Access keys | Skip to primary navigation | Skip to secondary navigation | Skip to content | Skip to footer |
Problems viewing this site

Industrial relations

Home > Industrial relations > Work, family and lifestyle

Work, family and lifestyle

Australian families have changed with the traditional family model – father being the sole breadwinner and mother staying at home – slowly disappearing and making place for more dual-income families and single-parent families. Also, more women are participating in the workforce, people are working longer hours, and there is a projected increase in older workers. The Australian workforce is in a state of change, and this may impact on people’s work-life balance.

The Queensland Government recognises the increasingly complex interplay between people’s work and personal lives and the challenges involved in managing work, family and lifestyle responsibilities. It is committed to helping employers and employees establish workplace practices that improve work-life balance, and have introduced a variety of initiatives on work and family.

What law applies
State and federal legislation relevant to work, family and lifestyle

Work-life balance issues – overview
Government initiatives on work and family, statistics, dispelling myths

Why have work-life balance policies
Benefits, development, implementation and evaluation of policies, small business policies

Negotiate work-life balance policies and practices
Identify your personal and work needs, research your entitlements, gain support, prepare a business case

Types of work-life balance provisions
Provisions provided under the Industrial Relations Act 1999, provisions for award and non-award employees, provisions provided at employer’s discretion

Mature-aged employment
The changing labour force, flexible work arrangements, assistance with aged-care responsibilities

Child employment

Last updated 22 July 2008

Find an award that applies to you

Take the better work-life balance survey

Employers, educate your staff on workplace culture

If you are a Queensland Government employee you should contact your human resources department for assistance with information about your entitlements

For more information contact:

Queensland Government

Wageline information service 1300 369 945 for awards, rates of pay, wages and conditions

Queensland Industrial Relations Commission (QIRC) for independent conciliation and arbitration of industrial matters

Non-Queensland Government

Young Workers Advisory Service (non-Queensland Government link) 1800 232 000 for confidential and supportive free service to young workers on work-related matters in Queensland

Queensland Working Women Service (non-Queensland Government link) (QWWS) 1800 621 458 for information, advice and advocacy services to women on all work-related issues