In this paper for the 2004 Australian Institute of Family Studies conference Fiona Andrews and Hal Swerissen explore the preferences and experiences of women with different work/family arrangements in managing their children's healthcare. She finds that all women, irrespective of their working arrangements, held similar preferences for managing their children's health, but that the majority of women irrespective of working arrangements experienced constraints on their ability to act on these preferences.

More flexible workplace arrangements and a primary healthcare system that is affordable and accessible outside parents working hours would assist these families in managing the health of their children.