Australian women spend substantially more time on unpaid care work than men do. WGEA have found that this inequality spills out to other inequalities in the labour market, and continues to reinforce antiquated gender stereotypes.

Alleviating this inequality is possible but requires policy prioritisation and innovative practices. Bringing together key experts over three sessions, our panelists will share their recent research findings on the future of work for women, particularly in a post-COVID world, the positive economic impact of paid parental leave and the concept of 'flexible work' and how it manifests in the workplace especially in female dominated industries such as retail.

SESSION ONE: WOMEN, WORK AND ECONOMIC SECURITY: COVID-19 AND A GENDER EQUAL RECOVERY

WEDNESDAY 13 OCTOBER, 10.30AM - 12.00PM (AEDT)

Australian women have been hard hit by two years of COVID-19 crisis with long term implications for economic security in older age. The unpaid labour distribution at home has only been exacerbated by successive lockdowns, women working in frontline sectors have experienced increased hours and anxiety around contracting the virus, and the highly feminised sectors of the workforce, such as the arts and hospitality, have had their working hours drastically decreased. This presentation will outline the gendered impact of the pandemic experience for Australian women, and the gender-responsive policy settings and business practices urgently needed to design gender equality and economic security into the COVID recovery.

Professor Elizabeth Hill, Department of Political Economy, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Sydney
Professor Rae Cooper, The Women, Work and Leadership Research Group, The University of Sydney Business School

SESSION TWO: WHO CARES? A FAIR SHARE OF WORK AND CARE

WEDNESDAY 13 OCTOBER, 2.00PM - 3.30PM (AEDT)

The SDA in partnership with the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of NSW commissioned a first ever study into the challenges of work, family, and care in the retail industry. Almost six and half thousand workers responded to the survey.
The study provides an insight into the daily lives of retail workers which shows they are swamped, grappling with irregular work, concerned their hours are negatively affecting their children’s’ lives, punished for having care responsibilities, and relying on parents or neighbours to look after their kids because of sudden shift changes.

Julia Fox, National Assistant Secretary, SDA

SESSION THREE: PAYING SUPER ON PARENTAL LEAVE

THURSDAY 14 OCTOBER, 10.30AM - 12.00PM (AEDT)

The gender super gap continues to be a problem with women retiring with a third less super than men. Governments around the world now recognise the significant social and economic benefits of paid parental leave. However, in Australia only a small percentage of women receive superannuation on their paid parental leave.