Regional Australia Bank: a case study addressing the triple penalty of regional location, gender and motherhood on women’s careers

Abstract

In regional areas, women's re-entry into the labour market following periods of unpaid care work is impacted by the intersection of regional location, gender and motherhood. Enabling better career outcomes for women in regional Australia can be addressed at the organisational level. Regional Australia Bank is an example of how strategic approaches to return to work can support women's career progression and meet labour force shortages in regional areas. Regional Australia Bank has harnessed the value of women's skills and experiences in their communities through their strategic positioning as the heart of their communities, their innovative workplace practices, flexibility and commitment to supporting work-life balance and leveraging technology. Documenting the strategy and practices of Regional Australia Bank provides insight into how other regionally based businesses may overcome the constraints of geography to create more inclusive workplaces.