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
Interpersonal and Family Relations in Transcultural/Transnational Marriages. The research explores recent developments in internet-mediated courtship and the interpersonal and social relationships it generates. Literature on this topic is largely concerned with textual interpretations of match-making web sites, while media comment and academic writing promotes negative stereotypes of those who contract transnational marriages. Focusing on Australia's Indonesian and Filipino immigrant communitie ....Interpersonal and Family Relations in Transcultural/Transnational Marriages. The research explores recent developments in internet-mediated courtship and the interpersonal and social relationships it generates. Literature on this topic is largely concerned with textual interpretations of match-making web sites, while media comment and academic writing promotes negative stereotypes of those who contract transnational marriages. Focusing on Australia's Indonesian and Filipino immigrant communities we analyse such marriages in the context of contemporary forms of electronic intimacy and relationship brokering and develop a more nuanced picture of family values and gender relations in them. This timely study of an increasingly utilised means contracting Australian marriages takes current debates beyond narrow stereotypes.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
Changes in payments, family dynamics and wellbeing following major child support reform: a longitudinal investigation of behavourial and attitudinal responses. This study will benefit the nation in three main ways: (a) it will measure the immediate impact of child support reforms on parent-child contact and the payment of child support; (b) it will provide an estimate of the consequences of these reforms for family dynamics (especially conflict, acrimony and the quality of parent-child relations ....Changes in payments, family dynamics and wellbeing following major child support reform: a longitudinal investigation of behavourial and attitudinal responses. This study will benefit the nation in three main ways: (a) it will measure the immediate impact of child support reforms on parent-child contact and the payment of child support; (b) it will provide an estimate of the consequences of these reforms for family dynamics (especially conflict, acrimony and the quality of parent-child relationships) and parents' and children's health and wellbeing; and (c) it will provide new evidence on the interrelationships between post-separation economic, social and psychological wellbeing irrespective of the reforms. Through this partnership between the University and relevant government departments, we are maximising the opportunity for shaping future policies and service delivery.Read moreRead less
Consistency and continuity in childhood adversity: the nature and history of multiple disadvantage in families with young children. This project has both theoretical and practical value and it falls within the National Research Priority Goal of 'A healthy start to life'. It will improve our understanding of how adversity influences children's development and long-term outcomes by focussing on multiple family disadvantage rather than individual adversities. It will help policy development and s ....Consistency and continuity in childhood adversity: the nature and history of multiple disadvantage in families with young children. This project has both theoretical and practical value and it falls within the National Research Priority Goal of 'A healthy start to life'. It will improve our understanding of how adversity influences children's development and long-term outcomes by focussing on multiple family disadvantage rather than individual adversities. It will help policy development and service delivery by identifying the extent to which families that experience one form of adversity are also likely to experience other types of adversity, either at the same time or in the future. At present, many policies and services are aimed at specific adversities and may not meet the needs of families experiencing multiple disadvantage.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
Pathways from Child Protection and Juvenile Justice. Almost 50% of children (10-14 year) in the Juvenile Justice (JJ) system have substantiated histories in Child Protection (CP). The vast majority of children with CP histories do not go on to offend. Other children, with no CP history, exhibit troubled behaviour and offending. The accuracy of instruments designed to identify at-risk children and adolescents will be investigated and individual and social factors that contribute to maladjustment ....Pathways from Child Protection and Juvenile Justice. Almost 50% of children (10-14 year) in the Juvenile Justice (JJ) system have substantiated histories in Child Protection (CP). The vast majority of children with CP histories do not go on to offend. Other children, with no CP history, exhibit troubled behaviour and offending. The accuracy of instruments designed to identify at-risk children and adolescents will be investigated and individual and social factors that contribute to maladjustment and offending in these populations will be identified. The identification of factors that are related to children and adolescents entering the CP and JJ systems will inform the development of targeted prevention/intervention strategies.Read moreRead less