NOVEMBER 2021

In the latest news from the BSL Research and Policy Centre, a new report examines the financial wellbeing of vulnerable groups after the COVID lockdowns of 2020, which is also the focus of our next webinar. Limitations of the social security system have been explored in other webinars, recorded below.  Recent policy submissions focus on changes to the NDIS and economic equity for women in Victoria. 

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FINANCIAL LIVES IN UNCERTAIN TIMES: LESSONS FROM THE COVID-19 CRISIS

Tuesday 7 December 2021, 12 noon – 1 pm

What have we learned about policies that can harm or support people's financial wellbeing and their capacity to build long-term economic security?

In this webinar, Dr Dina Bowman, a Principal Research Fellow at BSL, will discuss the findings from the Financial lives in uncertain times series with:

• Fiona Guthrie AO – Chief Executive, Financial Counselling Australia
• Dan Nahum – Economist, Centre for Future Work
• Katherine Boyle – Executive Director, Welfare Rights Centre
• Dr Emily Porter – ANZ Tony Nicholson Fellow, BSL

REPORT: FINANCIAL WELLBEING BETWEEN COVID-19 LOCKDOWNS

What happened to financial wellbeing during the fleeting period of recovery between the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021? The short and long-term impacts on several low-income groups are the focus of the third report in our Financial Lives in Uncertain Times series.

Read the report by Emily Porter and Dina Bowman A brief reprieve? Financial wellbeing after the 2020 COVID-19 lockdowns (514 KB)

WEBINAR RECORDING: SHIFTING THE DIAL ON CHILD POVERTY

In Anti-Poverty Week, an expert panel explored what it will take to reduce the rate of child and family poverty. Discussion included the importance of increasing  income support; shifting away from individual blame to focus instead on structural causes; and listening to children when making policy.

Catch up on the webinar Shifting the dial on child poverty

WEBINAR RECORDING: DEAD ENDS – HOW THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM IS FAILING US

A growing number of Australian jobseekers are assessed as having partial capacity to work. Ineligible for the Disability Support Pension, they receive inadequate income support and have little prospect of gaining employment in a competitive labour market. Our webinar discussed what needs to change.

Catch up on the webinar Dead ends 

POLICY: UNCERTAIN CHOICE AND CONTROL FOR NDIS PARTICIPANTS

While BSL supports the aim of improving participants’ experience and simplifying processes in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), we expressed concerns that some changes proposed in the exposure draft of the NDIS Amendment Bill could have unfortunate, far-reaching consequences.

Read our response to the exposure draft (282 KB)

We commented further on the amended Bill under consideration by a Senate Committee.

Read our Submission to Senate Inquiry into NDIS Amendment (Participant Service Guarantee and Other Measures) Bill 2021 (898 KB)

POLICY: THE CHALLENGE OF ACHIEVING ECONOMIC EQUITY FOR WOMEN

Achieving equity for women will require structural reform across all levels of government and in more than one policy area. In responding to Victoria’s current inquiry, we recommended several initiatives to show how economic equity for women can be woven into programs across education, employment and housing.

Read our Submission to the Inquiry into Economic Equity for Victorian Women (PDF, 450 KB)

READ MORE ABOUT OUR WORK 

​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.