Work and Family in Victoria

Family and the Victorian workforce

The Victorian workforce is in a state of change. People are living longer. The birth rate has declined, and there are changing household structures with an increasing number of single parent and double-income families.

In addition there are more part-time and casual workers, and technology has changed the nature of work and increased its portability. In 2008 women were 45 percent of the total Australian workforce compared to 42 percent in 1991.

Declining birth rates coupled with increasing longevity mean that Australia's population growth is slowing and the population is ageing. Within 10 years, Australians' aged over 65 will account for 14 percent of our total population.

Data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (HILDA) conducted in 2005 reveals that:

• 64 per cent of working Victorians care for dependent children or other family members
• 63 per cent of women and 14 percent of men with dependent children work part-time
• 47 per cent of men with dependent children work extended hours however 29 percent of men with dependent children would prefer to work fewer hours
• 14 per cent of Victorian workers took time off for maternity, paternity, bereavement, family or carers matters in the past 12 months
• 59 per cent of all Victorian working parents believe that working has a positive effect on their children
• 30.9 per cent of women indicated that they had to turn down work opportunities because of family commitments compared to only 18 per cent of men

The Action Agenda for Work and Family Balance

On 21 November 2003, the Premier launched the Victorian Government's Action Agenda for Work and Family Balance.

The Action Agenda represents a Whole-of-Victorian-Government approach to better work and family balance in Victoria, and identified four main agendas for actions. These actions were:  calls to action. These actions were to

• lead the way in work and family balance
• support industry to adopt practices that enhance work and family balance
• work with the community on work and family issues
• demonstrate good work and family practice in Victorian public employment

	Action Agenda For Work & Family Balance - Full report (PDF 2Mb)
	Full 24-page version the Action Agenda Report on Work and Family Balance in Victoria

	Action Agenda For Work & Family Balance - Executive Summary (PDF 379Kb)
	Four-page summary of the Action Agenda Report on Work and Family Balance in Victoria

Work and Family Balance Action Agenda Report Card

In April 2005 a Report Card, outlining the major achievements under the Victorian Government's Action Agenda for Work and Family Balance (as above), was released.

	Report Card on Work and Family Balance Action Agenda (PDF 366Kb)
	A 24-page report on the outcome of implementing the 2003 Action Agenda for Work and Family Balance

Contact the Victorian Business Line (VBL) on 13 22 15 regarding any problems with file downloads.