Conditional welfare: A comparative case study of income management policies. Using an innovative methodology that incorporates a cross-national comparison of policy design and practice, this project aims to explore the effects of income management policies. The research will provide new insights into compulsory income management in Australia, and its more recent introduction in New Zealand. The expected outcomes will provide benefits, such as a richer understanding of human agency, autonomy and ....Conditional welfare: A comparative case study of income management policies. Using an innovative methodology that incorporates a cross-national comparison of policy design and practice, this project aims to explore the effects of income management policies. The research will provide new insights into compulsory income management in Australia, and its more recent introduction in New Zealand. The expected outcomes will provide benefits, such as a richer understanding of human agency, autonomy and social identity in the context of social policy.Read moreRead less
What is safe about “safe migration”? Migration management in the Mekong. The project seeks to examine the claims that new policy models make about assuring the safety of labour migrants. What is safe about safe migration? Regulation of labour migrants is a central policy concern in Asia, Australia and elsewhere. In an attempt to address anti-trafficking, several donors, United Nations agencies, nongovernment organisations and Governments have launched ‘safe migration’ programs which, rather than ....What is safe about “safe migration”? Migration management in the Mekong. The project seeks to examine the claims that new policy models make about assuring the safety of labour migrants. What is safe about safe migration? Regulation of labour migrants is a central policy concern in Asia, Australia and elsewhere. In an attempt to address anti-trafficking, several donors, United Nations agencies, nongovernment organisations and Governments have launched ‘safe migration’ programs which, rather than focusing solely on the legal status of migrants, seek to develop mechanisms (eg hotline numbers) to assure their safety. This research examines the claims of safety that this shift from anti-trafficking to safe migration has engendered, and whether and in what terms labour migrants might be consequently safer’. Project results may inform aid programs and government policies.Read moreRead less
Cross-cultural institution-building and development interventions: linking applied and critical approaches. This project will examine cross-cultural institutions created in the context of development, planning and management interventions. The proposed collaboration will support two APAI scholars to research the social and cultural processes whereby such institutions engage local communities in resource mapping, planning and decision-making. One scholar will work in East Timor, the other in the ....Cross-cultural institution-building and development interventions: linking applied and critical approaches. This project will examine cross-cultural institutions created in the context of development, planning and management interventions. The proposed collaboration will support two APAI scholars to research the social and cultural processes whereby such institutions engage local communities in resource mapping, planning and decision-making. One scholar will work in East Timor, the other in the Northern Territory. A key objective is to combine applied and critical approaches in expanding our understanding of the interactions that takes place between external agencies and local communities. The research will contribute to the improved design and implementation of initiatives for managing local resources.Read moreRead less
Negotiating alternative economic strategies for regional development in Indonesia and the Philippines. In the context of recent decentralization of government functions in Indonesia and the Philippines this action research project will test an innovative model of partnership between four communities and local government units aimed at generating new pathways for regional development. Community-based researchers and local government workers will map the social and economic transactions and assets ....Negotiating alternative economic strategies for regional development in Indonesia and the Philippines. In the context of recent decentralization of government functions in Indonesia and the Philippines this action research project will test an innovative model of partnership between four communities and local government units aimed at generating new pathways for regional development. Community-based researchers and local government workers will map the social and economic transactions and assets of each local region as a step towards mobilizing these people-centred resources in alternative livelihood projects. Innovative strategies that build upon indigenous and local capacities for sustainable development of a diverse community economy will be explored and implemented.Read moreRead less
Regional Dimensions: The Spatial Implications of Population Ageing and Needs-Based Planning of Government Services. The national fiscal implications of population ageing have received extensive attention from government in the past few years. However, relatively little attention has been given to the spatial implications of population ageing. Yet such effects will become vigorously debated matters of public policy in the near future, as such issues as regional labour force shortages and regional ....Regional Dimensions: The Spatial Implications of Population Ageing and Needs-Based Planning of Government Services. The national fiscal implications of population ageing have received extensive attention from government in the past few years. However, relatively little attention has been given to the spatial implications of population ageing. Yet such effects will become vigorously debated matters of public policy in the near future, as such issues as regional labour force shortages and regional demand for aged care services assume greater prominence. This project will improve the ability of State and Territory governments to plan for the current and future need for particular government services at a small area level, including services for children and the aged.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
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE: UNDERSTANDING, BUILDING AND SUSTAINING EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE IN RURAL, REMOTE AND URBAN INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITIES. This project investigates Indigenous community governance - its structures, processes, institutions, leadership, powers and capacities - across rural, remote and urban settings. It will longitudinally assess the effectiveness of different forms of governance, and their consequences for socioeconomic development. It applies an innovative, multi ....INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE: UNDERSTANDING, BUILDING AND SUSTAINING EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE IN RURAL, REMOTE AND URBAN INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITIES. This project investigates Indigenous community governance - its structures, processes, institutions, leadership, powers and capacities - across rural, remote and urban settings. It will longitudinally assess the effectiveness of different forms of governance, and their consequences for socioeconomic development. It applies an innovative, multi-disciplinary focus on community governing bodies, mapping their cultural, local and regional governance environments, and analysing the role of State and national-level policy networks and objectives. The project will refine theoretical models of Indigenous governance; develop recommendations for improving governance capacity; and design options for sustainable arrangements that address inter-cultural matters of scale, autonomy, representation, and accountability.Read moreRead less
Transitions to adulthood among young people in migrant families in Australia and Canada: A comparative study. Canada and Australia have had the world's highest immigration rates in recent decades. Central to the success of an immigration programme is the level of integration on immigrants themselves but, more importantly, their children. Australian research has led the world in this field. However, there is much to be gained for the mutual benefit of both countries through comparative research u ....Transitions to adulthood among young people in migrant families in Australia and Canada: A comparative study. Canada and Australia have had the world's highest immigration rates in recent decades. Central to the success of an immigration programme is the level of integration on immigrants themselves but, more importantly, their children. Australian research has led the world in this field. However, there is much to be gained for the mutual benefit of both countries through comparative research using a common framework. More broadly, as demography takes on much greater significance with population aging, there is much to be gained through international cooperation between ANU Demography and Canada's leading centre for demography, the University of Montreal.Read moreRead less
Aboriginal outcomes from land claims, transfers and purchases in central Cape York Peninsula. Description and analysis of current land-ownership and land-use outcomes amongst Aboriginal people on Cape York Peninsula, moving away from a common emphasis on traditional land-ownership to focus on emergent forms of use and interest resulting from the articulation of Aboriginal and 'mainstream' land tenure and property rights. The project aims to review the outcomes of land claims, transfers and purch ....Aboriginal outcomes from land claims, transfers and purchases in central Cape York Peninsula. Description and analysis of current land-ownership and land-use outcomes amongst Aboriginal people on Cape York Peninsula, moving away from a common emphasis on traditional land-ownership to focus on emergent forms of use and interest resulting from the articulation of Aboriginal and 'mainstream' land tenure and property rights. The project aims to review the outcomes of land claims, transfers and purchases for Aboriginal groups, particularly the current and likely future outcomes for the development of local Aboriginal society and economy, and the ways in which land ownership and land use outcomes meet or fail Aboriginal aspirations.Read moreRead less
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