ORCID Profile
0000-0002-2750-4140
Current Organisation
Monash University
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Research Topics
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Top 5 Research Topics
ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)
Social Policy | Counselling, Welfare and Community Services | Policy and Administration | Social Work not elsewhere classified | Public Health and Health Services | Social Work | Health and Community Services | Library and Information Studies | Applied Sociology, Program Evaluation and Social Impact Assessment | Records and Information Management (excl. Business Records and Information Management) | Social Program Evaluation | Sociology and Social Studies of Science and Technology
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Development and Welfare | Children's/Youth Services and Childcare | Social Class and Inequalities | Library and Archival Services | Social Structure and Health | Community Service (excl. Work) not elsewhere classified | Expanding Knowledge in the Information and Computing Sciences | Ability and Disability | Families and Family Services | Maori Development and Welfare | Structure, Delivery and Financing of Community Services |
Related Links
Publications
How effective is conditional welfare support for enhancing child wellbeing?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2021
How Complex Developmental Trauma, Residential Out-of-Home Care and Contact with the Justice System Intersect
Publisher: The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Date: 22-03-2017
DOI: 10.1017/CHA.2017.9
Abstract: Complex developmental trauma impacts on neurobiological development through the creation of a frightening and unpredictable environment in which the brain develops. This early experience results in an under-developed limbic system and pre-frontal cortex. For some children and young people, their experiences of early trauma lead them into the residential Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) system. Neurodevelopmental delays that occur as a result of early trauma and abuse often become particularly pronounced during adolescence, including limited impulse control, poor emotional regulation and attachment impairments. These same delays contribute to offending behaviour and subsequent contact with the justice system. Complex developmental trauma has serious repercussions both for the in idual and the society in which he or she lives. These repercussions may take the form of offending behaviour and contact with the justice system, drug and alcohol abuse, and continuing cycles of abuse and violence within families or victimisation.
How do Australian policymakers frame the causes of and policy solutions to poverty? A critical examination of Anti‐Poverty Week parliamentary debates from 2012 to 2021
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-01-2023
DOI: 10.1002/AJS4.254
Abstract: In recent decades, poverty has increasingly been marginalised in Australian policy discourse. One strategy used by social justice advocates to revitalise a poverty policy agenda has been the annual Anti‐Poverty Week c aign, which aims to stimulate community debate around policy innovations to relieve poverty. This paper analyses the Commonwealth parliamentary debates around Anti ‐ Poverty Week for 10 years from 2012 to 2021. We analyse and compare how politicians from three political parties – the Liberal and National Party Coalition, the Australian Labor Party and The Australian Greens – identified the key statistics for and groups in poverty, their sources of evidence, the consequences of poverty for those affected, the causes of poverty including whether or not disadvantage was linked to wider structural inequities, and the framing of poverty and potential policy solutions. Some conclusions are drawn from these findings about potential strategies for reinvigorating the poverty debate.
Graduating from the Child Welfare System
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 08-2005
Abstract: Summary: Historically, insufficient resources and assistance have been provided to young people leaving state care. This article provides a case study of the c aign for leaving care services in Victoria. Findings: Young people leaving care experience homelessness, early parenthood, loneliness, depression, poverty, and involvement with the juvenile justice system. Attention is drawn to the key arguments for after-care supports for young people leaving care, the consumer and provider lobby groups that have driven the policy debate, the outcomes of existing services, and the barriers (particularly in Australia) to the creation of effective services. Applications: Supports and services that are needed to ensure improved outcomes for care leavers are identified. These include the provision of stable and supportive placements with a positive attitude to education, maintenance of links with either family members or community supports, a flexible and functional process for graduating from dependence to interdependence, the active involvement of young people in the leaving care planning and decision-making process, the availability of a range of accommodation options, and ongoing support as required.
