28 February 2024
Sarah is our Manager of Organisational Change, and Cameron is the Head of Assets and Environmental Strategy in our Assets & Infrastructure department. They met at the Hydro Tasmania head office (no need to thank us, Sarah and Cameron!).
“We’re so lucky that we work for an organisation like Hydro Tasmania with gender-neutral parental leave. We both get 15-weeks of paid leave that is flexible in how we use it, ensuring it suits our family,” says Sarah.
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Sarah has an impressive career path and is studying to gain an MBA. “Sarah is passionate about her career and studies, and I want to support her wherever I can. The parental leave allows Sarah to transition back to work when she is ready by allowing me equal time to then care for our daughter," says Cameron.
We all know babies come in their own time, and the birthing experience can be very different for every mother. This can be difficult for partners planning time off.
“My manager is very flexible and understands you can only plan so much for it. Knowing this means I can focus on Sarah and the baby and know that when it is time I can be with them rather than stressing about work,” said Cameron.
There have been shifts by Australian employers over the years to increase the amount of parental leave available to primary careers, but we know that historically partners don’t receive these same leave entitlements.
“With a number of colleagues who are due to have a baby around the same time, I often joke to my male colleagues that we can start a fathers’ club. But in all seriousness, having this time off with other colleagues means that I get that opportunity to connect in such a unique way with them," says Cameron.
Hydro Tasmania’s parental leave policy challenges the status quo in several ways and Sarah and Cameron can see the change it will have in their future.
"We have a number of the Executive Leadership Team who have school-aged kids. And they will often be on school pick-up duty or will need to leave to watch their child at an end-of-year performance. I think this showcases that you can balance both roles here, and this has a powerful impact for all staff," says Cameron.
Sarah and Cameron are building their family home and looking forward to welcoming their daughter in June.
Want to be part of the positive culture here at Hydro Tasmania? Check out our careers at www.hydro.com.au/careers.
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