Organised by The Fathering Project, the awards celebrate individuals and organisations championing the vital role that fathers and father figures play in shaping communities and in the lives of children.
The workplace category specifically acknowledges organisations that go above and beyond to support fathers through progressive policies, inclusive culture, and flexible work arrangements.
“We’re honoured to be named Australia’s Best Workplace for Fathers and be recognised for a workplace culture that supports families and encourages people to bring their whole self to work,” said AFCA’s Chief Ombudsman and Chief Executive Officer David Locke.
“Fathers and father figures play a critical role in their children’s emotional wellbeing, and when families are able to find the right balance between their professional responsibilities and raising and caring for children, the impacts are hugely positive,” David said.
“When people feel like they’re doing a good job at home, they do a good job at work – it has been our experience that a family friendly culture is good for business. Not only does it mean we can attract, recruit and retain great people, it means they are happy and engaged,” he said.
“A lot of what we offer to our staff is not costly or difficult to implement and I would implore other businesses to think about the changes they can make to better support fathers and all families – and ultimately, future generations.”
AFCA offers up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave, including superannuation, for eligible employees regardless of gender or how they become a parent – whether through birth, adoption or surrogacy. Fathers are actively encouraged to take parental leave and in the past 12 months, 44 fathers have done so, which makes up almost half of all parental leave-takers.
AFCA’s Carers’ Network – an employee led resource group – offers advice and holds events for carers, parents and children alike, to help those balancing work and caregiving.
The organisation’s parental leave policies are designed to be inclusive, equitable and flexible – removing distinctions between “primary” and “secondary” caregivers to recognise the diversity of families today.
AFCA also offers flexible working arrangements, and many fathers choose to work part-time, from home or with adjusted hours to balance work and parenting responsibilities.
AFCA joins a growing list of organisations leading the way in workplace inclusion and wellbeing.
The award was presented at the Australian Fathering Awards ceremony in Sydney, with outstanding fathers in sport, community and national leadership also recognised.
We congratulate our fellow award winners and nominees for helping to positively impact Australian families.