As knowledge about the effects of conflict and parental loss on children increase, so does the need to ensure that laws and services designed to maximise the welfare of children during parental upheaval are achieved. The author discusses recent moves to reform laws which affect both parents and children after separation. Her discussion is based on issues raised in the Family Law Council's discussion paper 'Patterns of parenting after separation'. Young adults are often criticised as being materialistic, selfish and hedonistic. However, the Institute's Becoming Adult Study found that contrary to public perception, and despite changing societal patterns, traditional values such as family, jobs and future security were of great importance to the young adults interviewed.
Author discusses the findings.
What marriage means to young adults in the 1990s. The 138 young adults were first interviewed in 1982-83 as part of the Institute's Children in Families Study. The author concludes that most of the young people interviewed had positive views about marriage and expected to marry. Author reports on the second in a series of forums for representatives of community child health services around Australia. Presentations on successful child and maternal health projects in each State are briefly summarised.