1 minute read 

We can’t guarantee financial returns, but we can guarantee these stages of life! 

Many companies have goods and services that go up and down in use depending on how the economy is doing or as things go in or out of fashion. But some things never change. We’re all born, pay our taxes, and die. 

A lot of large Australian companies specialise in providing the technology and services that improve these key stages of life (or in some cases make them worse).

We’ve assessed the ethical issues affecting some of the largest companies involved in these life stages, including device manufacturers, real estate trusts, accounting software, hospital operators, and funeral companies. 

5 minute read

Bringing a child into the world can be an exciting, scary, and beautiful moment in life. Many companies listed on the ASX are innovating technologies to make childbirth and fertility easier, more accessible and safer, while others offer more mundane but necessary services. 

These companies are significantly involved in technology or services related to birth and fertility.  

Ramsay Health Care Limited (ASX:RHC) 

• Ramsay Health Care operates hospitals and clinics in Australia, Europe and the UK, including, obviously, access to obstetrics for childbirth, as well as In-vitro fertilization services (IVF)

Nanosonics Limited (ASX:NAN) 

• Sydney-based medical device company that specialises in infection control products, reducing cross-contamination risks between patients 

Monash IVF (ASX:MVF)

• International pioneers in fertility, Monash IVF were responsible for the world’s first IVF pregnancy in 1973 and Australia’s first IVF birth in 1980. Over the last 50 years Monash IVF has helped parents deliver over 50,000 babies.

Childcare 🧒

Many children in Australia attend childcare, allowing their parents to return to work or to other important things in their lives. Quality care is vital in ensuring that children thrive. The largest operator of childcare services in Australia is ASX-listed G8 Education.  

G8 Education (ASX:GEM)

• G8 Education provides childcare and education facilities across Australia and Singapore. It operates more than 400 centres across Australia, making it the largest for-profit provider in the country.  
• The quality of early childcare can play an important role in nurturing, shaping and investing in children during the most important years of their development. It also enables parents and guardians to work, volunteer, train, study or do other caring duties. 
• G8 is also one of the largest ASX-listed companies to not pay employer-funded Paid Parental Leave. Which is ironic because the people who are working to care for children aren't offered any additional leave in order to care for their own.

Join SIX’s campaign to get G8 to pay its staff PPL!

Unlike billionaires, fossil fuel companies, multinational tech companies and the three multinational salmon farming companies killing the Maugean skate’s habitat in Macquarie Harbour, we grow up and pay taxes on the income we earn. When it comes to actually paying that tax, our employers are often using accounting software like Xero.

Xero (ASX:XRO)

• Provides cloud-based accounting software for small businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers.
• Xero has 3.75 million clients across 180 countries. Making accounting, payroll and expenses easier to manage can be particularly important for small businesses, which make up the majority of businesses.

Currently, around 1.4 million Aussies receive aged care, which includes assistance for everyday activities, healthcare, personal care, accommodation and respite. 

But it's fair to say Australia doesn’t always treat its older citizens as well as we should. 5 years on from the Royal Commission into Aged Care, many older people are still retiring with low super, a meagre government pension, and aged care administered by understaffed, underpaid employees. 

A variety of accessible and high quality aged care options will be needed for the estimated doubling of the number of people aged 60 years and older by 2050, and the potential tripling of the number of people 80 years or older. 

It's important to be aware of the ethical issues at play in the growing aged care sector, and consider how you can invest in the companies doing right by their customers and shareholders. 

HealthCo Healthcare & Wellness REIT (ASX:HCW)

• A real estate investment trust (REIT) that earns income through leasing and renting 31 properties across Australia worth $1.6 billion, such as hospitals, aged care, childcare and life sciences facilities.
• 71% revenue from managing healthcare property, including 57% from private hospitals and aged care facilities. 

Regis Healthcare Ltd (ASX: REG)

• Regis operates 67 aged care homes across every state and territory in Australia, and is the only ASX company whose sole business is residential aged care.  
• Ahead of the pack in workplace diversity and equality, with almost complete pay equity and women representing 78% of general managerial roles in 2024.
• After the deaths of 2 Western Australian care home residents in 2021, Regis was sanctioned by the aged care regulator and required to invest in further staff training and oversight.

Our Health

You can have health issues at any age, but there tend to be a few more health needs as we get older. 

Cochlear Limited (ASX:COH)

• Hearing loss is the most common sensory deficit in older patients, and is often under-recognised and poorly managed
• Cochlear's implants hugely improve hearing in patients suffering from hearing loss, improving their quality of life
• Cochlear earns 100% of their revenue from hearing devices 

Integral Diagnostics (ASX:IDX)

• Integral provides diagnostic imaging services that are vital parts of the early screening and diagnosis of many serious diseases that are having a growing effect on ageing populations, including cancer, heart disease and liver disease
• They are leaders in the industry on gender equality, with women representing 75% of their workforce and 62% of senior management 

The death of a family member, friend or loved one is a difficult time for everyone, and can impact people’s decision making abilities. So it’s important for the industry to be offering good services at fair prices, and operating ethically when dealing with their customers. 

Propel Funeral Partners (ASX:PFP)

• Second largest provider of death care services in Australia and New Zealand 
• Over 80% of revenue from funeral services
• Offers needed competition to Invocare, which dominates the market for funeral services 
• They also provide death care services for pets
  ‍

‍‍

The information in this blog is general in nature only and based on SIX's internal research. We haven’t taken any individual person’s needs or objectives into account when preparing this information. As always, do your own research or seek personal financial advice before making any investments or financial decisions.