Family Matters
Family Matters is the research journal of the Australian Institute of Family Studies. It contains the latest Institute research and contributions from Australia's most respected social scientists, social policy analysts, service provider and research agencies.
Publication and subscription
From 2011 all issues of Family Matters are available to download from our website. Older issues are also progressively being made available for download.
Like a printed copy? Family Matters is available in printed copy on a subscription basis.
Two issues of Family Matters are published each financial year.
Prospective authors
Please read our author guidelines.
All research papers are subject to a formal review process.
Family Matters 2010-2012
No. 90, 2012
Life events
Prevalence of potential family life difficulties; women's return to work after maternity leave; transition to school; and effects of separation on grandparents.
No. 89, 2011
Protecting children: Evolving systems
National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children; child protection and law reforms; links between child maltreatment and adolescent offending; neurobiological effects of childhood maltreatment; and transitioning from out-of-home care.
No. 88, 2011
Family resources, roles and responsibilities
Intergenerational bequests; fathering in Australia; family violence; the effect of pregnancy and newborns on the household budget; grandparenting and the 2006 family law reforms; shared care time; and interventions for adolescent problem behaviours.
No. 87, 2011
Sustaining families in challenging times
Who's really time poor; children in poverty; UK family policy, lone mothers and paid work; Families at Risk; Living-apart-together (LAT) relationships; Past adoption practices.
No. 86, 2011
Family law
A summary of the AIFS Evaluation of the 2006 family law reforms; care time arrangements ater the 2006 reforms; post-separation parenting; child support; relocation disputes; work-family strain amongst mothers.
No. 85, 2010
Violence, abuse and neglect
Connections between childhood family experiences and wellbeing in early adulthood; young people with parents who use alcohol or other drugs; family violence; sexual assault victim/survivors' criminal justice needs.
No. 84, 2010
Family and place
Neighbourhood influences on young children's problems; addressing disadvantage; child developmental systems; Communities for Children; Family Relationship Centres; family dispute; aftermath of natural disaster.