Supporting employees who are carers

If there was ever an employee that needed flexible working and an inclusive working environment, it is the parent or carer of a child with a disability.

These staff members are in the thick of it. These dedicated staff members are often in the thick of it, managing multiple aspects of their child's complex needs on a daily basis, all while juggling the demands of their professional lives.

It is not unusual for a parent/carer of a neurodivergent child to get multiple calls from school a week. To have to wrangle a paediatrician, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists and other supports daily. To have spent a morning or evening dealing with meltdowns and challenging behaviours while applying specialised parenting techniques you have never heard of. It’s not unusual for parents to spend entire mornings or evenings trying to soothe their child or to de-escalate a situation before they can even think about the rest of their day.

For many of these parents, the concept of before- and after-school care services remains out of reach, as they may not have access to programs equipped to cater to the needs of their child. As a result, parents and carers often find themselves without any break, having to rely on their own networks or, in many cases, simply not having the ability to hand their child over to someone else for any length of time. The idea of a restful evening or a quiet morning simply isn’t part of their reality. They haven’t had the luxury of childcare outside of office hours in years.

And yet, despite these immense challenges, the thing these parents and carers value most is their job. They cherish the opportunity to work, not only because it provides financial stability, but because it offers them a sense of purpose and an outlet for their identity outside of caregiving. The workplace is the one place where they can use their brain purely for themselves—and for the organisation they’re a part of. It’s the one space where they can engage in conversations with other adults that don't revolve around their caregiving responsibilities or the complexities of their child’s needs. It’s a welcome reprieve from the constant mental load of managing multiple appointments, therapies, and emotional challenges.

What will you get for your willingness to be flexible? An employee that will reward your empathy and understanding with efficiency (on a level you won’t believe), dedication and heartfelt thanks that you are an inclusive organisation.