Carers and Work

Example

If you are a professional staff member working full-time, you have an option to compress your working hours into a 9 day fortnight so you work longer days to gain one day off work each fortnight. Take a day a fortnight to connect with extended family or spend time developing a new skill or interest.

Approach your line manager to discuss options that might work for you. Compressed weeks might be the solution.

Example

One option when returning to work after parental leave could be to apply to reduce your employment fraction from full-time to part-time, for a specified period, to care for your children.

If the request is approved, you will receive your salary, leave and other entitlements on a pro-rata basis reflecting your employment fraction.

If your circumstances change and you would like to increase the fraction you are working and/or return to work full-time, you will need to provide notice to change or end the arrangement. You may negotiate to gradually increase your fraction before returning to a full-time workload. Ensure that you approach your line manager with plenty of time to discuss a change in hours, so that they have three months’ notice that you want to end one arrangement and put another one in its place.

And remember, you accrue annual leave while on paid parental leave so expect to discuss your annual leave balance with your line manager as part of your plan to work part-time. You can use your leave to be paid full-time until you bring your balance down.

Example

If you are doing work that could reasonably be done away from the office and you need some flexibility, speak to your supervisor about working from home.

Are you working towards a deadline and want to clear your schedule to get to the finish line? Will a day working on your own at home give you the clear run you need to finish?

We all know the frustration of being told that the plumber will call sometime this morning/afternoon, rather than taking a leave day just to let the plumber in, speak to your supervisor about working from home that day.

If your working day is extended by long travel times, consider asking your supervisor to regularly work from home one day a week, so that you are free at the end of the day to give your children a shorter day in child care or out of school hours care.

The University recognises that some of its staff members may experience situations of violence and abuse in their domestic life which may impact on their attendance or performance at work.

Staff experiencing this may apply for special paid leave of up to three days per calendar year for absences caused by emergency circumstances (as per clause 4.8 of the Enterprise Agreement).

Staff may also apply for additional paid leave of up to two days per calendar year for the purposes of attending medical appointments, legal proceedings, seeking safe housing, or other activities related to dealing with family violence.

Bupa corporate health plan

The University has partnered with BUPA health insurance to offer staff at the University of Adelaide a special "no excess" offer when joining the University's Corporate Health Plan.

This cover includes a range of benefits including access to the "Living Well" program which offers practical support and subsidised health programs, loyalty maximums, and the University will pay the $250 annual hospital excess if applicable.

Employee assistance program

The University supports staff and their families by providing access to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

The EAP provides free short-term counselling to employees and their immediate family, and is confidential and anonymous.

Up to three counselling sessions per year are provided to support and assist with any work or non-work related issue.

Counselling is provided by an experienced and impartial team of counsellors who are employed by an external agency, Corporate Health Group (CHG).

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Adelaide Unicare medical services

The University-associated Adelaide Unicare clinics provide primary healthcare for staff and students through a number of general practices, including a clinic on the North Terrace Campus.

Two of the clinics are located in the Adelaide Central Business District, and three are located in the northern suburbs.

UNICARE

Wellbeing events, activities and resources

Human Resources' Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) team facilitate initiatives throughout the year to promote health and wellbeing among the University community.

WELLBEING