MAY 2021

In this enewsletter from the BSL Research and Policy Centre (RPC), we focus on several challenges of recovering from COVID. Children and families living on low incomes and young people without job pathways are two groups requiring careful policy attention. Meanwhile proposed NDIS reforms must be developed, trialled and evaluated in close consultation with people with disability and their carers.

You can read more about our current work at www.bsl.org.au/research. 

Please share this Policy and Research Update with your colleagues and encourage them to subscribe.

WEBINAR: Tackling child and family poverty: reflections on the 2021/22 federal Budget

Thursday 20 May 2021, 1 pm to 2 pm

PODCAST: VET'S ROLE IN YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT RECOVERY

POLICY: HOW DO PARTICIPATION RULES FOR PARENTSNEXT ALIGN WITH HUMAN RIGHTS?

ParentsNext aims to support parents with children under six years to achieve their study and work goals. However the compliance rules applied to participants have unintended consequences and risk infringing their human rights.

Read our submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights regarding ParentsNext participation requirements (PDF, 203 KB)

POLICY: HASTEN SLOWLY ON PROPOSED NDIS REFORMS

Taking time to listen to people with disability, and to assess the results of trials, is essential to ensure that proposed changes to access to and planning in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) will bring the desired improvements.

Read our Response to NDIS consultation papers on independent assessments, access and eligibility policy, and planning policy  (PDF, 421 KB)

In particular, feedback BSL has gathered from people with disability, families and carers expresses their deep concern that ‘Independent Assessments‘ (as proposed) could take the Scheme backwards rather than forwards.

Read our Response to the Joint Standing Committee inquiry into independent assessments in NDIS (PDF, 286 KB)

POLICY: DESIGNING VICTORIA’S STATE DISABILITY PLAN TO COMPLEMENT NATIONAL STRATEGIES

Access to decent work for people with disability, and an improved interface between the NDIS and mainstream services, should be among the priorities of the next State Disability Plan.

Read about these and other recommendation in our Response to Victorian Disability Plan 2021–2024 Consultation (PDF, 234 KB)

WEBINAR: CAN WE END CHILD POVERTY IN OUR TIME?

Social Ventures Australia and the Brotherhood of St. Laurence hosted a webinar discussing the findings of ANU researcher Ben Phillips about trends in child poverty and financial stress, and the impact of the Coronavirus Supplement.

Catch up on the one-hour webinar at https://events.socialventures.com.au/childrenfamilyfinancialstress ___________________________________

Read the research brief Making a difference to children and families in financial stress and poverty (PDF, 427 KB)

Read the ANU report Financial stress and social security settings in Australia

POLICY: ENSURE PROGRAMS BENEFIT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN WHO NEED THEM MOST

Families and children experiencing disadvantage must be the primary focus of government-funded support programs. Our involvement during COVID-19 lockdown has confirmed that providers need flexible, personalised approaches to engage and re-engage with families who have complex needs.

Read our response to the Department of Social Services consultation paper ‘Supporting Improvements to the Families & Children  Activity (PDF, 310 KB)

​The Brotherhood of St. Laurence (BSL) is a social justice organisation that works to prevent and alleviate poverty across Australia. You are receiving this email as you have previously subscribed to the BSL Research and Policy Centre e-newsletter. To unsubscribe, please click on the link below.