Women’s Work? Who Cares?

Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick to speak in Perth.

Elizabeth Broderick will address a seminar presenting the latest research about women, the economic impacts of unpaid caring responsibilities undertaken by women and options for economic workplace and social reform to share the benefits and costs of unpaid care.

Commissioner Broderick is a successful lawyer and businesswoman who was appointed Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner in 2007.

Commissioner Broderick led the review of treatment of women in the Australian Defence Forces and championed changes to the ASX Corporate Governance Principles to increase the number of women in decision-making levels.

In 2009, 5.5 million Australians, predominantly women, had unpaid caring responsibility for children and people with disability, a chronic illness or who are frail.

This seminar will consider options to support, recognise and value unpaid carers through legislation, workplace policies, carer supports and service and reforms.

It will explore opportunity for government, business, the community sector, employees, unions, unpaid carers and the broader community to work together.

There are social, economic and human rights cases for valuing the contributions of unpaid carers.