bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methodological Issues in Evaluation of Social Development Programmes: the Australian Assistance Plan
Authors: Graycar Adam
Published: December 2016

Proponents of large‐scale social development programmes are increasingly seeking an independent evaluation to guide the planning and administration of the programme. In this paper four problem areas related to evaluation are examined, conceptual problems, methodological problems, operational problems and political problems. The general principles are then related to a current evaluation, that of the Australian Assistance Plan.
Adjustment Problems of Graziers' Families With Low Incomes in North‐Western Queensland
Authors: Crouch Bruce R. B. , Chamala Shankariah
Published: December 2016

Social and economic conditions of graziers in North‐Western Queensland in the period 1968–1972 are surveyed. The majority of those surviving economic crisis due to drought and low wool prices had either financial losses or low incomes, and their debt position worsened. A combination of socio‐economic conditions causes these low‐income graziers to represent a potential source of an under‐educated and un‐employable younger generation. Instead of sporadic help and annual grants more attention should be paid to planning for growth centres, long‐term finance, re‐training and stabilization of primary industries by way of exploring new markets, modernizing the marketing system, and supporting the prices if needs be.
Court Conciliation: An Analysis
Authors: de Bres P. H.
Published: December 2016

The basis of this article is an analysis of 50 referrals for conciliation from the Magistrate's Court to the Hastings Community Counselling Service in New Zealand. An examination of conciliation and its relationship to various professions precedes the actual analysis. Some comments on prevention are added, as the main interest of the Counselling Service is the preventive approach to social work. It is suggested that in a period of change in marriage patterns a consideration of values in relation to marriage and family life is timely. A small sample has serious limitations but the tentative conclusions and observed trends may stimulate further research and assist in establishing areas where action is required.
Open Tertiary Education in Australia
Authors: Rosen Bruce
Published: December 2016

The draft report of the Committee on Open University, Open Tertiary Education, is criticized on the grounds that it is overly conservative and makes little contribution to the opening up of tertiary education in Australia. The problems inherent in government committees, particularly in the field of education, are considered. Using the data provided in the report, the current closed system of tertiary education is criticized and a number of proposals, alternative to those made in the report, are presented for consideration.
School Evaluation: Motivations and Outcomes
Authors: Hogben Donald
Published: December 2016

The demand for serious evaluation of schools, educational programmes, curricula, and personnel is growing in this country. And, if the American experience is any guide, we can expect the demand for educational evaluation generally to increase in Australia as federal expenditure on education continues. The ultimate worth of any evaluation project depends on a variety of factors, and four basic questions about evaluation are proposed and discussed in some detail. It is suggested that, from the answers given to these questions, the credibility and likely overall worth of any given evaluation can largely be determined.
Youth Cultures, Youth Movements and the Rise of a ‘Counter‐Culture’
Authors: Lergessner James G.
Published: December 2016

The rise of a youth culture, youth movement and, more recently, a counter‐culture, may be traced to the reaction of student youth in particular against what they consider to be useless academic processing in our societies. Such characteristics as a belief in mutual aid, a spirit of community, and authenticity in interpersonal relationships are advanced to indicate the actual form and style this youthful reaction has assumed. After presenting some reservations concerning the overall worth and effectiveness of such movements within existing societies, the writer optimistically argues that these movements may well result in the rise of a new social order, dramatically different from the present one.
Males Need Not Apply
Authors: Gouttman Rodney
Published: December 2016

Males have been rejected and now are reluctantly accepted for the position of teaching‐aide in the government schools of South Australia.
New Towns in Australia: Some Planning Problems1
Authors: Kilmartin Leslie A.
Published: December 2016

A recommended new cities programme was presented to the Australian government by the Cities Commission in 1973. The proposal has fairly ambitious aims for decentralization of the Australian population into planned growth centres. These growth centres were seen to offer solutions to some of the problems of the larger Australian cities. This paper discusses the aims of the new cities policy and suggests that encouraging population decentralization will face some serious difficulties. The difficulty of planning innovations in a rapidly growing centre is also discussed.
Australian Assistance Plan: A Study of Ineffective Planning
Authors: Chapman R. J. K.
Published: December 2016

Social planning, to which the Australian Assistance Plan was committed, demands strong administrative infrastructure support. This paper argues that an understanding of the purpose of social planning was lacking in that infrastructure; that the method of implementation by the Social Welfare Commission and the Department of Social Security produced only uncertainty in the minds of regional councils; and that, in the result, the initially stated goals of the plan were compromised.
The Australian Assistance Plan—Welfare (?) on the Cheap
Authors: Jones Peter E. R.
Published: December 2016

