Early Childhood Education and Care isn’t just an “incentive”: it’s essential national infrastructure
The crucial educational, social and economic role of early childhood education and care (ECEC) has been further highlighted over the past two years, as the interruptions of lockdowns and distancing have exacerbated longstanding barriers to accessing free, high-quality, ECEC in Australia, writes Lauren Piko
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Are you an ethical shopper? Here’s why you should be
Clothes can say a lot about a person, but they can also reveal a lot about who made them too.
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Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins are leading the next wave of feminism. And it’s time to act now.
We were all together that day back in March. Thousands of Australian women in marches for justice because enough is enough. I was there with ACTU President Michele O’Neil in Canberra and I too had had enough. On that day back in March, I remember thinking, these women, this rally could be the start of…
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Another dark side of insecure work: The scourge of sexual harassment in insecure workplaces
We know that insecure work can have several poor economic outcomes for workers. However, what is rarely talked about is the how safety issues, like sexual harassment, are often compounded by these exploitative business models. A new survey commissioned by the ACTU found that 26% of retail workers and 22% of health workers reported experiencing…
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The federal government must prioritise working people’s financial security
2021 has been a year for breaking grim records. As of June 2020, according to ABS statistics, more Australians than ever are working multiple jobs. In the past, a single income from one decent, secure job was enough to feed, clothe and house a family of five. Around about that time, that one income was…
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