FAAW Report to Australian Teleworking Advisory Committee

June 2005

Definition: "Teleworking is working away from a central office and using a range of telecommunications applications to do so eg email, videoconferencing, phone. Eg of jobs that can be teleworked include: web design, project management, freelance journalism, accountancy."

FAAW has a rural teleworking sub committee ( Professor Margaret Alston, Noela McKinnon and Chris Capel) dedicated to seeking opportunities to increase the uptake of teleworking for rural/remote based women and their communities. One proviso is that not everyone is suitable to telework (workers need to be self motivated and have good organisational and communication skills) and not all jobs are suitable to be teleworked. (those that require face to face or hands on presence – front desk reception, chef, surgeon)

FAAW has met with the Australian Teleworking Advisory Committee (ATAC) established by the Federal Government to recommend strategies to increase the uptake of teleworking. FAAW coordinated the meeting in Longreach 2 June 2005 and presented a submission with recommended strategies to increase teleworking in rural areas. An ATAC representative and a FAAW representative are both key note speakers at the Asia Pacific Going Virtual conference in Brisbane 8-9 September, 2005.

FAAW suggestions to increase teleworking include the following strategies to increase the uptake of teleworking opportunities for rural/remote women:

1. Relevant state and Commonwealth government departments, eg DCITA, DAFF outsource a number of suitable (at a range of levels – not only administrative) positions to rural teleworkers to trial the concept, research issues, positives and promote to private industry. Seek written agreement or legislation whereby X number of teleworking positions per department have to be outsourced to rural teleworkers by a certain date.

2. That there be funds made available to establish a national rural teleworking organisation to link rural teleworkers (currently isolated, with little support, not many of them) to:

  • Advocate on their behalf.
  • Promote this way of of working more widely, including through a targeted media campaign.
  • Encourage and support research into teleworking.
  • Evaluate the performance of teleworkers.
  • Encourage best practice methods of operating.
  • Link to training and employers.

3. Establish a body to act as an employment agency to seek and manage work contracts for rural teleworkers eg Teletask (former Networking The Nation funded rural teleworking project) or an enhanced model.

4. That there be a focus in the work of any teleworking consultative body on telework in rural and remote regions including the opportunities teleworking provides for employees and employers. FAAW would like to make the point that there are added benefits for rural and remote workers as regards teleworking because:

  • Teleworking can provide career opportunities or pathways in areas for rural workers where there are few employment opportunities.
  • There may be spin off employment benefits eg childcare for teleworker, computer maintenance.
  • The benefit of increased skills and professional development created through employment.
  • Extra income being spent in rural towns.
  • Some employers can benefit from being seen to have a strong rural presence eg Government departments, Universities, businesses who wish to be seen to be servicing the bush eg Telstra.
  • Other benefits to rural towns – eg increased knowledge/skills of residents (capacity building).

5. FAAW will promote teleworking via our web site and newsletters.

6. Link teleworking opportunities to drought assistance schemes – ie as a positive drought strategy (social as well as economic benefits). Off farm income is often vital to economic sustainability of farms (especially during drought) and many farming women have tertiary qualifications and good project management and other skills. Governments could outsource or coordinate the outsourcing of work to farmers as a positive drought strategy.

7. Have rural women’s representation on teleworking advisory committees.

8. Profile successful rural teleworkers through media, newsletters and at conferences.

9. Recommend links with relevant universities who have done research ( or may) on rural teleworking as a way to promote research into this area and promotion of the concept generally to a potential workforce. Eg Queensland University of technology and Charles Sturt University.

10. Links to TAFE and training providers – to teach people how to telework, manage teleworkers and deal with challenges, networks etc.

11. Recommend that government link with FAAW as a link to other national and state rural women’s organizations in order to “spread the word”.