This paper suggests that the assumptions about popular participation on which the success of the Australian Assistance Plan rests are unrealistic; that the plan is probably primarily concerned with social control and political stability on the social welfare front under changing social conditions; that in any case it is an old rather than a new approach to the problem; that its political attraction of cheapness may well ensure that it will not be a success; that it is probably intended as a stop‐gap measure and that the government stands to gain one way or another whether the plan succeeds or fails.
The Need for Child Care
Authors: Burns Ailsa
Published: December 2016

The attitudes taken towards child care have reflected the orientation of differing societies. In Australia it has been traditionally held that the young child is best cared for by his mother. Recent social changes including the large scale employment of mothers of young children have forced a re‐assessment of attitudes, and led to the establishment of the Interim Committee of the Children's Commission in 1974. To establish the child care needs, attitudes and preferences of different populations of mothers a series of surveys was conducted in Sydney during 1973–1974, the first of which, conducted in Lane Cove, is reported here.
Income Security Programmes and the Philosophy of Social Security Policy
Authors: Harris C. P.
Published: December 2016

Social security programmes may be divided into two broad groups of programmes, those concerned with income security and those concerned with opportunity security. Income security programmes may be further divided into positive transfer programmes, where there is a cash flow from the government to the individual, and negative transfer programmes, which are a component of the taxation system. Positive transfer programmes may be universal or limited, the main limitation being benefits subject to a means test. Positive transfer programmes may also be classified as to whether they are income based measures, distinguishing between income replacement and income supplement programmes; or whether they are expenditure based, whereby the beneficiary receives either full or partial compensation for expenditure he has made or is assumed to have made.

The philosophy lying behind income security programmes may be related to the principle of either individual need or social right. The former principle tends to be associated with programmes which are limited in nature while universal programmes tend to be based on the principle of social right. In the past most of the income security programmes in Australia have been based on the principle of individual need, but since 1972 there has been a marked shift to programmes based on social right, particularly the policy of abolishing the means test on aged pensions and the introduction of Medibank. Social right policies, in general, tend to be more costly and alleviate less need per dollar of outlay than individual need programmes.

Apart from the move towards social right programmes, there has been an increasing lack of coordination between existing and proposed programmes. Although an inter‐departmental committee has been established to investigate this problem, it is unlikely that any real change will eventuate from that source in the near future. What is required in Australia today is not further studies of poverty or the prescription of new programmes, but an explicit statement of social welfare philosophy on which programmes are to be based, and the establishment of an organisation whose primary and perhaps sole task is to co‐ordinate social security programmes.
A Guaranteed Minimum Income Scheme for Australia? Some Problems1
Authors: Saunders Peter
Published: December 2016

The integration of the income taxation and social security systems is implicit in a guaranteed minimum income scheme. Some of the issues involved in this integration are highlighted. The two systems have developed independently in Australia, mainly because of the fundamentally different roles that the two serve. It is argued that although the two systems should work in harmony, their complete integration will present many great conceptual and practical difficulties which would reduce the effectiveness of both. Thus the poverty problem can be more fruitfully attacked by reform within the existing social security system in Australia than by the introduction of an integrated system.
An Investigation of Adolescents' Attitudes to Aspects of Their School Life
Authors: Sampson J. , Watkins D.
Published: December 2016

The attitudes of 4,585 pupils in 27 New South Wales secondary schools to four aspects of school life (school in general, choice of subjects, discipline, and uniforms) were examined in relation to sex, form, and type of school. Marked sex differences in attitudes were obtained, with the girls generally showing more favourable attitudes to school than the boys. Differences in attitudes between forms were found which suggested that pupils tend to reject school values with increased age. Differences between types of schools classified on the basis of geographical location and whether single sex or coeducational did not show clear cut trends. Possible reasons for the findings are discussed as well as the educational implications of the direction and level of pupil opinion about the topics investigated.
Resident Satisfaction in an Australian New Town: Kwinana, Western Australia
Authors: Houghton D. S.
Published: December 2016

The pressures of urban growth have led to renewed interest in the establishment of new towns and cities in Australia. This paper presents the results of a recent survey of resident satisfaction in Kwinana New Town, Western Australia. The findings suggest that many early sources of dissatisfaction have been overcome and that many residents prefer to live in a planned new town rather than in a conventional suburb. However, provision of entertainment facilities for teenagers is still inadequate, a problem exacerbated by a lack of public transport. The rate of population turnover appears to be relatively high and recent immigrants form a substantial proportion of the population.
Sterilization: Whose Right to Choose?
Authors: Zdenkowski George
Published: December 2016

