Skip to main content

Summary of Good Practice Recommendations

Parents

Principles, Ethics and Rights

Organisations have a responsibility to:

  • meet legal obligations related to flexible working arrangements for parents under the Fair Work Act 2009

  • ensure the rights, protections and dignity of parents of all genders and cultural contexts are recognised

  • recognise childcare as a legitimate and necessary expense within project budgets

  • negotiate longer and more flexible project timelines where required

  • recognise parenting as an access consideration in contracts and negotiations

  • ensure appropriate insurance, contracts and workplace guidelines are in place regarding children in work environments

  • implement child safety policies in line with legal requirements and Creative Workplaces resources

  • maintain supportive relationships with parenting artists and arts workers during periods of leave or reduced participation

  • work with First Nations parenting artists and arts workers to support cultural continuation, intergenerational learning, and the involvement of children, family and community in artistic practice

  • work with parenting artists and arts workers on event formats, scheduling and public program arrangements, including whether family-friendly or child-inclusive approaches are appropriate to the context, artwork and audiences involved.

Artists and arts workers have a responsibility to:

  • communicate parenting-related access needs, scheduling requirements, and caregiving considerations relevant to projects or workplaces

  • discuss timelines, travel, meeting availability and childcare needs and any arrangements involving children as early as possible

  • ensure appropriate supervision and duty of care for children in professional environments

  • consider the safety, wellbeing and comfort of children within workplaces, galleries, residencies and public programs.

Agreements should:

  • include childcare costs within budgets and travel arrangements and accommodation, including, where necessary, an additional support person (see Allowances)

  • include timelines and meetings and event arrangements (including openings) that take into consideration caregiving responsibilities of artists, arts workers and audiences

  • clearly document responsibilities relating to children in work contexts

  • provide for flexible residency arrangements.