[-Emissary-]

Most definately. Maybe they should make custody 50/50...

Employers make assumptions, coupled or not, that the 'man' will work and the woman will stay with the kids. It'll take time to change that assumption and to some degree it's getting there but such drastic changes don't happen overnight. Perhaps this will further change that attitude with more women entering the workforce

Not to mention there are single fathers. But they're such a small minority no one gives a damn about them.

A man I work with is a single father with two girls 6 and 8 and works full-time with an absent mother. How does he make it work? It's incredibly hard but he does it. he moved into a smaller place close to the kid's schools. He gave him his 'career' aspirations and study and just got a job. And the job isn't flexible. He works 9 to 5. But he worked the system. He reached out for support and found it through other parents and centrelink and so fourth.

There are resources out there, for everyone. It's not at all easy but it's not completely impossible.

I agree. Gender inequality is a problem in both single parents and dual-parents families.

If we refuse to accept that a woman cannot return to work because she has children, then why do we have to accept that a father cannot take on more care of his children because he has to work? Why does it always fall on the mother to organise care?

This very issue is a problem for both fathers and mothers. Men find it hard to get time off work to care for their children because it isn't deemed to be their responsibility and women find it hard to return to work because it is deemed their responsibility to care for their children.

That attitude is rife on EB and it really baffles me and I do hope that in time, that attitude will be changed as more women enter the workforce and forces the inequality to be addressed.

[Lightning_bug]

If we refuse to accept that a woman cannot return to work because she has children, then why do we have to accept that a father cannot take on more care of his children because he has to work? Why does it always fall on the mother to organise care?

I believe it's something we can believe in theory but, generally, we still have a society which has the attitude 'a kid should be with its mother' and all other aspects of the way society is designed is to accomodate this belief.

I've seen some amazing accomodations in my particular workplace compared to other places and I do believe this attitude is changing. However having a husband denied leave while I was having a baby because 'it wasn't in the businesses best interest' and lose hours dramatically after calling in sick a few times to care for kids... it hasn't changed enough.

In single-family situations I believe the attitude is that the primary carer has to take on the responsibility to organise care and not along the lines of gender. A father with full care would be expected to take responsibility as equally as a mother would. No doubt if it were a 50/50 custody situation it would be seen that the father would have to organise care during their time and the mother during hers.

This post has been edited by Lightning_bug: 06/05/2012, 12:53 AM

[ashleerose]

Just been doing some research on this and thought id share some links:

http://singlemum.com.au/features/single-pa...ason-bryce.html

http://www.singlemotherforum.com/viewtopic...mp;t=2035#p9414

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-a...a-1226351404890

http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/news/loc...ts/2548605.aspx

I thought by sharing these links those that were confused, or simply did not understand the situation for what it is or will be can now have a insight into the situation.

[ashleerose]

A more positive informative outlook:

http://www.deewr.gov.au/Employment/JSA/Job...entsCarers.aspx

[ashleerose]

More info:

http://www.humanservices.gov.au/corporate/.../families/35051

[llg]

The problem will not be finding childcare as that is irrelevant since the youngest is 8.

Before and after school care will be a problem, but one the government can fix by assigning extra staff where they are needed.

The biggest problem will be age discrimination. Many women and they will be mostly women, who have waited until their youngest is 8 years old will be in their mid 40s going up to 50 years old and many will not get a job worth having simply because of age discrimination. If the government wants women to return to the workforce after having families it has to seriously tackle this problem and the first step it can take in doing so is to stop anyone showing their age at an interview or a job application. It can also stop any employer asking a person's age or using sneaky ways to find out a person's age, such as copying their license, at a job interview or through the application. No finding care will not be the reason many of these women will not find jobs, it will be simple age discrimination.

Not everyone looks their age and a person should get a job based on their ability. There are older workers who have been out of the workforce a while and the ability to get a traineeship for a few years would help them get back in and their are young workers who are really good at managing people and organising processes yet they are seen as not mature enough. If a person's age was not shown I wonder how more accurately employers would choose their workforce.

[mummyoftwogirls]

I would love work but I am single and the only financial income for my children.I only have a mother for support who is currently doing it tough working two jobs. I rang my local daycare for before and after school care only 1 of my children would have to go the amount they quoted me was $126 for a week. So if you add that with the cost of fuel say $70 if i get a local job that totals $196. I do have qualifications in business but still the average income for me a week would be $550.

[casime]

I would love work but I am single and the only financial income for my children.I only have a mother for support who is currently doing it tough working two jobs. I rang my local daycare for before and after school care only 1 of my children would have to go the amount they quoted me was $126 for a week. So if you add that with the cost of fuel say $70 if i get a local job that totals $196. I do have qualifications in business but still the average income for me a week would be $550.

Government benefits are not "income". You aren't any source of income for your children while you aren't working.

No one is expecting you to put them in care all week. You are only required to work 15 hours per week, which is perfectly doable within school hours. You could get work in admin, or doing the books for a company within those hours if you put your mind to it and looked. Even working full time and paying for care you would still be eligible for FTA payments, so you'd be better off than not working at all.

I'm glad that sitting around saying 'woe is me' is no longer going to cut it.

[Mrs.Brown]

I would love work but I am single and the only financial income for my children.I only have a mother for support who is currently doing it tough working two jobs. I rang my local daycare for before and after school care only 1 of my children would have to go the amount they quoted me was $126 for a week. So if you add that with the cost of fuel say $70 if i get a local job that totals $196. I do have qualifications in business but still the average income for me a week would be $550.

And what is your point? That you do not want to work because you have to pay for day care and fuel? Give me a break, that is a weak excuse. What your really saying is that it is just too easy for you to do nothing.

With the childcare, you will get CCB and CCTR. Therefore you cost of $126 certainly will not be $126. Fuel? Well we all have to pay for fuel to get to work. $70 a week for a local job tho?

I think your post is taking the pee really. And I think you are quite content to sit at home having the taxpayer support you because your excuses above are just that, excuses. Sorry to be blunt but it is people with your mindset that make it tough for those single mums who are doing everything they can in order to get a job and provide for their children. Unlike yourself.

And what is wrong with earning $550 a week? Oh yeah, you have to leave your house to earn it.

This post has been edited by Icehouse: 17/05/2012, 12:12 AM

[SpunkyMonkey88]

I would love work but I am single and the only financial income for my children.I only have a mother for support who is currently doing it tough working two jobs. I rang my local daycare for before and after school care only 1 of my children would have to go the amount they quoted me was $126 for a week. So if you add that with the cost of fuel say $70 if i get a local job that totals $196. I do have qualifications in business but still the average income for me a week would be $550.

and...?? What makes you so special that you shouldn't have to work?

Even coupled parents have to pay these things....