International Women’s Day 2026: Balancing the Scales for Carers and Children

By Dr Lisa J. Griffiths

This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the remarkable contributions women make across our communities every day. From workplaces and neighbourhoods to classrooms and care environments, women help shape safer, stronger and more connected futures for children and families.

Caregiving has long been viewed through a narrow, gendered lens – meaning its true value is often overlooked. Yet care plays a vital, transformative role in children’s safety, healing and long‑term wellbeing. When we recognise care as skilled, essential work, we create space for stronger systems and fairer outcomes.

Across Australia, women make up the majority of foster and kinship carers, opening their homes and offering stability during some of the most challenging moments in a child’s life.

They provide steady reassurance in moments of overwhelm. They spend countless hours navigating health, education and support services, all while providing the emotional consistency children need to recover and grow.

This work is purposeful, demanding and central to children’s futures. And while it enriches lives, it also asks carers to stretch their own time, resources and energy.

For carers, the scales are not balanced – economically or emotionally.

Today, many carers contribute at great personal cost. Reduced income and superannuation contributions due to a lack of dedicated carer leave entitlements can have long-term impacts on financial security. 

The emotional costs of navigating healthcare and child protection systems also affect carer retention, highlighting important opportunities to strengthen how we support carers and relieve some of the burden that makes it harder to provide the stable, nurturing care children deserve. 

Through OzChild’s advocacy alongside the National Foster Care Sustainability Group and our support of the Future of Foster Care campaign, we are championing reforms that value care as a shared responsibility. When carers are equipped, children gain stability, families stay stronger, and our society becomes more equal for future generations.

This International Women’s Day, we honour the vital work women do – in care, in leadership and in community – and alongside our sector partners will continue to advocate for carer benefits that finally reflect the true value of their contribution.

Balancing the scales for carers helps balance the scales for children, communities and the women of tomorrow.