Gender, Telework and the Reconfiguration of the Australian Family Home

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Notes

[1] The original study focused on families’ socio-cultural practices as they relate to the everyday consumption and the location of media and communication technologies within the Australian family home. Twenty-three in-depth conversational interviews and observations of children and adults living in six households in suburban and regional areas of Western Australia were used for the project. Although a relatively small sample size, the use of an ethnographic approach resulted in rich, in-depth interviews and observations that uncovered many insights into the way families make sense of their changing media environment.

[2] Telework can involve home-based telework (either employed or self-employed) and day-extenders who usually work at their employers' workplace but carry out extra work from home ‘typically after work or on weekends’ (Telstra, 2006, p. 13).

[3] Some specific occupations such as rural doctors, clerics, farmers, have always integrated the work/home sphere.

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Notes on contributors

Donell Holloway

Donell Holloway is a PhD candidate at the School of Communications and Contemporary Arts at Edith Cowan University, Perth. As Research Assistant on an Australian Research Council funded project – The Internet in Australian Family Life—Donell Holloway is the first author or co-author of 15 refereed journal articles and conference papers, as well as a book chapter. Donell's interest in children, media and family life is informed by sixteen years as a primary school educator. Donell is an Edith Cowan University Excellence Award and PhD scholarship holder. Her current research interests include media consumption in the context of everyday family life – as well as retirement, leisure and everyday life.