A Century of Australian Social Policy

Subject SOCI90009 (2016)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2016.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2016.

Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24 contact hours: A 2-hour seminar per week for 12 weeks.
Total Time Commitment:

170 hours

Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Contact

Prof. John Murphy:
john.murphy1@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

This subject explores the history of Australian social policy, interweaving five themes: the rise and fall of state-regulated wages, the ways that income support was shaped by this arbitration system, the gendering and de-gendering of the welfare system and its relationship to the family, the separate and privileged position of veterans’ welfare, and the distinctive place of the faith-based welfare sector in the mixed economy of welfare. This historical survey is combined with examination of theories on the comparative analysis of welfare regimes. The subject starts from the principle that to understand where we are going involves understanding where we have come from, and that we need historical depth to comprehend contemporary transformations in the type of policy regime constructed in Australia. Through an investigation of the antecedents of “welfare reform”, industrial relations deregulation, the de-gendering of welfare, and the shift towards contracting non-government welfare agencies to administer the poor, the subject provides an opportunity to examine the present in the light of the past.

Learning Outcomes:
  • a sophisticated historical understanding of social policy interventions in Australia over the past century;
  • an understanding of the comparative analysis of policy regimes;
  • an understanding of fundamental concepts in social policy analysis, such as social protection, arbitration, gender, decommodification, equity and mixed economies of welfare;
  • a conceptual analysis of the role of social theory in developing and analysing policy;
  • a fuller understanding of contemporary debates and directions in social policies and programs; and
  • enhanced skills in writing about the history of social policy interventions and choices.
Assessment:
  • A book review of 1000 words (20%) due week 6 of semester.
  • A research essay of 4000 words (80%) due during the examination period.

Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to pass this subject. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

Prescribed Texts:

A subject reader will be available at the beginning of semester.

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:
    • be able to apply research skills and critical methods.
    • be able to develop persuasive arguments.
    • able to communicate oral and written arguments and ideas effectively.
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: 100 Point Master of Public Policy and Management
100 Point Master of Social Policy
150 Point Master of Public Policy and Management
150 Point Master of Social Policy
200 Point Master of Public Policy and Management
200 Point Master of Social Policy
EMA 150 point program - full time over 1.5 years
EMA 200 point program - full time over 1.5 years
EMA 200 point program - full time over 2 years
Graduate Certificate in Arts (Advanced) - Public Policy and Management
Graduate Diploma in Arts (Advanced) - Public Policy and Management
MA (AS&&ST) Australian Studies
PC-ARTS Public Policy and Management
PD-ARTS Public Policy and Management

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