Young People Transitioning from Out-of-Home Care in Victoria, Australia: Strengthening Support Services for Dual Clients of Child Protection and Youth Justice
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan UK
Date: 2016
The complexities of cultural support planning for Indigenous children in and leaving out-of-home care
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-04-2017
DOI: 10.1111/CFS.12289
Young People Transitioning from Out-of-home Care in Victoria: Strengthening Support Services for Dual Clients of Child Protection and Youth Justice
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-01-2014
Young People Transitioning From Out-of-home Care and Relationships with Family of Origin: An Examination of Three Recent Australian Studies
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 10-2012
Teaching social policy to social work atudents: a critical reflection
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 09-2003
Young People Transitioning from Out-of-Home Care
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan UK
Date: 2016
Paternalistic Welfare or Co-designed Partnerships with Local Communities? Analysis of Community Group Submissions to Six Australian Parliamentary Inquiries into the Cashless Debit Card from 2015–2020
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 02-02-2023
DOI: 10.1177/25166026231151618
Abstract: Prior to the election of the Labor Government in May 2022, consecutive Australian Liberal–National Coalition Governments argued that local community leaders and organisations endorsed the introduction of the restrictive cashless debit card (CDC) in multiple trial sites. As a result, the CDC policy was presented as a meritorious ex le of a co-designed policy model based on collaboration with local communities. This article explores this assertion by examining the views presented by local community groups via written and oral submissions to six parliamentary inquiries into the CDC from 2015 to 2020. Our findings suggest major isions across community groups within the CDC locations. In four of the six inquiries, most community group submissions opposed the introduction or expansion of the CDC. However, these views received cursory recognition in the inquiry reports, with little influence on policy. This article concludes that the CDC policy is more accurately conceptualised as a centralised policy imposed by the government on local communities without considering local views.
American, Australian, and other Western Jewish Communists and Soviet Anti-Semitism: Responses to the Slansky Trial and the Doctors plot 1952–1953
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 08-2011
‘It was daunting. I was 18 and I left residential care and there was no support whatsoever’: a scoping study into the transition from out-of-home-care process in Tasmania, Australia
Publisher: The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Date: 26-10-2020
DOI: 10.1017/CHA.2020.54
Abstract: Young people who leave Out-of-Home Care (OoHC) are a significantly vulnerable cohort. No after-care support program to date has been completely informed by young people and their care team. This scoping study explored the perspectives of young people and their wider care team on: (1) challenges surrounding the transition process and (2) how these challenges can be addressed. Semi-structured interviews and focus group sessions were conducted with 33 stakeholders from OoHC (i.e., young people in care young people who had transitioned from care carers caseworkers and senior OoHC executives). Four themes captured the challenges of transitioning out of care, including: (1) inadequate processes underpinning the transition (2) instability within the family unit (3) financial challenges and (4) lack of independence during care. Stakeholders agreed that greater support during the transition process is necessary, including life-skills training while in care and a post-care worker and/or mentor to provide after-care support. These findings provide compelling insights into the challenges that young people transitioning from OoHC experience and possible solutions for how such challenges can be addressed. These findings will inform the development and delivery of a co-designed and specialised after-care support service for this population.
From Welfarist Support for Vulnerable Groups to a Social Justice Perspective: The Australian Council of Social Service and the Construction of Poverty, 1956–75
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-05-2023
DOI: 10.1111/AJPH.12869
Abstract: It has often been suggested that poor Australians were a forgotten cohort during the long period of post‐World War Two prosperity. Yet the peak non‐government welfare body, the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS), aimed from its establishment in 1956 to publicise concerns about poverty, and stimulate policy responses to relieve the disadvantage of those living in poverty. Using a range of primary sources including ACOSS annual reports, policy statements, committee meeting minutes and newsletters, this paper examines the key manifestations of ACOSS advocacy for low‐income Australians including research reports, budget submissions and public forums. It is argued that ACOSS gradually shifted from a welfarist approach based on lifting the incomes of specific vulnerable groups in isolation to a social justice approach that linked poverty to wider societal inequities.
Classic texts
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 26-10-2005
DOI: 10.1093/CDJ/BSI102
Drug wars down under: the ill‐fated struggle for safe injecting facilities in Victoria, Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-2002
Care leavers, ambiguous loss and early parenting: explaining high rates of pregnancy and parenting amongst young people transitioning from out-of-home care
Publisher: The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Date: 27-11-2020
DOI: 10.1017/CHA.2020.58
Abstract: This paper is a narrative review examining the high prevalence of care leaver early parenting in the context of (i) key transitions from care studies taken from the last few decades, (ii) a structured review using Scopus of studies from 2015–2020 focussed specifically on young people transitioning from care and early parenting and (iii) Boss’s (2010) Ambiguous Loss theory. Young care leavers’ challenges, in general, put them at higher risk of protective interventions with their children and may contribute to the growing numbers of children being placed in increasingly over-stretched out-of-home care systems. Questions of surveillance bias for service-connected young people are examined in light of recent large-scale studies using administrative data sets. Serious oversights in responding to young people’s experiences of trauma and exploitation are identified. The relevance of sexual health programs for young people actively seeking pregnancies is discussed with emerging evidence that disengagement from schooling may have more of a role in explaining early pregnancy and parenting than previously thought. The authors test the relevance of Ambiguous Loss theory in understanding how removal from families of origin and placement experiences may affect young people and lead to ‘ wanted ’ pregnancies.