As there is presently no safe, freely available and fully effective mode of contraception, voluntary sterilization remains a matter of importance in this sphere. The legal right to such a choice has slowly evolved and it now seems clear that there is no legal barrier to such a choice by a competent adult. Yet, at a practical level, it seems that hospitals and medical practitioners will not readily accede to a request by an individual for such an operation and usually insist on the consent of the spouse if the person is married. The disparity between the law and existing practice is examined. It is argued that an adult individual should basically have a right to determine what shall be done with his own body, and that the onus is heavily on those who exceptionally seek to justify intervention.
Paternalism in Australian Courts?
Authors: Syme G. J.
Published: December 2016

Female defendants were found to be treated more leniently than male defendants in a simulated jury experiment. The possibility of favouritism towards females in Australian courts should be further examined.
The Ovulation Method of Contraception
Authors: Betts Katharine
Published: December 2016

The ovulation method of contraception is based on an interpretation of the patient's vaginal mucus discharge. The only major trial of it shows a failure rate of at least 25.4 pregnancies per 100 woman years: from these figures about 25 per cent of women using it in any one year would become pregnant. Despite this failure rate, the ovulation method continues to receive considerable government support.
Role for the Psychologist in Childbirth Preparation
Authors: Drew Donna
Published: December 2016

A survey was conducted among 152 new mothers who had been trained in psychoprophylaxis to assess the need for psychologists to become involved in childbirth preparation. The results indicated that there was a demand for psychologists to enter this field. A role for the psychologist was suggested in terms of education; participation in the health team by way of assessment and psychotherapy with pregnant women; providing emotional support for selected women during labour; leading groups for prospective parents which aimed at promoting personal emotional growth; and doing research in this field.
Care of the Elderly—A Project, a Protest, a Survey and a Plan
Authors: Lefroy R. B. , Page Jennifer
Published: December 2016

Rehousing of elderly people in Australia has generally not been preceded by research into the kind of assistance that is necessary. An example is given of how an attempt was made to discover the needs of the elderly disabled in a small country community. Assessment by observation of people at home revealed the need for assistance for them to stay where they were. Home Care organized from the district hospital is often a more appropriate answer to this problem than the building of expensive and unnecessary institutions.
Planning Australia's Health and Welfare Services
Authors: English Brian A.
Published: December 2016

The report of the Health‐Welfare Task Force to the Royal Commission on Australian Government Administration brings together for the first time a great deal of useful information about health and welfare services in this country. However, restricted definitions of health and welfare compounded by strict adherence to a structuralist model of society leads to a predictable set of proposals for the planning, delivery and financing of services in a federal structure. It is to be hoped that the recommendations for greater research efforts and for increased community participation will be given enthusiastic support at all levels of welfare organization.
Federalism Policy, Economic Policy and Implementation of the Bailey Report
Authors: Gross Paul F.
Published: December 2016

The Bailey Task Force (BTF) report is reviewed from the perspective of a would‐be implementer. The BTF report is partially implementable if its writers were able to resolve three critical issues. First, they might emphasize how its four Program (Block) Grant proposals would influence the economy through opening up employment opportunities. Next, they should spell out how pilot developments of certain Program Grants could proceed with model legislation, and should indicate the contents of that legislation. Finally, they should be more specific about consultative mechanisms involving non‐government agencies and local government.
Technocratic Social Work at Home and Abroad: Australia and Iran
Authors: Lennie I. G.
Published: December 2016

Technocratic social work conceived as the neutral application of professional skills has an inbuilt capacity for failing to recognize its social and political effects. Two recent books on social work exemplify this in countries as apparently diverse as Australia and Iran.
Participation and Public Policy
Authors: Parkin Andrew
Published: December 2016

In contrast to recent experiences of other innovative programs in both Australia and the United States, the participatory aspect of a social program in an Adelaide working class estate seemed satisfactory to both public officials and residents. The restricted nature of the resident participation, allowing a desirable degree of planning autonomy to officials, may be the key factor. It is suggested that parliamentary regimes may be more capable than the American political system of providing political supervision to participatory programs, thus substantively representing the interests of the poor, and perhaps reconciling participation with planning.
Canada's Social Security Review
Authors: Doyle Robert
Published: December 2016

Canada's social security system is a patchwork quilt of relatively discreet and uncoordinated programs built up over many decades. While constitutional responsibilities for income security and social services rests with the provinces, federal program initiatives were seen to be eroding the provincial responsibilities and causing confusion between federal and provincially financed programs. The Review of Social Security attempted to comprehensively evaluate the ‘system’ of programs in Canada to correct deficiencies.

