Parents At Work Podcast

Menopause is a normal life event for women (trans gender and non-binary people too), and yet we very rarely talk about it, even amongst our friends and particularly not in the workplace – but why? Given that women aged over 45 comprise 17% of the Australian workforce and menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 – you would think that conversations about such a natural event would be common place. In this podcast, Parents At Work’s Customer Experience Director, Fiona Hitchiner, interviews Thea O’Connor to learn more about menopause, some of the signs and symptoms, what we can do to prepare for this phase of life, and even find joy in it. Thea O’Connor is a senior advisor on workplace wellbeing and productivity, helping leaders, teams and individuals improve their workplace engagement and effectiveness through body intelligence and better health. She draws on 30 years experience in health promotion including in the fields of nutrition (as a dietitian), body image, sleep science and workplace health. Here are some useful resources to learn more about menopause: https://www.thea.com.au/menopause/ https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause https://www.menopause.org.au/

Improving the Quality of Our Relationships (and how this affects our wellbeing) Do you feel you are being yourself in all your relationships? Are there any relationships you would like to change or improve that may currently be quite negative or destructive? Does how you relate to others impact on your health and wellbeing? When we are free to be our real selves we connect more deeply with others and we enjoy life more - we feel more fulfilled in our jobs and we are naturally enriching as parents. Life doesn't feel hard and problems don͛t feel like big issues to tackle. Why isn͛t this a reality for most of us, most of the time? It comes down to our relationships. We have a relationship with every aspect of our life. We say, this is what my relationship is with my partner, my kids, my clothes, my dog, nature, our house– every aspect in life. Therefore, doesn't it make sense to stop and reflect on the quality of our relationships if, indeed, everything is about relationships? Yet most of us are not approaching life this way. This month Katie and Sam look at how we measure our relationships, whether we are holding back in any areas or have different versions of ourselves with different people? What happens if we are and what impact does this have on our overall health and wellbeing? Most importantly, how can we work with any issues that arise so that we not only have fulfilling relationships with others but also ourselves.

This episode, the team talks to Aaron Williams about the challenges that arise within relationships when we become parents. Aaron Williams is the CEO and co-founder of Mindstar, a leading workplace wellbeing provider that works with some of the biggest companies across Australia on how to manage these challenges. Aaron is a counsellor who has worked closely with many couples to help them adjust to this change in relationship dynamic. He has found that many people upon becoming parents, had difficulty balancing work and family and found that their personal wellbeing and relationships with their partners is what suffers the most. Aaron states "to be that bloke you want to be it takes a lot of work and a lot of balance… it takes self discipline and self leadership”. Join Aaron and the team at The Father Hood as they explore how we can keep a strong connection with our partners amongst family life with kids.

"It takes a village to raise a family and if you don’t feel accepted by that village, it’s a lonely place" - Ashley Scott In this episode of The Father Hood podcast the team talks to Ashley Scott about his personal experience with being a gay dad and his interaction with other LGBTQI+ families through his work as Executive Officer at Rainbow Families. Rainbow Families aims to 'build a community which fosters resiliency by connecting, supporting and empowering' LGBTQI+ families. Ashley talks about the challenges and opportunities he has experienced as a gay dad, especially how the freedom from traditional gender roles has allowed himself and his partner to divvy up the household and parenting work in a unique way that best suits each person. He also discusses his work at Rainbow Families and how his interactions with other LGBTQI+ families has allowed his two daughters to interact with children sharing similar family dynamics as well as have access to positive female role models, which he feels is important to provide. Ashley feels that his work with Rainbow Families is helping LGBTQI+ families feel more accepted in their community and provides a unique support for parents outside the usual social circles.

As school holidays approach, most of us are thinking about re-connecting with family, taking some well-deserved time off as well as finding creative ways to engage the kids over the break. In this podcast Fiona Hitchiner from Parents At Work interviews Adrian Rokman, co-founder of KidsCo, known for their award winning School holiday programs in the workplace and recently named as one of the most innovative companies in Australia by the Australian Financial Review. Together they will provide ideas and inspiration to families to provide fun and educational ways to keep the kids busy and entertained which will also create space for a bit of me-time for the grown ups! You will also get to take away practical resources for the kids.

