The information in this section will help you start thinking about what you will need to organise: your family, home and care arrangements. It will also help you clarify the skills you have and options available to build on your skills.

Understand your reasons

There are many different reasons why you might think it’s the right time to return to paid work. For some people, money will be the only reason. While for others, the big incentive will be time to focus on their career and personal development. Many people caring for children also say they look forward to adult conversations and interactions they can have at work.

Being clear and comfortable about your own decision will help you when everyone else gives you their opinion about what you should do. Some people criticise parents or carers, especially mothers, who return to work, while others criticise those who don't go back to work! You'll never please everybody. The main thing is to be true to yourself.  

What's important to you?

Find some quiet time to complete What’s Important to Me. It will help you to think about your reasons for returning.

You can either enter in your responses online and print it out, or download it to your computer and complete it in your own time.

When's the right time? 

For those of you who are able to choose when to return to work, you will need to weigh up your goals and aspirations around being a parent or carer with those around advancing your career. How long can you spend out of the paid workforce before your skills and networks as a worker start to suffer? How long would you like to spend with your children, full-time or part-time, until they reach what age? Carers will need to feel comfortable that their dependent is able to be well cared for while they are at work. Everyone needs to find their own solution that will best meet their unique situation.

Preparing yourself emotionally will help you to think these issues through.

Your long-term financial security

Another important consideration when deciding whether to return to paid work is your long-term financial security and independence. According to Women in Australia 2009, because women are paid 35 per cent less than men and spend more time out of the paid workforce being primary carers, they currently have on average 40 per cent less funds in their superannuation. Nearly 18 per cent of recently retired women reported having no (or negative) income.

Returning to paid work will help you to build your superannuation. There are also ways of contributing to your superannuation even while you are out of the paid workforce. For example, if you have a spouse, they can make contibutions into your super fund. For more information see the Australian Tax Office website.