Flexibility In Full-Time Work: A Parent’s Perspective

Flexible work practices have come a long way in the last decade, haven’t they? What was once considered  part-time hours and limited to administrative roles only is now widely accepted under the notion it supports wellbeing and productivity, that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to balancing our work and personal lives, and all employees are entitled to accessing it. Employers are increasingly recognising that true flexibility isn’t just about where or when people work; it’s about how their work supports their individual needs and circumstances.

For parents, flexible work offers a number of benefits such as allowing women to grow their careers, for both parents to be present at special events and daycare pick ups, or to provide care for family members when needed. Employers benefit too with access to a wider pool of talent, increased productivity and engagement and reduced turnover.

We’re proud to work with a number of organisations who support flexible work and acknowledge the needs of parents. What we love about our Featured Employer, Ventia in particular is how their extensive flexible work arrangements and parental policies form part of their committment to inclusivity. For Ventia, flexible work not only supports employee wellbeing, but also career growth regardless of department, background, personal circumstances or role withing the organisation.

So to get an insiders view of working life for a parent at Ventia, we spoke to Belinda, Contractor Manager for the Whole of Australian Government Team at Ventia. Her story is just one of many that proves the benefits of flexible work, so we hope this inspires other job seekers to challenge their own ideas about what is available.

WPC: Tell us a little about yourself, Belinda.

Belinda: I am a wife and mum to 2 primary school aged kids. My working history prior to becoming a parent was as a customer service consultant and contracts administrator with a national company, CUB. I then was a stay at home parent for 5 years prior to looking for work in a similar administrative team.  

WPC: Was flexibility a driver for you in your job search? 

Belinda: Flexibility was a huge driver in my job search. I initially was only looking for a part time role as didn’t want to go back full time straight away and have to commute in and out of the city due to the type of work I was interested in, however I have been able to work full time due to the flexibility. 

WPC: What does flexibility look like for you?   

Belinda: Flexibility for me means that as my son had only started full time school this year I am able to still do school pickups and drop offs and I have the flexibility to attend school events if I need to. I can work from home thus no driving to and from an office thus being more productive but also being able to attend to my kids, animals and home. 

WPC: How has Ventia supported you as a working parent (if applicable) or in balancing work life balance?

Belinda: Ventia has been very accommodating with me as a full time working parent where I am able to start earlier if needed to be able to attend school events, I am able to do school drop offs and pick ups by working the extra time before and/or after.  

Having flexibility in your role is essential to parents and carers to maintain work life balance and to be able to contribute to society. I know that I loved having the free time (if you can call it that!) but I also wanted to be able to ‘do something’ for me again like before I was a parent, and workplace flexibility helped me achieve that. 

Want to find out more about Ventia and current job opportunities? Find out more here.