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Brownlee, H. Job seekers and the social security system.
In this article the author argues that the Newstart Program, introduced in July 1991 to replace the old Unemployment Benefit fails to offer adequate employment and training to the vast numbers of long term unemployed people. Furthermore, when job opportunities start to improve sufficiently for the unemployment rate to fall, the people least likely to get work are those who have been unemployed for the longest period of time.
Edgar, D. Economic humanism: a new national
direction for the 1990s.
The author proposes a new doctrine for the 1990s: that of 'economic humanism'. He argues that to expand some of the necessary changes and benefits of so called economic rationalism and to help our theorists, planners and politicians recapture the elemental point of the public/private mix, the best balance is one that improves the quality of people's lives. The main policy issues for a decade of economic humanism are: increased investment in early childhood; support for parents and families; jobs, income and secure housing; a restructured work system; a reincorporation of youth into mainstream civilian society; a new vision which sees our elders as a resource, not a burden; the eradication of poverty; and a better tax mix.
Edgar, D. Ageing: everybody's
future.
The ageing of Australia is often regarded with trepidation as social planners try to implement policies that will adequately provide for the health and welfare of next century's elderly. But, argues the author, the potential advantages of there being more old people far outweigh the perceived drain on resources. He suggests the ageing population promises a spreading pool of competence and human help to be drawn upon with enthusiasm. Furthermore, rarely are the figures emphasised that show how centrally involved our elders are in supporting family life. What Australians do need to face, however, is a system riddled with outmoded structures, outmoded work regulations, outmoded retirement and superannuation provisions, inadequate community family support systems, and a media archaic in its social understanding, stuck in the cult of youth.
Funder, K. Motherhood,
fatherhood.
After parents separate, children can end up being treated like part of the matrimonial property, as something to be fought over in terms of who has the greatest right to ownership. That mothers most commonly get custody is seen to be the fault of a sexist family law that ought to be reformed to reflect better the roles played by mothers and fathers in parenting. This article looks at the law and parenting after separation. The author argues that the law should look to separating parenting matters from family matters.
Funder, K; Kinsella, S. Divorce, change and
children: effects of changing family structure and income on
children.
Evidence suggests that children living in sole mother households fail to reach the educational and occupational levels of children reared in two parent families. It is unclear, however, to what extent the disadvantages are due to changes in family structure or to the reduction in resources available to the child. The Australian Institute of Family Studies, Parents and Children after Marriage Breakdown Study which tracked family changes and household income in the five to eight years after parents had separated, enables the relative impact of these factors on children's lives to be examined. Children in both one parent families and stepfamilies were included in the study. Among the findings are: the importance of household income before separation in terms of its effect on children's wellbeing five to eight later; current household income or even living below the poverty line did not affect children in terms of the indices of wellbeing examined, and further children in the poorest families in the study - those of sole mothers and children fared somewhat better than stepfamilies where children seemed not so happy with life at home and somewhat lower self esteem.
One of the focuses of the Australian Institute of Family Studies Australian Family Formation Project is cohabitation. This article draws on evidence from the second stage of the study in which 1500 respondants now aged 27-44 were interviewed again. It examines the incidence of de facto relationships in the last decade; the characteristics of those who have lived in a defacto relationship compared with those who have not; and the reasons why they chose to live together rather than marry; and the kinds of de facto relationships formed.
Glezer, H. Cycles of care: support and care
between generations.
Concern is often expressed about the isolation of the nuclear family and the decline of extended family networks. This article reports some findings from the Australian Institute of Family Studies Family Formation Project. The study shows that in fact strong links do exist between the generations. The older and younger generations do take responsibility for one another, and there is reciprocity between the generations. Families are supporting one another financially, practically and emotionally.
Harrison, M. The legal system and de facto
relationships.
Property rights in de facto relationships are, in legal terms, poorly defined. In an effort to clear the way, the Joint Select Committee on Certain Aspects of the Operation and Interpretation of the Family Law Act is considering whether to extend the Family Law Act to cover disputes arising out of de facto relationships. The author discusses the background to this inquiry and the implications of recognising such disputes. Issues discussed in this article include the role of the Australian Constitution; the common law position and early legislative remedies; the threat to marriage; attempts in Victoria to introduce legislation similar to that of New South Wales; children born to unmarried parents; the extension of Commonwealth power to cover the property and financial disputes between parties to a de facto marriage; and the role of public opinion.
