The high conflict post-divorce shared-time family. Since the 2006 family law reforms encouraging shared-time parenting after separation, Australia has seen a marked increase in shared-time parenting where parents are in high conflict, and even where there are safety concerns. This project will examine how the children fare under shared-time parenting where their parents remain in conflict.
Are the kids alright? Understanding the wellbeing of Australian children in their middle years. This project will produce the first comprehensive national stock-take of wellbeing among Australian children in their middle years, with a special focus on children who experience disadvantage. Findings will reflect children's views and experiences, have direct policy relevance and lay the groundwork for comparing and monitoring of child wellbeing.
Meeting the needs of older persons in Indonesia. The project aims to identify the needs of older people in rural Indonesia for income, housing, health, daily care and social interaction and the extent to which their needs are met. It also considers the efficacy of existing policy programs and how these might be improved. Today, there are 22 million Indonesians aged 60 years and over, projected to rise to 48 million by 2035. Millions of older people live in rural areas from which younger people h ....Meeting the needs of older persons in Indonesia. The project aims to identify the needs of older people in rural Indonesia for income, housing, health, daily care and social interaction and the extent to which their needs are met. It also considers the efficacy of existing policy programs and how these might be improved. Today, there are 22 million Indonesians aged 60 years and over, projected to rise to 48 million by 2035. Millions of older people live in rural areas from which younger people have moved to the rapidly growing cities. This presents challenges for the traditional family-based aged care system in Indonesia. It is expected that findings from the study will be published in a series of policy papers to be presented in the Indonesian National Development Planning Board.Read moreRead less
Measurement and explanation of family change in Australia in comparative perspective: a longitudinal approach. As other similar countries are now well-advanced in the use of longitudinal analysis of family change, the Australian research proposed here will provide a better comparative view of the efficacy of Australian policies and programs related to families. Policy based on static analysis is more limited because it conceives people's family lives as being static where the reality is dynamic. ....Measurement and explanation of family change in Australia in comparative perspective: a longitudinal approach. As other similar countries are now well-advanced in the use of longitudinal analysis of family change, the Australian research proposed here will provide a better comparative view of the efficacy of Australian policies and programs related to families. Policy based on static analysis is more limited because it conceives people's family lives as being static where the reality is dynamic. We have little understanding of the causes and consequences of this dynamism in Australia. Such an understanding is essential if policy is to enable people to make choices that lead to positive pathways to self reliance and supportive family structures.Read moreRead less
Carers and social inclusion: new frameworks, evidence and policy lessons. This project aims to improve our understanding of informal carers' social inclusion through new conceptual frameworks, geographical and longitudinal analysis and lessons from international best practice. The outcomes of the project will inform Australia policies fostering social inclusion and the social and economic wellbeing of Australian carers.
Supporting families: Horizontal and vertical equity in the Australian tax-benefit system in historical and comparative perspectives. Tax benefit reform and equity between different groups are key policy concerns currently and for the foreseeable future. The tax-benefit system is under review, and the Global Financial Crisis has prompted debate on how tax-benefit policy can stimulate the economy while maintaining equity and promoting social inclusion. This project will put debate about tax-benef ....Supporting families: Horizontal and vertical equity in the Australian tax-benefit system in historical and comparative perspectives. Tax benefit reform and equity between different groups are key policy concerns currently and for the foreseeable future. The tax-benefit system is under review, and the Global Financial Crisis has prompted debate on how tax-benefit policy can stimulate the economy while maintaining equity and promoting social inclusion. This project will put debate about tax-benefit reforms and deficit reduction strategies in historical and an international comparative context. Results generated will provide a rich and comprehensive framework for assessing current and future policy options in areas that are closely aligned with the designated national research priority goals of a healthy start to life and strengthening Australia's economic and social fabric.Read moreRead less
Work, care, retirement and health: ageing agendas. This project will undertake a gendered analysis of how Australians can retire well, taking account of their key resources (such as work, superannuation, the aged pension, and other assets) and key demands (such as to work longer and to care for others in the context of an ageing population and a more feminised workforce).
Mental health, job quality and workforce participation: evidence from population health research to address complex problems and conflicting policies. Mental disorders such as depression are a major cause of disability. Improving mental health can increase productivity and workforce participation. However, the psychosocial quality of work is a factor that overlays the relationship between work and health. Poor quality work (for example, unreasonable time pressure, insecurity) increases the risk ....Mental health, job quality and workforce participation: evidence from population health research to address complex problems and conflicting policies. Mental disorders such as depression are a major cause of disability. Improving mental health can increase productivity and workforce participation. However, the psychosocial quality of work is a factor that overlays the relationship between work and health. Poor quality work (for example, unreasonable time pressure, insecurity) increases the risk of poor mental health, absenteeism, and exit from the workforce. This project will analyse data following people over time to investigate the long-term health and employment consequences of poor psychosocial job quality, and consider the special case of mature age workers. It will identify those individuals at greatest risk, and factors that can buffer against the adverse effects of poor quality work.Read moreRead less
Population Ageing, Health Status and Health Outlays: Assessing Impacts and Policy Options During the Next 40 Years. This project will enable the Commonwealth and Australia to develop the modelling infrastructure that will allow them to assess the future distributional consequences of the far-reaching human capital and health reforms that are likely to be on the policy agenda during the next few decades. The project will also place Australia at the forefront internationally in the construction of ....Population Ageing, Health Status and Health Outlays: Assessing Impacts and Policy Options During the Next 40 Years. This project will enable the Commonwealth and Australia to develop the modelling infrastructure that will allow them to assess the future distributional consequences of the far-reaching human capital and health reforms that are likely to be on the policy agenda during the next few decades. The project will also place Australia at the forefront internationally in the construction of dynamic microsimulation population models, particularly including the simulation of health status and health services. This technology will improve public policy in Australia and be able to be exported to our Asia-Pacific neighbours in the near future.Read moreRead less
Welfare receipt, demoralisation and mental health: how can welfare reform promote personal wellbeing and social inclusion? Welfare recipients are more likely to experience mental disorders and have poor wellbeing than non-recipients, and this can be a barrier to employment. This project examines the factors that may improve their mental health, promote employment outcomes, and help the Commonwealth Government develop effective welfare reform policies.