Is conditional welfare an effective means for reducing alcohol and drug abuse? An exploration of compulsory income management across four Australian trial sites
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 22-02-2021
From dependence to interdependence: towards better outcomes for young people leaving state care
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2006
DOI: 10.1002/CAR.932
Young People Transitioning from Out-of-Home Care
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan UK
Date: 2016
Young People in, and Transitioning from, Out-of-home Care and their Mental Health Issues: A Call for Evidence
Publisher: The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Date: 12-2014
DOI: 10.1017/CHA.2014.27
Abstract: Young people leaving state out-of-home care are among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable young Australians, and a substantial proportion experience mental health issues. This article reviews the literature relating to the mental health of care leavers, highlighting the gaps in the current Australian research base. Available studies indicate that mental health issues may worsen during the transition from care, yet mental and emotional health may also be neglected during this stressful period. Furthermore, care leavers with mental health issues are highly vulnerable to poor post-care outcomes, particularly homelessness. Implications for policy and research are discussed.
The Melbourne Jewish Left, Communism and the Cold War. Responses to Stalinist Anti-Semitism and the Rosenberg Spy Trial
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2003
Young people transitioning from out-of-home care and access to higher education: a critical review of the literature
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 12-2014
DOI: 10.1017/CHA.2014.25
Abstract: Young people transitioning from out-of-home care are known to have poor educational outcomes compared to their non-care peers. Yet little is known about the experiences or needs of the small numbers of Australian care leavers who enter higher education. This article critically examines existing Australian and international research on the access of care leavers to higher education. A group of pre-care, in-care, transition from care and post-care factors are identified as either hindering or assisting care leavers to maximise their educational opportunities. Some specific policy and practice reforms are recommended to enhance opportunities for Australian care leavers to participate in and complete higher education.
Retrenching or renovating the Australian welfare state: the paradox of the Howard government's neo‐liberalism
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-12-2008
“The most significant child welfare reform in a generation”: An examination of the strategies used by the Home Stretch campaign
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-10-2023
DOI: 10.1002/AJS4.288
Mental Health Supports and Young People Transitioning from Out-of-home Care in Victoria
Publisher: The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Date: 17-11-2015
DOI: 10.1017/CHA.2015.35
Abstract: Young people transitioning from out-of-home care (OHC) are a vulnerable group. One particular manifestation of disadvantage is poor mental health outcomes which may reflect both the traumatic effects of childhood abuse, and a lack of support on leaving care. This article presents the findings of a small qualitative study undertaken in Victoria which explored the views of OHC and mental health service providers regarding the mental health support needs of care leavers. The findings are consistent with existing research results internationally in highlighting a number of key factors that influence mental health outcomes including the impact of pre-care, in-care and transition from care experiences.
The changing nature of the Australian welfare state: A critical analysis of the ACOSS campaign to increase the Newstart Allowance
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-07-2015
The history of social work in Australia: A critical literature review
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2005
The contribution of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child to understanding and promoting the interests of young people making the transition from care to adulthood
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2011
Towards a Community Development Support Model for Young People Transitioning from State out-of-Home Care: A Case Study of St Luke's Anglicare in Victoria, Australia
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-2011
Child Protection Hypothetical Case Studies for a Virtual Archive: Professional Perspectives Versus the Lived Experience and Expertise of Care Leavers in Victoria, Australia
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 07-04-2020
DOI: 10.1093/BJSW/BCAA018
Abstract: For children in out-of-home care (OOHC) and adults who experienced OOHC as children, the records compiled by care workers, social workers and other relevant personnel present multiple ongoing problems. The records often embody deeply contested narratives that may include distortions and misinterpretations of facts, judgemental inferences, moralistic attitudes and other problematic aspects that can leave the care leaver at best ill-served and at worst profoundly distressed and traumatised. This article, an auto-ethnographic collaboration between a social work professional and two care leavers, aims to address these issues by constructing a ‘virtual archive’ consisting of several hypothetical records compiled in the style typically employed by caseworkers, which are then critiqued by the care leavers. In each case, the record is found to have significant shortcomings in terms of what is included or omitted, the tone, and implied judgements. The article concludes with a discussion that identifies a number of thematic issues and pitfalls intrinsic to the task of record-keeping in the OOHC context and makes recommendations aimed at achieving inclusive, rights-based processes and procedures in the creation and maintenance of records.
