Brotherhood Update – Research and Policy from the Brotherhood of St Laurence

November 2019

THIS issue of Brotherhood Update announces research on older aged care workers, and a new wave of data in our social exclusion monitor.

Policy submissions about the inadequacy of Newstart Allowance, access to preschool and Australia’s emissions reduction target are featured.

The latest Brotherhood Talks podcast focuses on the Productivity Commission; and a series of papers outlines the complexity of Austalia’s vocational education and training sytem.

RESEARCH: Improving the health of older aged care workers

Our qualitative study of older ‘pink collar’ workers in aged care points to the need for policy and practice changes to ensure Australia has enough skilled workers to provide quality care, and to  support the physical and emotional health of those workers.

Read the report by Aaron Hart, Dina Bowman and Shelley Mallett, Improving the health of older aged care workers

This is one part of a larger Australian Research Council Linkage Project, Working well, working wisely, about older workers and their workplaces.

BEHIND THE RESEARCH

Dr Deborah Keys joining the Research and Policy Centre team after five years working with BSL colleagues on the evaluation of Education First Youth Foyers, in her role as Senior Researcher at our partner Launch Housing.

Deb has a PhD in Sociology from La Trobe University and has wide experience in research into homelessness through her work at Melbourne Law School and Melbourne City Mission.

Currently Deb is investigating the effective delivery of Transitions to Work, a federally funded program to enable young people to pursue their employment goals.

RESEARCH: New data on social exclusion

Poverty has many dimensions, not only linked to income. The Social exclusion monitor developed by the Brotherhood with the Melbourne Institute is a composite measure to reflect multiple kinds of disadvantage.

Recently updated with Wave 17 data from the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey, it shows which groups of Australians are most likely to be excluded, and trends over the decade since 2008.

SEE the latest results of Who experiences social exclusion

POLICY: A new start for Newstart and Australia’s social security system

Not only is the level of Newstart Allowance manifestly inadequate, but the present approach to social security emphasises personal failings, and too often leaves people feeling belittled and stigmatised. The Brotherhood believes that Australia should value the social safety net as an investment in our nation.

READ our Submission to the Senate inquiry into adequacy of Newstart Allowance and related payments

READ more about uenmployment benefits and the Share the Pie campaign calling for a better deal.

PODCAST: The Productivity Commission and policy reform

As Australia’s public sector outsources more and more of its thinking on public service reform, the Productivity Commission has become an increasingly important, independent voice.

LISTEN to more Podcasts: Brotherhood Talks 

POLICY: Children getting a good start

More could be done to improve access to quality preschool education for children experiencing disadvantage and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

The Brotherhood argues for investment in outreach, building cultural safety and strengthening parents’ capacity, among other measures to ensure all children have a great start in life.

Read more in our Submission to the review of the national partnership for universal access to preschool

POLICY: Meeting Australia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement [on climate change]

To address climate change credibly and honour its Paris commitment, Australia should increase its emissions reduction target and implement policies to achieve it. The Brotherhood supports a target and policy consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5 °C.

Read more in our Submission to the Climate Change Authority re meeting Paris Agreement

RADIO Talking about poverty in Melbourne

In Anti-Poverty Week, the Brotherhood’s Dina Bowman joined a panel on ABC Radio Melbourne’s Conversation Hour discussing the job market and the level of poverty in Melbourne and Victoria.

Access this program on the ABC website.

TOPIC GUIDES Unravelling the complexity of vocational education and training

How has vocational training and education evolved over the last 40 years? What current challenges does it face?

Eight short papers by George Myconos shed light on Australia’s complex VET system.

• • Australia’s VET sector since the mid-1970s
  • Participation and transitions in Australia’s VET system
  • The architecture of Australia’s VET sector 
  • Funding regimes in Australia’s VET sector
  • Emerging skills and competencies and VET’s response
  • VET in Victoria
  • Apprenticeships and traineeships
  • VET: the international context

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              ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY 

Produced by the librarians at the Brotherhood of St Laurence in Melbourne, Australia