In the fight for gender equality, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to reflect on our progress—but also to sharpen our focus.
While the conversation around women’s rights, gender equality, and work-life balance is evolving, there’s still one pressing issue that remains largely unaddressed: the unpaid caregiving work performed by millions of women around the world every day.
Most of us are familiar with the term “Sandwich Generation”—those aged roughly between 35 and 55, who find themselves caring for both ageing parents and young families simultaneously. It’s a challenge that disproportionately affects women, and with the percentage of ageing Australians projected to reach more than 20% of the total population by 2066, it’s a challenge that’s only set to worsen.
According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), women currently perform over 75% of unpaid care work worldwide. Though often overlooked in economic measures, this quiet, unseen work is essential for the functioning of society; it’s preparing meals, cleaning, nurturing, organising—the constant care and support that families need.
For those also caring for ageing parents, this often involves anything from assisting with finances, household maintenance, transportation and daily activities, to attending medical appointments, liaising with healthcare professionals, managing medications, and providing emotional support. In many cases, it also means navigating an often-complex aged care system.
These tasks, while essential to the welfare of families, individuals, and communities, go largely unrecognised. And while we acknowledge women’s participation in the workforce is essential for economic growth, for women in the Sandwich Generation, these care responsibilities often come at a cost to their own careers, wellbeing, and personal aspirations. As a consequence, career advancement for women can stall, or even reverse.
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is an invitation to step up our efforts toward gender equality. We cannot move forward in any meaningful way if we continue to allow the unpaid caregiving responsibilities of the Sandwich Generation to persist without adequate support. We need to recognise that this often-overlooked work is critical to the well-being of our communities, and we must find ways to support those who perform it.
In my role, I see firsthand how the right support can make a significant difference. I’ve worked with countless caregivers to navigate the complex landscape of healthcare and aged care, by providing resources, guidance, and connection to supports and services that can ease their burden. But we know that the impact of caregiving reaches far beyond these things. It’s about fostering a culture that values caregiving—where the efforts of caregivers, particularly women, are acknowledged and celebrated as vital to our economic and social fabric.
As employers, it is essential that we work towards policies that better support unpaid caregivers and enable greater gender equality. This includes paid maternity and paternity leave, flexible working arrangements, and inclusive workplace cultures that acknowledge and accommodate the unique challenges women face.
Beyond this, governments must prioritise improving access to affordable and quality care services for both young children and ageing parents. The reality is these solutions are not just for women—they benefit all of us. By providing better resources and support systems, we can ensure that no woman has to compromise her wellbeing, financial position, or career when caring for loved ones.
This International Women’s Day calls on all of us to take a stand, create real change, and ensure that the next generation of women can feel seen, valued, and adequately supported for their contributions—whether they’re in the home or in the workplace. Only then will we see true progress toward gender equality.
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This IWD 2025, Lynda Chalmers, CEO of Care Connect urges us to #AccelerateAction and recognize the vital role of unpaid caregivers. International Women’s Day Dynamic Business
