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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2025-10-15 Daily Xml
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Matters of Interest

Women in the Workforce

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:25): I rise today to speak on a matter that is both urgent and deeply personal to many South Australians: the need for policies that support women, especially vulnerable women, to enter or re-enter the workforce. Today, more women are working than ever before, with workforce participation at 63.5 per cent, but this headline masks the fact that many women are still locked out of employment opportunities due to structural, financial or social barriers.

Factors contributing to this include the gender pay gap, over-representation in part-time and low paid work, and barriers to career advancement, which are often linked to unpaid care responsibilities. Additionally, factors like family and domestic violence, and compounding forms of discrimination, often with women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, can further increase poverty risk for many women.

Parental leave remains unequal, with only 17 per cent of primary carer leave taken by men, reinforcing outdated caregiving norms and placing additional pressure on women. While most employers now have gender equality policies, many women still struggle to access flexible, supportive workplaces that meet their needs. One of the most significant barriers remains childcare affordability. For many women, particularly single mothers and those returning to work, the cost of child care can outweigh the financial benefits of employment. This is not just a family issue, it has economic implications.

We know that domestic and family violence is not only a crisis of safety, it is a crisis of economic exclusion. Women escaping violence often lose their homes, their jobs and their financial independence. Without safe housing, stable child care and trauma-informed support, re-entering the workforce becomes nearly impossible. That is why we must treat workforce participation as part of the holistic recovery journey.

One of my key priorities is to advocate for policies that empower women and remove the barriers that prevent them from entering or re-entering the workforce. These policies must be practical, inclusive and responsive to the lived experience of women across South Australia. To better support vulnerable women in this state, I am calling on the government to provide: (1) affordable and accessible child care; (2) flexible training and employment pathways; (3) financial support for jobseeking essentials; and (4) trauma-informed services for women recovering from violence or homelessness.

Recent initiatives in other states have shown that small, targeted investments such as career grants of up to $5,000 for women can unlock opportunities for thousands of women. These grants cover practical costs like child care, transport, training and work wear, and are designed to empower women to re-enter the workforce with dignity and confidence.

I recently had the honour of participating in the Rotary Walk for Respect, a community-led initiative that calls for an end to domestic and family violence and promotes dignity and equality. These same values must be reflected in our policies. In this context, I want to acknowledge the work of Catherine House, South Australia's only dedicated homelessness and recovery service for women. Their upcoming New Generation Catherine House project would deliver 52 social housing apartments with wraparound support, an inspiring model for integrated care.

I was proud to also support Catherine House through the South Australian Ladies Badminton Association Atalanta Jamboree Championship recently, which raised vital funds for this important service supporting women in crisis. I also recently visited the Hutt St Centre, which has seen a 30 per cent increase in women clients since 2022, with over 80 per cent experiencing homelessness for the first time.

I commend the Hutt St Centre for supporting the Louise Homefulness Fund, providing emergency financial support to help women secure safe accommodation and to rebuild their lives. These organisations are doing extraordinary work, but they cannot do it alone. We must ensure that our policies reflect the reality that economic empowerment is essential to holistic recovery. When women work, communities thrive. When women are supported, our economy grows.

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