Women, Work and Welfare in the Activation State: an Agenda for Australian Research
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2009
Authors
Cortis, N.
Meagher, G.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
National Institute of Labour Studies
Rights
Rights Holder
Abstract
Welfare-to-work programs are now enduring features of Australia's labour
market and social policy landscape. Over two decades, both Labor and Liberal
governments have progressively tightened the conditionality of income support,
extending principles of mutual obligation to new groups of working age recipients.
This article is concerned with legislation that came into effect in 2006 requiring
sole parents who receive income support to enter the labour market when their
youngest children reach school age. This policy has practical implications for the
character and dynamic of the labour market, and for caregiving, family wellbeing
and women's autonomy. After outlining recent Australian reforms, we examine
how comparable overseas reforms have impacted on the independence and
wellbeing of vulnerable, low income women; and use emerging themes to outline
an agenda to guide the next phase of Australian welfare to work research.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Cortis, N., Meagher, G. 2009. Women, Work and Welfare in the Activation State: an Agenda for Australian Research. Australian Bulletin of Labour, Vol. 35 No. 4, pp. 629-651.