Dear Members & Colleagues

Our first event for this year will be our Gender Games: Doing Business with the Opposite Sex seminar on 15 February 2007, with Candy Tymson, business communications expert, as the key speaker. The seminar will focus on important strategies when negotiating with the opposite sex. I encourage those of you who have not already done so, to register to attend this event and join us for an enlightening evening on these essential skills..

WLANSW is set to continue its work this year on advocating for better provisions in the workplace for women lawyers faced with the challenge of balancing work and family. The final report on the Inquiry into Balancing Work and Family conducted by the federal House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Human Services was tabled on 7 December last year, and our oral and written submissions were referred to throughout the report.

WLANSW is a member and supporter of the Taskforce on Care Costs (TOCC) who are launching their “Who Cares?” campaign via their website on 19 February 2007. Anyone who would like to do their part to lobby the government and opposition on the costs of care can do so by logging on to the TOCC website.

Please refer below for further details.

Yours faithfully,

Lee-May Saw
President

15 February, Thursday 5:30-7.30 PM "Gender Games - Doing Business with the Opposite Sex" with Candy Tymson, proudly hosted by Freehills, MLC Centre Sydney.  Candy is an expert in the field of business communications and a dynamic speaker with a great message. With a growing percentage of women changing the dynamics of business and the impact of four generations battling it out in the workplace, this is a session you cannot afford to miss! Click here for details and registration. Compliments of Dendy Films, we have 5 double passes to give away as door prizes to the sneak preview weekend 23-25 March of Becoming Jane, a period romantic drama and biographical portrait of the young Jane Austen.

Final Report on the Inquiry into Balancing Work and Family

Thursday, 7 December 2006, the federal House of Representatives Standing Committee on Family and Human Services tabled its final report on its Inquiry into Balancing Work and Family in parliament. While WLANSW acknowledges the great assistance that the Standing Committee’s positive recommendations for change would be to women lawyers, particularly those recommendations that would broaden the range of non-means tested options for subsidising child care, WLANSW is of the view that wider reform is required in the form of legislative change to prevent discrimination against both sexes on the grounds of family responsibilities. WLANSW is also of the view that wider reform to cover the costs of elder and disabled care, and costs incurred by grandparents, relatives and friends who are carers, is required. The Standing Committee’s report can be viewed by accessing the following link:
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/fhs/workandfamily/report.htm

19 February 2007,  Taskforce on Care Costs (TOCC) launch of the “Who Cares?” campaign.  

The campaign is designed to give Australians caring for children, the elderly and people with a disability a strong national voice on the impact of the cost of care on their workforce participation choices.  Through a dedicated website, www.tocc.org.au, TOCC will host an electronic summit on work and the cost of care.  The website will include interviews with people on the street and an electronic postcard (or e-card) to enable Australians who care to lobby Government Ministers and the Opposition about solutions to the work/ cost of care crisis.

The Who Cares? campaign will also launch Australia's first index to measure the affordability of care.  The Index (developed by ANZ Economics) will include 3 separate time series - one for childcare, one for elder care and one for disability care.  Like the Consumer Price Index, the Care Affordability Index measures the affordability of care over time. “Australians with caring responsibilities are hurting and over one-third feel that the cost of care is out of their reach,” said Juliet Bourke, the Chair of TOCC.  “Both the Government and the Opposition know there’s an issue, but neither has found a workable solution.”  Based on economic modelling by the Melbourne Institute, TOCC has proposed the introduction of a 50% reimbursement of care costs. “Our research shows that this solution is fair, economically sustainable and what people want, namely an equal sharing of the cost of care between Government and carers,” said Bourke.  “We’ve made a strong case for reform, but if Australians want action, we need to raise our voices together and make that point to the Government and the Opposition.”

Delicious Flowers are delighted to support WLANSW as a new sponsor and have a fantastic range of delicious fruit and/or chocolate bouquets all with their own keepsake gift to mark the occasion.
Click here for further details and WLANSW discounts and offers.

LawTech Asia Summit - Hong Kong, Mar 20 & 21, 2007: Complimentary Ticket valued at $1990USD  Michell Johnson was the lucky recipient of this door prize at our Xmas Cocktail event. As Michelle is unable to utilise the ticket, she would like to assign it, particularly if you would be happy to make a donation to the Royal Hospital for Women. If interested, please contact Michelle on 0401 535 387 or chelljohnson@optusnet.com.au  Chilli Marketing are also extending the $1750USD cost for WLANSW till the end of February should anyone wish to purchase tickets. Click here for details.

Events and News:
Check the latest updates at www.womenlawyersnsw.org.au

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