(1) Has the Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) been recognised for its efforts to assist staff to balance the demands of work and family life.

(2) What was the nature of the award and what policies and practices have been implemented by the AGS which led to the award.

(1) Yes - in April 2002.

(2) AGS participated in a work/life initiatives survey conducted by Managing Work/Life Balance, a firm specialising in this field. The aim of the survey, which has been conducted in conjunction with publishing house, CCH Australia, for five years, is to identify what progress has been made in the implementation of work/life and diversity strategies within Australian organisations. The survey is open to all organisations in Australia and allows them to benchmark their work/life initiatives against other organisations. AGS was surveyed about the progress that it had made in developing work/life initiatives, its future intentions in this area and the likely impact of those intentions.

AGS was ranked 20th out of the 195 organisations surveyed. This was the first time AGS had participated in the survey.

The following work/life policies and practices which have been implemented by AGS, were part of the survey's considerations:

· flexible working hours

· part-time work

· working from home

· relocation assistance

· maternity leave

· paternity leave

· adoption leave

· carer's leave

· bereavement leave

· purchased leave provisions

· studies assistance

· time off in lieu

· keeping in touch with employees on extended leave

· First Aid room

· internet access

· influenza vaccinations

· employee assistance program

· salary packaging.