Social disadvantage and economic recession: promoting inclusion and combating deprivation. The onset of recession in the wake of the global financial crisis has reawakened concern over inequality and exclusion. This project will feed directly into the government's new social inclusion agenda by providing a better understanding of the nature of social exclusion, its relation to location-specific and other dimensions of disadvantage, and the processes that trigger and sustain exclusion. A speciall ....Social disadvantage and economic recession: promoting inclusion and combating deprivation. The onset of recession in the wake of the global financial crisis has reawakened concern over inequality and exclusion. This project will feed directly into the government's new social inclusion agenda by providing a better understanding of the nature of social exclusion, its relation to location-specific and other dimensions of disadvantage, and the processes that trigger and sustain exclusion. A specially designed survey will be coordinated with other data collection activity to provide timely new information that will assist government and non-government agencies to promote social inclusion and tackle the root causes of disadvantage.Read moreRead less
Relocation after parental separation: a longitudinal study. This project is to examine the long-term outcomes of relocation disputes, when one parent after separation wants to move far away with the children against the opposition of the other parent. The study is of great international importance, as these disputes have become so numerous and difficult to resolve. The results of the study will enhance Australia's international reputation as a leader in family law innovation and research. The na ....Relocation after parental separation: a longitudinal study. This project is to examine the long-term outcomes of relocation disputes, when one parent after separation wants to move far away with the children against the opposition of the other parent. The study is of great international importance, as these disputes have become so numerous and difficult to resolve. The results of the study will enhance Australia's international reputation as a leader in family law innovation and research. The national benefits will include better information for courts in making relocation decisions and an evidence-base for the Government to make legislative changes if needed.Read moreRead less
Children's involvement in decision-making about residence and contact in family law proceedings. This project aims to discover the extent to which children and young people are involved in decision-making about residence and contact when their parents divorce, and to examine how their views are taken into account. It will involve interviews with children and parents about agreements reached without court involvement, and interviews with children, parents, counsellors, separate representatives a ....Children's involvement in decision-making about residence and contact in family law proceedings. This project aims to discover the extent to which children and young people are involved in decision-making about residence and contact when their parents divorce, and to examine how their views are taken into account. It will involve interviews with children and parents about agreements reached without court involvement, and interviews with children, parents, counsellors, separate representatives and judges in cases with court involvement. The findings will result in greater understanding of the factors that affect children's willingness and capacity to be involved in such decision-making and assist counsellors, judges and other court personnel in ascertaining and assessing children's wishes.Read moreRead less
Relocation after parental separation and the best interests of children. The project is of importance not only for Australia, but internationally, because relocation disputes are a pressing issue around the world in family law. These disputes have become numerous as laws have changed in recent years to reflect the ideal that parents should share responsibility after separation and that children should have regular contact with both of them. This ideal clashes with the promise of divorce that ind ....Relocation after parental separation and the best interests of children. The project is of importance not only for Australia, but internationally, because relocation disputes are a pressing issue around the world in family law. These disputes have become numerous as laws have changed in recent years to reflect the ideal that parents should share responsibility after separation and that children should have regular contact with both of them. This ideal clashes with the promise of divorce that individuals should be able to live their own lives without being unduly bound by ties to the other parent.This will be the world's first such prospective longitudinal study of the outcomes of relocation decisions. The national benefits will include better information for courts in making relocation decisions.Read moreRead less
Effects on young children's development of multiple and changeable childcare arrangements. Consistency of care is considered important for children's development in the first thee years. The study will investigate a concerning recent trend in childcare in Australian rural/regional and urban areas: the use of multiple and changeable care arrangements (MCC). Information from the study of the effects of MCC on children's development up to school age will inform policy on flexible childcare provisio ....Effects on young children's development of multiple and changeable childcare arrangements. Consistency of care is considered important for children's development in the first thee years. The study will investigate a concerning recent trend in childcare in Australian rural/regional and urban areas: the use of multiple and changeable care arrangements (MCC). Information from the study of the effects of MCC on children's development up to school age will inform policy on flexible childcare provision to assist families, to ensure optimal development in children, and to reduce later educational and social costs.
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Linking to learn and learning to link: building integrated school-based support systems for children and families in a disadvantaged community. The project will implement in a disadvantaged community changed institutional practices within primary schools and a partner welfare agency to increase family-school connectedness to improve children's behaviour and school performance. We build on the Pathways Project, which improved these outcomes for vulnerable preschool children, but highlighted the c ....Linking to learn and learning to link: building integrated school-based support systems for children and families in a disadvantaged community. The project will implement in a disadvantaged community changed institutional practices within primary schools and a partner welfare agency to increase family-school connectedness to improve children's behaviour and school performance. We build on the Pathways Project, which improved these outcomes for vulnerable preschool children, but highlighted the critical importance of family involvement with schools to effect enduring change and the difficulties of achieving this within current structures. We address this challenge by nurturing whole-school culture change, providing teacher professional development, and locating family support resources within schools to promote home-school partnerships, family functioning, and child well-being. Read moreRead less
Maintaining family-based placement for children and young people with disabilities. Aim: To enable families to continue caring at home for children with severe disabilities.
Significance: These families face significant challenges in juggling the demands of work, family and care to the extent that one in four decide to relinquish the care of their child. This leaves more than 37,000 children in Australia at risk of not growing up in their family home.
Expected outcomes: A psychometrically sou ....Maintaining family-based placement for children and young people with disabilities. Aim: To enable families to continue caring at home for children with severe disabilities.
Significance: These families face significant challenges in juggling the demands of work, family and care to the extent that one in four decide to relinquish the care of their child. This leaves more than 37,000 children in Australia at risk of not growing up in their family home.
Expected outcomes: A psychometrically sound instrument that will identify families struggling to care for their children at home, and a family and practitioner guide of innovative solutions to maintaining family-based placements.
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