Mining For Women

The Age

Saturday July 26, 2008

Josh Jennings

In a joint submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Paid Parental Leave, the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and the Women in Mining Network have called on the Government to implement a paid parental leave scheme to boost female participation in mining.

Institute senior policy and research co-ordinator Monika Sarder says that increasing the perception that the mining industry is family-friendly is critical to attracting more females.

"Even within the industry, women perceive that having a child is a barrier," Ms Sarder says.

Ms Sarder adds that looking after a newborn is particularly challenging for parents in the mining industry.

"As they are likely to have relocated a number of times, often to remote Australia, they are less likely to have access to traditional family support networks than Australians in other industries. That is, they do not have access to gratis 'unpaid'

services that may be provided by grandparents or old school friends, such as occasional child care, assistance with housework or hand-me-down items."

© 2008 The Age

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