Could taking an elderly parent to work be the way of the future?

The inquiry, which has already held hearings in Perth and Sydney and will travel to Adelaide and Brisbane next, is looking at innovative strategies and  ideas to assist carers of the elderly in their role. It is due to report to parliament early next year.

ACTU Industrial Officer, Belinda Tkalcevic said in a submission at the inquiry that smaller businesses could provide information and referral services for carers and those larger businesses could provide care for employees’ relatives in the workplace.

“There would be workplaces where it would be possible to offer more hands-on types of support, along the lines of those workplaces that currently offer work-based childcare,” Tkalcevic told the inquiry.

Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry workplace policy director Scott Barklamb said it was “an interesting idea” but could only work on a voluntary basis and if it had Government support.

“We do face an ageing society, creative approaches are going to be required and on a voluntary basis the sort of model the ACTU floated may warrant being examined by some employers,” said Barklamb.

Mr Barklamb also said the Government would have to help workplaces set up care centres and remove fringe benefit tax disincentives that have deterred businesses from setting up on-site child care centres.

Other ACTU recommendations included extending the new national employment standard ‘right to ask’ for flexible working arrangements to all carers, widening the definition of carers’ leave to cover non-emergency obligations, increasing the amount of carers’ leave, and providing palliative care leave.