Earlier this week PricewatehouseCoopers (PwC) announced an updated paid parental leave policy with flexibility for men, women and foster or kinship carers. Regardless of their particular circumstances, staff will receive 90 days leave either in a full block, or over flexible days.
This is a significant step for foster and kinship families who may be facing complex situations while caring for vulnerable children. Accessing paid leave and flexible employment is one of the biggest issues facing carers across the country, with many organisational HR policies not recognising the complexities of foster care. This move will be particularly important for those who provide emergency or respite care, or for families who need to begin caring for a child with short notice.
We hope to see more organisations in both the corporate and non-corporate sectors follow in the footsteps of PwC, to relieve financial and personal pressures and create workplaces that have respect and empathy for families of all shapes and sizes. The Centre will continue to advocate on behalf of all foster and kinship families in Victoria. We commend organisations who have renewed their parental leave policies in favour of carers and diverse families, and encourage those who haven’t to consider doing so.
Deb Tsorbaris
CEO, Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