In the 1970 U.S. census, only 6 men in the whole of America identified as a stay-at-home dad, but by 2014 this number had risen to 2 million people. In this latest episode, The Father Hood team interview Rory Brown about his experience with being a stay-at-home dad in today's climate. They ask about the benefits of being a stay-at-home dad, if he has experienced any negative stigma surrounding his role, what his personal experience has been like, and what he has learned or gained from being a stay-at-home dad. Rory talks about the opportunity to spend in depth time with your children as they grow right before your eyes. He also discusses the feeling of joint success when watching his wife strive for and meet her career goals, something that would have been harder to achieve without Rory being the stay-at-home parent. Through his role, Rory has also come to appreciate and understand the difficulties involved in managing a household, something that his wife had predominantly been in charge of early in their marriage. He feels it has been a massive learning experience for both partners gaining experience in their respective family roles and also in how today's society reacts to the idea of a dad being the primary carer. Rory hopes that fathers continue to take on the role of the stay-at-home parent, that people will begin to understand the difficulties associated with the role, and that it starts to be viewed as a very accessible role for both mothers and fathers.

In this episode of The Father Hood Podcast, the team interviews Tom Docking, the founder of Dads Group. They discuss the unexpected ways that being a new dad can affect you, especially your mental health, and how social connection is so important as a form of support for dads. Tom opens up about why he started the Dads Group, stating that the opportunity to talk and listen to other dads is a very restorative experience and provides the chance to heal from the challenges involved in the transition to becoming a parent. He has found that dads retain information and pick up on parenting advice more efficiently when it is in the context of a dads group and that his aim is to make all the wonderful parenting content available to dads through this medium so that it is not just sitting there "collecting dust". Tom hopes that through these dad groups that he can help encourage the perspective that fatherhood is more than just a responsibility, its an opportunity, and he believes that’s the direction that fatherhood is moving into the future. Learn more about Dads Group: www.dadsgroup.org www.facebook.com/dadsgroupincorporated www.instagram.com/dadsgroupinc www.twitter.com/dadsgroupinc

With all the events that have transpired this year, carers deserve recognition now more than ever. In this podcast, Emma Walsh, CEO of Parents At Work, interviews CEO of Carers Australia, Liz Callaghan, to discuss both the work of Carers Australia and National Carers Week. National Carers Week aims to recognise the 2.65 million unpaid carers in Australia and the work they provide for their loved ones. It aims to raise awareness of this crucial role and the incredibly impactful service they are providing for not only those they are caring for, but the community as a whole. Ultimately, Carers Australia wants to see unpaid care recognised as a shared responsibility between family, community businesses, and government especially as the role of unpaid carers seems to be invisible to many. The lack of recognition leads to insufficient support of carers, especially during this pandemic where this already isolating role has become even more distant from society and existing support networks shutting down. To put things into perspective, the replacement value of all unpaid care this year (prior to COVID-19) is nearly 78 billion dollars - that's nearly 1.5 billion dollars per week! This Carers Week we aim to raise awareness to create more carer friendly options within employment and the general community.

In this episode of The Father Hood Podcast we're joined by Emma Walsh, CEO of Parents At Work, to talk all things parental leave for fathers. What are you entitled to from the Government? What benefits can your employer offer you? We know that asking for paid parental leave at your workplace can be difficult. 50% of employers offer paid parental leave schemes, and Emma Walsh stresses the idea for fathers that "if you don't ask, you won't get". We talk about the current trends in Aussie fathers taking parental leave, what's happening globally and why taking parental leave doesn't hinder - but rather - benefits your career.

Blake Woodward is a dad, management consultant and founder of suittiestroller.com - a website supporting corporate dads in finding work life balance while raising a family, as well as advocating for gender-equal parental leave and support policies. In this episode, Parents At Work talk to Blake about his Global Dad Survey on the impact of COVID-19 on fathers, and his views on empowering working parents to choose the best way to raise their families through gender neutral workplace policies. You can access the Global Dad Survey Report here: https://www.suittiestroller.com/dad-survey-report

Over 80% of women are feeling anxious right now about birth during COVID-19 and over 40% are changing their birthing plans. What does giving birth during a pandemic mean? What are some of the restrictions? What can expecting parents do to still have a beautiful birth? In this podcast, Parents At Work talk to Nadine Richardson from She Births about what expecting parents should know at this time. Nadine is a childbirth educator, doula and prenatal yoga specialist. She is the director of The Birthing Institute and creator of She Births® (2008), the world’s only scientifically verified childbirth education program. Enjoy 10% off the She Births® Full Online Course with the code PAWPODCAST10. You and your partner can prepare together via desktop or app making learning as easy and comfortable as possible. https://shebirths.com/full-online-birthing-class/

