A Century of Australian Social Policy

This subject is not offered in 2013.

120 hours

Admission to relevant Masters coursework or Honours programs.

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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.

• 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).

Hurdle Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of classes in order to qualify to have their written work assessed. Regular participation in class is required.

Assessment that is submitted after the due date and up to 10 working days late without an approved extension will be marked on a pass/fail basis only. Assessment that is submitted later than 10 working days will not be accepted or marked. 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.

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

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

• • 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.