Meet Hunter, Building Manager and busy father, who recently stepped into the role of primary carer for his youngest child. With older children already grown, Hunter experienced firsthand how much has changed in workplace support for parents over the past two decades. Taking seven months of parental leave, he embraced round-the-clock caregiving and came away with a renewed perspective on fatherhood and the importance of truly flexible work.
Can you tell us a bit about your career journey and current role?
Commencing in the hotel management industry in my early career, I moved into gold mining, recruitment, and then facilities management in the university sector. Since 2018, I’ve been a Building Manager with Goodman, spending three years in South Sydney and the last four years managing the North Portfolio.
What was it like becoming a primary carer this time around, compared to when you raised your older children?
Twenty-four years ago, this didn’t exist. If you wanted time off, it was annual leave. Now, with my company’s policy, the opportunity is financially and physically available—it’s something I couldn’t not take up.
How long were you on leave, and what was that experience like?
I took seven months off as the sole carer for our newborn after my wife returned to full-time work. It was amazing. We completely swapped roles: I did the midnight feeds, the 2am nappy changes, all the cooking and shopping. It was exhausting but excellent.
How did Goodman support you during this time?
The support I received from Goodman was faultless. There were no questions, no issues. It only enhanced my opinion of them as my employer.
How did the experience reshape the way you think about caregiving?
It’s not about gender, it’s about a child that needs a carer. When you’re the one the baby fully relies on, you see how absorbing and relentless it can be. It really changes your perspective.
What’s something your older children taught you that you’ve carried into parenting your youngest?
Always allow yourself to change your mind to match the child and the situation, every child and every situation is different. My 5-year-old (now 21) told me this as I was comparing her with her brother. It was real food for thought.
How has being a primary carer impacted your family dynamic today?
My wife and I split things like school drop-offs, pick-ups, groceries, it’s all shared. That shift really began during the time when I was the primary carer.
What strategies help you stay present and engaged with your son while managing work demands?
Listen, enjoy, and cherish him, he has different traits to his siblings and my own personality. I get down low on his level, look into his eyes, and actively listen and engage with him. I try to prioritise time with him by managing my work commitments, including meetings, contractor management, and travel times.
What’s one thing that’s helped you and your partner stay aligned while managing work and family life?
Because we both took parental leave, we have a shared understanding of being tired, fulfilled, and knowing when to ask for a break. We appreciate each other’s contributions and the juggle of full-time work and parenting.
How do you handle unexpected challenges like your son being sick or a last-minute work deadline?
We both have flexible workplace environments that allow us to work from home. We usually split the day in half so we can each meet our work commitments and care for our son when he’s unwell.