In the latest The Father Hood Podcast we talk with Donte Palmer, who describes himself as a husband, a father of three boys, and dad advocate. Donte began the movement #squatforchange after he posted a photo showing the difficulty of changing his child without a changing station, a common thing for dads due to the lack of changing stations in male restrooms. #Squatforchange has now become an established organisation with a mission to "drive initiatives that result in the installation of appropriate diaper changing stations in all designated public restrooms". Donte discusses how gender and parental roles have changed and that mothers aren't just the caretakers anymore, that "strong men with strong attitudes or strong personalities – can also be sensitive" to support and take care of their kids. He also talks about social media as a driver of change as fathers can use the platform to demonstrate them being active, speaking up as fathers, and working as a team with their partner so that both parents share responsibility and have that time for self-care. To find out more visit squatforchange.com/ or follow him on Instagram: @3boys_1goal www.instagram.com/3boys_1goal/?hl=en

How will work-life be re-imagined post COVID-19? Remote work is radically reshaping how we work and live. As organisations busily plan to welcome employees back to the office post COVID-19, they are fast re-imaging how and what 'working from the office' will actually mean in reality. Workplaces acknowledge we're still months away from having everyone back behind their desks as they used to be, prompting some employers to drastically rethink how and where their people will work. In this well-worth-the-time webinar Parents At Work invited a number of experts to explore exactly this - the future of workplace design and flexibility in our organisations. Our panel included: • Shiona Watson, General Manager, Human Resources at QBE Insurance. • Kristen Miller, Head of Workplace, Westpac Group. • Stephen Barrow-Yu, Executive Director, People and Change, KPMG & Director, Diversity Council of Australia. • Emma Walsh, CEO, Parents At Work To keep up to date with all our free webinars and resources for HR professionals and leaders sign up to our Supporter Newsletter visit www.parentsandcarersatwork.com.au To find out more on how to become an Employer Member contact info@parentsatwork.com.au

In the past the ‘breadwinner’ role represented success for a lot of dads, but today things are different. Today’s dads have an opportunity to care for their families in far broader and more satisfying ways. In this podcast, The Father Hood team talk to Rob Sturrock about the changing definitions of masculinity in the modern world and how a man's approach to fatherhood is at the forefront of this societal discussion. Rob talks about how there is no one way to 'provide' for your family, contrary to long-established beliefs, and that the active participation of a father in his children's lives is not a sign of weakness or lack of success in his career. In fact, he believes that a father's ability to balance work and family in his own way is one of the most masculine things a father can do and encourages all father’s out there to find the right balance for themselves and their family. Rob's new book 'Man Raises Boy' takes a deep dive into the themes discussed in this podcast and explores a new era of fathering that balances strength and vulnerability. If you would like to find out more about his book then click here: https://www.booktopia.com.au/man-raises-boy-rob-sturrock/book/9781760875213.html

This webinar recording shares highlights of the National Working Families Report and discusses implications for the future of work and family in light of the challenges posed by Covid 19. The focus is on exploring the key recommendations for employers committed to creating family friendly, flexible workplaces. Contributors include: - Kate Jenkins, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission - Sarah McCann Bartlett, CEO, Australian Human Resources Institute - Kellie-Ann McDade, Partner Employment Law, Baker McKenzie - Grant Wardell-Johnson, Lead Tax Partner, KPMG - Emma Walsh, CEO, Parents At Work - Angela Priestley, Founder, Women's Agenda Employers are key to revolutionising the way we design work and family policy and practices. To ensure Australia is both responsive and progressive in meeting the changing nature of caring needs in our society, we must advance the way we combine work and caring responsibilities. This means identifying and addressing the cultural, gender and economic barriers that prevent progress and result in poor health and wellbeing outcomes for Australian families. This recording also explores recommendations for engaging the wider business community on what is needed to support both men and women manage work and caring responsibilities including: - Key research findings on the work and family challenges that impact wellbeing and gender equality outcomes - Insights from employees on what is needed to better manage work and care - The business and community benefits of advancing work and family policies - Key recommendations - how to progress employer-supported family friendly policies About the Report The 2019 National Working Families Report is a not-for-profit initiative undertaken by Parents At Work as an APLEN initiative in partnership with Karitane, HSBC, Baker McKenzie, Deloitte, KPMG, IKEA and QBE. The report details the survey findings and considers how workplaces can better support women and men to effectively balance their work and caring commitments, giving employees equal opportunities to fulfil their work responsibilities and career goals while looking after their family and personal wellbeing. 6,289 parents and carers across Australia completed the survey. The results reveal that parents and carers across Australia are finding it difficult to balance work and family commitments and report their personal wellbeing and family relationships suffer as a result. To read the full report with a summary of the key recommendations visit - parentsandcarersatwork.com/wpcontent/uploads/2019/12/National-Working-Families-Report-2019_1.pdf For more information about the report and to read the Executive Summary visit - aplen.pages.ontraport.net/WorkingFamiliesReport2019 About APLEN APLEN is a network of organisations established as part of a commitment to lead UN global gender equality efforts to advocate and advance parental leave equality in Australia. To find out more visit aplen.com.au

The Father Hood talks to Professor Richard Fletcher, who has been studying fatherhood in Australia for the past 20 years. Richard leads the Fathers and Families Research Program at the University of Newcastle, and also started the SMS4dads program. In this podcast he shares his insights into why father's mental health is so important and what men can do to look after themselves. Today, 1 in 10 new dads experience perinatal anxiety & depression (Beyond Blue), and Richard believes it's more important than ever to address these issues.