The impact of transition interventions for young people leaving care: a review of the Australian evidence
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 05-11-2020
Ultra-orthodox Jewish communities and child sexual abuse: A case study of the Australian Royal Commission and its implications for faith-based communities
Publisher: The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Date: 12-12-2019
DOI: 10.1017/CHA.2019.44
Abstract: To date, little is known about manifestations of child sexual abuse (CSA) within ultra-orthodox Jewish communities both in Australia and abroad. There is a paucity of empirical studies on the prevalence of CSA within Jewish communities, and little information on the responses of Jewish community organisations, or the experiences of Jewish CSA survivors and their families. This paper draws on a case study of two ultra-orthodox Jewish organisations from the recent Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse to examine the religious and cultural factors that may inform Jewish communal responses to CSA. Attention is drawn to factors that render ultra-orthodox communities vulnerable to large-scale CSA, religious laws and beliefs that may influence the reporting of abuse to secular authorities, and the communal structures that may lead to victims rather than offenders being subjected to personal attacks and exclusion from the community. Commonalities are identified between ultra-orthodox Jews and other faith-based communities, and reforms suggested to improve child safety across religious groups.
Indigenous Young People Transitioning from Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) in Victoria, Australia: The Perspectives of Workers in Indigenous-Specific and Non-Indigenous Non-Government Services
Publisher: University of Western Ontario, Western Libraries
Date: 28-07-2016
Abstract: Indigenous children and young people are overrepresented in the Australian out-of-home care (OOHC) system. To date, specific research has not been undertaken on workers' perspectives regarding the Indigenous-specific and non-Indigenous supports and services available to Indigenous young people exiting the system. This exploratory research involved focus group consultations with workers from seven child and family welfare agencies to examine the current support services available to Indigenous young people who are in or will be leaving out-of-home care in the State of Victoria. Findings suggest that Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) play a positive role in working with non-Indigenous agencies to assist Indigenous care leavers. Participants identified some key strategies to improve outcomes, such as facilitating stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous services, and improving the resourcing of ACCOs.
Community as a ‘spray-on solution’: a case study of community engagement within the income management programme in Australia
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 10-04-2017
DOI: 10.1093/CDJ/BSX008
Examining the role of lived experience consultants in an Australian research study on the educational experiences of children and young people in out-of-home care
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 05-08-2022
DOI: 10.1177/14733250221117688
Abstract: Children and young people’s access to and engagement in education is a key determinant of future positive outcomes. Children and young people in out-of-home care disproportionally experience educational disruptions and disengagements affecting their ability to participate in schooling, further and higher education. There is increasing international interest in the participation of young people with lived experience of out-of-home (OOHC) in research projects. This paper presents the findings of a study in the Australian state of Victoria where a group of lived experience consultants (LECs) were employed to consult on the results of a broader survey of the attitudes of professionals, carers and care leavers regarding the educational experiences of children in OOHC. Two meetings were held with the LECs, one to gain their views on the survey findings, and secondly, to reflect on their experiences working on the project. The findings suggest that formalizing the engagement of lived experience voices in research, inherently a qualitative approach, promotes a more informed representation of the challenges faced by children and young people within OOHC. In this case, engaging young adults with lived experience helped identify key barriers to effective educational participation that the project design may otherwise have overlooked. They also identified key strategies for improving LEC engagement such as involving them in developing key research aims and questions, and enabling the provision of a ‘safe space’ for them to participate. This new approach promotes co-design at multiple levels, providing opportunities for a meaningful collaborative approach to research.
The experiences of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in and leaving the out-of-home care system in the UK and Australia: A critical review of the literature
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 08-02-2011
Abstract: Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and young people are a particularly vulnerable group. This paper examines the existing literature on this group of children and young people in and leaving out-of-home care in the UK and Australia, and compares and contrasts their experiences. Attention is drawn to legislation, policies and programmes which alternatively assist or hinder their successful transition to adulthood.
