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Thu, 20/03/2008 - 10:50 — gapadmin

Strengthening communities, supporting families and social inclusion

The Australian Government is committed to practical measures aimed at helping families cope with the collision of work and family life. The Government is also committed to examining new possibilities in partnership with the community, church and charitable sector. Through its focus on social inclusion, the Australian Government is also determined to reduce the barriers to full participation in the economy and Australian society, address locational disadvantage, isolation and the economic dislocation experienced by a significant minority of Australians.

The Australia 2020 Summit will examine:

  • How we provide practical support to families to combine the tasks of work, raising children and caring for ageing parents
  • How we make a long term difference on homelessness
  • How we better harness the goodwill and commitment of the Australian community through voluntary and community organisations and philanthropic endeavour
  • How we build social capital within and between communities, particularly those that are cut off from the economic mainstream.

Use this online forum to contribute your ideas to the Summit.

Comments

Thu, 27/03/2008 - 13:16 — Douglascomms

Paid Community Leave

People need time to get involved with the community – why can’t we look at paid community participation leave – where people can take a day or two off a year to work on a volunteer basis as part of a local community group. Some businesses already do it as their contribution to the community at large, but I think we could make it a nation wide phenomenon.

Mon, 07/04/2008 - 13:54 — mfuentes

Maternity Leave

We keep talking about the birth rate being too low, and the last government came up with some fairly ridiculous strategies to try to improve it, mainly the baby bonus, and playing around with childcare statistics.

What we need is a government that realises that the there are two main issues when deciding to have a baby and they are both financial.

It's about time we accepted that, as some would argue, having children is not a luxury, but rather a real need if we are to have a self sustaining society, and that it therefore stands to reasons that society needs to start subsidising the cost of having children in a very real way.

This means more than 14 weeks paid maternity leave (and at the moment not event that is compulsory), but looking at models such as those existing in Sweden and other viable economies with a high standard of living.

We also need to look at the reality of the childcare industry, and the reality of childcare arrangements as used by REAL people. Why can't we subsidise relatives, such as grandparents, who may have quit employment to help raise their grandchildren, or are at the very least having to meet some of the costs of childrearing, such as food and energy bills.

Tue, 08/04/2008 - 14:40 — alison

A decent believable plan for housing affordability

Given the volatility of interest rates, people are panicking. The cost of living in practically every area of life is going up - groceries and petrol the two main offenders. What I would like to see is a realistic plan to combat this financial problem for so many.

Forget those who spend crazy sums of money on luxury items and max out their credit cards to keep up with the Jones' - I am talking about the average joe who genuinely budgets with what they have, lives well inside their means, but is still struggling to keep up. What can be done to help these people? If you can't afford to buy a home, renting is no better option given that is heading up as well.

Experts advise to cut back on spending, which is of course common sense for most - but what happens when that isn't quite enough? How do you avoid filling up your car for $1.50 a litre when you need to drive somewhere? How do you avoid buying even just the basic essentials - and not be depressed by the fact that a sizeable portion of your trolley you can't even eat! (think toothpaste, toilet paper, shampoo...it all adds up).

So, instead of everybody blaming each other or something they can't control - please give us a hand and tell us what can REALISTICALLY be done?

Mon, 14/04/2008 - 11:54 — Douglascomms

Paternity Leave

Paid maternity leave is an important question but we're still missing the point when it comes to raising kids in this country.

It takes TWO parents, extended family and a safe welcoming community to raise kids, not one woman with superhuman strength, a scandalous earning capacity and a 38 hour day.

By focusing on women and maternity leave not only do you alienate all the Dads out there, but you also place too much emphasis on the role of the mother, again raising expectations beyond what's actually possible.

What we need to look at, and look at realistically is paid parental leave, and providing Dads, as well as Mums, with more support in carrying out the most important job they'll ever take on.

