Mums and Dads are ‘tag team’ parenting as working patterns change

A new report into the ways Australians spend time has found that many parents are ‘tag team’ parenting in a bid to keep on top of rising costs and look after the kids.

If your morning consists of making packed lunches, ironing school shirts and looking for your husband's missing socks, it may be comforting to know you're not alone.

Many women arrive at the office ready to tackle a full day's work after already completing a number of household chores.

And while men are chipping in and taking on more domestic duties – it seems that women are in a race against the clock when it comes to looking after the kids and getting things done.

A new study into the way Australians spend their time is shedding light on the working habits of mums and dads around the country.

The report, which was conducted by the AMP and the National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling (NATSEM), was released earlier this week (November 17).

In addition to charting the changing living habits of the nation's growing population researchers also identified time management as an important issue for working parents.

On average, weekly full-time working hours have risen from 39.5 to 42.3 hours for men and 36.4 to 38.6 hours for women since 1985.

In real terms, this equates to an increase of almost three hours per week for men and two for women.

But figures collated from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that in recent years the cost of living has also risen especially in cities like Sydney, which is placing pressure on some families.

"Juggling competing work, family and individual commitments means we have to be careful time managers," said AMP financial services managing direct Craig Meller.

"But there are only 24 hours in a day, leaving many of us feeling like we've let someone, or even ourselves, down."

Mr Meller identified young working mothers as a group that was particularly vulnerable when it came to coordinating work and life matters, saying they "seem to be the most time poor".

Professor Alan Duncan, co-author of the report and director of NATSEM, said mums and dads hoping to work the traditional nine to five hours may need to think again as early starts and weekend shifts become more and more common.

"These types of work patterns have potentially adverse effects on family life, a greater requirement for tag team parenting and add to the time pressures that working couples particularly are feeling," he said while speaking on the reports findings.

In Australia, women spend on average more time on child care, domestic activities, buying goods and services than their male peers, while men have roughly two hours more free time than the fairer sex.