Financing and respective government responsibilities were also examined. The three year review did not result, in the author's opinion, in sufficient changes in the social security system ‘for the benefit of all Canadians’. The failure to adequately confront employment (unemployment) issues was one gap. Another was the failure to implement changes in income supplementation for the working poor. Tangible results included the introduction of a new Social Service Act which permits cost sharing, and increased cooperation between and among departmental officials and ministers. The Canadian experience contains lessons for the development of joint social policies between state and commonwealth governments in Australia.
The Influence of Distance on Hospital Usage in Rural New South Wales
Authors: Walmsley D. J.
Published: December 2016

A survey of in‐patients and out‐patients at the Coffs Harbour and District Hospital for the years 1972–3 and 1973–4 showed that the use made of a general health care facility is partly a function of its siting in that the chances of admission diminish the further a patient lives from a hospital. Moreover, the hospital out‐patient department appears to serve as a primary health care facility for a substantial proportion of the population. The planning implications of these two findings are discussed.
Part Aboriginal Juvenile Offenders: Some Considerations of Care and Treatment
Authors: Griffiths Malcolm
Published: December 2016

Among child care workers there has in recent times been an increased interest in the care and treatment of part aboriginal juvenile offenders in corrective care. This paper briefly discusses some current treatment approaches and makes a number of recommendations on alternatives. In particular it is suggested that there is a need for special training colleges or centres to meet the needs of these young people.
The Rules of ‘Shouting’ in Drinking Groups in Sydney Public Bars
Authors: Barbara F. , Usher J. , Barnes N.
Published: December 2016

A series of informal discussions were held with fifteen Sydney men who regularly participate in drinking groups. These discussions were used to ascertain what rules if any were adhered to by the members of such groups. It was possible to devise five distinct unspoken rules of shouting which were said to be operant in most Australian drinking groups. A further 35 drinking group participants were then asked independently to assess the rules in the light of their personal experience. A general confirmation of the five unspoken rules of shouting behaviour was obtained. A series of unobtrusive observations in the public bars of some inner city Sydney hotels was then undertaken. One hundred and twenty‐four participants in 38 drinking groups were observed. Certain aspects of the shouting behaviour, drinking rates and relevant items of conversation were noted. It was observed that the five unspoken rules of shouting disclosed by the earlier interviews and discussions were strictly adhered to. Furthermore, each group member tended to conform to patterns of behaviour and rates of drinking that were consistent with the rest of his drinking group.
The Role of Aboriginal Medical Services
Authors: Larsen Knud S.
Published: December 2016

The research reported in this article evaluates a social psychological model predicting preferences of black patients for alternative medical facilities in Townsville. Results show that proximity, security, experience, assimilation, and seriousness of illness all contribute to a preference for either the Aboriginal and Islander Community Health Service or the white administered out‐patient service of the General Hospital. The hospital sample is characterized by an active preference for integration, whereas patients attending the Aborignal and Islander Community Health Service do so because of the services provided and socio‐emotional support. The study also shows that a substantial number of black patients do not attend any medical facility, supporting the need for an active community organized program of health services.
Rehabilitation Problems Amongst Aboriginals in North Australia
Authors: Webber D. L.
Published: December 2016

Physical, social and behavioural disabilities occur at a high rate amongst aboriginals. Probably no other group in Australia has a greater need for rehabilitation services. To date this need has been largely ignored. Token services have been provided in some places, usually in terms of european, middle class values. Greater recognition of the socioeconomic, cultural and related factors that influence rehabilitation activities and outcomes is needed if effective services to aboriginals are to be developed.
Medical Nemesis and Economic Health, or Economic Nemesis and Medical Health: The Modern Dilemma
Authors: Egger Garry J.
Published: December 2016

Modern analyses of health trends recognize the importance of ‘life style’ or behavioural variables in health. But this has the effect of taking the emphasis off the real socioeconomic determinants of life style in modern society. In the present paper changing health patterns in Australia are examined and some explanations of these changes are considered. It is concluded that ‘life style’ explanations of modern ‘societal’ illness are a ‘cop‐out‘. They ignore the deeper economic and social causes of life styles and in particular the dynamic relationship between these and a rapidly expanding growth economy. The question of whether medical health demands economic nemesis under a continuation of the growth system is considered in this light.
Maintenance Default or Maintenance At Fault?: A Rejoinder
Authors: Petre Clare
Published: December 2016

