Grandparents play a huge and often invisible role in keeping working families in paid employment.
together, but sometimes the competing demands of paid employment and intergenerational care can be a difficult balancing act that undermines their economic security.
Rob and Libby McLeod provide regular care to their nine grandchildren, including Joey, 3, and Teddy, eight months.“When people talk about making Australia’s early childhood education and care system more affordable, they are referring to boosting the economic potential of mothers with young children. But if we think about it more broadly, there is a huge role grandparents play in the care of young children, and they tend to get overlooked,” Dr Hamilton said.
“The greatest impact is when grandparents provide more than 13 hours of care a week. That is where we see a tipping point, and it really starts to impact on their capacity to work more hours.”Overseas research shows that in countries with highly subsidised and well-structured childcare systems, grandparents are still actively involved in their grandchildren’s upbringing, but on a more impromptu basis.
“I gave up work about 10 years ago, probably prematurely because I wanted to be a grandmother, but to do other things with my life as well,” Mrs McLeod said. Their day ends when one or both parents, who are both anaesthetists and have unpredictable hours, finally get home.
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