The Business Council of Australia congratulated the winners of the 2005 ACCI/BCA National Work & Family Awards, announced by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Kevin Andrews in Sydney last night. The winners were:

• Gold Award –  Private Sector – SC Johnson
• Gold Award –  Public Sector – University of South Australia
• Large Business Award – Greenslopes Private Hospital
• Medium Business Award – SC Johnson
• Small Business Award – Austral Tree and Stump Services Pty Ltd
• Regional and Rural Award – Grampians Community Health Centre Inc.
• Rising Star Award – Acclaim Apprentices and Trainees Ltd

The National Work & Family Awards program was first established in 1992 as a means of recognising excellence in work–family initiatives, showcasing small, medium and large organisations with outstanding flexible working arrangements that meet the needs of business and its employees.

The awards are sponsored by IBM and the Office of Small Business in the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources. The official awards partners are the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Business Council of Australia, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Diversity Council Australia and the Office of the Employment Advocate.

BCA Chief Executive Ms Katie Lahey said the Awards helped to celebrate businesses that are ‘work and family role models.’

“This year’s winners, while diverse, shared an ability to turn their organisations into ‘winning workplaces’ displaying innovative and effective work–family practices,” she said.

The BCA has identified workplace relations as one of its four key steps to help lock in Australia’s future economic prosperity.

It has endorsed the proposed reforms to workplace relations, in particular as they will give employers and employees greater flexibility in agreement making and will help reduce barriers to job creation and participation.