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Publications & Research
State of the Family Reports
Anglicare Australia has been providing valuable insights into the changing nature of families in Australia since 2000 with the annual State of the Family Report.
State of the Family Report 2009 - "Beyond Economics - families in the forefront"
Club 12/25, Anglicare Canberra and Goulburn's youth services centre in Civic was pleased to host the Prime Minister's wife Therese Rein when she launched Anglicare Australia's annual State of the Family report - "Beyond Economics - families in the forefront" on Monday 12 October, as part of Anti-Poverty Week.
The annual report details some of the areas of work for Anglicare Australia in the last year; it also lists our members. In addition the report intoduces aspects of our new awareness campaign "because we care". This campaign highlights the geographical breadth of Anglicare's work; the diversity of its services and the sheer numbers of Australians involved; Anglicare support services 1 in 40 Australians.
"Beyond Economics - families in the forefront" is an attempt to examine the effects of the global financial crisis on areas of life for real Australians. The effect on Families, Poverty, Family Relationships, Child Protection and Unemployment are examined.
Ms Rein said the human suffering caused by the financial crisis was often overlooked. "There's a 30-40 percent extra demand for our emergency relief services such as food parcels, financial assistance, housing, right across the spectrum. It's very, very sad," she said.
The report calls overall for a discussion on the issues to be concerned with the moral and the ethical not simply the economic.
The launch was also attended by Mr Peter Quarmby, Director of the Community Sector Bank, which part sponsored the report.
State of the Family 2009 - Beyond Economics_families in the forefront
State of the Family Report 2008 - Creative Tension: Australia's Social Inclusion Agenda
The 2008 State of the Family report, 'Creative Tension: Australia's social inclusion agenda', was launched by the Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, Senator Ursula Stephens on 13 October, as part of Anti-Poverty Week.
The report covers Anglicare Australia's views on the federal government's social inclusion agenda, with particular reference to the priority areas of workforce participation, housing affordability and early childhood development. Its title refers to the natural tension between economic and social policy, especially in difficult economic times.
According to Senator Stephens, 'Anglicare's report places a strong lens on our social inclusion agenda and in doing so, raises key questions about market failure and the need to balance social, ethical and economic policies and practices. It highlights the precarious situation for many in our communities who live with an illusion of prosperity but who are struggling every day.
'The report also focuses our attention ont he fragility of the current good times and the extent of the difficulties that may come from the current economic crisis. It highlights Australia's under investment in social infrastructure, housing and transport and challenges the Rudd Government to acknowledge and address these issues as a matter of urgency.
'Such a challenge couldn't be more focused than in the events of the last few months - bringing this issue sharply into the public debate.'
The launch was also attended by Mr Peter Quarmby, Director of the Community Sector Bank, which part sponsored the report.
Read Senator Stephens' speech in full here.
State of the Family 2008 - 'Creative Tension: Australia's social inclusion agenda'
State of the Family Report 2007 - Not produced for this year
State of the Family Report 2006 - Life on a Low Income
The 2006 State of the Family Report examined why, in a time of increasing prosperity for many Australians, so many people – including families with children – needed to supplement their income with ‘emergency relief’ like food, clothing and help to pay the bills.
Just what is life like for families on a low income? And is Australia’s welfare safety net really working? If not, what needs to change? The 2006 report drew on the experience of the Anglicare member agencies to offer some insights and answers.
State of the Family Report 2005 - What do Australian Families look like today?
State of the Family 2005 reflected on the implications of the changing nature of families in Australia on our communities and social fabric, and in particular on those individuals and families who experienced particular disadvantage, stress or marginalisation.
Illustrated with stories from the agencies of the extensive Anglicare Australia network.
State of the Family Report 2004 - Missing out: Youth in Australia today, Mark Jeffery.
State of the Family 2004 looked at how young Australians were missing out on employment opportunities and called for the needs of young people to be a higher national priority.
State of the Family Report 2003 - Children growing up in Poverty, Dr Ann Neville.
Housing pinpointed as major cause of poverty for Australian families
The lack of access to affordable housing was highlighted as a major consequence and reinforcing cause of poverty in the 2003 State of the Family report.
In the eight years to June 2000, less than 10,000 houses were added to the public stock in Australia yet more than 200,000 people had been on the waiting list throughout this period. Many young Australians were locked out of the private housing rental market because properties were simply not available or because private rental was too expensive, even with the Commonwealth Rent Assistance.
The 2003 State of the Family Report focused on the fact that disadvantage was increasingly taking on a locational aspect as some areas grew and prospered while others were left behind and the search for affordable housing often reinforced locational disadvantage. The report looked at nine different localities across Australia, painting a picture of what life was like in those areas, particularly for the most disadvantaged and vulnerable members of the community.
State of the Family Report 2002 - Unemployment and Poverty, Dr Ann Nevile.
In Australia at the beginning of the twenty-first century, 676,800 children were growing up in jobless families. All faced a significant risk of living in poverty.
State of the Family 2002 painted a clear picture of why Australians should be concerned about increasingly unequal society, and the growing proportion of children affected by poverty, unemployment, poor health, lack of education, disability, inadequate housing and homelessness.
State of the Family 2002 raised fundamental questions about the future Australian society. It challenged government and the community, and identified the key problems that needed to be addressed in order to provide a stronger future for all Australian families.
State of the Family Report 2002
State of the Family Report 2001 - Economic and Social Exclusion, Dr Ann Nevile.
The 2001 State of the Family Report focused on the way individuals and families found themselves excluded from paid work. It traced how this leads to families living without adequate housing and explained how poverty results in people being unable to enjoy social relationships and cultural activities. The report explained the full ramifications of low incomes on family life. From the 2001 report, i t becomes abundantly clear this does not happen just to “them”. This plight can easily befall any one of “us”. There is indeed a thin line between ‘us’ and ‘them’.
In looking at how to respond, the Report stressed the importance of informal support networks and how they can help individuals and families to cope with the problems and harness the courage and resources needed to survive.
State of the Family Report 2000
Families as Carers - Families fighting - Economic state of Families.
This first Report issued by Anglicare Australia on the ‘State of the Family’ focuses on three broad areas of Anglicare’s work; supporting families in their caring role; helping families in conflict; and assisting families who are struggling just to make ends meet.
Issues highlighted in the Report are:
- the challenge to agencies involved in foster care to provide appropriate care for children with extremely disruptive behaviours.
- the unmet need within the community for disability respite care
- the Economic State of Families showing disadvantage in Australia as being “increasingly localised, with families who live in poverty clustering in particular geographic areas increas(ing) the probability of poverty being passed from one generation to the next.