking at the extent to which work and home life impinge on each other. The authors discuss how factors related to the working environment, family circumstances and time pressures influence these reciprocal effects, and they identify the main predictors of work impinging on home life. (Family Matters 52, Autumn 1999 pp.69-74, by Glezer H., and Wolcott I).
The Big Squeeze: Domestic Dimensions of Excessive work Time and Pressure. – Modern working patterns are directly and adversely affecting family lives and personal relationships. Using survey data, we confirm qualitative evidence that long hours of work, weekend work, irregular starting time, high pressure and long hours cultures are contributing to deteriorating home relationships and leading to dissatisfaction amongst partners. (Peetz D, Fox A, Townsend K, and Allan C., Griffith University, Paper to AAIRNZ.)
Work Rich, Family Poor? Non-standard working hours and family life - Having the time and energy to successfully combine work and family life can be a particular challenge for parents working long or non-standard hours. The author presents findings from a British study, Atypical Work Patterns and Family Life, which examined the consequences for family life when parents worked early mornings, evenings, weekends or shifts. Issues common to both British and Australian policy makers and working parents are discussed. (Family Matters No. 61, Autumn 2002, Australian Institute of Family Studies, pp.40-47)
Implications of Men’s Extended Work Hours for their Personal and Marital Happiness - The author examines trends in paid work hours over the 20th century and the impact of men's work hours on their personal lives. The Australian Life Course Survey examined working hours, stress, conflict handling skills and life satisfaction, relationship wellbeing; the survey results are examined (Weston R., Qu L, and Soriano G., Australian Institute of Family Studies, Family Matters No.61, Autumn 2002).
Family and Work: The Family’s Perspective - (Lewis V., Tudball J., Hand K, Australian Institute of Labour Studies, Family Matters No.59, Winter 2001, pp.22-27) - This article reports preliminary results from new qualitative research commissioned from the AIFS by the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services on the experiences of children with working parents. 69 parents and 71 children from 47 families were interviewed. Children were specifically asked about their parents' working hours and the amount of time spent with them. Most of the children interviewed were happy with their parents' working hours; parents considered flexibility important.
Father’s Views on Family Life and Paid Work - This article focuses on fathers' responses about whether they felt that they spent enough time with their children, the way they like to spend time with their children, and how they seek to balance work and family responsibilities. (Hand K. and Lewis V., Australian Institute of Family Studies, Family Matters No.61, Autumn 2002).
How Do They Find the Time? A Time Diary Analysis of How Working Parents preserve their time with Children - This paper seeks to provide an answer to how parents continue to be engaged in direct care of their own children while also committing significant time to the labour market activities by analysing the Australian Bureau of Statistics Time Use Survey 1997 (over 4000 randomly selected households). (Craig L. Australian Social Policy Conference “Social Policy Conference “Social Inclusion”, 9-11 July 2003, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia).
Grandparents supporting Working Families – Satisfaction and Choice in the provision of childcare - Over one-fifth of children of below school age in Australia are currently cared for by their grandparents as part of regular child care arrangements. How do grandparents view this role? Insights into grandparents' experiences have the potential to inform child and family policies. (Goodfellow J, and Laverty J., Australian Institute of Family Studies, Family Matters No.66, Spring/Summer 2003, pp.14-19).
Section 4 Ensuring The Safety Net Meets Families’ Needs
A Head Start for Australia: An Early years Framework – A Summary – Strategies that are essential to improve the wellbeing of Australia’s children through sustainable effort. (NSW Commission for Children and Young People & Commission for Children and Young People Qld March 2004)
Extracts from Early Years Study – Final Report – Reversing the Real Brain Drain – This report examines the evidence from the neurosciences, developmental psychology, social sciences, anthropology, epidemiology and other disciplines about the relationship among early brain and child development and learning, behaviour, and health through all stages of life.(April 1999, McCain M, and Mustard J., Ch 1, p24-53, Ch 2, p.53-67, Ch 3, p.67-105, and Ch 6, p.147-173)
Work-family Balance: International Research on Employee Preferences – What employees and employee preferences in regard to work-family benefits throughout the western world. (Thornthwaite, L., ACIRRT, Working Paper No.79. From the Working Time Today Conference, 16 August 2002).