Mon, 14/04/2008 - 11:58 — monica.l

Structural support for families

As a society and as individuals, we are held accountable to what we know- and the more we know, the higher the bar to which we are accountable. For those families living beyond ‘survival' mode, that means that our children deserve all the deep social engagement from parents that the parents (both parents!) can muster. And society needs to support this structurally (paid parental leave, fathers and mothers being respected in their need for flex time, etc) if we want the healthiest adults running the place in the future.
Tue, 15/04/2008 - 20:51 — isteep

Diversity of families

Will the summit take account of diversities of family? We hear often of Australian families, but what defines an Australian family? Rather than talk about one-parent, single mother, lesbian mothers, blended, etc, the point is that they all represent the Australian family. I want this acknowledged.
Tue, 15/04/2008 - 21:32 — isteep

Same-sex families

I should have added in my previous comment a reference to same-sex families who do not have children. In my view, a family is not constituted by children, therefore, the summit needs to determine what is a family. My same-sex partner, and a former same-sex partner I count as part of my family. Of my blood relations, some I count as family, some I count as a biological accident, without any judgment of that connection, but not necessarily interested in maintaining the relationship simply because of that.
Wed, 16/04/2008 - 16:15 — margaret sainsbury

Migrants and Refugees - Language and Culture Issues

There are many factors contributing to isolation, loneliness and fear experienced by new arrivals. The Home Tutor Scheme, part of the national Adult Migrant English Program, provides help and friendship and a contact with the new community in a menner that is personal and meaningful. Yet this Scheme does not always receive the recognition and support it deserves. Volunteers from the community undertake a training course and are matched with a migrant or refugee whom they visit once a week to help with English language. The tutors are supported and guided by trained ESL teachers to give volunteers a sense of confidence in their work. They are provided with teaching resources and discuss with teachers the best teaching approach to maximise the help they give their student. The Scheme is unique in the regular personal interface it provides between the new arrival and a representative of their new community. The tutor inevitably introduces the student to aspects of community and culture that no amount of reading could provide. Trust and goodwill between these individuals create conditions for an understanding between cultures that adds immeasurably to the social capital in our community. Could this program be given a higher profile in terms of funds and recognition to ensure its high level of professionalism, and guarantee maintenance of the grassroots friendship, knowledge and understanding it represents.
Wed, 16/04/2008 - 21:24 — isteep

Migrants and Refugees - Language and Culture Issues

I agree entirely with Margaret Sainsbury. Australia depends on migrant populations but does not do enough to support them. I recently worked in an RTO providing educational services to overseas students. A certain population were not the least bit interested in education; for some the program simply provided a pathway to PR, the RTO was doing business, the government got revenue and Australia got a cheap labour source.

We need to protect and respect our immigrant resources. I don't have the answer to this but I want it on the table AND I want recruitment of overseas students examined by the authorities and regulators.

Thu, 17/04/2008 - 15:24 — Stan Goldstein

helping hands

I heard a wonderful thought today: that everyone should offer a couple of hours of community service a week.

I know there are a number of organisations, church and other, thqt provide help and support to those in need, but as with so many things, the fragmentation of there being so many small choices and nowhere to go to find out what choices there are makes things difficult.

Where do I go to find out whether there is someone who is disadvantaged in some way or another, whose child could use some help with homework occasionally? What are some of the simple needs that are serviced by "big brother and sister" programs into which someone might tap? Can the organisation I work in partner with a group hoping to offer some broad support in a particular area or with a certain community? WHy does the Federal Government drop support for PANDA - a perinatal depression resource, when at the same time they are declaring the necessity of helping new mothers at risk because of perinatal mental health issues?

Beyond just having to find money to solve problems, couldn't government also be a broker that supports children, young people and familiies at risk by linking them with people who are willing to give of their time and expertise to help? More information; less fragmentation; a strategy for the whole community to help those that are there to be assisted.

I wish they would.

Thu, 17/04/2008 - 18:34 — mrspencer

support for families

i would like to see some real support for families with children. (i know it is an individual choice to have children, but, lets face it, we need people to have children)

the cost of child care is astronomical and the cut offs for any real government subsidy are way too low- people have so many expenses now that what used to be considered a good income now barely keeps people going.

why not make out of pocket child care costs tax deductible?the fact is, most families need two incomes to survive- child care is a reality.

additionally, maternity and paternity leave is vital- why is Australia so behind the rest of the world on this issue.

finally, it seems that `investors' in the housing market are the ones who get all the tax deductions and benefits- why should'nt the family home also attract tax deductions. Affordable home ownership is vital, or, problems such as the rental crisis which flows on the unsustainable demand for community housing programs which directly costs the government $$.

