Balancing Work and New Parenthood

“This insightful monograph brings to the fore an extensive exploration of the ‘untold story’ of Australia’s parental leave history and its impacts. It asks: ‘who cares about the next generation?’, a crucial question that both government and business must confront and rise to meet in a post-COVID economy – the act of caregiving and the role of caregivers in our society have never been more exposed as undervalued and under-invested in. I highly recommend any public or private sector employer or individual interested in the future of work and the well-being of our future generation to read this comparative study. It will open your eyes to a far bigger picture of the conflicting influences that require addressing if we are to prosper as a thriving nation.” —Emma Walsh, CEO of Parents At Work and Founder of Family Friendly Workplaces, Australia.

“This is an important contribution to shedding light on paid parental leave in Australia. As the writers note, Australia’s scheme lags behind the majority of other OECD nations. The comparisons with Germany, Sweden and Canada show the urgency for the reform of paid parental leave in Australia.” —Professor Susanne Garvis, Griffith Institute for Educational Research, Australia.