<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/09/regional-australia-health-workers-teachers-childcare>
"One of my enduring memories as a mother with a 12-month-old infant was
covering the 1998 constitutional convention at Old Parliament House in
Canberra.
Back then, carrying on a working life meant making the 90-minute commute in the
dark twice a day, while hoping not to meet a kangaroo on a similar path.
When the second child arrived, after a short stint working part-time, I threw
up my hands and stayed at home. The internet was barely a thing. Working from
home was still considered deeply suspicious by employers.
For me and many other rural mothers (and it is still mostly mothers), the
combination of distance and lack of available childcare increased the
difficulty of returning to work to such a degree that it was not worth it. We
could afford to make the choice, though my superannuation has suffered.
Jobs are more mobile now and childcare is better recognised in 2024 as an
actual economic good, but I am not sure it is any easier."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
