DCA

Diversity Council Australia in partnership with Westpac and supporting sponsors is delighted to invite you to join our Get Flexible! campaign in support of more flexible workplaces.

Flexible working represents an important productivity lever. It helps people work smarter and thus optimises resources and productivity in a global operating environment still recovering from a GFC. However, flexible work is not seen as a valid and legitimate management tool or career choice in Australian workplaces. In short, quality flexible work is simply not standard business practice.

But the good news is, flexible working can be done – and with real benefits for employers and employees alike! We are delighted to provide this website as a one-stop-shop for all Australian employers and employees wanting resources and information to Get Flexible! at work.

Also supported by Stockland, Origin and Allens, our campaign officially kicked off with the release of a major new DCA research project at a special event in Sydney in March 2012. Called Get Flexible: Mainstreaming Flexible Work in Australian Business, this leading edge research provides valuable information on practical steps organisations can take to move beyond just ‘talk’ to implementing real cultural change on flexibility. For more information on the research, click here.

The launch of the second piece of research in our Get Flexible! campaign – this time on men and flexible working – took place on 28 August 2012 at an event featuring father, writer and comedian Dave O'Neil.

The research, titled Men Get Flexible! Mainstreaming Flexible Work in Australian Business, found Australian men want and need access to flexible working to support their important roles as fathers, carers and engaged volunteers in their communities, but their uptake of flexible working is limited and most commonly involves informal ‘flextime’ and ad hoc working from home structured around full-time work. DCA recommends an innovative framework for action for employers to increase men’s engagement in flexible work and thus help to move flexible work from the margins to the mainstream. For more information about this innovative research click here.

Don’t forget to show your support for the campaign by liking us on Facebook and Linked in and following us on Twitter!

Presented by

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsor

Flexibility Ambassadors

Tracey Spicer

Journalist, Presenter, Radio Broadcaster

Respected newsreader, journalist and mum Tracey Spicer is probably the most versatile media personality in the country. The 43-year-old works as a 2ue broadcaster, News Ltd columnist, Sky News anchor, and travel writer for Holidays with Kids magazine and supports flexible working.

Read Tracey Spicer's full biography

Sophie McCarthy

General Manager, McCarthy Mentoring

Sophie McCarthy joined McCarthy Mentoring as General Manager in 2007 and has significantly grown the business. She is also a Director of Griffin Theatre Company and a member of the Hear for You Advisory Board. Sophie supports flexible working.

Read Sophie McCarthy's full biography

Susan Ryan

Age Discrimination Commissioner

Susan Ryan is Australia’s first Age Discrimination Commissioner. From 1975 to 1988, Susan was Senator for the ACT, becoming the first woman to hold a Cabinet post in a federal Labor Government. She served in several senior portfolios in the Hawke Government including as Minister for Education and Youth Affairs. Susan supports flexible working.

Read Susan Ryan's full biography

Lucy Taksa

Professor of Management and Head, Department of Marketing & Management, Macquarie University

Professor Lucy Taksa was appointed Head, Department of Marketing & Management, Macquarie University in August 2009. Lucy has pursued equity outcomes for women and for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds through her research, teaching and her work for government and the community over the past twenty five years. Lucy supports flexible working.

Read Lucy Taksa's full biography

Tanya Hosch

Deputy Campaign Director, You Me Unity

Tanya is Deputy Campaign Director, You Me Unity, the national conversation about updating the Constitution to recognise Australia's first peoples. She is a prominent director and social policy adviser specialising in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, young people, women's issues, health, community education and engagement, philanthropy advisor. Tanya supports flexible working.

Read Tanya Hosch's full biography

Deborah Thomas

Director Of Media, Public Affairs And Brand Development, ACP Magazines

One of the country’s most successful and experienced magazine editors, Deborah was at the helm of Australia’s biggest selling magazine, The Australian Women’s Weekly, for a decade and has been editing our most popular women’s magazines for over 20 years, before moving to a corporate role within ACP Magazines. Deborah supports flexible working.

Read Deborah Thomas's full biography

Elizabeth Broderick

Sex Discrimination Commissioner

Elizabeth Broderick was appointed Sex Discrimination Commissioner in September 2007 for a five year term. Lawyer and businesswoman, Elizabeth was the 2001-02 Telstra NSW Business Woman of the Year and Australian Corporate Business Woman of the Year. Elizabeth supports flexible working.

Read Elizabeth Broderick's full biography

Natalie Walker

CEO, Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council

Natalie is the Chief Executive of the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council (AIMSC). AIMSC is a not for profit company which connects its members – Corporate Australia and government agencies – with Indigenous businesses for the purpose of building profitable business partnerships. Natalie gets flexible in the organisation she leads by practising and supporting working from home.

Read Natalie Walker's full biography

Andrew Stevens

Managing Director, IBM Australia and New Zealand

Andrew is the Managing Director of IBM Australia and New Zealand. He manages a business with annual revenues of more than $4 billion. He is a member of the Business Council of Australia; a Director of the National Board of the Australian Information Industry Association; and serves on the Board of the Australian Chamber Orchestra. Andrew supports flexible working.

Read Andrew Stevens's full biography

Megan Dalla-Camina

Director, Strategy, IBM Australia and New Zealand

Megan currently works at the intersection of business strategy and organisational culture to drive positive change and revenue growth for IBM. As a single mother working in an executive role four days a week, she has experienced first hand the benefits to both her and the business of flexible working practices, and is passionate about enabling men and women to embrace flexibility to drive positive outcomes.

Read Megan Dalla-Camina's full biography

Michael Rose, Allens

Allens is an international law firm with offices throughout Australia and Asia.

Michael Rose, its Chief Executive Partner and flexibility sponsor, describes why flexibility is so important to Allens.

Resources To Get Flexible

Case study: Westpac

Westpac knows – based on feedback from its recruitment and ‘on-boarding’ processes, employee engagement surveys and high return rates from parental leave (84% in 2009) – that flexible working arrangements and innovative policies and programs are all key considerations for employees choosing Westpac over other organisations.

Get Flexible: Mainstreaming Flexible Work in Australian Business

DCA’s first Get Flexible! report found there is significant evidence that flexible work optimises resources and productivity and urges organisations to ‘mainstream’ quality flexible work and careers as standard business practice.

DCA members can access extensive resources on flexibility

DCA members have access to a wealth of information on flexibility including business case, leading practice principles, case studies, thought leadership, benchmarks, toolkits and research.

All work + no play = stress

'Flexible' working arrangements often are anything but and rising demands take a toll on employees' wellbeing, writes Richard Denniss in The Canberra Times.

PM sets working from home target of 12%

Cara Waters at Smart Company, reports on the Prime Minister Julia Gillard's target for 12% of federal public servants to work from home by 2020.

What men want: flexible work

Rachel Nickless in the AFR explores DCA's research and why men are increasingly wanting to work flexibly to care for their children, but many are afraid to ask for fear of career penalties.