Family Friendly Workplaces Events
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Profit with Purpose: Measuring the Value of Social Impact
The future of work is socially responsible. Social impact is no longer a ‘nice-to-have’, it’s a business-critical performance measure that influences everything from employee satisfaction to investor confidence. In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, being a socially responsible employer isn’t just about doing the right thing; it’s a strategic necessity for long-term success. Companies that prioritise social responsibility build resilience, attract top talent, and earn trust from consumers and investors.
Yet, many organisations struggle to measure their social impact effectively, often taking a compliance-driven approach to meet ESG and Gender Equality reporting requirements. Demonstrating the tangible benefits of HR policies and initiatives without clear social impact metrics becomes a challenge.
Past Events
The Family Factor: Unlocking Gender Equality At Work
The way we support employees with caring responsibilities reflects not only our workplace values but also our vision for a more equitable society.
There is a compelling economic and social case for investing in policies and practices that enable employees to effectively balance work and family responsibilities. This benefits families drives business success and strengthens the wider economy.
We’re thrilled to welcome Annika Freyer, CEO of Champions of Change Coalition, who will join Emma Walsh, Founder of Family Friendly Workplaces, to share insights and research on dismantling barriers for carers. Learn from Sarah Cleasby, Family Friendly Workplaces expert, who will provide valuable insights on how your organisation can improve by sharing what is best practice and what other organisations doing to measure and improve progress.
How to become a family-inclusive employer?
To support Australian employers understand how to become a more family-friendly workplace, we offer this online education session that aims to deepen employers’ understanding, knowledge and capability on how to be a family-inclusive employer.
Guest Speaker – Amy Wild, Investa
Amy Wild is the Group Executive, Head of Corporate Operations for Investa. Overseeing their People, Marketing and Technology functions, Amy is responsible for helping Investa to define its unique corporate identity and bringing this to life through employee experience, brand and culture.
Best Practice Carers Policy and Support Framework
Unpaid carers make up 11% of Australians (ABS, 2018) and 1 in 8 employees (Carers Australia). Do you understand their significance for your organization’s policies?
Carers include parents, relatives, and friends providing support. In the workplace, they face unique challenges balancing work with caregiving responsibilities. Recognizing them within organizational policies is essential for attracting and retaining talent. Join us with experts from QBE Insurance, Carers Queensland, and McCullogh Robertson to explore this topic.
Supporting Menopause at Work / Reproductive Wellbeing in the Workplace
Acknowledging and supporting menopause and reproductive health in the workplace is crucial for gender equality and employee well-being. Amanda Hart, Chief People Officer at The a2Milk company, discusses the impact of their Women’s Health Leave policy. Experts Thea O’Connor and Kathleen Waite highlight the importance of supportive policies and reducing stigmas around reproductive health.
How to become a family-inclusive employer?
To support Australian employers understand how to become a more family-friendly workplace, we offer this online education session that aims to deepen employers’ understanding, knowledge and capability on how to be a family-inclusive employer.
Guest Speaker – HCF
Hazel Rehn, Organisational Development Manager at HCF – Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund – will bring to life their commitment to a family-friendly culture.
Putting the health and wellbeing of their 1.8 million members first, HCF has implemented programs and partnerships that focus on supporting families through practical tools and expert advice.
Best Practice Parental Leave
This panel discussion was moderated by Angela Priestley, Founder of Women’s Agenda and Emma Walsh, Founder of Parents At Work. Joined by Deloitte National Director DEI – Kate Furlong and Cube Group Head of People & Culture – Kim Annesley.
They shared their experiences of building the business case for change, designing a fit for purpose parental leave transition experience as well as the impact for individuals and their respective businesses.
How to become a family-inclusive employer?
To support Australian employers understand how to become a more family-friendly workplace, we offer free webinars throughout the year.
These online education sessions deepen employers’ understanding, knowledge and capability on how to be a family-inclusive employer.
Guest speaker:
Creating Neuroinclusive Workplaces
Organisations that lead with compassion to create inclusive workplaces for both neurodistinct employees and carers of neurodistinct family members are opening up a world of opportunity for both their people and their business.
Joined by Natalie Phillips-Mason (she/her) the founder of Inclusive Change, a Change Management consultancy with a focus on creating neuroinclusive workplaces. Natalie comes from a mixed neurotype family herself and believes that we all have a right to belong in a workplace.
Joining Natalie will be Jean Capdevielle, Director, Bid and Value Marketing at Thales Australia. Jean leads the Accessibility and Neurodiversity Stream within Thales Australia alongside an amazing Employee Resource Group focused on making the workplace more inclusive.
How to become a family-inclusive employer?
To support Australian employers understand how to become a more family-friendly workplace, we offer free webinars throughout the year.
These online education sessions deepen employers’ understanding, knowledge and capability on how to be a family-inclusive employer.
Guest speaker: Courtney Pond, Group Inclusion & Diversity Manager at the NRMA.
October 2022
VIRTUAL Work&Care Summit
How to become a certified Family Inclusive Workplace
The Summit will recommend immediate opportunities and actions for organisations to create a caring Australia that is family inclusive and shift the dial on carer’s paid work participation, engagement and productivity.
Summit attendance is recommended for CEOs and C-suite, HR & DEI professionals, unions and industry associations.
