A Century of Australian Social Policy

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

This subject offers a brisk survey of Australian history, through the lens of attempts to construct a more just society. It challenges the myth that we are as egalitarian as we like to think. At the start of the twentieth century, Australia had a self-perception as a "social laboratory", and had achieved both a male minimum wage and an old age pension. Yet half a century later, Australia was a "welfare laggard" and today our welfare system is relatively underdeveloped and ungenerous. The subject explores this puzzle through several interlocking themes. What have been the contending moral and political views that have sometimes motivated attempts to build a just society, and sometimes prevented reforms? What has been built and what has failed? What has been the role of religion in these attempts? Who has been entitled to income support, and who has been excluded? How has welfare support reflected ideas about gender and the family? How did all these debates draw on transnational thinking about welfare? As these remain contemporary issues, about poverty, about justice and about self-reliance, the subject provides an opportunity to examine the present in the light of the past.

• 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.

A book review of 1000 words 20% (due week 6 of semester) and a research essay of 4000 words 80% (due during the examination period). Students must complete all assignments and attend at least 80% of classes to be eligible for assessment.

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of classes in order to pass this subject. Assessment submitted late without an approved extension will be penalised at 2% per working day. In-class tasks missed without approval will not be marked. All pieces of written work must be submitted to pass this subject.

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

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.