OUR AIM IS TO RAISE THE STATUS OF WOMEN IN THE AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY

OUR AIM IS TO STRENGTHEN AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES AS THE BASIS OF OUR SOCIETY

To further these aims we encourage women to be well informed, to analyse issues, and to participate in areas where opinions are formed, and where decisions are made.

In support of these aims we uphold the following principles.

We believe that a woman has an irreplaceable role in society. She has the right to develop her full potential to the extent she chooses.

We believe in the social and legal equality of women and men.

We recognise that there are important biological and psychological differences between the sexes.

We believe that a woman has a vital role to fill in the government and public life of the country.

We support the participation of women in public institutions, in political parties and in the trade union movement.

We support freedom of choice and equality of opportunity - in education and training, in career choice and in employment.

IN THE HOME

We assert that women should be free to choose the career of full-time homemaker without economic and social pressure. We seek proper recognition of the social and economic value of her work within the home. We do not accept that her contribution as part of the paid workforce is superior to her contribution as a full-time worker in the home.

IN THE COMMUNITY

We strive to gain recognition for the important social and economic contribution that women make to individuals and to society through their voluntary work for charities and other welfare organisations.

IN THE PAID WORKFORCE

We support women’s right to be part of the paid workforce.

We adhere firmly to the principle of equal pay for work of equal value.

We believe that all positions, including positions of responsibility in all occupations, should be allocated on the basis of competency and suitability, regardless of the person’s sex.

We encourage both employer and employee organisations to ensure that their structures, where necessary, give adequate attention to the expression of ideas of women and to their participation in the activities of the organisations.

Workplaces should provide flexibility for all workers with family responsibilities

We see a commitment to marriage as the ideal foundation for family life.

A woman and man choosing marriage are entitled to the protection of the law. A commitment involving such serious mutual obligations and responsibilities - children and property - should be defined as a contract, for the protection of all parties.

We seek to educate people, particularly young people, about the importance of the psychological preparation needed for family life.

We seek the encouragement of home ownership for families, by appropriate government policies and financial assistance.

Pre-marriage and marriage education services need to be expanded so that they can be more readily available to all. Continued social research into the sources of marital instability is desirable in order to identify ways to reduce the rate of marriage breakdown.

We affirm that the family is the natural and fundamental unit of society.

A normal family is a place of joy and love and affection, of caring and of sharing, a haven against an impersonal world.

Within a family the following social functions are normally fulfilled:

We value and respect all human life, We accept each individual as a unique being entitled to care and protection, before birth and at all subsequent stages of life.

In order to fulfil these social functions, we believe that the family is entitled to protection by society and the State and we encourage laws and policies which will strengthen the family and improve our quality of life.

In the great framework of such a policy we advocate that:

1. no mother should be forced to enter the paid workforce because family income is insufficient.
2. family breadwinners, both with and without partners, should receive an income sufficient to support their families.

Immediate assistance is necessary through family payments, social services and through the tax structure. Wage and tax structures must be designed to support the economic position of families.

The real economic value of unpaid work, and in particular caring roles, must be recognised by society. Because we acknowledge that care of young children in the home is the first choice of most parents, we advocate the payment of a realistic home care allowance.

Within the family, we promote the woman’s role as an individual. We also promote the father as a full partner in the care and emotional development of the children.

The earliest education of the child is best provided by the family. Formal schooling of the child requires support from the State.

We support provision of adequate finance for education so that parents have genuine freedom of choice in accordance with their conscientious convictions.

Children are individually entitled to an education which enables them to attain their full potential intellectually, emotionally, physically, spiritually and socially. Courses in human relationships for children should involve the parents, should be based on the principles of personal responsibility for others, and be set in the context of family life.