This virtual inaugural event will bring together the care sector, community groups and certified Family Inclusive Workplace employers to explore and discuss:
- The diverse challenges carers face in the workplace
- The rationale to bridge the work and care divide
- The roadmap for employers to support carers at work
To read more about the Summit including the panel session topics visit the Summit website here.
June 2022
Report Launch
12 Months On: Examining the Benefits of Family Friendly Workplaces
A celebration of one year since the launch of the National Work and Family Standards and Family Friendly Workplaces certification.
The Bridging the Work and Family Divide Report examines the impact of family friendly workplaces and forms the basis of a social impact framework being developed as a catalyst for change to support all families in the workplace.
The event brought together certified organisations, alongside government and other business leaders, gender equality and family advocates. Together they recognised the progress made and the 70 organisations who have been certified as Family Inclusive Workplaces™.
Speakers
- The Hon. Matt Kean, NSW Treasurer
- Ann Sherry AO, Chair, UNICEF Australia
- Emma Walsh, CEO, Parents At Work
- Pip Dexter, Talent and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Executive Lead
- Melanie Evans, CEO, ING Australia
- Shiona Watson, Chief People Officer, QBE Insurance
May 2022
Family Friendly Workplaces Education Sessions
How to become a certified Family Inclusive Workplace™
Family Friendly Workplaces is running free education sessions for workplaces about how to become certified as a Family Inclusive Workplace. Hosted by our Founder, Emma Walsh the webinar will run for 45 minutes and will provide the opportunity to ask questions. Join other business leaders and HR leaders as you learn about what is involved in the process to Family Inclusive Workplace™ certification.
February 2022
Webinar Event
How to become a certified Family Inclusive Workplace™
Family Friendly Workplaces strive to reduce the tension that exists between work and family by embedding and promoting policies and practices that genuinely support employees to thrive at work and at home. Never has there been a better time to get certified.
Family Friendly Workplaces is running free education sessions for workplaces about how to become certified as a Family Inclusive Workplace. Hosted by our Founder, Emma Walsh the webinar will run for 45 minutes and will provide the opportunity to ask questions. Join other business leaders and HR leaders as you learn about what is involved in the process to Family Inclusive Workplace certification.
Please note: A recording to this event will be made available by request.
September 2021
Employer Roundtable
The Case for Action on Gender Equal Parental Leave
What should a best practice parental leave program deliver employees and leaders in a post covid world?
In this roundtable, we explore and share:
- What makes a competitive parental leave policy in the context of our new ‘future of work’ paradigm, in a post covid world
- How to develop a gender equal policy
- How to measure the impact of a parental leave policy
- Discuss examples of latest thinking around developing parental leave programs
- Why your parental leave policy is vital to your gender equality strategy
Our special guests include:
- Alison Kitchen, Chair, KPMG – Alison is a vocal spokesperson on improving Government PPL and will speak to KPMG’s new 26 weeks label free new policy
- Danielle Wood, CEO, The Grattan Institute – Danielle is launching a ‘hot off the press’ research paper on improving Paid Parental Leave
August 2021
Employer Roundtable
The future of work has arrived. It’s more fluid and unpredictable than anyone could have imagined. So how are organisations adapting their approach to operate in a new virtual, agile and hybrid workplace where the usual office based, clock on clock off rules no longer apply?
Hear from experts including:
- Deloitte Consulting: Elise Sharpley, Partner, Deloitte
- QBE Insurance: Catherine McNair, Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing
- Flex We Are: Ariane Virtue, Partner
June 2021
Briefing and Education Sessions
These sessions are to help employers understand more about what it takes to be certified as a Family Friendly Workplace, including details of the simple step by step process it involves. The education sessions will be led by Family Friendly Workplaces Certifiers who will provide time for a Q&A discussion to give you the opportunity to ask any questions you have.
This session is for leaders, HR and D&I professionals who are serious about having their organisation certified and would like to begin the initial steps.
May 2021
Rethinking the Work + Family Divide
How workplaces are embracing being family inclusive
Learn what some of Australia’s first certified Family Friendly Workplaces are doing to bridge the work and family divide, close the gender equality gap, tackle discrimination, improve flexible working as well as overall wellbeing of their workplaces.
Moderated by Angela Priestley, Founder of Women’s Agenda the panel includes:
- Eleanor Debelle – Interim Chief Customer Officer – QBE AUSPAC
- Alison Hernandez – Managing Director – APAC, Randstad RiseSmart
- Lisa Annese – CEO, Diversity Council of Australia
FAMILY FRIENDLY WORKPLACES:
NATIONAL WORK + FAMILY STANDARDS
Launch of a new recognition framework
New Work + Family Standards provide employers with a benchmark of best practice guidelines that support employees meet their work, family and wellbeing needs, developed in partnership by Parents At Work and Unicef Australia. The Family Friendly Workplaces recognition framework certifies employers as a Family Inclusive Workplace™.
Join moderator Annabel Crabb as she talks to a panel of leaders in corporate Australia who are dominating the charge, including:
- Ann Sherry, Chair, UNICEF Australia
- Alan Docherty, CFO, Commonwealth Bank
- Steven Worrall, MD, Microsoft Australia
- Clare Harding, CSO, Deloitte
