Issues related to risk, social inclusion and the life course span over diverse areas of social policy research, and they are linked to a number of conceptual and policy debates. In the following, we have arranged a number of resources which allow quick access to key debates and available policy resources in the different domains covered by the contributions.
Introduction for the Australian perspective on risk, welfare and work
Marston, G., Moss, J. and Quiggin, J. (eds.) (2010) Risk, Welfare and Work, Melbourne: Melbourne University Press.
Social exclusion/inclusion
Social policy under the current Federal Government in Australia is based on a social inclusion framework. For an introduction to this framework and the Australian Social Inclusion Board, see: http://www.socialinclusion.gov.au.
Introductions with an Australian focus:
Buckmaster, L. and Thomas, M. (2009) ‘Social inclusion and social citizenship – towards a truly inclusive society’, Research paper, Parliament of Australia, Parliamentary library.
Nelms, L. and Tsingas, C. (2010) Literature Review on Social Inclusion and Its Relationship to Minimum Wages and Workforce Participation, Canberra: Fair Work Australia.
Nevile, A. (2006) ‘Is social exclusion a useful concept for policy-makers in Australia?’, Public Policy, 1, 2, 83–91.
Silver, H. (2010) ‘Understanding social inclusion and its meaning for Australia’, Australian Journal of Social Issues, 45, 2, 183–211.
A number of approaches have been developed to measure social exclusion in Australia, for example:
Saunders, P., Naidoo, Y. and Griffiths, M. (2007) Towards New Indicators of Disadvantage: Deprivation and Social Exclusion in Australia, Sydney: Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales.
Scutella, R., Wilkins, R. and Horn, M. (2009) Measuring Poverty and Social Exclusion in Australia: A Proposed Multi-Dimensional Framework for Identifying Socio-Economic Disadvantage, Melbourne: Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research and Brotherhood of St Laurence.
Scutella, R., Wilkins, R. and Kostenko, W. (2009) Estimates of Poverty and Social Exclusion in Australia: A Multi-Dimensional Approach for Identifying Socio-Economic Disadvantage, Melbourne: Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research and Brotherhood of St Laurence.
Vinson, T., Brown, N., Graham, K. and Stanley, F. (2009) A Compendium of Social Inclusion Indicators: How's Australia Faring? Canberra: Social Inclusion Unit, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Internet resources:
Social Exclusion Monitor at the Brotherhood of St Laurence, http://www.bsl.org.au/Social-exclusion-monitor.
A number of publications and other resources can be found at:
Brotherhood of St Laurence, http://www.bsl.org.au/Research-and-Publications/Research-and-Policy-Centre/Social-inclusion.
Melbourne Institute of Applied Economics and Social Research, www.melbourneinstitute.com.
Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, www.sprc.unsw.edu.au.
South Australia's Social Inclusion Initiative, www.socialinclusion.sa.gov.au.
Youth
The following articles provide access to the debates in youth studies about the concepts of generation, individualisation of social inequality and risk:
Roberts, K. (2007) ‘Youth transitions and generations: a response to Wyn and Woodman’, Journal of Youth Studies, 10, 2, 263–69.
Roberts, S. (2010) ‘Misrepresenting choice biographies? A reply to Woodman’, Journal of Youth Studies, 13, 1, 137–49.
Woodman, D. (2009) ‘The mysterious case of the pervasive choice biography: Ulrich Beck, structure/agency and the middling state of theory in the sociology of youth’, Journal of Youth Studies, 12, 3, 243–56.
Woodman, D. (2010) ‘Class, individualisation and tracing processes of inequality in a changing world: a reply to Steven Roberts’, Journal of Youth Studies, 13, 6, 737–46.
Wyn, J. and Woodman, D. (2006) ‘Generation, youth and social change in Australia’, Journal of Youth Studies, 9, 5, 495–514.
Wyn, J. and Woodman, D. (2007) ‘Researching youth in a context of social change: a reply to Roberts’, Journal of Youth Studies, 10, 3, 373–81.
For an introductory discussion and critique of the use of social inclusion frameworks and risk thinking in youth policy see:
Edwards, K. (2010) ‘Social inclusion: is this a way forward for young people and should we go there?’, Youth Studies Australia, 29, 2, 16–24.
France, A., Freiberg, K. and Homel, R. (2010) ‘Beyond risk analysis: towards a more holistic approach to prevention’, British Journal of Social Work, 40, 4, 1192–210.
Turnbull, G. and Spence, J. (2011) ‘What's at risk? The proliferation of risk across child and youth policy in England’, Journal of Youth Studies, 14, 8, 939–59.
