 | Do the election policies of all parties include systemic and well-funded commitments to parenting support? |
Parenting is the most important role in any society. The importance of stable and caring relationships in the lives and futures of infants and young children means that supporting parents, particularly those with very young children, must be a priority.
‘The reconciliation of work and family life needs to be a prominent concern of economic and social policies in countries at all levels of development.
‘Preserving sufficient time to combine paid work with family and domestic obligations, such as child care and elder care, should be an integral element of these policies. Flexi-time, emergency family leave, and part-time work are all measures that can be adapted to national circumstances.'
—World of Work magazine, August 2007, International Labour Organization
Australia needs to provide real, effective support to parents through:
- free early intervention services that are relationship focused
- paid parental leave for all parents
- flexible work environments, including an Industrial Relations policy that gives priority to the development of workplaces that positively acknowledge the family responsibilities of workers with young children.
View the International Labour Organization's ‘Spotlight on working time'.
Early Childhood Australia has committed to five main issues for its election agenda:
We encourage all those who are involved in the care and education of young children to make your voice heard in the lead-up to this year's federal election.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 07 November 2007 )
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