Relationship-based Models for Supporting Young People Transitioning from Out-of-home Care: Two Case Studies from Victoria, Australia
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 11-11-2020
Abstract: It is evident from the international literature that supportive relationships with professional workers can play a key role in advancing positive transitions from out-of-home care. This article presents findings from the evaluations of two leaving care support programmes in the state of Victoria, Australia, where relationship-based models were introduced to support care leavers during preparation, transition and post transition from care phases. While the programme models varied according to the eligibility criteria, caseload numbers and programme priorities, they were both effective in facilitating positive outcomes in a range of areas, including housing, family relationships, education, employment and income, physical and mental health, and social and emotional well-being and stability. Relationship-based models based on trust and continuity that protect care leavers from social isolation are likely to be even more crucial in the context of COVID-19
Pathways Into Youth Justice: Strengthening Policy and Program Supports for Young People in the Youth Justice System Who Are Transitioning From Out-of-Home Care
Publisher: The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Date: 03-2012
DOI: 10.1017/CHA.2012.3
Abstract: Local and international research suggests an overrepresentation of young people leaving state out-of-home care in the youth justice system. A range of factors appear to contribute to this correlation including child abuse and neglect, placement instability, experiences of residential care, and unsupported transitions from care. This article presents the findings of a Victorian pilot study conducted in partnership with Whitelion, a not-for-profit organisation specifically offering support to ‘young people involved with or at risk of involvement with the youth justice and/or out-of-home care and leaving care services’ (Whitelion, 2012), to examine the interrelationship between the child protection and youth justice systems, and particularly to explore the processes that take place when young people involved in the youth justice system leave state care. A series of interviews and focus groups with Whitelion workers were used to explore whether leaving care plans and policies address and minimise involvement with youth justice the role, if any, of formal consultations by child protection services with youth justice regarding this group of care leavers and the ongoing role of youth justice postcare, particularly when young people are in custody at the time of their exit from care. Some significant implications for policy and practice are identified.
Ending Australia’s Status as a “Leaving Care Laggard”: The Case for a National Extended Care Framework to Lift the Outcomes for Young People Transitioning From Out-of-Home Care
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-05-2021
Stand By Me – Flexible and Holistic Support for Young Care Leavers: Smoothing Transitions from Care
Publisher: The Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare
Date: 17-08-2016
DOI: 10.1017/CHA.2016.18
Abstract: Young people placed in out-of-home care (OHC) through Child Protection in Victoria are formally discharged by the expiration of their care order at the age of 18 years or younger. In contrast, young people in Australia generally live in their family home with parents or carers well into their twenties. Whilst there are a range of leaving care and post-care services funded for care leavers, these supports tend to be temporary and discretionary in contrast to the ongoing support young people receive whilst in care or, in some cases, from family and social networks post care. Numerous studies have documented the developmental challenges experienced by young people leaving state care, and the often poor outcomes faced by this group. The Stand By Me (SBM) programme was developed in Victoria to replicate the ongoing support provided in the UK to care leavers by Personal Advisers who remain available to assist young people until 21 years of age. Evaluation of the SBM programme has shown that ongoing, holistic support, including housing support, has assisted 12 young people through the SBM pilot to access stable housing, address multiple and complex issues, and form trusting relationships with SBM workers that contribute to positive outcomes.
What Does International Research Identify as the Best Practice Housing Pathways for Young People Transitioning from Out of Home Care?
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 28-12-2021
DOI: 10.1177/23493003211064369
Abstract: Young people transitioning from out-of-home care (often called care leavers) are globally a disadvantaged group who can be particularly vulnerable to experiences of housing instability and homelessness. This article presents a scoping review of international scholarly literature pertaining to housing pathways for care leavers from 2015–2020. The 15 publications identified were analysed according to location, methodology, s le accessed, key findings regarding housing pathways and outcomes, and recommendations for policy and practice reform. Our findings suggest that good transition planning, continuing support from responsible adults, the availability of safe and affordable housing and extended care till at least 21 years should enable more positive housing transitions.
Young People Transitioning from Out-of-Home Care: What are the Lessons from Extended Care Programmes in the USA and England for Australia?
