MENU

MENU

Donate Now
Login

Author: AWARE Media

home

Have something to say about caregiving? Share your views with Singapore Alliance for Women in Ageing

With Singapore’s rapidly ageing population and preference for ageing-in-place, the burden on family caregivers is growing considerably. Yet low fertility rates and decreasing family sizes mean that our population of caregivers is shrinking. The caregiving burden is also likely to fall disproportionately on women in the family, due to gendered cultural norms.

What can be done to ease family caregivers’ burden? What policies need to be introduced to help both working and unemployed family caregivers for the elderly?

In view of the government’s review of gender equality issues this year, the Singapore Alliance for Women in Ageing (SAWA) hopes to give voice to caregivers in the community and ensure that your concerns are heard. If you are a caregiver of a family member aged 70 years and above, SAWA invites you to attend a discussion to share your experiences! (Please note that this discussion is not affiliated with the government’s ongoing “Conversations on Women’s Development”.)

This event will open with remarks by our Guest of Honour, Minister of State Sun Xueling, one of the leaders of the government’s review of gender issues. Next, researchers from Duke-NUS will make a presentation on the costs of informal eldercare as well the impact of caregiving on caregivers’ employment. This will be followed by a focus group discussion during which you will have a chance to share your experiences and thoughts on the presentation. You can also describe what policy changes you would like to see, such as family care leave or caregiver allowance.

Following this, the discussed recommendations will be collated into a community policy wishlist that SAWA will submit to policy makers. Selected Members of Parliament, including Ms Carrie Tan and Ms Hany Soh, will be present during the small group discussions to hear directly from the community. Nonetheless, please be assured that no identifiable information will be reported publicly.

Date: 27 May 2021 (Thursday)

Time: 2pm-4m

Venue: Zoom

Register here!

Programme Details

  • 2:00 pm – Welcome remarks by SAWA Leader (Junie Foo, President, SCWO). Opening remarks by Guest of Honour, MOS Sun Xueling. (Host: Susana Harding, Senior Director, International Longevity Centre Singapore, Tsao Foundation)
  • 2:15 pm – TraCE study presentation: Dr Rahul Malhotra on the study rationale, design and participant characteristics
  • 2:25 pm – TraCE study presentation: Ms Diyana Azman on informal caregiving time and its cost in context of eldercare in Singapore
  • 2:35 pm – TraCE study presentation: Dr Abhijit Visaria on the impact of caregiving on caregivers’ employment, and its relationship with caregiver stress and depression
  • 2:45 pm – Breakout group discussion. MPs to attend breakout discussions of their choosing
  • 3:15 pm – Big group sharing
  • 3:40 pm – Sharing by MPs (Moderator: Margaret Thomas, President, AWARE / Corinna Lim, Executive Director, AWARE)
  • 3:50 pm – Closing remarks by SAWA leader (Rahayu Mohamad, Immediate Past President, PPIS)
  • 4:00 pm – End

9 June 2021: Get to Know AWARE Night

Our Get to Know AWARE Night happens again this June.

We’d like to invite you to join us as we explore the Herstory of AWARE and share what we do to support women and champion women’s rights in Singapore.

Come and meet other supporters of gender equality, participate in discussions with us and experience the spirit that has kept AWARE’s flame burning strong for the last 35 years.

This event is open to all members of the public.

Date: Wednesday, 9 June 2021

Time: 7.30 – 9.30pm

Venue: Online (Zoom)

Register here!

Position Filled: Case Manager, Sexual Assault Care Centre

We are no longer accepting applicants for this role.

AWARE’s Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) is looking for a Case Manager to support survivors of sexual assault along their journeys of recovery and help SACC in its day-to-day operations as well as programme development. The role also requires supporting the SACC team in advocacy and project-based work.

If you are passionate about helping survivors reclaim control of their lives after experiencing trauma, join AWARE in its fight against sexual violence. You’ll play an essential, hands-on role at SACC—the only centre of its kind in Singapore. Read more about it here.

Position: Case Manager

Department: CARE – SACC

Commitment: Full-time, Monday-Friday, 40 hours a week

Salary range: $3,370 – $3,500

Term: 1 year (with possibility of extension)

Starting date: Immediate

Citizenship: Singapore citizen/PR

Job Description

  • Ensuring high quality and timely response to individuals seeking support from SACC through calls, WhatsApp, emails, walk-ins, referrals and other platforms
  • Conducting intake interviews, client support and management of SACC cases (case work), including providing and arranging for SACC services, as well as timely casework documentation
  • Liaising with authorities, including the police, hospitals and lawyers, to facilitate the above
  • Supporting and/or providing cover for other case managers during assigned legal clinic hours as needed
  • Maintaining up-to-date data management and filing for reporting and analysis, including creating and improving standard operating procedures for SACC
  • Supporting the development of SACC’s first response channels through coordination of processes and ensuring knowledge consistency
  • Committing to supervision, case sharing and any training related to improvement in quality of service