Hartley, R. Adulthood: the time you get
serious about the rest of your life.
Both age and the status markers by which we judged adulthood in the past are no longer clear cut indicators. Today's 23 year old may have a partner but no job, a child but no partner, be a student and married, have a job but be living with parents; he or she may have no job, no partner, no child and be living with parents, but still feel adult. In 1990, the Australian Institute of Family Studies Becoming Adult Study asked 138 23-year-olds what adulthood meant to them. Findings from the study showed that adulthood meant responsibility, independence and, to a lesser extent, a stage of psychological development involving growth, learning and consolidation of self.
There are very few existing services which provide emergency or
medium term accommodation for families reports the author.
Families are often passed from agency to agency before they get
the help they need; in the absence of an alternative, they are
referred to totally inadequate accommodation. Also discussed is
the Commonwealth Governments Supported Accommodation Assistance
Program (SAAP). Five years ago, the residents of Tennant Creek in the Northern
Territory envisaged a thriving community with an increasing population
and employment opportunities. But the outlook now, as the recession
settles in, is bleak and typical of that facing most small Australian
towns. Towns such as Tennant Creek, argues the author, are important in
sustaining the rural and mainly inland fabric of Australian society.
They need to be supported in such a way that they offer a genuinely
viable alternative to living in cities. Tennant Creek is one of the
communities included in the Australian Institute of Family Studies Study
of Australian Living Standards.
The Skilled Vacancy Survey, produced by the Department of
Employment, Education and Training (DEET) demonstrates that for
some occupational groups there really are very few jobs. A table
shows the number of job vacancies by occupational group for
October 1989, October 1990 and October 1991. In 1991 the Australian Institute of Family Studies undertook a study
of families and homelessness in response to a request from Hanover
Welfare Services, a non government welfare organisation in Victoria which
was concerned about the increasing number of families with children
seeking assistance with basic housing needs. The study was qualitative
rather than statistical, and designed to provide a view of individual
experiences of being homeless. Discussed are some of the preliminary
findings of the study including the pathways to homelessness and how
families cope. The article concludes with a consideration of what
solutions to homelessness exist, and suggests the fundamental causes are
more structural than personal. The trend of marrying at older ages, which began in the mid-1970s, is
showing little sign of abating according to 1990 figures published by the
Australian Bureau of Statistics. The author reports on the latest
figures and their implications. This article looks at child care policy and practice in Sweden and the
United Kingdom, two countries whose policies will most likely shape the
provision of child care in Australia during the 1990s. Child care in
Sweden is largely provided by the State and is one of the world's most
progressive and comprehensive systems. In addition Sweden has a
comprehensive range of parental leave provisions. In Britain, the
picture is vastly different. Child care is largely a matter of private
arrangement when relatives care for more than two-thirds of Britain's
preschool children whose mothers work. The only parental leave available
is maternity leave. The article concludes with an examination of the
situation in Australia. In March 1991 a census was undertaken of the 69,275 full time active
duty members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) by the Australian
Institute of Family Studies. Because little was known about the families
of serving members, the bulk of the questionnaire was designed to elicit
information on family composition and service related family problems.
This article presents an overview of some of the findings of the census
relating to family composition; characteristics of serving members;
partners and partnerships; children at home; and work and family
issues. Drawing on data from the 1989 National Social Science Survey this
article looks at women's employment when they have preschool children.
The subject is considered from a number of angles. First, women's
preferences for work at this stage and the preferences of men for their
wives' employment. Second, these preferences are compared to what women
and men consider is best for the average woman. Third, for those women
who have a preschooler at the time of the survey, preferences are
compared with actual employment status.
Hartley, R. Helping homeless families.
Kilmartin, C. There's no work here, eh: the
future of small Australian towns.
Kilmartin, C. Trade areas hit worst in job downturn.
McCaughey, J. Nomads in a settled
population: families and homelessness.
McDonald, P. The shift away from marriage
among young Australians.
Ochiltree, G. Child care: a contrast in
policies.
Snider, G. Australia's largest family:
Institute conducts Defence Force Census.
VandenHeuvel, A. Mothers with young
children: should they work? Do they want to work?
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