Welcoming a new baby can be an exciting and daunting time for your toddler. As a parent you may try and prepare your toddler for the new arrival but when the new baby comes home your toddler would be happier if you sent them straight back! Our podcast today will discuss sibling rivalry, why it happens, how you can support your toddler and strategies to manage the unhelpful behaviour.

“We need to recognise that people cope with trauma in many different ways, so there isn’t a standard pattern of reaction to the stress of traumatic experiences. And when it comes to children, they aren’t always able to express complex feelings in the same direct way that adults can … so it’s really important is that we are looking out for changes in children’s behaviour that can suggest they may be unsettled or distressed.” – Nicole Breeze, UNICEF In this special podcast, Emma Walsh talks to UNICEF’s Nicole Breeze about the devastating effects of the recent bushfires on the children of Australia, and what we can do to not only help support these children and families, but how to talk to other children who have been witness to these events and may be feeling distressed. Nicole outlines how to spot underlying stress in your children - such as changes in their play, nightmares or trouble sleeping, anxiety about sleeping alone, withdrawal, and problems concentrating at school. She also talks about the different ways parents can support their children in these initial stages of healing - and that it’s okay for children to be more dependent on their parents during this time, while routines are being re-established. It is also important for parents to find out what their children know in case there are any misconceptions that are causing stress that can then be corrected, and when it’s important to actually minimise media viewing. From the research conducted after Black Saturday in 2009, we understand how fundamentally important it is to concentrate on children's mental health in the recovery process of a natural disaster, and how important it is that they are able to receive support in the medium to long term. This is why UNICEF is teaming up with experienced clinical partners to provide appropriately targeted mental health services and are hoping that parents are able to provide some support for their children, while also making sure they themselves are receiving the help they need.

Sometimes as a dad it can feel like you’re never winning - leaving work at a time that feels too early, but when you get home it feels too late. We all know that mothers are familiar with huge amounts of guilt when they don’t feel like they’re meeting all of life’s demands - is it any different for dads, or is it similar? The Father Hood team talk to one of our favourite working dads - the honest as ever, Dr Vijay Roach - about his journey as a working dad, proving its never too late to be an awesome father whilst maintaining a successful career. The team also explore how dads can work out how to balance competing priorities as they manage the juggle of fatherhood and work.

Safer Internet Day aims to raise awareness about online safety and encourages everyone to work “Together For a Better Internet”. In this Podcast we talk to Yasmin London, Executive Director of Australia’s leading cyber safety education organisation, ySafe Social Media & Cyber Safety Experts. Yasmin has spent over 13 years in the NSW Police Force, acting as a specialist youth liaison officer for over 8 years of her service. Yasmin has extensive experience in the legalities, dangers and trends associated with the technology terrain (including topics such as cyber bullying, sexting and online predators), and regularly consults with corporate organisations, government, NGO’s, schools, and youth advocacy agencies across Australia on cyber safety education and management.   We discuss how the responsibility to make the internet a safer place for our children and even ourselves, belongs to everybody and shouldn’t solely fall on one particular person or groups such as schools or the police force. Yasmin discusses how parents have a responsibility to positively role model safe internet use to their children as “you can’t be what you can’t see” and that we should equip ourselves with the skills and knowledge needed to manage what happens in the online environment.    Here are links to the resources Yasmin references in this podcast:   e-Safety Commissioner - https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents Kids helpline - https://kidshelpline.com.au/ E headspace - https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/

Join Emma Walsh, CEO of Parents At Work as she is interviewed by ABC Radio's Jonathon Gould about the current Australian Paid Parental Leave System. They discuss the barriers holding men back from sharing the care as well as the practicalities and details of the current system. It is an insightful listen for both parents and employers alike.

Do you have expectations? Who do they go to? How do they impact the relationships in your life? Who has them on you? In this episode youth advocate, teen expert and mother of three teenagers – Lucy Dahill – presents what expectations are, the flavour of fear teenagers have of disappointing their parents in the face of expectations, and how parents should understand the source of expectations so as to avoid unnecessary disappointment. Lucy talks about the three key areas that expectations appear in our lives as parents: expectations on ourselves, expectations on others, and expectations for ourselves. She also asks us to think about what WE do when we don’t meet expectations. Do we then set expectations on others so as to alleviate some of the pressure from the expectations that we are living under? She talks about how the expectations we set on others may clash with the expectations they have of us, and to understand that the communication of the underlying values within expectations is more important than just knowing what is right and wrong.

