[Victoria Legal Aid logo and on-screen title: Gender equality in action: Working flexibly in Chambers]
[Positive music plays in background]
[On-screen text: Acknowledgement of Country – This video was made on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Bunurong People. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands across Victoria and pay respect to Elders past and present. We recognise the continuing connection to country, culture and identity and the importance of self-determination for creating better futures for First Nations people.]
[On-screen title: What are you balancing work with?]
[Close profile shot of Iresha Sirawardana speaking to camera]
Iresha Siriwardana: So I'm balancing the care of two children, one of whom more recently has gone through the last year and a half, has gone through a health concern or health issue.
[On-screen title: Iresha Sirawardana, Associate Public Defender]
Iresha: In my time at Chambers I've had different iterations as to how that's affected my caring commitments and my work.
[On-screen title: How do you work flexibly?]
[Close profile shot of Danielle Lamovie speaking to camera]
Danielle Lamovie: Working flexibly for me means that I can be more present to my family.
[On-screen title: Danielle Lamovie, Public Defender]
Danielle: I realise that even as children are growing older, you still need to be around and be present and and kids appreciate that.
[On-screen title: How do you balance your time?]
Danielle: It's a tricky aspect because if we're in the middle of trials or very intense matters, it will mean dropping everything literally and just working every day and then coming home and working at nights as well. I find that the best way to balance is not to do too many back-to-back, which I find that in Chambers that that's acknowledged and you get time to decompress and do some other different types of matters in between.
[On-screen title: How do you negotiate flexible working arrangements?]
[Close profile shot of Iresha Sirawardana speaking to camera]
Iresha: I've had the flexibility of having open and honest discussions with my management team about how my personal needs have impacted my ability to to perform at a high level.
It's just a different dialogue that I have with those who seek to brief me and my management team, in terms of what opportunities are offered to me. So I've never felt that working part time has been a disadvantage. It's just, let's look at this a little bit differently.
[On-screen title: What are the benefits of working flexibly?]
[Close profile shot of Danielle Lamovie speaking to camera]
Danielle: I found that it just made me be able to balance my life a bit better and I enjoyed my work a bit more. Paradoxically, I found that the years of being able to combine working from home and working in the office, I've been sick less. I've generally just felt better.
[On-screen title: How has working flexibly helped you progress your career?]
[Close profile shot of Iresha Sirawardana speaking to camera]
Iresha: Yes, I have been able to progress my career within Victoria Legal Aid, but I'm cognisant it's not a treadmill that I need to constantly run and constantly feel the need to go up another step, another step. I feel there is that flexibility that this organisation recognises that here and now this is what I need, here and now, I can't take any more. But in a few more months I am in a position to take on more and progress. So I'm grateful for that longevity that the organisation given me.
[Victoria Legal Aid logo and on-screen text: Fairness, Care, Courage, Inclusion. www.legalaid.vic.gov.au]
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