Work and Family Values, Preferences and Practice – Initial findings from a new Institute study highlight the ways that parents' workforce participation is influenced by the values and preferences they hold for combining work and family life. (Glezer H., Wolcott I., Australian Institute of Family Studies, Australian Family Briefing, No.4 September 1997)
Balancing Work and Family – The Experience of Low Income Parents – This paper discusses low income parents’ experiences combining parenting with paid work, the issues they face, their plans, aspirations and fears, and how these are related to experiences of paid work and self perception of their role in the family. (Gregory A., Ganley R., and Mostafa M., Paper for the Australian Social Policy Conference to be held 9-11 July 2003 at the University of New South Wales.
Men’s Update of Family-friendly Employment Provisions, (Policy Research Paper Number 22, Michael Bittman, Sonia Hoffmann and Denise Thompson, Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales).
Working Fathers and Working Mothers – Do Their Needs Differ? Evidence From Three Recent Books – These three books, while each having a different main focus, examine, to varying extents, the role of working fathers in the 1990s and investigate whether their family and work roles have changed much over the last couple of decades. Each book also compares the role of working fathers with that of working mothers. (Work & Family, Insert No.17, August 1998)
Section 5: Child And Maternal Health
Extracts from Reproductive Health Indicators, Australia, 2002. - This inaugural report uses a set of reproductive health indicators to provide a synthesis of findings on a broad range of reproductive health topics. The set of indicators adopted for this report provides an overall 'picture' of Australia's reproductive health and highlights a number of important emerging reproductive health issues and trends. (Ford J., Nassar N., Sullivan E., Chambers G., Lancaster P., AIHW National Perinatal Statistics Unit, Sydney 2002, pp v-vi, 101-102, 107-108, 111-112, 117-120).
Extracts from Infant Feeding Guidelines for Health Workers - This report looks at breastfeeding and the nutrition of infants. (Binns C., Davidson G., pp.297-299, 341-351, 353-375).
Work And Family Test Case ACTU Composite Exhibit – Part iii
Section 6: Child And Maternal Health
Prevalence and Persistence of Health Problems After Childbirth: Associations with parity and Method of Birth, - Awareness about the extent of maternal physical and emotional health problems after childbirth is increasing, but few longitudinal studies examining their duration have been published. The aim of this study was to describe changes in the prevalence of maternal health problems in the 6 months after birth and their association with parity and method of birth. (Thompson J. MSc PhD, Roberts C, MBBS, MPSH, Currie M, BappSci, RN, RM, and Ellwood D., Dphil, FRACGOG, BIRTH 29:2, June 2002, p.83-94).
Extracts from Australia’s Mothers and Babies 2000 - In 2000, 257,238 babies born to 253,053 mothers were notified to perinatal data collections in the States and Territories. This represents a birth every 2 minutes and approximately 693 births per day in Australia in 2000. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, National Perinatal Statistics Unit, Perinatal Statistics Series, No 12, AIHW National Perinatal Statistics Unit, Sydney 2003, Section 2.17).
Section 7: The Economic Impact Of The Claims: Fertility
Work-Family Policies are the Right Approach to the Prevention of Very Low Fertility – This article looks at the falling fertility rate in Australia and information from European researchers on the causes of low fertility. (Peter McDonald, Australian National University, People and Place, vol.9, no.3, 2001, pp17-28)
Three facts about Fertility Cross National Lessons for the Current Debate – In this article evidence from 21 OECD countries is used to describe the recent trajectory of fertility change in advanced industrialised countries, to identify changes in the nature of the trade offs between work and family and to establish which family friendly policy measures are most conducive to high levels of fertility. (by Francis G. Castles, Family matters No.63, Spring/Summer 2002, AIFS, pp.22-27)
The Likely Effects of Ageing on Women’s Involvement in the Paid Workforce - This appear explores the potential effects of an ageing population on the paid work opportunities of women in Australia over the next half century. Demographic change is producing changes in Australia's labour supply characteristics that will cause women employment to become increasingly important. (Austen S., and Giles M., Australian Bulletin of Labour, Vol.29, No.3, September 2003)
Parental and Carer Participation in the Labour Force
The Output Implications of Higher Labour Force Participation – This paper examines the output implications of a significant rise in Australian labour force participation over the next forty years. (Treasury Working Paper 2003-02, October 2003).