This episode looks at four big food myths that get in the way of a healthy relationship with what we eat. 1) The Food Pyramid / diet is for everyone 2) Superfood XYZ will make me healthy 3) If he/she can then I can 4) Everything in good balance (hint: who measures the good exactly?). Katie and Sam myth bust these four biggies and explore ways you can remove the barriers that get in the way of you being able to make food a ‘non-issue’ for your mental and physical health.

It's not often you get to hear from a professional couple who have both taken parental leave, and in this podcast, Michael Brosnan, Manager at Deloitte, and Annaliese Van Riet, People and Culture Leader, share their experience following the birth of their son Louis ten months ago. They discuss how the implementation of non-gendered, non-labeled, paid parental leave at Deloitte has benefited their family and the positive impact it has had on Annaliese's career. Their story demonstrates the importance of flexible and inclusive parental leave policies, like those implemented at Deloitte, for both the employee AND the business. Hearing about these positive experiences can aid new families in deciding how to juggle the balance of work and family life, and answer any concerns about how taking parental leave may affect their career. Join Fiona Hitchiner, Strategic Partnership Director at Parents at Work, as she interviews Annaliese and Michael about their experience of becoming new parents and how Deloitte's parental policies have made achieving a balance between work and family easier, ultimately cementing their position as an employer of choice for working parents.

It is vital to look after yourself if you want to be able to nurture your relationships, but what does that look like on a practical basis? How do you fit 'you' into an already busy day? In this episode, youth advocate, teen expert, and mother of three teenagers, Lucy Dahill, discusses the importance of self-care for parents - including the consequences on the family due to lack of self-care, and the ways that parents can incorporate self-care WITHOUT having to add anything into their already busy schedules. Lucy explores the interesting concept of time vs. space, and how allowing ourselves time to do even the most simple tasks during the day can then give us the space that we are in need of for our self-care. She teaches us how to prevent stressing about how we will fit in time for ourselves within our busy schedule, but instead plan how will we fit our busy schedule around taking time for ourselves. There are simple ways that allow you to be more present in the activities you are already taking on in your day in order to fulfil the need for self-care. Some of these suggestions are as simple as drinking more water, but it is the attitude towards these suggestions that make all the difference. With the findings from the National Working Families Survey showing that working parents' most challenging issue is finding time to look after their own physical and mental health (two-thirds of working parents reporting feeling too emotionally and physically drained after work to contribute to the family), this podcast is more important than ever.

As a working parent it can seem that there are never enough hours in the day and at times we can feel guilty about not spending enough time with our toddlers. Being with your toddler in a connected way that is meaningful for you both does not have to take hours, it is definitely quality over quantity. Our podcast today will discuss exactly that- how to spend quality time with your toddler that ensures your relationship remains connected even through very busy days!

When asked to draw a ‘modern day parent’ it’s highly likely that most of us ‘in the trenches’ would draw a mum or dad with a cape on their back, a device in one hand, spatula in the other, book in the other (yes, we’re in three arm territory here). They would possibly appear stressed or at least have the ‘I’ve got this… I think’ look on their face. The demands and pressures come from all directions these days - the opinions and expectations from others, the inner critic, the picture perfect media ideals etc – it can be hard to cut through when your juggling a bulging bag of life responsibilities and are looking for the answers anywhere you can get it. But when is enough enough? At what point will we question the momentum we’re living in – one that leaves us feel shattered at the end of the year and ultimately affects our personal wellbeing and relationships. In this episode Katie and Sam explore the images we’re fed of the perfect parent and how we can avoid its pitfalls.

Parenting has definitely changed over the last 5 years with the availability and access to screens, it’s difficult as a parent to navigate and decide what’s best for our toddlers. During this podcast we will discuss the recommendations around screen time and provide you with helpful information that will allow you to make an informed decision around screen use for you and your family.