Maintenance default is a large problem and a number of reasons have been suggested for the cause. However, there are also philosophical questions as to whether maintenance is a desirable concept in the first place.
Client Perceptions of Professional Helpers
Authors: Murphy Gregory C. , Remenyi Andrew G. , Hudson Alan M.
Published: December 2016

A questionnaire was administered to 77 employees of a large commercial organization and 61 paramedical workers to ascertain which of a number of professionals were likely to be approached for help with particular types of problems. The findings for this study indicated that for both groups social workers were the most preferred professionals by most subjects for most problems, although there were important and interesting preferences for other professionals also.
‘Girls Can Be Doctors … Can't They?’: Sex Differences in Career Aspirations
Authors: Russell Graeme , Smith Jacqui
Published: December 2016

The present study reports occupational aspirations for a group of 7, 10 and 15 year old children. The sample consisted of 262 girls and 187 boys from government schools located in three Sydney suburbs, which were rated 4 on a seven‐point suburban status scale. The overwhelming majority of both boys and girls aspired to occupations which either could be considered to be stereotypic of, or are dominated by, their own sex. Boys said they wanted to become tradesmen, members of the armed forces and the police force, and members of the male dominated professions. Girls said they wanted to become nurses, teachers and secretaries and, especially 7 and 10 year olds, to marry and have children. Only two boys and 24 girls chose occupations that could be considered to be stereotypic of the opposite sex. These sex differences were as evident in the responses of 7 year olds as they were in the responses of 15 year olds. However, the occupational choices of 7 and 10 year olds, in contrast to those of 15 year olds, were more descriptive, contained a higher fantasy element, and in general represented a higher level of aspiration. Despite the current concern about sex roles children's employment aspirations, therefore, still appear to be very much restricted by traditional gender stereotypes. The finding that 7 year olds' responses reflected these stereotypes as much as those of the older children, especially highlights the need for efforts to broaden children's career awareness and aspirations to be made at a much earlier age than is currently the case.
Trends in Violent Crime and Public Concern
Authors: Kraus J.
Published: December 2016

Socially, the most damaging of all the effects of violent crime was said to be its indirect ‘terrorising’ effect, generating public fear and disrupting the functioning of the community. The blame for aggravation of this effect is often placed on over‐reporting and sensationalization by the mass media. The study aimed to determine if there is an objective basis for a growing public concern about increases in crimes of violence in New South Wales, or if this concern is a product of certain forms of publicity given to violence, and to identify targets for social intervention.

A formal analysis of a decade's trends in violent crimes against the person and property crimes showed the following: among adults more males commit murder and major assault, and more females major assault; among juveniles, more males commit assault, serious robbery, and malicious damage, and more females assault and malicious damage; more offences of major assault, robbery, and arson are reported to the police, but there is no increase in reported rapes and known homicides; there is no increase in the vandalization of school property; the only judicial reflection of public concern about violent crime is a slight increase in the length of sentence given for robbery.

In a critical discussion of the findings, increases in violent crime reported to the police were singled out as justifying public concern. The most serious concern, however, is warranted by the increasing juvenile violence which is consistent with trends observed in most Western countries. The difficulty was pointed out of translating this concern into social action, in the absence of any coherent theoretical or empirical framework within which to identify priority targets. There is a need for a multifactorial approach to provide a rational basis for dealing with the problem of violent crime.
Economics of Home Activities
Authors: Edwards Meredith
Published: December 2016

This paper explores the contribution of unpaid home activities to the economic welfare of the family. It begins with a review of the conventional economic framework on how household decisions are made. It deals with the modifications which take into account unpaid work in the home. The concept of ‘imputed income’ from home activities (like housework and child care) is then introduced before several possible methods of measuring that income are assessed. The final section of the paper analyses some policy implications which follow from recognizing imputed income as part of family income.
The Availability of Birth Control: Victoria 1971–1975
Authors: Betts Katharine
Published: December 2016

Effective methods of birth control became more available in Victoria between 1971 and 1975. The possible effects of this on unplanned and unwanted fertility should be taken into account in explanations of the general decline in fertility of the period.

