The Parenthood x Business Chicks Event Series

The Parenthood is excited to present three events in November with Business Chicks and Thrive by Five. We have nine fantastic speakers and leaders who will shed light on the different perspectives that make investing in universal access to high quality early education the smart choice for Australia. From the need for culturally appropriate early learning services to the ups and downs of parenthood and the challenges associated with returning to work after having a baby, this event series will inform and inspire.

(These events are free but if they weren't we'd offer a refund for any one who walks away unconvinced this is the reform Australia needs right now. You'll also find out about how you can get involved to make this happen.)  

We kick off the series with a discussion on the need to overhaul early education & care in Australia on 12 November. Three high-profile leaders will take you through the case for making high-quality early education and care universally accessible for all Australian children.

Affordable, high-quality care for children has been at the heart of the feminist agenda in Australia since the '60s and Wendy McCarthy AO has been at the forefront of the campaign for 40 years. Emily Carter is a Gooniyandi Kija woman and the CEO of the Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre (MWRC) in Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia. She will share the story of the Baya Gawiy Early Childhood Learning Unit which provides Fitzroy Valley families with a safe, trauma-informed environment for their children. Emily will discuss the power of providing culturally appropriate learning and care to children in their early years. Jay Weatherill, the former South Australian Premier, will explain why running the Thrive By Five campaign to ensure every child, and every family, can access quality, affordable early education and care, is the task he chose to pursue post-politics. 

Our second event takes place on 17 November and is about personal experiences on the frontline juggling work & care. Non-executive director, Marina Go, engineer and Federal Senator, Dr Mehreen Faruqi and the National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds have all led different lives but have this in common. They have all forged long, successful careers in their respective fields and they’ve juggled work and care throughout. How? What are their tips and tricks for managing the (mental) mother load, succeeding at work and balancing the competing demands on their time?

Another commonality between Marina, Mehreen and Anne is that they have each advocated for positive policies and practices to support women and families throughout their working lives. How do they see universal access to high quality early education and care delivering for children and women in particular? Why do they consider this reform urgent and necessary in 2020? 

On 27 November we will be discussing the challenges of returning to work after having a child. Australia lags developed countries in the provision of evidenced-based progressive policies that support parents and children. The average length of paid parental leave among OECD countries is around 55 weeks, while Australia offers just 18 weeks. At minimum wage. Australian families spend upwards of 27% of their household income on childcare while the OECD average is 11%. Australia’s comparatively low workforce participation rate among women ranked 49th out of 153 countries, is attributed in part to the high cost of care and the absence of generous and equitable paid parental leave.

All of this makes the return to work after having a baby more difficult – for both mums and dads. Mariam Veiszadeh, Amy Thunig and Emma Walsh know – first-hand – how tricky this transition remains for too many parents as they have lived it. But they also know it can be better and are united in their desire to see positive change realised. They will explore how parents and organisations can better manage the challenge of juggling work and family life, why affordable, high-quality early education and care could be a game-changer for Australia and their tips for returning to work. 

Join our guests and presenters Olivia Ruello, CEO at Business Chicks, and Georgie Dent, Executive Director at The Parenthood.

The events will be online and free of charge. You can book your tickets here: 

Why overhauling early education is the key to gender equality at work - Thursday 12 November 12:00pm-1:00pm AEDT