Dr Raelene West @raelene_west
Dr Kim Moloney (@Global_Academic) of Hamad Bin Khalifa University shares a preview of her new book Who Matters at the World Bank: Bureaucrats, Policy Change, and Public Sector Governance, which tells the story of civil servant influence and the rise of public sector reform at the World Bank (read a sample chapter here).
Read MoreJenny Chanfreau (@JenChanf) provides some reflections on gendered patterns of how adults assist their ageing parents, analysed according to sibling composition. This post is based on Jenny’s article in Ageing & Society, and first appeared on the FemQuant blog.
Read MoreToday’s post is from Giselle Newton (@newtonatron) from the Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, about her research into donor-conceived people’s experiences, views and support needs in a digital era. She reflects on strengthening policy and legislation in this fraught and quickly-evolving policy area.
Read MoreVictim-survivors of family violence often sustain undiagnosed brain injuries which have a profound impact on psycho-social health and overall cognitive function. In today’s analysis, Phoebe Nagorcka-Smith of Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand (@GoodAdvocacy) details how acquired brain injuries (ABIs) too often go undiagnosed, and even when they are diagnosed accessing required support remains out of reach for many women.
Read MoreFamily violence has been on the government agenda for several years now, but one issue that is seldom raised is the role of financial insecurity as a driver of violence. In today’s analysis, Phoebe Nagorca-Smith of Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand (@GoodAdvocacy) explains how the gendered experience of the welfare system increases women’s risk of violence.
Read MoreThe newly-elected Labor government announced during the campaign that they would not be looking at welfare reform in the near term. In today’s analysis, Policy Whisperer Susan Maury (@SusanMaury) of Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand (@GoodAdvocacy), Elise Klein (@EliseJKlein) of ANU, Policy Whisperer Kay Cook (@KayCookPhD) of Swinburne University, and Kelly Bowey of the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare (@CFECFW) share a summary of their research that indicates raising the rate and removing compliance requirements would support women to increase their productivity, both in their paid and unpaid work. This article is drawn from a paper entitled Gendered impacts of changing social security payments during COVID-19 lockdowns: An exploratory study.
Read MoreThe recent federal election result has delivered a loud and clear message across the country that we want our political leaders to commit to policies that enable equality, fairness, and compassion. That needs to extend to our children and young people, including appropriate support in educational settings. Shorna Moore of Melbourne City Mission (MCM) and Sally Lasslett of MCM and Hester Hornbrook Academy (@MelbCityMission) explain how the incoming federal government can enact simple policy changes to support all students back to the classroom after concerning data shows that a growing number of vulnerable young people have disengaged from their education following the pandemic.
Read MoreThe Fair Work Commission has stipulated that all employees are entitled to up to 5 unpaid family violence leave days per year. This is a critically important step that increases both the safety and the financial security of victim/survivors. However, effectively communicating those policies, particularly to a diverse work force, can be challenging. In today’s post, Hannan Amin of Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand (@GoodAdvocacy) provides important guidelines for ensuring employees can understand their leave entitlements when experiencing family violence. This analysis was originally published by the Community Services Industry Alliance and can be read in its original form here.
Read MoreIn this post, Jay Coonan discusses major changes to Australia’s employment services system coming on 1 July 2022, what those changes mean for people caught in the system, and why unemployed people should be at the table when policy is designed. Jay is an operations co-coordinator at the Antipoverty Centre and JobSeeker recipient. Before establishing the Antipoverty Centre with others who rely on welfare to live, he was a policy officer for the Australian Unemployed Workers’ Union.
Read MoreThis week, the Antipoverty Centre (@antipovertycent) is highlighting people’s personal experiences of social policy. In today’s article, Sophi talks about how the system of Job Service Providers and mutual obligations robs people of their autonomy and dignity, and calls for solidarity among unemployed workers to support each other and secure their rights. Sophi is a disabled nonbinary person based in Victoria, with over a decade of experience dealing with JSPs.
Read MoreSingle mothers have been consistently the most poverty-stricken household type for years, and the last Labor government infamously moved thousands onto the (then) NewStart Allowance. With the recent federal election outcome, Terese Edwards (@Terese_NCSMC) of the National Council for Single Mothers and Their Children shares an open letter to Anthony Albanese, who was himself raised by a single mother in difficult financial circumstances. Her letter is interspersed with the messages from single mothers to the new Prime Minister.
Read MoreThis week's posts are sourced and moderated by the Antipoverty Centre (@antipovertycent). As Australia’s new federal government swings into action following the election on 21 May, we're highlighting people’s lived experiences of social policy to drive reform. Today's article by Melissa Fisher addresses two important questions. Does poverty really make you a better person or build resilience? Or is this something we tell ourselves so we can ignore the damage that's being done? Melissa is an Adelaide based artist relying on income support through JobSeeker due to disability.
Read MoreIn today’s post, Sulagna Basu (@sulagna_basu) and Briony Lipton (@briony_lipton) discuss the findings of their recent research into work attire and conceptions of professionalism, highlighting the minefield women negotiate on a daily basis.
Read MoreThe 2022 election results were driven by women looking for real change on the issues that matter to them. In today’s analysis, Kathy MacDermott & Helen Hodgson, of the National Foundation for Australian Women (@NFAWomen), provide a prioritised list of actions that women should advocate for from the new Labor-led government.
Read MoreWomen were the driving force behind the federal election outcome, which sent a reprimand to the major parties and is set to significantly increase the diversity of Parliament, including a higher number of women. What does the electorate want from the new government? In today’s analysis, five of the women’s peak organisations – the Equality Rights Alliance (@ERAAustralia), Women With Disabilities Australia (@WWDA_AU), the National Rural Women’s Coalition (@NRWNetwork), Harmony Alliance (@Aus_Harmony), and the National Women’s Safety Alliance (@NWSAAU) – come together to provide input on key priorities for Australian women. These are five of the six National Women’s Alliances, funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Office for Women.
Read MoreWomen have been the central story of the 2022 federal election. In today’s analysis, Jessica Lane of Women for Australia (@Women4Aus) provides a breakdown of the election results and what lessons can be drawn from the outcome. Women for Australia supports progressive women to run for political office.
Read MoreWhile women have made great strides in male-dominated industries, representation is seldom adequate to shift organisational culture, particularly in highly masculinised industries. In today’s analysis, Kathy Newton (@KathyNewton2208) of Western Sydney University (@WesternSydneyU) shares her findings in how female police officers experience three policies designed to improve gender parity: the provision of breastfeeding rooms, flexible or part-time work options, and gender quotas. This analysis is drawn from a recently-published article.
Read MoreResearch findings show that young Australians want to see increased investment in the care and support sectors, and policymakers should be paying attention.
Read MoreOur care industries are vital to a healthy, functioning economy. In today’s analysis, Kristine Ziwica (@KZiwica), a journalist with 20 years experience working in Australia, the United States and the UK on human rights and gender equality campaigns, argues that we need to invest in our people and place care at the centre of the Australian economy.
Read MoreGender equality and the treatment of women have been persistent political and policy issues throughout the 46th Australian Parliament. In today’s analysis, Associate Professor of International Relations Katrina Lee-Koo (@KateLeeKoo), from Monash University (@MonashUni), explores how gender equality and the treatment of women are likely to shape the vote at Saturday’s election.
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