careermums - access incredible talent

New to CareerMums?

Welcome to CareerMums - Australia's leading careers centre and jobs board for working parents and parents returning to work.

To make the most of the CareerMums service, please use the following guide for either Candidate or Advertiser.

CareerMums Survey - Win a handbag!

A few times each year CareerMums loves to collect feedback from our users about issues relating to working parents. The information we collect provides us with feedback for businesses, politicians and the media.

Our surveys are always short because we understand that your time is limited. Go in the draw to win 1 of 2 handbags.

CareerMums enewsletter - Latest issue

View some of our latest flexible jobs now; Fill in our latest CareerMums pulse survey - only 2 minutes to complete and you will go in the draw to win a handbag; Sign-up for our latest free webinars - 'Working Parent Challenges Made Easy' and 'Negotiating Flexibility'; and more.

Aussie women and their love affair with high heels

What price for your Jimmy Choos? We want to hear what you think about High Heels. How much pain do you put up with because they look fabulous? It will only take 3 minutes, promise.

Click here to complete the Australian Women and High Heels Survey.

We are giving away 6 new books for mums and dads!

John Wiley and Sons Australia have just release two new books for parents - one for mums, and one for dads! 'Staying Mum' and 'My Dad's Got Mojo'.

We are giving away 3 copies of each book. Enter our competition now.

VIP Home Services Franchise Opportunities

V.I.P. Home Cleaning franchises start from $20,000 –  If you are looking for a flexible, rewarding career that allows you to work the hours that suit you while still earning a great income, this is it.

Join the franchise group that was ranked #1 by Financial Reviews Smart Investor as the best franchise system under $50k in 2009.

Australia's new paid parental leave scheme

The Government has finally passed paid parental leave legislation providing 18 weeks of pay at the minimum wage.

This resource gives you information for parents, information for employers, and draft requirements for payroll and business systems.

Return to work story

Returning to work for many parents can be a really difficult and traumatic experience. A lack of self confidence is often the biggest barrier.

On the positive side, it can be done and there are some wonderful stories of parents who have overcome this challenge and are thriving back in the workforce.

ACT Government Return to Work Grants

The ACT Government offers financial support, information and resources for women returning to the paid workforce after childcare responsibilities.

Find out if you are eligible.

VIC Parents - Return to Work Grants

Grants are available to eligible parents in VIC to return to work after an absence of two years caring for children.

Grants of up to $1000 are available. The money can be used to cover any costs associated with approved training, such as books and materials, course fees, transport and childcare.

Government subsidised training

Anyone looking to complete a course this year should explore the Government funded Productivity Places Program. it is for both job seekers and employees.

Check out the courses available and the Registered Training Organisations in your area. Courses can be done either online or face-to-face or both. It is extremely flexible to suit parents!

Tips for dealing with recruiters

Like it or hate it, recruiters tend to be one of a few employment channels we pursue when looking for a new job. CareerMums surveys have shown repeatedly that parents have not been impressed with recruiters, particularly post-child.

Find out how to stay in control.

Returning to work and the challenges of childcare

It's quite simple really..... when a child starts going to childcare, he/she will most probably catch everything going around the centre.

To match this, you have work deadlines, limited sick days and unlimited guilt because you should be with your child but your pile of work is building up as well. How do you deal with this?

Take on the workforce again

We are dedicated to helping parents return to the workforce with confidence. How do you start building that confidence? With the best information.

We provide you with the answers to the key career concerns and questions working parents need resolved so you too can start thriving again at work.

Keep your skills current

During parental leave, many parents often experience a lack of self confidence when it comes to their career and the prospect of returning to work. It is so common, and happens simply because you are removed from the workplace for a period of time.

In order to make the transition back to work as smooth as possible, it’s important to maintain your skills while you’re on leave.

Managing your career as a parent

Managing your career becomes more challenging after you have children. Before children, all you had to worry about was your career, your social life and your personal relationships.

Children add a whole new dimension of responsibility and selflessness to your life, and unashamedly to most people, they take priority to a career.

Flexible Work Options

Working flexibly explained and examples of flexible work arrangements such as part time, flexible hours, compressed working week, work from home, job sharing, job splitting, purchasing leave, career break, gradual return to work and more.

Find a flexible job

Finding flexible working conditions can still be a challenge. Some of our CareerMums have expressed frustration when dealing with recruitment firms who are not as excited about their potential in the job market when they say those 3 little words: “part time job”.

Don’t be discouraged. There are employers who want your skills and experience, and are more than happy to ‘think flexibly’.

Working from home

Working from home is something most of us would love to do. Being able to work part time and structure work around your family is so appealing.

Current skills shortages combined with globalisation and technological advances are changing the mindsets of organisations about working flexibly.