Mums and work - Victoria

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I've found two recruitment firms that cater to job seeking mums based here in Melbourne. The aptly named MUMS - www.mums.com.au  was the brainchild of Peter Watt who has owned a number of businesses and always employed mums under flexible arrangements. He found their diligence and reliability first rate and thought other employers would too so started MUMS (Managing Un-utilised Mothers Services).

His "mums" include accountants, lawyers, IT professionals, PhD scientists, admin staff, secretarial staff, book keepers, marketing people, sales people and graphic designers. Mums are placed in on site jobs working school hours, job sharing roles or engaged to provide services on a per task basis to a particular deadline so as long as they deliver they work their own hours.

The other agency, Priorities was started by two walking buddies Jackie Cook, a former management consultant and Kate Webster, an experienced project manager, after they had children. Priorities - www.priorities.com.au - provide return to work and computer courses to help mums get up to speed and build confidence.

They also place mums in jobs. Last time I spoke to the girls they had trained 12 mums and placed 10 in jobs. In one placement, the employer was happy to set up the chartered accountant mum from home.

She worked in the employer's office only three times a month. Another mum was trained in a number of roles for the Youth Hostels Association so she could fill in whenever a team member was travelling or on leave but she was also able to work school hours.

I hope employers will read this column too so we can see more quality roles for busy mums become a reality.

By Kate Southam, Editor of careerone.com.au

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