By Renee Wood
Casey candidate Aaron Violi invited the Minister for Women’s Economic Security Jane Hume to the region to meet with local women to discuss their needs in the workforce.
Minister Hume met with four local business women from Healesville about how the government can support their needs during their early careers through to retirement.
Minister Hume said the key discussions were around childcare and making that affordable for all families.
“We spoke about childcare and how to make childcare more accessible and affordable is really important to getting women to participate more fully in the workforce,” Minister Hume said.
Mr Violi said providing more opportunities for women to stay in the workforce and grow their businesses will be on his agenda if elected.
“I’ve seen it through my family with my wife and talking to friends who have done the same and it’s very hard to balance,” Mr Violi said.
Local business owner Georgina Ellis agreed it can be a very emotional time for women ending maternity leave and childcare rebates provide a level of security for that return.
“It’s very emotional, so you have this feeling of what type of life you do want to lead so I feel like with the support it is easier to come back into the workforce,” Ms Ellis said.
Minister Hume said the increased benefit of Child Care Subsidy is something she’s proud the government’s achieved.
Additional subsidies for families with two or more children in care came into affect in March and means the CCS rate increased by 30 percentage points for the second child and any younger children, up to a maximum rate of 95 per cent.
The visit comes as the unemployment rate dropped down to 3.7 per cent – the lowest it’s been since May 1974.
