Podcast

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, join Sharlene Vlahos, toddler expert from Karitane who shares the recommendations around screen time and provides you with helpful information that will allow you to make an informed decision around screen use for you and your family.

Sleep is vital if we are to not only feel well and healthy but also be a great parent and employee.

Parenting expert Sharlene Vlahos from parenting experts Karitane joins Emma Walsh, CEO, Parents At Work about how to get into a supportive sleeping rhythm in the early months of your new borns life.

Sharlene and Emma explore what works for baby and you.

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 complementary health practitioner Katie Walls and executive career coach Sam Eddy explore the images we’re fed of the perfect parent and how we can avoid its pitfalls.

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 Karitane receive. This episode Sharlene Vlahos talks to one of their experienced child and family health nurses – Karitane Kaz (Karen Willcocks) about getting toddlers to sleep!

In the lead-up to National Families Week next week, host Emma Musgrave was joined by Emma Walsh, founder of Family Friendly Workplaces and the CEO of Parents at Work, to discuss the importance of leaders being considerate of employee commitments at home.

Emma Walsh shares the biggest trends she sees play out when it comes to supporting parents and other carers, including how the pandemic and rising cost of living have contributed to greater implementation of key policies in Australian businesses.

She also gives her thoughts on what more needs to be done at a government level to support people and her top tips for businesses obtaining family-friendly certification.

https://www.hrleader.com.au/people/24061-the-benefits-of-obtaining-family-friendly-workplace-certification

As the Chief Winemaker of Orlando Wines based in Barossa Valley, Tim Pequest-Hunt knows all too well the “one shot to get it right” that comes with the science and magic of turning grapes into wine. 

A classically trained singer who got into a career in winemaking after working part-time in a local wine store, he is now a champion for family-friendly workplaces and aims to actively demonstrate the value of taking time out for the family. 

Pelquest-Hunt started with Pernod Ricard Winemakers ten years ago and has risen up the ranks to become one of the company’s top winemakers. He’s also been a witness to significant demographic shifts in winemaking, in terms of more diversity and representation that’s come into the sector which also brings valuable new perspectives, opportunities, and the ability to learn from others. 

Speaking to the Family Friendly Workplace Podcast, an initiative between Parents At Work and UNICEF Australia, Pelquest-Hunt shared how he came into winemaking – discovering he had a passion and a great taste for wine almost accidentally – and went on to study the science and art of the process in New Zealand. 

Lion’s revamped domestic and family violence abuse policy sets a new benchmark for supporting employees to access the help they need.

Revamped in 2021, the policy builds on offering paid domestic and family violence leave to now also providing emergency short term accommodation for individuals and their immediate families in crisis.

They also provide loaner phones for team members who believe their phone may have been compromised and have upskilled their “Respect at Lion Champions” to become “First Responders” – individuals with specialised training who become “tellable people” for survivors and at-risk individuals to approach for support.

For this episode we spoke to Lion’s Global Inclusion and Diversity Leader Sarah Abbott asking how leaders are creating more supportive workplaces that acknowledge the needs and caring responsibilities staff have outside of work.

We know that flexibility is key for employers in being more family friendly. 

But while flexibility may often be available to staff – accessing it in the way parents and carers actually need it can often come down to a team leader or manager, or the specific culture that these parents experience within their own team.  

At the global healthcare company Novartis, flexible work practices were available well before the pandemic. 

But it more recently moved to formalise flexibility, via a program enabling team member to choose their own working arrangements. 

They’ve also recently revamped their paid parental leave, taken the 2023 Equal Pay Pledge, addressed recruitment processes, and introduced ‘wellness days’ to support staff in getting the health checks they may have missed during COVID. 

My guest today is Sue Whipps, the Country Head of People and Organisation for Novartis Australia and New Zealand, which became an accredited family friendly workplaces employer almost a year ago.

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.

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.