Caring for workers' dependents: Gender, class and local state practice in Melbourne

Abstract

Australian women now work in the paid labourforce in greater numbers. Accordingly, local community services to help care for workers' dependents are becoming increasingly important, as fewer households include full-time carers. But there are considerable differences in the way local states approach the task of caring for workers' dependents, and these have varied implications for particular class and gender groups. Focusing on child-care provision, but with some reference also to services for aged dependents, this paper describes the community-service practice of two Melbourne municipalities and the class and gender biases they incorporate. It then proposes an initial explanation of the differences found, drawing on interactions between bureaucrats, elected councillors and community activists in those places.