However, all methods did not become more available for all people. Unmarried people, poorer people, and migrants were disadvantaged, especially in so far as contraception was concerned. Continuing problems in gaining access to suitable methods of contraception may help to explain a persistence of unwanted fertility, either aborted or carried to term.
Youth Unemployment: The Special Case of Young Women
Authors: Koller Karl , Wade Rebecca , Gosden Sylvia
Published: December 2016

A Tasmanian unemployment survey revealed that young women face a restricted job spectrum. Despite indicators of a better education, support of family and friends and a higher status employment record, young unemployed females experience significant psychosocial adversity. Role and occupational stereotyping and denial of skills, reinforced by earlier educational limitations, lead to gross disparity in the amount, type and status of work available to young women.
Chopping and Changing Medibank
Authors: Duckett S. J.
Published: December 2016

Part 2: An Interpretation of the Policy Making Process

The changes to the health insurance scheme which were announced and implemented in 1976 provide an opportunity to analyse the policy making process in Australia. Two paradigms are used to analyse this process: pluralist and marxist. It is concluded that the marxist paradigm is the more useful in trying to understand the 1976 Medibank changes.
The Determination of Social Need—A Model of Need Statements in Social Administration
Authors: Ife Jim
Published: December 2016

It is suggested that much of the confusion around the use of the concept of social need in social administration is that need has been conceptualized primarily within a positivist paradigm, with the implication that it is objectively measurable. An alternative model is proposed, which is a model of need statements rather than need per se, so that the focus of study is the definition of need and the person or group making that judgment. This model incorporates the experience of the need definer, and the data base on which the need judgment is made.
A Survey of Accommodation Needs, Capabilities and Desires of Handicapped People
Authors: Horn R. V. , Cameron L. , Hill J. , Holdsworth R. , Johns R.
Published: December 2016

A survey of the accommodation needs of eighty‐three handicapped people in the Sydney area is described. Results suggest that present accommodation is more a function of opportunity and finance than of preferred choice, and that there is a demand among disabled people of all ages for more independent housing.
Why Play That Poker Machine?
Authors: Stotter Kim
Published: December 2016

Gambling has always been part of the Australian heritage. However, the relatively recent introduction of Poker Machines to New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory has met with unprecedented success if viewed in terms of their money earning capacity for both their owners and the Government. This article examines the psychological principles involved in the operation of Poker Machines and why people continue to play them, and even become addicted to them, in the face of knowledge that they will almost certainly lose money over any extended playing period.
Parenting: Can Skills be Learned?
Authors: Rob Marilyn , Norfor Judy
Published: December 2016

The effectiveness of parent education courses conducted in the northern suburbs of Sydney was assessed in terms of Hereford's Parent Attitude Scale after norms for this area had been established. The results indicated that on completion of these courses participants had greater confidence in their abilities as parents, were more aware of the influence of environment on their children and had a more trusting relationship with their children. Kavanagh doubted the relevance of a course such as PET to parents of lower socioeconomic status—these parents have also been shown to score lower on the PAS. However in this study participants who scored lowest initially improved most, showing that the course is reaching those who are not very well informed about childrearing.
The Problems with Social Indicators
Authors: Taylor Richard W.
Published: December 2016

Researchers often use social indicators in their analysis of community problems and the subsequent proposals.

However these researchers rarely consider the constraints placed on these indicators by construction and measurement problems. Some of these indicators are reviewed with particular reference to conceptualization of social phenomena and the intrusion of values. In the latter regard comment is made on the use of social indicators by political decision makers and policy planners.
Back on Your Feet: An Interpretation of an EPUY
Authors: Borthwick Jill , Diamond C. T. Patrick
Published: December 2016

The Educational Programme for Unemployed Youth (EPUY) is a federal government scheme which assists the states to run courses for unemployed school leavers. The Queensland course, ‘Skills for Working and Living’, takes sixteen weeks. Participant observation provides an ethnographic look at one of these programmes at the Brisbane Catering College. From the time allocation by course planners, personal development was not officially considered crucially important, though it was to the teachers who were predominantly women. The staff were part time, consisting of Technical and Further Education, College of Advanced Education and temporary teachers. The fifteen students (seven girls and eight youths) ranged in age from 14 to 19 years. The course is selectively described in terms of two central events: the first two weeks; and the final weeks before graduation. A positive group climate developed only very slowly because of various constraints. However, the students reported increased feelings of self‐worth and personal effectiveness and they acknowledged staff friendliness and perseverance. During the course and within a month of its completion, eight of the unemployed got jobs. Such schemes deserve encouragement.
Job Satisfaction: A Study of Sydney Adults
Authors: Rizzo Concetta , Reynolds Ingrid , Gallagher Hugh
Published: December 2016

About one quarter of the 20,434 men and about one fifth of the 17,211 women who had a Medicheck screening expressed dissatisfaction with their job. Single men and single women were the least satisfied. The most positive aspects of work for men and women were that the job was interesting and that there was independence and freedom. Boredom, as well as not using one's potential, discriminated clearly between those satisfied with their job and those not, for both men and women. Job dissatisfaction was closely associated with other psychosocial problems and in particular with life dissatisfaction.
‘Girls Need Jobs Too You Know!’: Unemployment, Sex Roles and Female Identity
Authors: Earley Peter D.
Published: December 2016