Requirements

  • Minimum two (2) years of related experience working in support of individuals needing help (e.g. community work, social work, helpline staffing, counselling, befriending), preferably in the Singapore context
  • Educational qualifications in social work, counselling, psychology or related fields preferred, with trauma management credentials a bonus (training will be provided as needed)
  • Excellent interpersonal, empathy and communication skills in English (verbal and written)
  • Good analytical skills and commitment to confidentiality
  • Superb time-management skills and ability to meet deadlines
  • Strong project planning: highly creative, adaptable and a self-starter
  • Ability to work independently to manage projects
  • Ability to use initiative and judgment to solve problems independently
  • Experience or interest in supporting or empowering individuals
  • Strong belief in gender equality and the values of AWARE
  • Proficient with computers, Google Drive apps and MS Office, especially Excel and Word

Read our privacy policy here.

Please note that due to the large number of applications, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview. If you have any questions about this position, please email careers@aware.org.sg.

20 May, 27 May, 3 June 2021: Birds & Bees, a workshop for parents about sex education

“How do I start talking to my child about romantic relationships?”

“How can I talk to my child about sex without making it sound like a lecture?

“How can I let my child know that I’m on his/her side and care about what he/she feels?

Most parents believe that it is important to talk to their children about sex, but many are uncertain how to do it. But what happens when you keep putting it off until the children are “older”? Where do your children get answers to questions they can’t ask you? (The internet is one such place, and young people say they are most likely to ask peers and romantic partners.)

Birds & Bees is an experiential workshop for parents, developed by parents, to explore what works for you when talking to your child about romantic relationships and sex. A variety of formats will be used, including opportunities for dialogue, discussion and reflection

Most parents want to be an “ask-able” parent: to be the approachable adult who is open to questions and who their child turns to for answers. Attend this workshop to explore how you can work on developing your own strategies to enhance the trust and bond with your child!

All parents would find the content useful and applicable. For this online workshop, we are giving priority to parents of children aged 10-15 so that the discussions can be more age-targeted.

Places are limited so do sign up quickly!

Date: 20 May, 27 May, 3 June 2021 (Thursdays—participants are expected to attend all three sessions and must attend the first session)

Time: 8:00-9.30pm (1.5 hours)

Workshop Fee: $15 (in total, covering all three sessions)

Survey: After you sign up, you will be asked to complete a short pre-workshop survey about the age(s) and number of your children. This is very important so that parents with children of similar ages can be grouped together to that you will get the most out of the workshop.

Special instructions for online workshop: As small-group discussions are a big part of the workshop, participants are expected to switch on their video as well as audio whenever possible, and to join in the discussions for maximum benefit.

Refunds and cancellations: Unfortunately we will not be offering refunds. In exceptional circumstances, if you are unable to attend the subsequent sessions, you will be able to join the next set of workshops if you write in to publiceducation@aware.org.sg in advance giving your reasons.

**If you would like to join the workshop but cannot make it at this time, please fill in the indication of interest form.

Register here.

Family lawyers: Take a survey on the Women’s Charter

Are you a family lawyer currently practicing in Singapore, or have you practiced at some point in the past three years? If so, we’d like to get your thoughts on the Women’s Charter!

As part of AWARE’s advocacy efforts around the national gender equality review in 2020-2021, we are collecting legal professionals’ views on the Women’s Charter. Please take this survey to share your opinions on divorce, family violence and the enforcement of court orders.

All responses will be kept anonymous. Based on the data collected, we will create a policy wishlist and submit this to the Government ahead of its white paper on gender. This way, we hope to bring attention to certain pressing issues under the Women’s Charter, and suggest meaningful improvements.

If you have any further questions or concerns, contact Lee Yoke Mun at yokemun@aware.org.sg or call AWARE at 6779 7137.

Click here to take our survey on the Women’s Charter

Explore AWARE’s other initiatives around the gender equality review here.

On Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s survey on gender discrimination at work

A new survey by Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) found that 4 in 10 women had experienced gender-based discrimination at work, while only 1 in 10 men had experienced the same. These findings in many ways echo the observations of AWARE’s Workplace Harassment and Discrimination Advisory (WHDA), which supports women (and some men) facing gender-based discrimination at work.

AWARE’s WHDA saw 67 cases of workplace discrimination in 2020. Of these, 48 concerned maternity discrimination, and three others concerned family/care responsibilities; all took place during the clients’ term of employment.

These forms of gender discrimination are rooted in traditional gender stereotypes that position women as the rightful performers of unpaid care/household work, not employment. They manifest in all kinds of problematic beliefs: For example, IPS’s recent “Our Singaporean Values” survey found that almost half of respondents either agreed or remained neutral on the statements that “problems may arise if a woman were to earn more money than her husband”, and “men should have a greater right to a job than women when jobs are scarce”.