The 10th - 16th of November marks Perinatal Mental Health Week. This week aims to spread awareness about the mental health implications associated with entering parenthood. Nearly 50% of new parents experience adjustment disorders, and from that, 1 in 5 new mothers and 1 in 10 new fathers will suffer from perinatal anxiety and depression. According to an analysis done by PwC Australia, Perinatal Depression and Anxiety is costing Australia $877 million annually. In the first year, $643 million is lost as a result of productivity losses associated with increased workforce exit, absenteeism, presenteeism, and career requirements. Also included in the annual costs is $227 million associated with significant health costs, and $7 million in wellbeing impacts. In this podcast Emma Walsh, CEO of Parents at Work, and Arabella Gibson, CEO of Gidget Foundation, discuss the impact of perinatal anxiety and depression on the workplace. Arabella emphasises the importance of employers identifying employees who are going through a tough time and supporting them by demonstrating understanding and allowing for more flexible working hours. She also recommends developing strong policies surrounding the support new parents receive at their workplace, in particular setting up regular check-in points starting from when the employee announces they are pregnant. These suggestions aid in helping the employee feel supported and combat those feelings of isolation most people feel when they go on parental leave, making the transition back to work easier, and increasing the chance of spotting any mental health issues early on.

Nearly 50% of new parents experience adjustment disorders, with 1 in 5 new mothers and 1 in 10 new fathers suffer perinatal anxiety and depression. Perinatal Mental Health Week aims to spread awareness about the mental health implications associated with entering parenthood. According to an analysis done by PwC Australia, Perinatal Depression and Anxiety is costing Australia $877 million annually. To help raise awareness of why this week is important to acknowledge, Emma Walsh, CEO of Parents at Work, and Arabella Gibson, CEO of Gidget Foundation, discuss the impact of perinatal anxiety and depression on the individual. Arabella talks about the effects a new baby has on a person’s life and how the corresponding stressors and disruptions to routine can have significant mental health implications. She also explores how multiple risk factors including financial, emotional, and physical external stressors can increase the chance of emotional distress. This podcast discussion helps parents identify the risks and guide them where to look for support including free services both face to face and online.

Are there skills we could and should be sharing with our teens that would ensure they felt more equipped to deal with what was in front of them? In this episode youth advocate, teen expert and mother of three teenagers – Lucy Dahill – looks at some of the key skills to share with your teen in order to help them become independent young adults who have the ability to handle whatever life throws at them. Life skills, also termed as psycho-social competence, is the ability to show adaptive and positive behaviour that enable humans to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of life. Lucy discusses how teaching your teens these life skills involves first embedding them in yourself and the way that you parent. She also states that life skills are important so that your teen can be responsible and accountable, they know who they are, they know what love is and that they are loved, they know truth and joy, they know how to be engaged in life, how to be committed to their job, how to care, and most of all how to be themselves in every situation.

Do you feel like you're hiding behind a submissive or aggressive personality – even if it’s ever so slightly? Is it possible to be honest and forthright without retracting or being overbearing. What’s the harm if we don’t and what comes to life when we do? True expression isn’t tarnished with personality behaviours that have held us back from bringing all of our – quite natural - powerful selves. True power isn’t forceful, nor is it passive or dismissive. True expression and power bring a quality that holds the other equal. It also allows relationships and projects to unfold with greater wisdom and integrity as their foundation. This month Katie and Sam explore what’s getting in the way of living with more true authority as well as how we can start to embrace this more in our every day – both as a parent and in the workplace.

Dinner time and meals can be a battle with your toddler and at times it feels like your toddler doesn’t eat anything you cook and yet they eat everything at day care! This can be very frustrating and worrying for parents as you strive to meet their nutritional needs. Don’t be alarmed this is very common for toddlers so during our podcast we’ll be discussing normal eating habits for your toddler and chat about strategies you might find helpful.

The 13th - 19th of October marks National Carers Week, which aims to recognise and celebrate the incredible work of carers of all shapes and sizes. In this podcast, Kiri Stejko interviews Danielle Robertson from DR Care Solutions about her experience with carers and the importance of planning ahead for the future. With over 2.7 million family and friend carers in Australia it is highly likely that there are people in your life who are providing unpaid care for someone close to them. Danielle discusses what employers and co-workers can do to help carers get the support they need to keep up this often very taxing work. They also open up the conversation in order to eradicate the stigma in the workplace surrounding people with caring responsibilities outside of work to help them feel comfortable to use the resources available.

Relationships between parents and teens change considerably in the teen years. The good news is, this is a positive - “it’s supposed to change”. So why does it not feel or sound so great at the time? What does a healthy relationship with your teens look like? Why is it important to support your teen with understanding how they relate to tension? How do you rebuild trust between you and your teen if the relationship hasn’t been what you’d like it to be? In episode 7 of the Teen Clinic Podcast youth advocate, teen expert and mother of three teenagers – Lucy Dahill – discusses the changing relationships teens experience with their friends and family, more notably their parents, as they become more independent. Lucy explores the correlation between the relationships parents have with the people around them and how that modelling of behaviour influences the way teens develop their own relationships during this crucial time. On top of this, she looks at how the digital world changes the dynamics of teen’s relationships and teen’s use of certain coping mechanisms, encouraging parents to target the source of these problems rather than the actual coping strategy. Lucy encourages you to support your teens to create new relationships and to set the standards of what is appropriate and respectful.

