The implications of welfare reform for single parent families in their transition to paid work. The study will clarify the policy and practice implications of welfare reform by focussing on its implementation and impacts. These findings will: provide single parents with insight into the experience of returning to work; enable social welfare agencies to design programs and services to meet the changing needs of single parents; provide data for welfare policy review and development; and contribute ....The implications of welfare reform for single parent families in their transition to paid work. The study will clarify the policy and practice implications of welfare reform by focussing on its implementation and impacts. These findings will: provide single parents with insight into the experience of returning to work; enable social welfare agencies to design programs and services to meet the changing needs of single parents; provide data for welfare policy review and development; and contribute to the theory and evidence base for ongoing debates such as the effect of combining multiple roles (for example work and parenting) on single parents and the implications of voluntary versus mandatory welfare to work programs.Read moreRead less
150 low income Australians: a group biography over time. This project has significant potential to contribute social and economic benefits. In 2004-5, the Commonwealth is to spend some $20 billion on these income support programs, which are received by over 2 million citizens. There is significant national and international policy focus on welfare-to-work measures. Major changes in Australia for PPS and DSP recipients are to be implemented from mid-2006, and the project will enable us to better ....150 low income Australians: a group biography over time. This project has significant potential to contribute social and economic benefits. In 2004-5, the Commonwealth is to spend some $20 billion on these income support programs, which are received by over 2 million citizens. There is significant national and international policy focus on welfare-to-work measures. Major changes in Australia for PPS and DSP recipients are to be implemented from mid-2006, and the project will enable us to better understand how these changes are experienced. This most recent package of measures is also linked to policy concerns about expanding the workforce as the population ages. The project findings will contribute substantially to the priority goal of strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric.Read moreRead less
A Review of Work for the Dole as a Labour Market Program. The project will review the Work for the Dole program in terms of its first formal objective (to install work habits in young people)and in the wider context of giving young unemployed people the skills and confidence that will increase their chances of finding employment. The principal research tools used will be sample surveys and in-depth interviews. An independent substantial review will give a firm basis for discussions of the progr ....A Review of Work for the Dole as a Labour Market Program. The project will review the Work for the Dole program in terms of its first formal objective (to install work habits in young people)and in the wider context of giving young unemployed people the skills and confidence that will increase their chances of finding employment. The principal research tools used will be sample surveys and in-depth interviews. An independent substantial review will give a firm basis for discussions of the program, including how it can be improved and whether or not, given the political imperatives to retain it,it is desirable to increase expenditure on it.Read moreRead less
Pathways then and now: new student transitions to adulthood in a comparative context. This project will generate new knowledge about young people's development and use of 'creative capital', which is crucial to their participation in the new labour markets in a post-industrial society. The research is designed to contribute directly to new policy frameworks in post-compulsory education and training that acknowledge the need for young people to make creative choices, develop positive pathways and ....Pathways then and now: new student transitions to adulthood in a comparative context. This project will generate new knowledge about young people's development and use of 'creative capital', which is crucial to their participation in the new labour markets in a post-industrial society. The research is designed to contribute directly to new policy frameworks in post-compulsory education and training that acknowledge the need for young people to make creative choices, develop positive pathways and to live within supportive family and community contexts. In this way, the project will support the Government's agenda of strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric in the fact of weaker traditional support structures.Read moreRead less
Flexible career patterns: graduate redefinitions of outcomes in the new labour market. The research will identify graduate redefinitions of the meaning of ?career? and the construction of flexible career patterns in response to changes in the labour market. The centrepiece of the research program is the extension of a ten-year cohort of 1300 Australian graduates who are now 5-7 years out from graduation. The wider significance of the emerging themes is tested through comparison with a Canadian ....Flexible career patterns: graduate redefinitions of outcomes in the new labour market. The research will identify graduate redefinitions of the meaning of ?career? and the construction of flexible career patterns in response to changes in the labour market. The centrepiece of the research program is the extension of a ten-year cohort of 1300 Australian graduates who are now 5-7 years out from graduation. The wider significance of the emerging themes is tested through comparison with a Canadian cohort and with a younger Australian cohort. The research findings are significant to the formation of responsive post-compulsory education and training policy and programs that meet the changing needs of young Australians.Read moreRead less
