Whether your paid parental leave is ending, or you’ve been out of the workforce for a longer period, balancing financial and work commitments with caring for children takes planning.
It's a juggle that most caregivers will have.
- 73% of one-parent families with dependents have an employed caregiver.
- 73% of couple families with dependents have both caregivers employed.
Here are some tips to help you get set up before you return to work.
Set an agreement with your employer
Before you start back (or start a new role), talk to your employer. Discuss how you would like to manage your family responsibilities and work commitments.
Ask for flexible work arrangements if you want them
If you've been with the same employer for at least 12 months, ask about flexible work arrangements. These could include:
- Changing your hours of work (e.g. starting or finishing earlier).
- Changing your patterns of work.
- Changing your location of work (e.g. doing some work remotely).
The Fair Work Ombudsman website has more information about requesting flexible working arrangements, as well as a templated letter you can use.
For information about your rights when returning to work from leave, see the Human Rights Commission website.
Understand your leave entitlements
You can get sick leave and carer's leave – also known as personal leave. It lets you take time off to help deal with personal illness, caring responsibilities and family emergencies.
All employees, including casual employees, are entitled to two days of unpaid carer’s leave.
Full-time and part-time employees can only get unpaid carer’s leave if they don’t have any paid sick or carer’s leave left.
For more information, see sick and carer's leave on the Fair Work Ombudsman website.
The Fair Work Commission provides guidance on common workplace issues and can link you to free legal help for employment issues.
You can also contact a Working Women's Centre. These centres provide free and confidential help with work-related issues for women.
Budget for your new costs
Work out the cost of child care
Choosing the type of child care that’s right for you depends on how much care you need and your budget. You may have family or friends who can help. Or you may have to pay for full day child care, or a nanny.
Services Australia has information to help you choose a child care provider, as well as information on the government’s Child Care Subsidy. Also see payments for families for a summary of the other payments and services that may be available to help with your child's education and health care
The Raising Children Network website has information on the different types of child care available, and tips on how to work out which type of child care will work for your household.
Do a new household budget
As well as the cost of child care, you might also need to change your spending to accommodate reduced working hours (and reduced pay).
Big life changes are always a good opportunity for a refreshed budget.
Update your budget for a smoother return to work
Plan for the future
If you haven’t reviewed the following things recently, let’s put them on your to do list now.
Review your insurance cover
With a new dependent in the family, it’s good to review your personal insurance (like life insurance, total and permanent disability insurance, and income protection). It helps make sure that, if something happened to you, there’s a financial safety net.
It’s also a good time to review the insurance cover you have on the things you own, like your home and contents, and car.
And you may need to update your health insurance, to cover your bigger family.
Find information about the types of insurance you might need.
Check your super
Taking time out from work to care for children affects your income. This in turn affects the amount of super you're accumulating.
It's worth checking your super, to make sure it’s working for you.
Also check if your super fund has insurance options that suit your needs. For example, life insurance and income protection insurance.
Update your will
Having an up-to-date estate plan will help make sure your wishes are known if you die. It can also help if you become unable to make your own decisions.
If you haven’t had time since having your baby, this is a good time to update your will and powers of attorney.
You can read more of our money tips for managing relationships and life events.