[Claire36]

Hi
we're currently applying for state sponsorship from Victoria for our skilled 176 visa.
my husband is a maths teacher and we've seen lots of jobs which he could apply for and hopefully the visa should go through (eventually)
however, I am an EHO and the only jobs I have seen seem to be full time with fixed hours (incl some out of hours cover), as we have 2 young kids (3 & 6) and I currently work 3 days a week on flexi time I was hoping to find something similar. I do want to work, not least because this boosts our income considerably, but I also enjoy my job and am not a stay at home mum. Are jobs ever advertised as part time or should I apply for full time posts and make a request for reduced hours? Is there a requirement to offer flexible working for parents? Not sure if I'm locking myself out of the job market by making these demands but I know I really couldn't manage on full time hours whilst trying to get kids to school, nursery and settle into a new country. Any help or suggestions would be great.
Thanks

[fran]

Hello and welcome Claire,

What occupation is an EHO? Is it an environmental health officer? Here are the current rules reragrding flexible working. http://www.fairwork.gov.au/Pay-leave-and-conditions/Conditions-of-employment/Pages/Flexible-working-arrangements.aspx

"What’s a flexible working arrangement?

From 1 January 2010, an employee who is a parent, or has responsibility for the care of a child, may request a change in their working arrangements.

Examples of changes in working arrangements may include:

* changes in hours of work (eg. reduction in hours worked, changes to start / finish times),
* changes in patterns of work (eg. working ‘split-shifts’ or job sharing arrangements)
* changes in location of work (eg. working from home or another location).

Who’s eligible?

An employee who is a parent, or has responsibility for the care of a child, may request a change in their working arrangements.

In order to be eligible to make this request an employee:

* must have completed at least 12 months continuous service with their employer immediately before making the request or:
* be a casual employee that:
o has been employed by the employer on a regular and systematic basis for a sequence of periods of employment of at least 12 months, immediately before making the request, and
o has a reasonable expectation of continuing employment by the employer on a regular and systematic basis, and

* must have care of a child who is either:
o under school age (ie. the age at which the child is required by the applicable State or Territory law to start attending school)
o under 18 and has a disability.

How do I make a request?

The request must:

* be made in writing
* set out details of the change sought and reasons for the change."

[kelly]

I'm interested in this too, as I want to do part time work once we arrive. It's good that employers are required to consider flexible working. I only hope that it doesn't put employers off taking on women with young children full time. I've heard that there are a lot of part-time jobs on the go, so finding work should not be too tricky.:)

[Claire36]

Yes I am an environmental health officer - sorry I get used to the abbrev, its easier.

This info is really useful as is the link which has lots of other useful stuff about hours and other terms of employment. The flexible working request is virtually the same as UK, in fact I recently used the system to change from 4 to 3 days a week, however it does seem as though you already need to be employed for at least 12 months. If I took on full time employment for a year by the time I came to request flexible hours my son would be at school and therefore I wouldn't be able to access this request facility.

I haven't seen any part time jobs offered for environmental health officers. I have tried contacting the Australian Institute of Environmental Health to see what their experience and understanding is but have not had any response to my emails. I do find this a little unusual as environmental health does have a high percentage of women workers and I can't believe they all work full time? I think I may have to get in touch with some specific employers and ask them informally what they attitude is. I suppose it may depend how keen they are to fill the post if they aren't getting any other applications.

Kelly - what work are you looking at? What part time jobs have you seen?

[Cliff]

In that last figures from ABS, part-time employment increased almost 4 times faster than full time employment so going by that it should not be too difficult to find part-time work.

"December employment
Employment increased 35,200 (0.3%) to 10,905,900. Full-time employment increased 7,300 to 7,635,100 and part-time employment increased 27,900 to 3,270,800."

[kelly]

Kelly - what work are you looking at? What part time jobs have you seen?

Hi,
I am a receptionist and I work part-time at the moment. I've had a look at recruitment agencies online (seek etc) and they are full of part-time jobs. I'm hoping to get a position in North Perth, where we plan to stay. I won't be looking for work straight away - will wait until we are settled and the kids are happy with their new home.

[Gabriella8]

Hi Claire, My family moved here last year from the Philippines. I got a job here as an analyst last August and during the interview I told them about my family concerns because I have an 18month old ddaughter. Just tell your soon-to-be employer about your concerns because they might give you options on how to manage your work & family.

[PhillipaW]

I am a stay at home mum and at the beginning of the year was looking for a part-time job so I can still spend time with my son who is almost 13 months old. There were a few jobs that I could have applied for that suited me and that were only 2 - 3 days a week. I didn't end up applying because I chickened out and decided I didn't want to go to work and wanted to be with my son all the time. So I know that they're out there.
I'm not sure about EHO's but maybe you can get a different part-time job until you find one perfect for you?
I live in Perth and the West Australian newspaper often advertises part-time jobs and also have some job share ones. You can read the Employment Section online here: http://olps.thewest.com.au/olps/employment/home.do
I'm not sure about other states newspapers but they should have the same facility.

[aussie]

Part time jobs are becoming increasingly popular.
There are part time jobs advertised on the big Australian employment job sites: www.seek.com.au, www.mycareer.com.au, and career one as well.
You can also try doing a search for part time jobs on google.com.au
Also if there is an industry you plan to work in, there is likely to be a few employment agencies that look after that area and they can look for the jobs for you, through a google search.