To juggle their care responsibilities, many women are forced into jobs that provide them with adequate flexibility—which are often low-paying jobs. Consequently, many women are shut out of our labour force, and Singapore’s gender pay gap endures.

The SCCCI survey found that only 12% of those who faced gender-based discrimination made reports about the incidents. This is a low number, but sadly unsurprising. Changes to the Employment Act in 2019, the introduction of the Tripartite Guidelines on Wrongful Dismissals and the Fair Consideration Framework are all important steps the government has taken to level the playing field; however, in the absence of anti-discrimination legislation, many workers in Singapore perceive a lack of effective remedies for discrimination. Women assisted by WHDA have hesitated to report due to fear of retaliation and concerns that reporting would have repercussions on their career progression and compensation. In cases of wrongful dismissal, mediation is an option, but the mediation process too is often viewed as less than ideal: The compensation an employee may receive after mediation does not make up for the number of months she may be out of a job following her report.

The Government has maintained that introducing anti-discrimination legislation could increase business costs and undermine economic competitiveness in Singapore. Yet other countries with anti-discrimination laws, such as the United States, Britain and the Netherlands, remain globally competitive. It is unclear what the tangible disadvantages would be to such a law.

SCCCI president Roland Ng said, “I encourage women to continue to challenge themselves, to realise their fullest potential.” In turn, we encourage policymakers to realise the fullest potential of Singapore’s workforce, by introducing an anti-discrimination law, equal maternity and paternity leave, paid eldercare leave and the legislated right to request flexible work arrangements. We also encourage employers to challenge themselves to stop relying on traditional gender norms to make employment-related decisions.

Change of service hours for the Sexual Assault Care Centre

With effect from 1 April 2021, the Sexual Assault Care Centre (SACC) first response channels—namely, the SACC Helpline, WhatsApp, and email service—will operate from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Mondays to Fridays. The SACC Helpline had previously operated from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

We have adjusted our service hours to deploy our first responders where they are needed most. Thank you for your understanding as we work with the resources at hand to meet the increasing demand faced by the centre.

Find more information about SACC’s services here.

Committee of Supply Debates 2021: notes on gendered issues

written by Danesha Shah, Elijah Tay and Kamalini K.

From 24 February to 8 March, a team of AWARE interns tuned in to watch Singapore’s 2021 Budget and Committee of Supply (CoS) debates.

The CoS debates occur after the National Budget is announced. They comprise an examination into each ministry’s plans, during which individual Members of Parliament (MP) may request to speak on issues relating to each ministry.

Below are some highlights on areas that relate to AWARE’s work.

1. Raising wages for low-income workers and protecting self-employed and gig workers

As Singapore reels from the economic impact of the pandemic, much attention was devoted to the welfare of low-income workers, including those who are self-employed or doing gig work.

We were heartened by calls for the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) to be expanded to more sectors, and for implementation to be accelerated by MPs such as Gerald Giam (WP) and Louis Ng (PAP). This reflects a growing recognition and acceptance that no worker in Singapore should be earning below a minimum amount, no matter their station in life. AWARE supports the expansion of the PWM, and hopes that the government will prioritise implementation in women-concentrated sectors, such as caregiving, which tend to be lower-paying. This could help in reducing the gender pay gap.

MPs Patrick Tay (PAP) and Louis Chua (WP) stressed the need for more robust labour protection for gig workers who are self-employed. The former suggested that the Trade Unions Act be reviewed, such that freelancers can become union members, while the latter asked if more can be provided in the form of mandatory insurance and minimum levels of benefits and protection for these workers.

2. Addressing harassment and violence in workplaces and in homes

Another major theme that emerged from the week-long debates was on gender-based violence and harassment.

To deal with workplace harassment, MP Patrick Tay recommended that the legislative and regulatory weight of the Tripartite Advisory on Workplace Harassment be strengthened. Given that a 2020 AWARE-Ipsos survey found that 2 in 5 workers in Singapore had experienced workplace sexual harassment, we were encouraged by the call for more attention to be paid to this urgent problem.

Other MPs focused on violence at home. MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim (PAP), for instance, pointed to the rise in family violence cases during the pandemic and recommended replacing “family violence” with the more expansive “domestic violence” under the Women’s Charter. This would offer expanded protections by including unmarried intimate partners, migrant domestic workers (MDW) and, as the MP put it, “others in the household, notwithstanding the lack of any familial relationship”.

Several MPs, such as Mr Desmond Choo (PAP) and Ms Yeo Wan Ling (PAP), raised questions about protecting MDWs from abuse. In response, the Minister for Manpower announced that the ministry will consider mandatory rest days for MDWs. This announcement was welcomed by MDW support organisations and AWARE as it would reduce the likelihood of MDWs being overworked.

