Whether as providers or recipients, family and caring responsibilities will impact nearly all Australians at some point in their lives. Yet, balancing work and caring responsibilities remains a significant source of tension, as many workers struggle to meet the demands of paid employment while also fulfilling their caregiving duties. This tension is often exacerbated by discrimination, bias, and workplace systems and cultures that fail to support and include carers.
This section explores how employers can support inclusion for employees with all kinds of caring responsibilities, including care for children, elder care, foster care, kinship care, and caring for people with illness or disability.
Overview
Explore definitions, key issues and the state of play.
The case for action
Find out why your organisation should take action.
Leading practice
Learn how to take a leading practice approach.
DCA research
Check out DCA's research on this topic.
Upcoming events
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Recordings of past events
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Latest Research - Caring
The State of Flex in the Australian Workforce
Special report highlights a positive link between flexible work and workplace inclusion and shows that the stigma around care, gender and flexible work continues.
Let’s Share the Care
DCA’s report is a call to action to end the gender pay gap by enabling women and men in Australian families to ‘share the care’ more equitably.
Men Get Flexible!
DCA research on men and flexible working and how it can generate positive outcomes for men, women, families and organisations.
Latest Articles - Caring

The diversity of LGBTQ+ families and parental leave
For LGBTQ+ parents and carers, the journey to parenthood is as diverse as the community itself, and parental leave needs are just as unique.
Dads and extended parental leave: a personal perspective
Despite the benefits, many fathers are still not taking extended parental leave. Here, DCA member Emily Smeed shares her family’s choices and experience with parental leave.
Paid Parental Leave Amendment Bill 2023
This is DCA’s second submission supporting amendments to paid parental leave to ensure that Australia can offer government funded parental leave that is flexible, gender-neutral and promotes shared-care arrangements between parents.