The Long Term Fiscal Implications of Raising Australian Labour Force Participation or Productivity Growth – This paper examines the fiscal implications of a significant rise in Australian labour force participation or labour productivity growth over the next forty years, relative to the projections in the Australian Government’s 2002 03 Intergenerational Report (IGR). (David Gruen and Matthew Garbutt, April 2004).
Extracts form Child Poverty: A Review – This review addresses child poverty and what policy strategies can be used to combat it. (Policy Research Paper, No.20, Bruce Bradbury, Social Policy Research Centre, University of NSW [Section 4.3 and Section 5]).
The Relationship between personal, family, resource and work factors and maternal employment in Australia – (Gray E. and McDonald P., OECD, Labour Market and Social Policy – Occasional Papers No.62)
The Benefits to Business
The Benefits to Business: Business Performance and Family-Friendly Policies – This review of mainly British and US sources found that there are many positive benefits of family-friendly policies to report and a few disadvantages in some cases. (Dex S., Scheibl F, Journal of General Management Vol.24, No.4, Summer 1999)
Tenth Anniversary ACCI National Work and Family Awards 2002: Winning Workplaces, DEWR 2002. – These awards recognise organisations that understand the business benefits of a family-friendly work environment and take the initiative to provide this for their employees.
Work and Family, State Chanber of Commerce: NSW Workplace Trends Survey – A survey on Work and Family issues, Australia’s declining birth rate and how it can be reversed. (State Chamber of Commerce, September Quarter 2002).
The Second Work-Life Balance Study: Results from the Employers’ Survey: Executive Summary – The findings indicate strong support for work-life balance amongst employers and, although this has not always be matched in practice, provision has increased in the last three years. (National Centre for Social Research, Employment Relations Research Series No.22, DTI.)
A Parent’s Right to Ask: A Review of Flexible Working Arrangements. Survey Report October 2003 - Based on a survey of 510 organisations, looks at the Government's latest flexible working initiatives including requests made to employers by employees. (Lovells CIPD)
Section 8: International Comparisons
International Legal Trends in the Reconciliation of Work and Family Life - This report describes a significant trend towards legal intervention in the labour market to achieve more effective resolution of work and family life. Change has been promoted by national governments, and international institutions including the International Labour Organisation and those of the European Union.(Jill Murray, Research Paper prepared for the ACTU’s Test Case 2004.
Employment Relations: Parental Leave – A short guide for employers and employees (DTI)
Employment Relations: Family Emergency? - Your Right to Time Off (DTI)
Employment Relations: Flexible Working – The Right to Request and the Duty to Consider – A Guide for Employers and Employees (DTI)
Section 9: The Needs Of The Low Paid And The Role Of The Safety Net
About Time: Flexible Working. Work and Parents Taskforce Report, 2001 – A package of rights designed to help parents balance their work responsibilities with child care to the benefit of employers, employees and children. (DTI)
About Time: Flexible Working. Work and Parents Taskforce Report, 2001 – Recommendations to the Government to provide help to parents and to make a change on how we work in the future. (DTI)
Family-Friendly Work Practices – Differences within and between workplaces – This reports shows that there is a great deal of variation in access to family-friendly work practices among employees in the same workplace, as well as between employees working in different workplaces. (Gray M., Tudball J., Research Report No.7, Australian Institute of Family Studies).
Family Friendly Policies: Distribution and Implementation in Australian Workplaces - (Whitehouse Dr G., and Zetlin D., IR In Action, Department of Government, University of Queensland).
Examination of Work and Family Measures in Queensland and Federal Enterprise Agreements: The Current State of Play, ADAM Special Report - (ACIRRT, Produced for Queensland Department of Industrial Relations).
Industrial Agreements and Work/Family Provisions: Trends and Prospects Under Enterprise Bargaining - An analysis of family-friendly provisions in collective and individual agreements using ACIRRT data. Agreements with a higher percentage of family-friendly provisions are more likely to be in the public sector, be union negotiated and in female dominated industries. AWAs are less likely to be so, as employees covered are generally expected to work longer hours. (Labour and Industry, Vol.12, No.1, August 2001).