Activating states: transforming the delivery of 'welfare to work' services to the long-term unemployed in Australia, Great Britain and the Netherlands. With declining unemployment, the possibility of labour force shortages in future years, and an annual expense of $20 billion on income support in Australia, policy makers are concerned with increasing the economic participation of social security recipients. This project will provide policy makers and service providers with important comparative ....Activating states: transforming the delivery of 'welfare to work' services to the long-term unemployed in Australia, Great Britain and the Netherlands. With declining unemployment, the possibility of labour force shortages in future years, and an annual expense of $20 billion on income support in Australia, policy makers are concerned with increasing the economic participation of social security recipients. This project will provide policy makers and service providers with important comparative assessments of the way policies designed to promote economic participation are executed by frontline staff and will provide essential data for designing policy which is more effective in assisting the unemployed to find sustainable paid employment. It will address the National Research Priority of promoting and maintaining good health through strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric.Read moreRead less
Gendering Impact Assessment: a new framework for producing gender-inclusive policy. Much public policy lacks sensitivity to the differing needs of diverse women and men. The result can be ineffective policy, and policy that reinforces unequal gender relations. This project will: a) produce an innovative, context-sensitive gender analysis framework to promote the development of gender-inclusive policy; b)generate new knowledge about the processes shaping gendered policy outcomes; c) develop pract ....Gendering Impact Assessment: a new framework for producing gender-inclusive policy. Much public policy lacks sensitivity to the differing needs of diverse women and men. The result can be ineffective policy, and policy that reinforces unequal gender relations. This project will: a) produce an innovative, context-sensitive gender analysis framework to promote the development of gender-inclusive policy; b)generate new knowledge about the processes shaping gendered policy outcomes; c) develop practical strategies to bridge the gap in expertise between policy development at government level and implementation in organisations. The goals are: to promote gender equality, and to enable better decision-making at the outset, to save time and money later.
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Developing a data-based system for competitor analysis, performance monitoring, and decision-making within the disability employment service industry. There are three aims: to implement a database that would assist business decision-making and improvement of professional practices; to provide the peak body means for reporting to members, representing members to the funding body, and promoting the industry; to develop a system relevant to micro and small businesses across industries. Disability ....Developing a data-based system for competitor analysis, performance monitoring, and decision-making within the disability employment service industry. There are three aims: to implement a database that would assist business decision-making and improvement of professional practices; to provide the peak body means for reporting to members, representing members to the funding body, and promoting the industry; to develop a system relevant to micro and small businesses across industries. Disability employment services currently do not have means for competitor analysis even though it is recognised as integral to business planning. We expect that organisations will use the system, making more informed decisions, improving their performance, and improving their influence in discussions with the funding body.Read moreRead less
Working late and the spectre of uselessness: Sustaining labour supply in a globalising economy. A buoyant economy and strong employment growth resulting in unfilled vacancies is frustrating business. Population ageing may exacerbate this, reducing labour supply and consequently industrial output. To assist, the Government is recommending increased employment among older workers. As yet, the evidence base for informing actions is inadequate but points to complex scenarios where older workers may ....Working late and the spectre of uselessness: Sustaining labour supply in a globalising economy. A buoyant economy and strong employment growth resulting in unfilled vacancies is frustrating business. Population ageing may exacerbate this, reducing labour supply and consequently industrial output. To assist, the Government is recommending increased employment among older workers. As yet, the evidence base for informing actions is inadequate but points to complex scenarios where older workers may not necessarily fair well. Better understanding the determinants of their employment and of employer actions would help clarify the role of public policy. Also, understanding how other nations are responding is of strategic importance as this will directly influence the Australian labour market.Read moreRead less
Labour market transitions and dynamics in Australia: An analysis of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. As stated in the National Research Priorities, 'in the decade ahead, it will be vital to understand and support the drivers for workforce participation and the broader social and economic trends influencing Australian families and communities'. Improving our understanding of these drivers is the main objective of this project. Specifically, the outcomes from this pro ....Labour market transitions and dynamics in Australia: An analysis of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey. As stated in the National Research Priorities, 'in the decade ahead, it will be vital to understand and support the drivers for workforce participation and the broader social and economic trends influencing Australian families and communities'. Improving our understanding of these drivers is the main objective of this project. Specifically, the outcomes from this project will result in a richer comprehension of the interaction between the social safety net and economic participation, and especially labour force participation. This research will thus directly support the Government's welfare reform and participation agendas, and thus should feed into improved policy decision-making, especially in the areas of employment and income support.Read moreRead less