The Centre’s Social Policy and Research team conducts policy analysis, prepares submissions and undertakes research to advance the rights and wellbeing of children and families. We use evidence to inform our work and influence government policy, advance the goals of the child and family services sector, and advocate for change to benefit those who need it most.
Below you will find a selection of the team’s work, including submissions, research, policy analysis and policy statements, and report summaries and fact sheets to assist the work of our sector.
Primary Centre contact: Dr Michele Lonsdale
Director of Social Policy and Research
[email protected]
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During Anti Poverty Week 2024, the Centre hosted a webinar exploring housing as a human right and the impact of insecure housing and homelessness on children and young people. Key
The Productivity Commission has released its annual report on the Closing the Gap targets with only five out of 19 targets on track to be met. The Domestic Family and Sexual
The government has passed a bill that makes crucial changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), and will reportedly save $14 billion over four years. The NDIS Bill enabled the
Child protection Australia 2020-21 – report summary (June 2022)
The Centre and FamilyCare conducted a survey in May and June 2019 to gather information from child and family services practitioners about the impact of social security policy on single mothers and their children. We received 169 responses and found that:
An overview of the survey findings can be found here.
The findings were presented by David Tennant (CEO, FamilyCare) and Kelly Bowey (Senior Policy and Research Officer) at the Australian Social Policy Conference on 9 September 2019.
Read our conference paper and view our presentation slides.
You can listen to David Tennant discussing these findings on ABC RN Life Matters (2 October 2019).
Raise the age of criminal responsibility position statement (May 2020)
Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System interim report statement (November 2019)
Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System interim report analysis (November 2019)
Children in immigration detention position paper (February 2016)
Child protection Australia 2019-20 – report summary (May 2021)
Child protection Australia 2018-19 – report summary (March 2020)
Report on Government Services 2020 (child protection services) – report summary (January 2020)
Australia’s children: In brief – report summary (December 2019)
Status Resolution Support Services (SRSS) – fact sheet (October 2019)