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 15-04-2020
DOI: 10.1093/BJSW/BCAA028
Abstract: Young people transitioning from out-of-home care (generally called care leavers) are recognised globally as a vulnerable group. In the last eighteen months, four Australian jurisdictions have extended state care till twenty-one years in an attempt to advance the life opportunities of this cohort. These initiatives are strongly influenced by extended care programmes in the USA and England, which have reported improved outcomes for care leavers. This article interrogates formal public evaluations of these extended care programmes with a particular focus on their eligibility criteria that have determined which groups of care leavers are included or alternatively excluded and the identified strengths and limitations of the programmes. Additionally, we consider cross-cultural differences in leaving care populations and variations within the broader social policy context of these jurisdictions, which may also impact on the effectiveness of policy transfer. Some conclusions are drawn about key factors that may enhance the success of extended care programmes.
Educational experiences and needs of students in out-of-home care: a Delphi study
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-06-2023
DOI: 10.1007/S10212-023-00714-4
Abstract: Numerous studies show that children and young people in out-of-home care (OOHC) face significant disadvantage in completing high school and accessing post-secondary education. The current research involved a two-round Delphi survey which aimed to identify educational challenges and school reforms to improve the educational experiences of children and young people in OOHC. A total of 45 participants from three OOHC stakeholder groups (carers of children in OOHC, professionals/educators, and young people with lived experience of OOHC) completed the round one survey which consisted of open-ended questions analysed using thematic analysis. In the second survey round, 19 participants completed a Likert scale questionnaire which drew on themes from the round one thematic analysis. Using a consensus threshold of 70% for the round two survey, participants agreed that students in OOHC face a myriad of educational challenges, such as dealing with a history of trauma, frequent home and school transitions, mental health issues and stigma as a result of being in OOHC. It was agreed that teachers lack knowledge and experience, and schools lack support for students in OOHC. Stakeholders recommended provision of greater mental health support, coordination of services and more autonomy for OOHC students regarding their education.
A community development critique of compulsory income management in Australia
Publisher: Universidad de Alicante Servicio de Publicaciones
Date: 05-11-2013
DOI: 10.14198/ALTERN2013.20.02
Abstract: The introduction of compulsory income management – sometimes called welfare quarantining – for sub-groups of income security recipients within Australia has provoked considerable contention. This paper examines the specific introduction of the Place-Based trial in the rural Victorian region of Greater Shepparton from July 2012. Utilizing key community development principles, we critically analyse processes of implementation and evaluation, and argue that placebased income management has involved a centralized top-down process. In contrast, we recommend a bottom-up approach which would allow the local community to play a key role in defining the problem, and identifying policy solutions.
Young People Transitioning From Out‐of‐Home Care: A Critical Analysis of Leaving Care Policy, Legislation and Housing Support in the Australian State of Victoria
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-11-2013
DOI: 10.1002/CAR.2302
The complexity of convergence: a multi-dimensional analysis of compulsory income management and social investment in New Zealand and Australia
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 22-06-2020
Examining the experiences of young people transitioning from out-of-home care in rural Victoria
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-2012
Empowerment and Control in the Australian Welfare State
Publisher: Routledge
Date: 26-10-2018
Social workers and social action: a case study of the Australian Association of Social Workers' Victorian branch
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-2003
Putting prohibitionist philosophy and populism before evidence on illicit drugs: Why has the Victorian Liberal‐National Party Coalition opposed Supervised Injecting Facilities for two decades?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-08-2021
DOI: 10.1002/AJS4.180
Abstract: Illicit drugs policy debates are often informed by philosophical contests between harm reduction and prohibition advocates. One particular harm reduction initiative has been the introduction of Supervised Injecting Facilities (SIFs) in many jurisdictions including two in Australia, one in New South Wales (2001) and one more recently in Victoria (2018). There is significant evidence that SIFs save lives and can also help to reduce broader social harm to communities. This paper examines the consistent opposition to SIFs by the conservative Victorian Liberal‐National Party Coalition over two decades with particular reference to the parliamentary debates of 2000 and 2018. It is concluded that the Coalition’s rejection of SIFs has been based overwhelmingly on prohibitionist philosophy and associated populism which frames drug use per se as a problem to be eradicated, rather than evidence on the effectiveness of SIFs in reducing harm to drug users and the wider community.
