ABSTRACT
Compared to the 1950s, more people are living in step-families, which differ substantially from first marriages and alter some of the assumptions about family life and the way members interact with each other, including grandparents and other relatives. Most demographers project that declining birth rates will continue in the near future because raising children in modern urban environments is becoming increasingly costly, and combining work and family life is difficult when both parents are in the labour force. Although government reports have for years reiterated that 'children are our greatest future resource', little has been done in Australia, New Zealand or Canada to assist couples to combine work and family life. For example, employers and governments could make it easier for parents to combine work and family life by allowing more generous maternity/parental leave and benefits.