Most of us are honest enough to recognise when we are speaking or acting without love – for example when we get angry at the kids when they abandon their chores for the umpteenth time OR get frustrated at a colleague for doing a task without care OR release our tension on a telecom provider (most of us know that one!). But does it really need to be like this? Sometimes we excuse behaviours or reactions that lack love by saying ‘we’re all human’ or ‘no one’s perfect’ and then hope it doesn’t catch up with us later on. It may be true that we are human and will never be perfect but what if our lofty dismissal is the groundwork for underlying judgement and blame in our relationships? And what if we could stop it in an instant simply by removing our need to be ‘right’? Join Katie and Sam for what’s sure to be an explorative and expansive discussion.

There’s never been a better time in history to be a dad – we all know how much society has changed when it comes to parenting in the last 50 years – expectations of fathers have grown and men want to embrace the role of ‘dad’ like never before. But fathers often feel the pressure to conform to unhelpful stereotypes like the ‘fun dad’ or the ‘breadwinner dad’. It’s clear fatherhood needs a makeover. So, what does it mean to be a father today - what’s needed and what’s not? There is a new generation of fathers redefining what it means to be a dad and combine work and family life. Join Parents At Work’s new ‘Dad Time’ team and The Father Hood in this one off ’special event’ live webinar as the guys offer personal insights, latest research and top tips from some ‘famous dads’ on what they’ve learnt on the road to being a modern, imperfectly awesome kind of dad.

We build our teens up for 13 years to prepare for the HSC or their final exams and then cannot understand why we see such high rates of anxiety. How do we help our teens keep exams in perspective from the start? In this episode of the Teen Clinic Podcast youth advocate, teen expert, and mother of three teenagers - Lucy Dahill from Why Be You - discusses the pressure teens feel from impending exams and how parents can help them cope with their desire to succeed and fear of failure. Lucy explores the sources of exam stress including teachers, parents, peer-pressure, self-expectations, and societal-expectations. Furthermore, she encourages you to look at the coping mechanisms teens are using (such as alcohol and comfort food) and get a feel for whether they are beneficial for your teen (or not) even if you believe they personally help you to reduce stress. Lucy reminds us that your teen’s perspective of exams won’t change overnight and that it will take patience and role-modelling to make any notable shifts in teen behaviour.

There are times in a toddler’s life where they feel overwhelmed or out of control and may exhibit aggressive behaviour such as hitting, biting and kicking either towards you or others around them. As parents this can be very upsetting to see our toddler behave in this way but there is help. This week we talk to our Toddler Clinic Experts who help parent’s everyday experiencing this behaviour and discuss possible causes and strategies to help.

Feeling guilty - most of us would agree - is a useless and wasteful pastime. It doesn’t achieve anything other than making you (or another) feel pretty awful about yourself. Working parents particularly experience this in the childcare years when dropping them off to a childcare centre on their way to work, rearing it’s deceptive head as a sense of abandonment for the child. Other forms of guilt may come in the way of feeling bad when you take time to do something loving for yourself like picking your kids up when you’re done working rather than using that extra hour of childcare to have a massage. Whilst it is sold as ‘just a part of caring’ what are the real harms of guilt (to both you and others) and how can you call a cease fire on it so it doesn’t squash the joy out of being a parent? Join Katie and Sam as they explore the minutiae details of guilt . . . in all its deceptive masks.

Have we lost a generation to gaming? How is it changing the brain? How do I encourage my teen to be a discerning gamer? In episode five of the Teen Clinic Podcast youth advocate, teen expert, and mother of three Lucy Dahill from Why Be You explores the prevalence of gaming in the life of teenagers and how parents can support their teens to engage in gaming in a safe and responsible way. Lucy discusses cyberbullying through online gaming, setting boundaries with your teenager in relation to gaming, and teaching them skills that can help them become a discerning gamer – which they can also use in other situations in life. She clarifies that this podcast episode does not advise parents on how to ban their teen from engaging in gaming altogether. Lucy states that gaming it is a part of a teen’s life, can be used to self-soothe, is enjoyable, helps to create connections, and that a parent’s responsibility involves equipping their teens with the skills to deal with the negative aspects of gaming.

Sleep is an important part of the day for anyone especially working parents! Parents can face many challenges trying to maintain a routine for their toddlers and getting them to bed at a reasonable hour. The other challenge is usually encouraging them to stay there so you all can get some restful sleep. Sleep is one of the most popular questions we receive at Karitane so this week in our podcast we will chat to one of our experienced child and family health nurses – Karen Willcocks about getting toddlers to sleep!