3. Increasing support for caregivers

Many MPs shared a concern for family caregivers, and raised suggestions on protecting their financial well-being, allowing working caregivers to juggle responsibilities and easing access to care services.

MP Carrie Tan (PAP) argued that the responsibility of caring for our elders should not come at the expense of financial adequacy of their caregivers. In particular, she stressed that female caregivers are disproportionately at risk of facing poverty in their old age due to caregiving. To address this, she proposed an income supplement to better support the needs of family caregivers.

On the other hand, MPs Louis Chua and Louis Ng both proposed that eldercare leave be legislated so working adults could take time-off to care for their parents.

Furthermore, MP Tan Wu Meng and MP Joan Pereira both highlighted the need to increase the availability of care coordinators and accessibility to these services.

MP Tan Wu Meng advocated having more care coordinators to ensure that medical appointments can be arranged on the same day. This helps to reduce the financial burden for low-income caregivers or caregivers who are shift workers who have to take time out of work to accompany their elderly parents for medical appointments.

Finally, MPs Joan Pereira (PAP) and Yeo Wan Ling called for respite care services to be made more accessible and affordable in order to reduce caregiver burden and burnout—for instance through the creation of a repository of short-term caregivers who are able to assist family caregivers.

We were glad to see sustained attention on the situations of caregivers, and wholeheartedly support the slew of suggestions to support them.

Position Filled: CARE Volunteer Coordinator (Part-Time)

We are no longer accepting applicants for this role.

AWARE’s CARE department is looking for a Volunteer Coordinator to oversee the recruitment, management, engagement, training and coordination of all types and levels of volunteers across the CARE department. This includes, but is not limited to, interns, volunteer lawyers, legal clinic volunteers, helpliners, contract staff and ad hoc/special projects volunteers.

Position: Volunteer Coordinator (Part-time; 20 hours per week)
Department: Creating Access to Resources and Empowerment (CARE)
Salary range: SG$1,400 – 1,650
Term: One-year contract for service (benefits not applicable)
Citizenship: Singapore citizen/PR*

*Due to the recent government announcement, starting from 1 May 2021 those who are not Singaporean Citizens or PR will have to obtain a work pass to work in Singapore. Accordingly, please note that with effect from 12 March 2021, we are unable to accept applications from non-Singaporeans and those who do not have PR status. 

Job Description

The Volunteer Coordinator ensures that volunteer skills and interests are best matched with the needs of the CARE department to most effectively supplement existing resources and engage the community.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is committed to social justice and is looking for a concrete way to contribute to society in Singapore.

The ideal candidate will be a great executor, extremely well-organised, able to work independently and passionate about working with people in a collaborative manner.

Key Responsibilities

  • Provide administrative and operational support relating to all aspects of volunteer, intern, consultant and staff hiring, on-boarding, engagement and retention to the CARE department (compromising of the Women’s Care Centre [WCC] and Sexual Assault Care Centre [SACC])
  • Liaise between CARE staff and volunteers/interns/contract staff to ensure smooth operations of the various services offered under the department. This includes on-boarding new hires, providing operational support, gathering and analysing feedback and other relevant data, attending to general enquiries and referring to the appropriate channels
  • Recruit for new and replacement positions, including organising and conducting interviews in conjunction with the programme coordinators and AWARE volunteer manager
  • Onboard new recruits through orientation and liaising with various stakeholders for relevant contracts, account creation, membership/volunteer data and information management
  • Design and/or review training and on-boarding programmes alongside relevant staff to ensure smooth immersion for new recruits into their respective roles
  • Work closely with the AWARE volunteer manager to support payments, track on-going commitments, monitor expiry of contracts, etc.
  • Lead volunteer engagement and appreciation initiatives, including sending of newsletters and updates, conducting surveys and analysing feedback, organising volunteer engagement and appreciation events and activities
  • Evaluate volunteer management processes within CARE and find opportunities for improvement
  • Provide operational support to heads of department with regards to staff engagement, training, self-care initiatives and ad-hoc projects

Requirements

  • Minimum 2 years experience in volunteer management, recruitment, human resources or in a relevant role
  • Experience in the social service industry is advantageous
  • Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office and G Suite
  • Able to use initiative and judgment to solve problems independently
  • Proactive and able to work collaboratively across teams and with individuals
  • Able to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
  • Able to main strict confidentiality of sensitive information
  • Excellent interpersonal, empathy and communication skills (both verbal and written)
  • Strong organisational and time management skills
  • Strong belief in gender equality and the values of AWARE

Read our privacy policy here.

Please note that due to the large number of applications, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted for an interview. If you have any questions about this position, please email careers@aware.org.sg.