Internet resources:
A number of valuable online resources for youth policy in Australia can be found at the Australian Clearinghouse for Youth. It offers a single point of access to much of the youth research and youth policy analysis in Australia, http://www.acys.info/.
The only longitudinal study of youth in Australia is the Longitudinal Study of Australian Youth. This study collects both quantitative and qualitative data but is focused on the former, http://www.lsay.edu.au.
Another valuable mixed methods study on youth is the Life Patterns Project which is based at the Youth Research Centre at the University of Melbourne, http://www.web.education.unimelb.edu.au/yrc/.
Work
Key readings into work, work life balance, casual work, etc. in Australia:
Baird, M., Williamson, S. and Heron, A. (2012) ‘Women, work and policy settings in Australia in 2011’, Journal of Industrial Relations, 54, 3, 326–43.
Brennan, D. (2007) ‘Babies, budgets, and birth-rates: work/family policy in Australia 1996–2006’, Social Politics, 14, 1, 31–57.
Campbell, I., Whitehouse, G. and Baxter, J. (2009) ‘Australia: casual employment, part-time employment and the resilience of the male breadwinner model’, in L. Vosko, I. MacDonald and I. Campbell (eds.), Gender and the Contours of Precarious Employment, London: Routledge.
Cortis, N. and Meagher, G. (2009) ‘Women, work and welfare in the activation state: an agenda for Australian research’, Australian Bulletin of Labour, 35, 4, 629–51.
Evans, A. and Baxter, J. (2013) Negotiating the Life Course: Stablity and Change in Life Pathways, New York: Springer.
Heron, A. and Charlesworth, S. (2012) ‘Working time and managing work and care: whose flexibility?’, Australian Bulletin of Labour, 38, 3, 214–33.
Owens, R. (2006) ‘Engendering flexibility in a world of precarious work’, in J. Fudge and R. Owens (eds.), Precarious Work, Women and the New Economy: The Challenge to Legal Norms, Oxford: Hart Publishing, pp. 329–52.
Pocock, B. (2003) The Work/Life Collision: What Work Is Doing to Australians and What to Do about It, Sydney: The Federation Press.
Rafferty, M. and Yu, S. (2010) Shifting Risk: Work and Working Life in Australia – A Report for the Australian Council of Trade Unions, Sydney: University of Sydney.
Ryan, C. and Sinning, M. (2010) Who Works Beyond the ‘Standard’ Retirement Age and Why?, Adelaide: NCVER.
Strachan, G. (2010) ‘Still working for the man? Women's employment experiences in Australia since 1950’, Australian Journal of Social Issues, 45, 117–130
Internet resources:
Australian Council of Trade Unions’ (ACTU) campaign for better jobs, http://www.securejobs.org.au/.
The Brotherhood of St Laurance's Library Current Awareness Portal is a good entry point for all kinds of resources in relation to work and welfare, http://bsllibrary.org.au/category/education-training/.
Economic Security for women in one of the six National Women's Alliances funded by the federal Office for Women, http://www.security4women.org.au/.
The work+family policy roundtable gives access to ongoing debates. It includes twenty-eight academics from sixteen universities and research institutions, http://www.familypolicyroundtable.com.au/.
Workplace research centre at the University of Sydney, http://sydney.edu.au/business/workplaceresearch.
Ageing
The following articles introduce some of the key issues in the global debates on ageing such as the concepts of ‘active ageing’, ‘generational intelligence’ and a critical perspective on ageing policy.
Biggs, S., Haapala, I. and Lowenstein, A. (2011) ‘Exploring generational intelligence as a model for examining the process of intergenerational relationships’, Ageing and Society, 31, 3, 353–71.
Estes, C. and Phillipson, C. (2002) ‘The globalisation of capital, the welfare state and old age policy’, International Journal of Health Services, 32, 2, 279–97.
Kudrna, M. and Woodland, M. (2011) ‘Economic effects of population growth and ageing in Australia’, in Productivity Commission, A Sustainable Population? – Key Policy Issues, Canberra: Australian Government, pp. 41–56.
Moulaert, T. and Biggs, S. (2012) ‘International and European policy on work and retirement: reinventing critical perspectives on active ageing and mature subjectivity’, Human Relations, 65, 9, 23–35.
Walker A. (2009) ‘Commentary: the emergence and application of active aging in Europe’, Journal of Aging and Social Policy, 21, 1, 75–93.
Internet resources:
Australian Government (2002) Intergenerational Report 2002, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, http://archive.treasury.gov.au/igr/igr2010/default.asp [accessed 07.02.2012].