Thu, 17/04/2008 - 21:27 — kdmason

Companies Giving Back

The main aim of the industry I work in os lining the already full pockets of big buisness but on the other side of the coin is every company I have worked for has invested man hours and money into giving back to the community. Many differnet research firms recently took part in the oxfam trailwalk including Your Source.

Another multinational company holds one day a year where the whole company shuts down to spend the day doing work in the community.

It is this sort of industry which need to take the lead and show other industries how important work in the community is.

Thu, 17/04/2008 - 21:42 — kdmason

Parental Leave

The Australian birth rate has been proped up in the short term by a baby bonus that for most of us will not even cover 10 weeks off work.

From my own experience of having to return to work when my child was only 12 weeks of age due to financial issues the bonus just does not cut it. I was very lucky having my partner working from home so he could look after our child but many families do not have this luxury and have to send children to long term day care from 6 weeks.

Day care can be a great environment in the short term but the amount of children who are signed in at 7am and out at 6pm shows the financial burden facing the families in australia.

We need to look at:

Fully government funded childcare

Manditory parental leave payments (a minimum of 12 week)

Maternal health programs run to teach healthy view of child birth

Maternal health care aimed at the best options for the long term health of the family instead of to shortern the time in the labour ward.

and the list goes on

.....................

 

Fri, 18/04/2008 - 15:02 — gapadmin

A "Business" approach to the business of Social Inclusion

See our new "Blog of the Day" - a submission to the Australia 2020 Summit by Dr Mark Bagshaw:

"Social Inclusion has emerged at the top of Australia's political agenda. Driven partly by the economic imperative of the skills crisis and partly as a genuine response to the notion that we all want to live in a decent society, one that offers opportunities for everybody to participate and to benefit from the participation. The challenge now is not, as many believe, to work out what needs to be done: we've known what needs to be done for decades. Our challenge is the same that any complex enterprises places when it addresses complex problems - making it all happen. This is where the business sector in "making complex things happen" has much to offer..."

openforum.com.au/social_inclusion

Fri, 18/04/2008 - 20:40 — TheTribe

De link Tax collection and Welfare payments

Many people in society including myself support the idea of "From those according to their ability to pay and to those according to their need".

However in reality what we actually practice is "To those according to their ability to pay".

How may this impact on ordinary families?

Supose that as Mr. Rudd is suggesting we introduce comprehensive child care arrangements for children under 5 years of age. Then will we means test the provision of these child care services?

Surely all children rich and poor will benefit from such a system otherwise why would we consider introducing such a system and thus logically the need and the benifit applies to all children!

The usual response to this statement is that the rich can afford it and therefore it should be means tested.

My response is towfold

a) If providing the service to all results in a deficit in tax collections then the tax rates (especially the top tax rate) should be increased such that the overall level of tax collections remain the same. That is "Tax collection should be seperated from Welfare benefits"

b) Means testing "common good" service results in the battlers facing the highest marginal tax rates in the system since as they earn more their benfits are reduced resulting in some people being worse off if they work.

Another thing to think about (still using Mr. Rudds' child care proposal) is will a state sponsored child care benefit only be provided to parents who are both working?

Suppose a parent decides that they would rather "work at home" raising their children rather than away from home, would this parent recieve a benefit equal to cost of the child care as compensation for not "using" the child care place.

The first responce of many may be certainly not! But think about it, provided the parent was doing a good job of child raising is it justified to make the provision of the benifit (provided by the state and/or the parent) dependant on whether the parent works at home or away from home?

Regards

TheTribe

Sat, 19/04/2008 - 09:59 — Catriona

Fair go for the over 45's

The government should create mandatory protection for any investment or business purchase made by a person who is investing life savings or the family home. If the investment is being made by an over 45 individual then this advice should be free but also tax deductable for every one. Independent banking and legal advice should be mandatory to identify possible loopholes and problem areas in any investment or business purchase where life savings or the family home is put up as collateral for bank or other loans.