With statistics showing that women are still more likely than men to take long periods off work to care for children, one Australian organisation is trying to help change the status quo and encourage men to stay at home.

Queensland rail company Aurizon has announced a new program offering male employees six months leave at half pay to stay at home with their newborn children.

The scheme also offers female employees six months pay at 150 per cent if their partner stays at home whilst they return to work.

Baby on board: Australian rail company Aurizon has announced a new 'shared care' program to pay men at half pay for six months to stay at home with their young children

Happy families: Aurizon employee Josie Brophy (left) with husband Travis (right) and son Dash, is one of the women who could use the new program to return to work and get paid for her husband to care for their child

The incentives apply for women who return to work within the first year of their child's life, or for men who take time primary care of their child for at least 13 weeks during the baby's first 12 months.

Aurizon CEO Lance Hockridge said that the 'shared care' program was designed to help mitigate the large impacts women face when they take time off work to care for a child.

'We’ve thought outside the box to genuinely alter the dynamics of childcare responsibilities within Aurizon families,' he explained.

'At its core this is really about reducing the potential career and financial impacts women face after extended unpaid parental leave and subsequent part-time employment.'

Lean In: The program will also pay women who work whilst their partner stays at home with their child 150 per cent of their wage for six months

'Alter the dynamics': CEO Lance Hockridge (above) said he wants to change the conversation about childcare responsibilities

The program also applies to same-sex couples and single parents, as well as families who adopt or foster young children.

It's unlike any other parental leave program in Australia, with Aurizon saying it is committed to pushing the boundaries when it comes to increasing diversity.

'We believe the program is the first of its kind in Australia, which makes us very proud to lead by example in changing the way our society thinks about childcare and workplace flexibility,' Mr Hockridge said. 'Equalising caring responsibilities would be a big step forward.'

First in front: The program is the first of its kind in Australia, with Mr Hockridge saying it would be a 'big step forward' for women

'Eye opening': The CEO decided to implement the program after overhearing female employees in the lift talking about how they were treated by male colleagues

The CEO told The Australian that the program was started after he overheard female employees in the lift complaining about the way they were treated by male colleagues.

He took the women to lunch and listened to their experiences at the company, which he said was 'eye opening.' From this, he embarked on an aggressive push to get a more diverse workforce.

There has been some pushback from some Aurizon employees, but Mr Hockridge isn't letting that deter him from his mission.

'Discrimination': There has been some pushback from male employees about Mr Hockridge's diversity policy, but he says he's not letting that deter him

Daddy day care: With such a large company like Aurizon taking this step, will other organisations follow suit?

'Last year the side of a locomotive engine was graffitied with "Diversity = less jobs for blokes" — and guess what, that’s right,' he said.

'But blokes have had the inside run for 150 years in this organisation. This is not about discrimination against men, it’s about discrimination in favour of a ­diverse and inclusive workforce.'

With such a large ASX 50 company like Aurizon taking steps to actively encourage women to join, and stay, in its workforce, only time will tell if other organisations will follow suit.