Mercy Health has been recognised as the leading organisation for the advancement of women at the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Business Achievement Awards.

The national awards are designed to identify the employers and individuals who are leading by example to create workplaces that support working women.

Women represent 71 per cent of senior management positions at Mercy Health and 88 per cent of the organisation’s employees.

The Melbourne based health and aged care group’s 4,500 staff members are offered flexible work practices and 51 per cent of employees have taken up this opportunity.

Some of the flexible work programs available to Mercy Health staff include parents’ focus groups, a childcare referral service and breastfeeding accreditation.

Mercy Health’s CEO, John Ballard was awarded the Australian Human Resources Institute’s (AHRI) award for the advancement of women in 2008.

He said the leading organisation award was a reflection of Mercy Health’s commitment to caring for its carers.

“Our priority is to always care first,” he said. “We achieve this through the attraction and retention of talented people, committed to caring for others.

“Innovation and respect are core values of Mercy Health and we continue to develop new workplace initiatives to promote a flexible, challenging and rewarding working environment that cares for our carers.”