Molly Saunders
This post questions the Morrison Government's recent decision to extend the Cashless Debit Card trials until the end of 2020. Dr Shelley Bielefeld (Law Futures Centre, Griffith University), Susan Tilley (University of South Australia), Priya Kunjan (University of Melbourne) and Dr Elise Klein (Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University) argue that the decision is unjustified by research and evaluation, and will do more harm than good during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read MoreAustralians with disability represent some of the most excluded of all Australians in relation to the impacts of coronavirus. At the same time, many people with disability are particularly at risk from COVID-19, because of barriers that exist to their inclusion, and their need for ongoing support. People with Disability Australia asked people with disability to tell them about their experiences over the last two months, and have released a report on those findings today.
Read MoreIn today’s post, Sue Olney (@olney_sue) examines developments in Australia’s welfare-to-work system and rhetoric during the COVID-19 pandemic. She argues that the premise on which the system is built – that unemployment is an individual problem and that anyone the government deems capable of working can find a job if they’re pushed hard enough – has to change.
Read MoreThere is increasing understanding that economic abuse coincides with other forms of family violence and abuse, as the perpetrator is driven to exert power and control. Despite this, its hidden nature and the various forms it takes means it is seldom addressed in system responses. In today’s post, Dr Madeleine Ulbrick (@MaddyUlbrick) of Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand (@GoodAdvocacy) shares insights from her recently completed PhD on economic abuse responses in Victoria. She argues that to effectively achieve women’s physical security, their material security must be prioritised.
Read MoreRecent research conducted by the University of Melbourne and LaTrobe University reports that women are experiencing higher levels of anxiety as a result of the coronavirus, and while the Federal Government has recently announced $20 million more in financial support for mental health responses, the funding priorities are out of step with emerging needs. In today’s analysis, Sarah Squire (@SquireSarah) of the Butterfly Foundation (@Bfoundation) explains how COVID-19 responses are exacerbating poor mental health for women and girls who are impacted by disordered eating.
Read MoreIn today’s post, Dr Ann Kayis-Kumar, Professor Fiona Martin, Dr Jack Noone and Professor Michael Walpole from the University of New South Wales explain that many sole traders in Australia are experiencing financial hardship in the current pandemic because they are behind on their tax paperwork. Those helped by the UNSW Tax Clinic who were behind on their quarterly Business Activity Statements were, on average, seven years behind. Their financial vulnerability has long-term and widespread implications. This article was originally published in The Conversation.
Read MoreIn this post, Dr Belinda Townsend from ANU (@BelTownsend) says Australia can play a greater role in supporting mechanisms for affordable access to new treatments and vaccines for COVID-19. This piece was originally published on the East Asia Forum as part of its special feature series on the novel coronavirus crisis and its impact, prior to the 73rd World Health Assembly.
Read MoreIn today’s post, Dr Andrew Joyce, Dr Perri Campbell, and Aurora Elmes from the Centre for Social Impact Swinburne argue that a social enterprise focused Job Guarantee could be an important part of a suite of policies to address imbalance in the labour market in the wake of COVID-19.
Read MoreMillions of Australians are currently dependent on some form of government welfare payment, and many are experiencing financial stress for the first time. As the consistently poorest household type in Australia, single mothers are disproportionately acquainted with the distress of trying to maintain a household on low welfare payments and precious employment. Unsurprisingly, new ABS data indicates that single mothers have had the worst employment outcomes during COVID-19. In today’s analysis, Margaret Ambrose of the Council for Single Mothers and their Children reports on the findings of a national survey of single mothers to uncover what their pain points are, and how these might be addressed to increase their financial security and place them and their children on a positive trajectory.
Read MoreIn partnership with the National Foundation for Australian Women (@NFAWomen), we are running a series of pieces that analyse how the Covid-19 pandemic is differentially impacting on women. In today’s piece, Marie Coleman[1] (@MarieCo92176893) examines the situation surrounding early childhood education and child care, and considerations for families, governments, providers/services coming out of the pandemic.
Read MoreIn today’s post, Matt Cowgill and Brendan Coates from the Grattan Institute explain why Labour Force data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on 14 May 2020 doesn’t capture the full impact of COVID-19 on jobs. This post is republished from the Grattan blog.
Read MoreThe Royal Commission into Family Violence identified economic abuse as a mostly hidden but highly prevalent method for exerting power and control. In response, the Economic Abuse Reference Group (EARG) was established to ensure that a holistic response to economic abuse is embedded across government, industry and essential services. In today’s post, Dr Madeleine Ulbrick (@MaddyUlbrick) of Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand and Carolyn Bond AO (@carolynLBond) of EARG share highlights from their recently-released report, Responding to Financial Abuse.
Read MoreOne in ten Australians provide care for a loved one, sustaining families and saving governments huge sums on care services. Associate Professor Myra Hamilton explains why COVID-19 has increased the pressure for Australia’s many unpaid carers and the impact this is having.
Read MoreHistorically, epidemics have brought a double threat: first to Indigenous health, then to Indigenous self-determination. Here Aileen Marwung Walsh and Laura Rademaker explain why Indigenous self-determination is vital to beat COVID-19.
Read MoreIn partnership with the National Foundation for Australian Women (@NFAWomen), we are running a series of pieces that analyse how the Covid-19 pandemic is differentially impacting on women. In today’s analysis Kathy McDermott of NFAW provides the first in a three-part series that looks at women and employment. Today’s piece examines the undervaluing of female-dominated industries.
Read MoreIn partnership with the National Foundation for Australian Women (@NFAWomen), we are running a series of pieces that analyse how the Covid-19 pandemic is differentially impacting on women. In today’s analysis Kathy McDermott of NFAW provides the second in a three-part series that looks at women and employment. Today’s piece examines changes in legislation that are curtailing worker’s rights.
Read MoreIn partnership with the National Foundation for Australian Women (@NFAWomen), we are running a series of pieces that analyse how the Covid-19 pandemic is differentially impacting on women. In today’s analysis Kathy MacDermott of NFAW provides the first in a three-part series that looks at women and employment. Today’s piece examines the JobKeeper payment.
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