Harnessing and leveraging time: Australian women's navigation of career transitions

Women experience multiple transitions across the life course, including beginning/resuming studies, entering/(re)entering the workforce and/or having children. This paper outlines a constructivist grounded theory research project that sought to identify factors impacting Australian women’s lives during career transitions. Juggling work, care, study, domestic responsibilities, and for some, a business, women can experience an up to fivefold burden of time. While their motivation harnessed time, leveraging time would decrease time deprivation stress. The study found citizen-centred social structures offer support, reframing the burden of time, potentially releasing the women to leverage their time and improving work/life balance outcomes. While this requires structural change in Australia, Nordic models offer a glimpse of supportive social structures benefitting citizens for future sustainability.