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Fly-in fly-out employment: managing the parenting transitions
Report   Open access

Fly-in fly-out employment: managing the parenting transitions

D. Gallegos
Centre for Social and Community Research, Murdoch University
2005
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Abstract

This project was initiated by Ngala whose staff had identified the potential early parenting challenges for fly-in fly-out families. In 2005, Lotterywest made funds available to Ngala to partner with Meerilinga to undertake research aimed at examining the strategies used by Western Australian families with young children for dealing with the transitions in the family as a consequence of choosing a fly-in fly-out lifestyle. Using the research expertise of the Centre for Social and Community Research, the research focused on the regular transitions from parenting together to parenting apart including issues such as: • work and family roles; • identity issues for families; • child development and attachment issues; • decision making and communication around parenting; • emotional responses of family members to transitions. Previous research on the fly-in fly-out lifestyle has focussed on evaluating its costs and benefits. This research acknowledges that the fly-in fly-out lifestyle is a valid lifestyle choice and will continue to be a significant component of both family and community structures. Using qualitative methodology the research has given voice to families engaged in fly-in fly-out who “tell it like it is” – their words are a powerful reminder that we are not seeking to make a judgement about parenting or about fly-in fly-out. Rather, we seek to understand how families manage their parenting and concentrated work schedules. Many of the issues are common to all families, others are mediated by the environment created by fly-in fly-out.

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