Part 5: Appendices (continued)

Date

Carer support

The Treasury recognises that all carers have the same rights, choices and opportunities as other Australians, regardless of age, race, gender, disability, sexuality, religious or political beliefs, cultural or linguistic heritage or differences, socioeconomic status or locality.

The Treasury’s carer support framework includes:

  • a nondiscriminatory definition of family in the Treasury Workplace Agreement 2011-14 recognising relatives by blood, marriage, strong traditional or ceremonial affinity and genuine domestic or household relationships;
  • a range of family-friendly working arrangements such as access to information about childcare and school holiday care, access to a carer’s room, access to carer’s leave and accreditation as a breastfeeding-friendly workplace;
  • using accumulated personal leave to care for sick family and household members, or a person they have caring responsibilities for. Staff may also access unpaid carer’s leave to care for or support family or household members or if an unexpected family or household emergency arises;
  • access to an Employee Assistance Program. The program provides a free professional and confidential counselling service to assist staff and their immediate family members experiencing work-related or personal problems;
  • access to onsite childcare facilities in the Abacus Childcare and Education Centre which is managed by Communities@Work. As at 30 June 2013 there were 85 children from Treasury families enrolled at the Abacus Childcare and Education Centre. The centre can accommodate a total of 143 child care places;
  • part-time and flexible working arrangements. At 30 June 2013, 13.2 per cent of Treasury staff worked part-time. Both male and female employees use part-time work to enable them to balance work and personal responsibilities. The proportion of females working part-time increased from 19.3 per cent at 30 June 2012 to 22.1 per cent at 30 June 2013 while males working part-time increased from 3.3 per cent to 5.2 per cent. Access to job-share arrangements and home-based work help Treasury staff balance work and personal commitments.