While much has been written in Australia about unemployment there has been relatively little research or interest shown in the growing number of young girls seeking work. Using data derived from a survey of 100 unemployed young girls in an industrial town, some of the problems experienced are delineated and the importance to young females of a work based social identity is indicated. It is demonstrated that for the majority the future is defined, not in terms of the traditional female role of housewife and mother, but rather that work and its importance is a recurring theme. A general belief in equality of opportunity was found and it appears that attempts to ‘solve’ the present unemployment problem by persuading women to take up or return to their ‘rightful place’ in the home will meet with only limited success.
‘Community’: The Spray‐on Solution
Authors: Bryson Lois , Mowbray Martin
Published: December 2016

Community is one of those ‘motherhood’ words with great potential for mystification of social issues. This paper examines the way the term has evolved and is currently used in Australia. Special attention is given to the contradiction between the claims to radicalism of much community work and the system preserving effect the term actually lends to programs. To illuminate the process under consideration alternative approaches are briefly considered but recognized as generally unacceptable to official social policy and practice because of the implicit threat to the current distribution of power and resources.
The Cost of Selling Public Rental Housing: Victoria and South Australia Compared
Authors: Kemeny Jim
Published: December 2016

A comparison of the cost of selling public rental housing is made between two state housing authorities which have similar sized rental stocks but which have sold different percentages of total constructions. Using data from annual reports, it is found that Victoria's policy of selling to sitting tenants has resulted in higher per unit costs on the unsold rental stock than in South Australia where very few houses have been sold to sitting tenants. It is argued that tenants who do not buy necessarily subsidize those who do buy, and that if governments wish to encourage sales then they, and not the bulk of public tenants, should pay for the cost of sales.
Filipino Brides: Slaves or Marriage Partners?
Authors: Watkins David
Published: December 2016

The phenomenon of the increasing number of Filipino girls marrying Australian men is described. The literature and some new data on the status and role of women in Filipino society and Filipino values and personality are then reviewed. It is concluded that Filipino brides are likely to be well educated, timid, modest, and family oriented. However, they may well have had little domestic experience and are unlikely to take kindly to being treated as ‘meek, obedient slaves’. In fact they are capable of making life very uncomfortable for husbands who do not treat them with respect. Some suggestions for future research are also outlined.
Monitoring Income Maintenance Policies for Single Mothers
Authors: Charlesworth Stephanie
Published: December 2016

The Supporting Parent's Benefit was introduced in 1973 in an atmosphere of controversy. It provided Australian government support for certain low income groups of mothers with dependent children, for the first time. An attempt has been made in this study to assess the impact of long term income maintenance on these hitherto unsupported mothers. Changes in the population of beneficiaries have been monitored by analysing annual aggregate figures taken at 30 June for the years 1974 to 1979 which were provided by the Department of Social Security. The non‐married subgroup which is the largest group of mothers and children is of particular interest. Claims that adolescents have been encouraged to take on the care of their ex‐nuptial children simply because financial support is available are not substantiated. However, it is evident that, for more than half the total number of ex‐nuptial mothers, Supporting Parent's Benefit must be relied on for a period of many years. This study indicates that this subgroup generally have fewer material resources than the married supporting mothers so that the long term effects of long term low income existence on mothers and children needs to be known in order to gauge the overall results of the introduction of the benefit. The question why some ex‐nuptial mothers become independent of support quickly and others do not merits further investigation as it may provide important clues to ways of improving the benefit program.
Single Mothers and Supermyths
Authors: Kiely Rosemary
Published: December 2016

Past theories concerning the causation of ex‐nuptial pregnancy are reviewed. Current claims that large numbers of single women are deliberately setting out to become pregnant so they will have something to love and something to live on are critically considered. Each of these theories is likely to explain why some women become pregnant, but it is argued that none of them is generally applicable. Statistical and survey evidence supports the argument that the ‘Superdoll Syndrome’ is as mythical as its predecessors.
A Framework for Exploring Different Judgments of Social Need
Authors: Martin Elaine M.
Published: December 2016

Starting from the position that the source of definitions of social need must be examined, the paper suggests that it is also of value to analyse the sequential process through which a series of judgments about need is made by both consumers and providers of services. A framework is suggested by which the relationship between source and sequence of need judgments may be explored, and the factors influencing them identified. This framework is also used to clarify some ambiguities in the use of the term ‘need’, and to consider some implications for need studies. A consensus definition of need is offered in the light of this discussion.
Rape Trends in New South Wales: A Discussion on Conflicting Evidence
Authors: Court John
Published: December 2016

