A new healthy living minimum income standard for low-paid and unemployed Australians. This project will generate family budgets to support healthy living among low-wage workers, the unemployed and their families. The project will build on past Australian and recent international research and embody current experience to make it relevant to real needs.
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
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
Comparing the Living Standards of Children and Older People Within and Between Nations. The research will contribute to our understanding of the factors that determine the living standards of children and older people and inform the policy response to population ageing. It will draw on the expertise of leading national and international researchers, utilise a range of existing and new data to conduct in-depth comparisons between Australia and other similar countries, and contribute to the develo ....Comparing the Living Standards of Children and Older People Within and Between Nations. The research will contribute to our understanding of the factors that determine the living standards of children and older people and inform the policy response to population ageing. It will draw on the expertise of leading national and international researchers, utilise a range of existing and new data to conduct in-depth comparisons between Australia and other similar countries, and contribute to the development of an important new international database. Relevant to the national research priorities, the project will train a new generation of Australian researchers, and actively engage end-users in the research process by providing new information for policy development.Read moreRead less
Intra-household resource allocations of older couples. This project aims to analyse processes and outcomes within older households using national, large-scale representative data and mixed methods research design. In an ageing population where households are becoming responsible for provisioning retirement needs, understanding what happens in older couple households is important. The project expects to influence policy by generating evidence relevant to the design of regulations governing the al ....Intra-household resource allocations of older couples. This project aims to analyse processes and outcomes within older households using national, large-scale representative data and mixed methods research design. In an ageing population where households are becoming responsible for provisioning retirement needs, understanding what happens in older couple households is important. The project expects to influence policy by generating evidence relevant to the design of regulations governing the allocation of superannuation assets, tax incentives for alternative forms of retirement savings, asset and income tests on the Age Pension, and initiatives targeting older Australians’ financial literacy.Read moreRead less
Ageing Baby Boomers in Australia (ABBA): Informing Actions For Better Retirement. The research will improve understanding of baby boomers & inform action to achieve positive outcomes individually & for an ageing Australia. It will: 1)inform baby boomers of ways in which their actions in late middle age can increase the chance of having satisfying healthy lives in retirement; 2)inform employers & governments on key factors enabling people to work longer; 3)challenge stereotypes of baby boomers b ....Ageing Baby Boomers in Australia (ABBA): Informing Actions For Better Retirement. The research will improve understanding of baby boomers & inform action to achieve positive outcomes individually & for an ageing Australia. It will: 1)inform baby boomers of ways in which their actions in late middle age can increase the chance of having satisfying healthy lives in retirement; 2)inform employers & governments on key factors enabling people to work longer; 3)challenge stereotypes of baby boomers by showing their variability over the life course & in retirement; 4)provide four researchers with knowledge & expertise in applied, multi-disciplinary research on individual & population ageing; 5)identify baby boomers' expectations for themselves, governments, & the community to guide directions for Australia's response to ageing.Read moreRead less
New Trends in Foundation Formation. The encouragement of philanthropic giving is a current priority of governments globally. The creation of foundations is one strategy for expanding philanthropic activity, with profound implications for public policy and existing foundations. Working with Philanthropy Australia, this study will explore the concept of charitable foundations and recent trends in foundation formation such as the development of 'community owned? enterprises and pressures on busin ....New Trends in Foundation Formation. The encouragement of philanthropic giving is a current priority of governments globally. The creation of foundations is one strategy for expanding philanthropic activity, with profound implications for public policy and existing foundations. Working with Philanthropy Australia, this study will explore the concept of charitable foundations and recent trends in foundation formation such as the development of 'community owned? enterprises and pressures on business to become more 'socially responsible'. The study will produce data of vital importance to informed policy making and to the effectiveness of philanthropic foundations.Read moreRead less
The Deprivation Approach to Poverty: Analysis and Implementation. The project aims to develop new poverty measures based on a better understanding of the specific causes and nature of poverty. Australia lags behind other countries in relying solely on income to identify and measure poverty. In contrast, the deprivation approach adopts a broader living standards perspective which identifies poverty as an inability to afford basic necessities and develops measures that embody community views about ....The Deprivation Approach to Poverty: Analysis and Implementation. The project aims to develop new poverty measures based on a better understanding of the specific causes and nature of poverty. Australia lags behind other countries in relying solely on income to identify and measure poverty. In contrast, the deprivation approach adopts a broader living standards perspective which identifies poverty as an inability to afford basic necessities and develops measures that embody community views about what is an acceptable minimum. This project aims to address this deficit by analysing important new data to provide a comprehensive national picture of deprivation. It also plans to test the robustness of alternative measurement methodologies, undertake comparisons with selected European countries and develop new academically robust methods to guide future research, data collection and practical applications.Read moreRead less
Opportunity and Disadvantage: Differences in Wellbeing Among Australia's Adults and Children at a Small Area Level. There is growing interest in regional perspectives in social, economic and health policy, amid increasing evidence that the opportunities and well-being of Australians are greatly affected by where they live. But the evidence base and data required to assess distributional equity issues are deficient. This project will improve the welfare of Australians by generating new insights i ....Opportunity and Disadvantage: Differences in Wellbeing Among Australia's Adults and Children at a Small Area Level. There is growing interest in regional perspectives in social, economic and health policy, amid increasing evidence that the opportunities and well-being of Australians are greatly affected by where they live. But the evidence base and data required to assess distributional equity issues are deficient. This project will improve the welfare of Australians by generating new insights into spatial inequalities; creating new databases about the characteristics of Australians living in each small area; making these new data very widely available through the web; and placing Australia at the international leading edge in the production of spatial socio-economic household data.Read moreRead less
Social Inclusion and Exclusion Among Australia's Children: A Spatial Perspective. Numerous studies have shown that socio-economic disadvantage experienced by children has major adverse effects on health and well-being that persist for the rest of their lives. This project will deliver major national benefits by providing quantitative evidence and analysis of the current spatial distribution of various forms of disadvantage and social exclusion among Australia's children and of any changes to the ....Social Inclusion and Exclusion Among Australia's Children: A Spatial Perspective. Numerous studies have shown that socio-economic disadvantage experienced by children has major adverse effects on health and well-being that persist for the rest of their lives. This project will deliver major national benefits by providing quantitative evidence and analysis of the current spatial distribution of various forms of disadvantage and social exclusion among Australia's children and of any changes to these spatial patterns during the past 15 years. This enhanced evidence base will assist all levels of government in decisions about needs-based planning of government services and in the development of possible policy responses. Read moreRead less