Expert Author

Fiona Macdonald

Fiona Macdonald

Policy Director (Industrial and Social)

Dr Fiona Macdonald has worked in research, policy and leadership roles in community services, vocational education and training and as an academic on work, employment and social policy.

Fiona has researched and written extensively on women, work and industrial relations, including on social care and markets, insecure work, wage theft, gig work and contracting, equal pay, collective bargaining and low-paid workers.

Her book, Individualising Risk: Paid Care Work in the New Gig Economy was published in 2021 by Palgrave Macmillan.

Research by Fiona Macdonald

Precarity and job instability on the frontlines of NDIS support work

The national roll-out of the NDIS holds the prospect of a significant enhancement in both the resources allocated to disability

By Donna Baines, Fiona Macdonald, Jim Stanford, Jessie Moore

Budget Analysis 2022-23

The Commonwealth Government has tabled its budget for the 2022-23 financial year. As the nation emerges from two years of

By Greg Jericho, Mark Dean, Eliza Littleton, Fiona Macdonald, Dan Nahum, Alison Pennington, Lily Raynes, Jim Stanford

Submission to the Productivity Commission Study on Aged Care Employment

In 2021 the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommended that gig work, independent contracting and other ‘indirect’

By Fiona Macdonald

Submission to the Senate Select Committee on Work and Care

Current work and care arrangements in Australia contribute to economic and social disadvantage for carers, the vast majority of whom

By Fiona Macdonald, Sienna Parrott, Andrew Scott

The October 2022-23 Commonwealth Budget: A good start … but rocky times ahead

The new Albanese Labor government has tabled a revised budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year, revising revenue and spending forecasts

By Greg Jericho, Eliza Littleton, Fiona Macdonald, Lily Raynes, Jim Stanford

Collective bargaining and wage growth in Australia

The reforms proposed in the Secure Jobs, Better Wages bill represent important but incremental steps in restoring a better balance

By Jim Stanford, Fiona Macdonald, Lily Raynes

Inclusive and Sustainable Employment for Jobseekers Experiencing Disadvantage

Sustainable employment outcomes for disadvantaged jobseekers can be highly dependent on workplace and employment related factors.

By Fiona Macdonald

Commonwealth Budget 2023-24

The Commonwealth government’s 2023-24 budget reveals a progressive government seeking to help lower paid workers and those struggling to pay

By Greg Jericho, Fiona Macdonald, Eliza Littleton, Charlie Joyce, Jim Stanford

Unacceptable Risks

New research reveals the growth of ‘gig’ employment is undermining minimum employment conditions for tens of thousands of workers.

By Fiona Macdonald

The Case for Investing in Public Schools

The economic and social benefits of public schooling in Australia

By Eliza Littleton, Fiona Macdonald, Jim Stanford

Going Backwards

The disability support workforce is central to the effectiveness and sustainability of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Hundreds of

By Fiona Macdonald

Submission to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee Inquiry into the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) bill 2023

Experts from the Centre for Future Work recently made a submission to the Senate committee studying the ‘Closing Loopholes’ bill,

By Fiona Macdonald, David Peetz, Jim Stanford

Short Changed

Despite record-low unemployment, Australian employers are still managing to steal more than 280 hours from their employees each year.

By Fiona Macdonald

Mid-Term Review of Albanese Government’s Labour Policy Reforms

A review of the Albanese government’s labour and industrial relations reforms at the mid-point of its term in office concludes

By Greg Jericho, Charlie Joyce, Fiona Macdonald, David Peetz, Jim Stanford

Submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee on the Paid Parental Leave Amendment (More Support for Working Families) Bill 2023

This joint submission by the Centre for Future Work and the Nordic Policy Centre argues for immediate further reform to

By Fiona Macdonald, Alexia Adhikari

Professionalising the Aged Care Workforce

The report calls for the mandated, sector-wide professional registration and minimum aged care worker qualifications.

By Fiona Macdonald

Submission to the Fair Work Commission Modern Award Review 2023-2024, Work and Care

The Fair Work Commission’s Review of Modern Awards 2023-24 is considering the impact of workplace relations settings on work

By Fiona Macdonald

Polling – Right to Disconnect

Two-thirds of Coalition voters back newly legislated protections for employees’ right to disconnect from emails and calls outside of work.

By Fiona Macdonald

Budget 2024-25: Resists Austerity, Reduces Inflation, Targets Wage Gains

Commonwealth Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered his 2024-25 budget to Parliament. While it booked a surplus for 2023-24 (the second consecutive

By Greg Jericho, Lisa Heap, Charlie Joyce, Fiona Macdonald, Jim Stanford

Submission to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training Inquiry into the Digital Transformation of Workplaces

AI boosts productivity but risks job quality, privacy, fairness, and wellbeing. Regulations are required to ensure decent, fair work.

By Fiona Macdonald, Lisa Heap