Ladies’ Day Everyday at NSW NGO
UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families has today been named an EOWA Employer of Choice for Women. The leading NSW child and family welfare agency employs over 620 staff, more than 75 percent of whom are female.
Women-friendly policies include flexible work practices that build work and family balance and opportunities for promotion within the organisation. The organisation also has a predominantly female management team.
Director Jane Woodruff, who is also a former Director of the NSW Women’s Coordination Unit, is thrilled that UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families has been recognised as a great place for women to work.
“As an organisation deeply committed to social justice and the wellbeing of NSW children, young people and families, we are extraordinarily proud of this recognition of our support of working women,” Ms Woodruff said.
In 2008, UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families launched a recruitment campaign that emphasised their longstanding family-friendly policies, “Get a Career that Matters”. These policies include part-time and job share roles, flexible working hours, bereavement and carers’ leave, salary sacrifice for additional annual leave, the option to work from home and even bring a mildly sick child to work.
Flexibility on work and family balance benefits staff at all levels of the organisation, including Social Policy and Research Manager Karen Bevan who just last week took the opportunity to bring her mildly sick 10 year old to the office.
“It really makes a difference to work for an organisation that values my responsibilities as a mum as well as a manager,” Ms Bevan said.
UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families assisted approximately 23,000 children, young people and families across NSW through service provision and advocacy in 2008. The organisation brings together UnitingCare Burnside, UnitingCare Unifam, the Institute of Family Practice and UnitingCare Harris Community Centre. UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families is also part of the Uniting Church in Australia.
UnitingCare Children, Young People and Families Director Jane Woodruff, Human Resources Director Mandy Cranston and other female staff who have benefited from flexible workplace policies are available for interview.
Media Contact: Elizabeth Scully on 0438 294 938
