hda oration work, life and the well-being of children: four essential pillars for better outcomes in...
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HDA Oration
Work, life and the well-being of children:Four essential pillars for better outcomes in Australia
Barbara PocockCentre for Work + LifeUniversity of South Australia12th June 2008
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Median age of mothers at birth (left hand axis)
Fertility rate (right hand axis)
Women are increasingly highly educated, are having fewer children (and later), and are participating more fully in the workforce
Employed full-timeEmployed part-timeUnemployed and seeking FT or PT work
Women are attaining tertiary qualification faster than men
Women are bearing fewer children, and having them later in life
More women are working, especially dominant in part-time employment
Australian Labour force profile: 1978-2008
Diploma/CertificateBachelor degree or higherOther1
Highest level of qualification - Australia: 1996-2006
1. Other post-secondary qualification not specified or inadequately describedSource: ABS, 2068.0 Census Data 2006; ABS, 4102.0 Australian Social Trends, Data Cube (2007); ABS, 6202.0 Labour Force Jan 2008
Crude birth rate and median age of mothers at birth: 1976-2006
Today, 16.4% of women have a bachelor degree or higher, compared with 14.7% of men
Women Men
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
1986 1996 2006
% Population over 15
1986 1996 2006
110%
40%
30.8yrs
25.8yrs
1.8
2.1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
Median age at birth(yrs)
Fertility rate(births per woman)
1976 1986 1991 1996 2001 20061981 1978 20081988 19980
20
40
60
80
% Population over 15
Women Men
1978 20081988 1998
3
Growing use of formal childcare
Source: ABS Cat no 4401.0, June 2005 (reissued) p 3.
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Four pillars for good outcomes for children when parents work
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Four pillars for good outcomes for children when parents work
Long parental leaves
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Four pillars for good outcomes for children when parents work
Long parental leaves
1. Improved maternal and child health
2. Lower maternal depression3. Lower infant mortality4. Fewer low birth-weight babies5. Higher rates of breast feeding6. Greater use of preventative
health care
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Four pillars for good outcomes for children when parents work
Long parental leaves Quality child care
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Four pillars for good outcomes for children when parents work
Long parental leaves Quality child care
What matters?
•Length of hours in care•Age of child•Quality of formal care•Especially staff/child ratio•Trained staff•Home life of the child
“Warm, responsive care”
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Four pillars for good outcomes for children when parents work
Long parental leaves Quality child care Flexibility at workQuality part-time work
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Four pillars for good outcomes for children when parents work
Long parental leaves Quality child care Flexibility at workQuality part-time work
Good management
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Work overload is critical
12
Marie, Registered Nurse, Western Australia
My marriage fell apart [overnight]. And [cries] I needed to contact my manager about going back on the ward … I needed an 8.00am to 4.30pm shift and I was told no – after 17 years. I’ve gone from being a full-time mum to being at full-time work. I now live by myself with my four year old son who is in full-time day care now and my [work-life] issues are being dumped from a ward after 17 years, and having no support.
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Schedule control is critical
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We can do better…
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