How do we balance work and family?
Why do we work? As well as providing opportunities for achievement, status and social interaction, paid work also provides access to the material rewards so highly prized in our society. On the other hand, much of the sustenance we need to get through our lives comes from our family relationships. From caring for the aged to spending time bringing up children, there is a growing recognition that family bonds are crucial to our overall health and well-being. As many people can testify, balancing family and work often involves some of the most difficult choices we face. Last week, some perspectives on these choices were explored at the Globalisation, Families and Work Conference in Brisbane. James Fletcher spoke to Anne-Marie Mioche, CEO of Families Australia, about some of the future trends which will affect family and work