From the Henderson Poverty Inquiry to the Cashless Debit Card: Alternatives to the Reframing of Poverty as Welfare Dependency in Australia
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 19-11-2022
DOI: 10.1177/25166026221132344
Abstract: The recent announcement of a Senate inquiry into the ‘extent and nature of poverty in Australia’ reminds us that poverty policy in Australia has long been a contested concept in terms of identification of causes and potential solutions. The 1972–1975 Henderson Commission of Inquiry into Poverty led by Ronald Henderson arguably represented the high point of Australian poverty research and policy discourse. That inquiry established a framework for measuring poverty based on a link to the minimum wage, and incorporating housing costs which has informed all subsequent research.
Income management in Australia: a critical examination of the evidence
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-11-2014
DOI: 10.1111/IJSW.12066
The Social Harms Outweigh the Benefits
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 08-10-2023
Should social work become a registered profession? An examination of the views of 15 Australian social workers
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-05-2022
DOI: 10.1002/AJS4.222
Abstract: In contrast to most Western jurisdictions, social work in Australia is not currently a registered profession. However, in late 2021, the South Australian Parliament passed a Bill to register social workers in that state. This follows a long‐standing but previously unsuccessful c aign by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) to attain social work registration at a national level. Yet, to date, there has been no empirical research on the views of social workers—whether members or the AASW or not—concerning the merits of registration. This paper presents the findings of a qualitative study of the views of 15 social workers regarding registration. The findings suggest that the profession holds erse views concerning the potential benefits or harms emanating from registration. Some conclusions are drawn regarding priorities for future research including particularly the impact of registration on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social workers and service users.
How do Jewish Community Leadership Bodies Respond to Manifestations of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse? A Case Study of Malka Leifer
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-2021
The integration of community development values, skills and strategies within rural social work practice in Victoria, Australia
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 14-12-2012
DOI: 10.1093/CDJ/BSS065
Policy and practice supports for young people transitioning from out-of-home care: An analysis of six recent inquiries in Australia
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 30-05-2019
Abstract: Government and parliamentary inquiries into child protection have historically exerted a significant impact on policy and practice reform. Yet to date, there has been no analysis of the impact of such inquiries on programme and service supports for young people transitioning from out-of-home care (often termed leaving care). This article uses a content analysis methodology to critically examine and compare the findings of six recent Australian child protection inquiries (five at state and territory level and one Commonwealth) in relation to their discrete sections on leaving care. Attention is drawn to how the policy issue is framed including key terminology, the major concerns identified, the local and international research evidence cited and the principal sources of information including whether or not priority is given to the lived experience of care leavers. All six inquiries identified major limitations in leaving care legislation, policy and practice including poor outcomes in key areas such as housing, education and employment. There was a consensus that post-18 assistance should be expanded, and most of the reports agreed that greater attention should be paid to the specific cultural needs of the large number of Indigenous care leavers. Care leavers universally are a vulnerable group leaving care policy should be informed by the lived experience and expertise of care leavers governments have a responsibility to provide ongoing supports beyond 18 years of age, particularly in areas such as housing and education, training and employment
Compulsory Income Management: A Critical Examination of the Emergence of Conditional Welfare in Australia
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-2013
The Poverty of Policy: Examining Care Leaving Policy in Ethiopia
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 05-01-2021
Abstract: International research consistently shows that young care leavers’ journey from care to emerging adulthood is characterised by adversities such as unemployment, poor academic performance, homelessness, involvement in criminal activities, mental illness and early parenthood. As research evidence points out, such negative outcomes are closely linked with the existence of multiple placements, lack of mentoring, limited connections with significant others, the absence of early preparation to leave care, and a dearth of or inadequate policy frameworks that entitle care leavers to use aftercare support schemes. In order to support care leavers’ transition from care to emerging adulthood, Global North countries have implemented an independent care leaving policy framework that serves as a scaffolding for challenges that would arise from care leavers’ exploration of the adult world upon leaving care. However, such experience in formulation of policy to empower care leavers to be an independent adult is not well developed in countries in Global South due to the infant nature of research on care leaving and a preference for addressing the issues of care leavers in the existing child policy frameworks rather than formulating a special policy that deals with care leaving. The status of Ethiopia in this regard is not different. Existing policy frameworks concerning children have failed to address the needs of Ethiopian care leavers despite the existence of over five million orphan and vulnerable children in the country most of whom are placed in institutional childcare centres. This article presents the case for an independent care leaving policy in Ethiopia to address the multifaceted needs of children in care and improve the care leaving service in the country. Thus, the study will shed light on the state of care leaving policy in the world and lessons for Ethiopia to support Ethiopia’s attempt to serve the most vulnerable children in care by developing its own care leaving policy.