In Part 3 of the Shared Care Special we hear from Peter and his experience with sharing the parental leave with his wife Sarah to care for their baby girl, Ruby Rose. The couple are continuing to progress through their alternating blocks of leave, with Peter about to start his second block of parental leave once Sarah heads back to work. This episode, Peter discusses his preparation for parental leave and his experience with balancing caring for his daughter and keeping up with work through this arrangement.

What is egg freezing? (otherwise known as Fertility Preservation) Why do people decide to freeze eggs? What are the things to consider before embarking on this journey? What is medical egg freezing vs social egg freezing? Join Parents at Work Chief Services Officer at Parents At Work, Kiri Stejko, as she talks to Dr Rachael Rodgers, a fertility and IVF specialist with Genea as they discuss why more and more women are choosing to freeze their eggs, what is involved in the egg freezing process, how does it feel, what are the physical and emotional impacts.

Diageo launched a new Parental Leave Policy recently - one that leads the nation let alone the industry it operates in. The company offers 26 weeks of paid leave to all new parents, regardless of their gender or their role as primary or secondary carer. Previously (as it is in most organisations) paid leave was provided for only the primary carer and 19 times out of 20 the primary carer was female. Hence, this new policy is a critical step in Diageo’s journey towards establishing gender equality in their workplace. In this interview, Kiri Stejko discusses this new policy with HR Director, Geraldine Joanes. We also hear from Diageo employee Matt DerSarkissian about his experience being a new dad on parental leave, and how he work’s flexibly with his new dual responsibilities.

1 in 5 Australians live with chronic pain including adolescents and children, according to Pain Australia. As chronic pain is invisible, sufferers can feel misunderstood and stigmatised – even discriminated against – by co-workers, friends, family and even the medical profession. There is no easy solution or quick fix however there are some very practical ways that people with chronic pain can use to ensure they feel fully supported at work and with their family. Join Katie and Sam as they go beyond the common ‘just accept it and manage it’ approach by asking us to explore what a more comprehensive and self-loving care plan would look and feel like.

It seems to dominate our lives. How do we support teens to be discerning social media users? In the fourth episode of the Teen Clinic Podcast, youth advocate, teen expert and mother of three Lucy Dahill from Why Be You discusses parent's roles and responsibilities when it comes to their teen's social media usage. Lucy reinforces the age old wisdom of 'walking the talk' in terms of setting a good example of social media use for teens. She also points out that where parents would use other methods, teens use social media as a way to fulfil their need for connection and also as a way to self-soothe.

As working parents we are busier now more than ever. It’s no wonder the morning rush can be hard for you and especially your toddlers, even though you do the same thing every day there are times where your toddler does not want to co-operate. Today’s podcast is learning the art of slowing down, understanding your toddler and the magic of co-operation- it is possible!

When ‘bad news’ or unavoidable circumstances at work or home leave you feeling overwhelmed or like giving up - is resilience the answer? That is, is ‘just getting on with it’ or ‘fighting fire with fire’ the best way to deal with adversity. Or is there another way that does not compromise your sense of ease and harmony in the world? Katie and Sam will address some of the common reactions we have when we are faced with adversity and how we might reduce these. They will also explore the roles that acceptance and appreciation play in working with the achy and tense ‘lemons’ of life.

They don’t talk and then when they do talk they are rude. How does communication change in the teenage years? In Episode 3 of the Teen Clinic Podcast, youth advocate, teen expert and mother of three Lucy Dahill from Why Be You tackles hot topics such as respect, trust, and how to effectively get talking with your teen. As Lucy always says, all behaviour is a form of communication. Teens are working with a brain that is rejigging to deal with upcoming independence and more complex relationships, and it's always better to work on a health and balance model than to try and fix situations that have already exploded.

Burnout is now officially recognised as a medical condition by the World Health Organisation. (https://bit.ly/2Z5I7mz) Given most of us spend more time at work than we do with friends and family, we’d like to hope the hours we spend at work are worthwhile, enjoyable and rewarding – at least most of the time. But what happens when we give too much to work, it’s no longer enjoyable, it’s demanding, overwhelming and there seems to be no end in sight? What do we do next? Do we quit, downsize, put up with it and suffer in silence? How do you deal with career fatigue before burnout sets in? ‘One day’ or ‘I wish’ are common phrases for a person who is unhappy in their job and continually hoping for more from their job or career. But what if getting somewhere or being successful isn’t necessarily about getting a new job? What if your relationship with work and all you bring to it is what’s actually at the core of feeling enriched and empowered in whatever role you are in? Join Emma Walsh and Gill McLaren as they explore ways that can help you reignite your passion for your career as well as some top tips for sustaining it!