Two sources of evidence regarding rape trends in New South Wales are presented, one showing a steep increase, the other showing none. Since both sources accurately represent official figures, this raises questions about the reliability of the statistics as well as the interpretations flowing from them. The claim that there has been no change, and hence no need for public concern, is disputed in the light of the alternative data, which appear more satisfactory.
The Characteristics of Two Samples of Women Seeking Abortion in Queensland
Authors: Bourne A. S. , Kerr J. D.
Published: December 2016

The legalization of abortion is still a live issue in Queensland. The numbers and characteristics of women seeking abortion through the Children by Choice Association in 1973–74 and in 1980 were studied since no official statistics on abortion are available. From 1974 to 1980 there was a threefold growth in demand and a threefold rise in the proportion seeking their second or subsequent abortion. Both samples closely reflect the Queensland population as measured by place of birth and religious affiliation. Contraceptive knowledge was found to be associated with education while the proportion who stated they had formal lessons at school rose from 3% to 16% between the samples. In both samples two‐thirds of the pregnancies resulted when no physical contraceptive was in use. Social characteristics of the women and men involved were investigated, as well as factors in the abortion decision.
Unemployment, Youth Homelessness and the Allocation of Family Responsibility
Authors: Fopp Rodney
Published: December 2016

The following discussion concerns two issues relating to what is usually called youth homelessness. The first concerns the accommodation expectations for 15 to 17 year olds to reside at their parent's home, which is encouraged by the existing government's policies, and the non‐indexation of the unemployment benefit for single 16 and 17 year olds. Assumptions about family responsibility are also discussed and linked with assumptions about family dependency. The second concerns the establishing of a minimum data base from which the quantification of the number of homeless youth can begin. Additional data available, however, suggests that the numbers of young people who might be expected to experience difficulty finding accommodation is much higher than first thought.
Who Is My Family? Who Cares For Me? Legal Status and Relationships of Children and Their Families
Authors: Harper Patricia
Published: December 2016

The community tends to assume that, because a body of law known as ‘family law’ exists, it is based on cohesive and consistent principles which apply uniformly and without discrimination to all children and their families throughout Australia. It is further assumed that the law enables children to know who their family is, and to have ongoing relationships with all members of their family who love and care about them — even when another family may be taking care of them in the day to day sense. These assumptions do not reflect the real situation. The law in many instances prevents rather than enables the development of positive relationships between children and their families. The challenge for the community is to create a uniform and unified family law jurisdiction which supports and strengthens children's relationship with their families and which enables children to answer the question ‘Who is my family? Who cares for me?’
The Family Law Act, 1975: One Consumer's Viewpoint
Authors: Contributor An Anonymous
Published: December 2016

This is a paper about some of my experiences as a consumer of the Family Law Act, 1975. I decided to write about these experiences because few other consumers have done so. The literature in this area is dominated by the experts — the lawyers, the court counsellors, the social scientists. There is no formal provision for consumers' opinion to be considered. My personal experiences highlighted how different it was to be on the receiving end as a consumer in contrast to my academic understanding of the Family Law Act as a university educator. Unless consumers begin to voice their opinions loudly and clearly, we are not going to see further reforms to this legislation, and indeed the high expectations of the people who created the Family Law Act will not be realized. I believe my professional background, personal experiences and the time lapse since my case, afford me the opportunity to evaluate the effects of the Family Court upon me. In attempting to take a dispassionate view of this process, I hope others will take heart and write about their experiences too.
Beyond Community of Properly — A Plea for Equity
Authors: Cox Eva
Published: December 2016

The recent changes in the nature of marriage, and the popularity of alternative relationships, diminish the ‘special’ status of marriage. Existing and proposed methods of allocating property upon divorce fail to take into account structural gender inequalities. The laws relating to property distribution should be recast and limited to an accounting procedure which assesses the effect of the incidence of dependency on future earning capacity and seeks to allocate compensation aimed at long‐term equity. Courts should base awards on lifetime earning capacities and on the effect of the marriage or relationships on these.
Gender Advertising: The Self‐ Fulfilling Prophecy?
Authors: Blakeney Michael , Barnes Shenagh , McKeough Jill
Published: December 2016

The socialising role of advertising is discussed in the context of gender bias, and reference is made to studies analysing advertisements from various media. Policy considerations in regard to the regulation of gender advertising are discussed, with a review of the relevant Australian legislation. Alternative possibilities for reform in the area of sexist advertising are canvassed.