Australian Government (2007) Intergenerational Report 2007, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, http://archive.treasury.gov.au/igr/igr2010/default.asp [accessed 04.02.2012].
Australian Government (2010) Australia to 2050: Future Challenges, Intergenerational Report 2010, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia, http://archive.treasury.gov.au/igr/igr2010/default.asp [accessed 04.02.2012].
Australian Government (2011) Realising the Economic Potential of Senior Australians: Changing Face of Society, first report of the Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Senior Australians, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.
Australian Government (2011) Realising the Economic Potential of Senior Australians: Enabling Opportunity, second report of the Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Senior Australians, Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia.
Beard, J. R., Biggs, S., Bloom, D. E., Fried, L., Hogan, P., Kalache, A. and Olshansky, S. J. (2012) Global Population Ageing: Peril or Promise?, Geneva: World Economic Forum, http://www.weforum.org/reports/global-population-ageing-peril-or-promise.
HEROC (2011) Australian Human Rights Commission, http://www.hreoc.gov.au.
World Health Organisation (WHO) (2002) Active Ageing: A Policy Framework, Geneva: WHO, http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/active_ageing/en/index.html.
Social work and community care
The classic introduction arguing for a shift from need to risk and the changing patterns of responsibilisation in social policy and welfare with area studies on health care, child protection and care of the elderly and mental health:
Kemshall, H. (2002) Risk, Social Policy and Welfare, Buckingham: Open University Press.
A valuable recent special issue on risk in social work with a number of critical contributions:
Warner, J. and Sharland, E. (eds.) (2010) ‘Risk and social work: critical perspectives’, British Journal of Social Work, 40, 4, 1035−45.
An excellent overview of research into the incidence and management of risk in adult social care in England and a recent update of the original review:
Mitchell, W., Baxter, K. and Glendinning, C. (2012) Updated Review of Risk and Adult Social Care in England, JRF Programme Paper, York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation, http://www.jrf.org.uk/sites/files/jrf/research-review-risk-mitchell.pdf.
Mitchell, W. and Glendinning, C. (2007) A Review of the Research Evidence Surrounding Risk Perceptions, Risk Management Strategies and their Consequences in Adult Social Care for Different Groups of Service Users, SPRU Working Paper DHR 2180, York: Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/pubs/pdf/risk.pdf.
Good overview of different approaches of risk assessment in social work:
Kemshall, H. and Wilkinson, B. (eds.) (2011) Good Practice in Assessing Risk: Current Knowledge, Issues and Approaches, London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
The report of the large Australian study on risk management in community services:
Green, D., Sawyer, A., Moran, A. and Brett, J. (2010) ‘Managing risk in community services: a preliminary study of the impacts of risk management on Victorian services and clients’, unpublished report, copies available on request from a.sawyer@latrobe.edu.au.
Internet resources:
In Australia, the VMIA (Victorian Managed Insurance Authority) has taken a leadership role in the management of risk in public services, including the not-for-profit sector, http://www.vmia.vic.gov.au/Risk-Management.aspx.
But the management of risk in the community service sector has not had the same (public) prominence in Australia as it has in the UK.
SAI Global (2009) Risk Management Principles and Guidelines, http://infostore.saiglobal.com/store/getpage.aspx?path=/publishing/shop/promotions/AS_NZS_ISO_31000:2009_Risk_Management_Principles_and_guidelines.htm&site=RM.
The following have been important in the Australian/Victorian context and can be accessed via the website, http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/reports_and_publications/latest_reports/2007/20070621_managing_risk.aspx.
Auditor General Victoria (2003) Managing Risk Across the Public Sector: A Performance Audit, Melbourne: Victorian Auditor General's Office.
Auditor General Victoria (2004) Managing Risk Across the Public Sector: Good Practice Guide, Melbourne: Victorian Auditor General's Office.
Auditor General Victoria (2007) Managing Risk Across the Public Sector: Toward Good Practice, Melbourne: Victorian Auditor General's Office.
UK resources:
UK Commission for Social Care Inspection (2006) Making Choices: Taking Risks – A Discussion Paper, London: Commission for Social Care Inspection, http://lx.iriss.org.uk/content/making-choices-taking-risks-discussion-paper.
UK Department of Health (2007) Independence, Choice and Risk: A Guide to Best Practice in Supported Decision Making, London: The Stationery Office, http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_074773.
UK Department of Health (2007) Best Practice in Managing Risk: Principles and Evidence for Best Practice in the Assessment and Management of Risk to Self and Others in Mental Health Services, document prepared for the National Mental Health Risk Management Program, London: Department of Health, http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_076511.