Labourists and the welfare lobby: the relationship between the Federal Labor Party and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS)
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-2004
The Views of Service Providers on the Challenges Facing Young People Also Involved in the Youth Justice System Transitioning from Out-of-Home Care
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 27-08-2014
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) young people leaving out-of-home care in Australia: A national scoping study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2021
The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and Indigenous Australians: an historical overview 1956–2011
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 09-2011
Integrating professional social work identity and social justice advocacy: An analysis of the Australian campaign to restore Medicare rebates for accredited mental health social workers
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 25-09-2014
Abstract: This study utilises a recent social action c aign undertaken by the Australian Association of Social Workers to examine the skills, motives and factors of success for social workers and professional bodies in undertaking social action activities. The evidence suggests effective social action is likely to rely on several, interdependent factors. Social workers appear more likely to actively intervene in policy issues when their immediate client base, professional identity or personal livelihood is threatened. Peak professional bodies are more likely to succeed in lobbying when they are able to mobilise broad-ranging support, present a united media presence and form alliances with key stakeholders and influencers outside their organisation. Results from this study may be useful for professional associations, social work educators and students who are interested in understanding social action in the context of social work practice and ensuring they have the skills and knowledge to fulfil their professional mandate as agents of social change.
Examining the Mental Health Care Needs and Outcomes of Young People Transitioning from Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) in Australia
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 24-07-2023
DOI: 10.1177/23493003231182474
Abstract: Young people transitioning from out-of-home care (OOHC), often called care leavers, are known to experience mental health challenges. This article presents a scoping review of research studies completed on the mental health care needs and outcomes of care leavers in Australia from 2015 to 2021. Incorporating 17 studies consisting of six peer-reviewed papers and 11 grey literature reports, the review identified several common concerns pertaining to high levels of poor mental health and psychosocial complexity. These concerns were attributed to a number of factors including placement instability, inadequate access to specialist mental health support services, and limited workforce skills and training. Some sub-groups of care leavers such as young parents, those leaving residential care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander care leavers, and an older cohort who had experience of institutional OOHC in earlier decades, were noted to be at particular risk. Nevertheless, some strategies for improving policy and practice were highlighted including more concrete transition planning that established links with support services prior to leaving care, an extension of OOHC till at least 21 years of age, provision of further supports such as trauma-informed approaches targeted towards the specific needs of this vulnerable population and culturally responsive programs for Indigenous youth. A limitation of the review was that most studies included were completed before the introduction of extended OOHC in all Australian jurisdictions, and hence do not reflect the positive influence of extended care on transition pathways including mental health. Future research should specifically examine the impact of extended care models on mental health care needs and outcomes.
Young People Transitioning from Residential out-of-home Care in Australia: The Case for Extended Care
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 28-10-2023
Graduating from the child welfare system: a comparison of the UK and Australian leaving care debates
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 31-08-2004
The needs and experiences of young people with a disability transitioning from out-of-home care: The views of practitioners in Victoria, Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2014
The Social Policy Context of the Norma Parker Addresses
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 21-07-2015
Social Justice, Respect and Professional Integrity
Publisher: SensePublishers
Date: 2015
Welfare lobby groups responding to globalization
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 11-2006
Abstract: English Theories of globalization suggest that national lobby groups continue to exert influence on social policy agendas and outcomes. Yet little has been written about the impact of globalization on the political and ideological context within which pro-welfare state advocacy groups operate. This article explores the response of an Australian welfare lobby group to the challenges posed by globalization. French Les théories de la mondialisation soutiennent que les groupes de pression nationaux continuent d'exercer leur influence sur les projets et les définitions des politiques sociales. Pourtant, on recense peu d'écrits sur la façon dont la mondialisation influence le contexte politique et idéologique dans lequel travaillent les groupes de pression en faveur de l'aide sociale. Cette étude explore la position d'un groupe de pression australien en égard aux défis de la mondialisation. Spanish Las teorías de la globalización sugieren que los grupos nacionales de presión continúan ejerciendo influencia en las agendas y resultados de la política social. Se ha escrito poco sobre el impacto de la globalización en el contexto política social. Se ha escrito poco sobre el impacto de la globalización en el contexto político e ideológico, en el cual operan los grupos que abogan en pro del bienestar. Este artículo explora las respuestas de un grupo australiano de presión por el bienestar, frente a los desafióos que ofrece la globalización.
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