APO - Australian Policy Online

Preschool education in Australia
Marilyn Harrington / Information and Research Services, Parliamentary Library
This background note presents some of the key research in the area of early childhood intervention and education that has informed Australian policy making. It also provides an overview of current preschool education provision in Australia and recent policy developments. Posted 12-05-2008

Commonwealth election 2007
Scott Bennett and Stephen Barber / Information and Research Services, Parliamentary Library
This research paper is in two parts. Part one is a narrative discussion of the election campaign and the election outcome. Part two comprises a comprehensive set of statistics, including vote summaries, electoral division details, two-party preferred figures and the party strengths in the new parliament. Posted 12-05-2008

Effective models of employment-based training
Sarojni Choy, Kaye Bowman, Stephen Billett, Louise Brooks and Sandra Haukka / National Centre for Vocational Education Research
This report explores current and emerging models of employment-based training to propose more effective models at higher VET qualifications that can maintain a balance between institution and work-based learning. Posted 12-05-2008

The role of vocational education and training in welfare to work
John Guenther, Ian Falk and Allan Arnott / National Centre for Vocational Education Research
This report investigates the role that vocational education and training (VET) can play in the transition from welfare to work. Case studies showed that VET can, and often does, help people move into paid work. However, target groups have varied needs and the study concludes that the VET sector has more to do in catering for these subgroups. Posted 12-05-2008

The case for change: a snapshot analysis of the Australian tax system
John Freebairn and Rosanna Scutella / Brotherhood of St Laurence
This report highlights key federal taxation areas requiring reform, with brief case studies illustrating the inequities, and presents a number of recommendations for a fairer system. The Brotherhood is urging the new federal government to examine options to create a fairer, simpler and a more efficient tax system that maximises economic and social participation. Posted 12-05-2008

2008 The arts, and the innovation agenda workshop
Council for Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
What implications does the new Government's innovation agenda have for people working in practice, in research and education, or in the cultural institutions? On March 31 CHASS ran a one-day workshop in Sydney to discuss how the Arts sector can respond to the new Government's innovation agenda Posted 12-05-2008

Developing "robust performance benchmarks" for the next Australian health care agreement
Stephen J Duckett and Michael Ward / Australia and New Zealand Health Policy
If the outcomes of the recent COAG meeting are implemented, Australia will have a new set of benchmarks for its health system within a few months. Choice of benchmarks will, explicitly or implicitly, reflect a framework about how the health system works, what is important or to be valued and how the benchmarks are to be used. Posted 12-05-2008

Emissions in the Platinum Age: The implications of rapid development for climate change mitigation
Ross Garnaut and others / Garnaut Climate Change Review
This background working paper estimates that rapid global economic growth, centred in Asia but now spread across the world, is driving rapid greenhouse gas emissions growth, making earlier projections unrealistic. Posted 12-05-2008

A national study of crime in the Australian fishing industry
Judy Putt and Katherine Anderson / Australian Institute of Criminology
The Australian aquaculture and fisheries industry is worth over $2 billion annually, and supports numerous communities across the country. This report presents the results of research that sought to investigate the extent of illegal activity in Australia's fishing industry and the threat posed by more organised criminal activity. Posted 12-05-2008

Burden of disease due to health inequalities
VicHealth
This document presents some recent research related to health inequalities with a focus on inequitable burden of disease internationally, nationally and in Victoria, the cost of health inequalities for society, families and individuals and the effect of health inequalities on specific populations. Posted 12-05-2008

Key influences on health inequalities
VicHealth
This document presents some recent research related to health inequalities with a focus on the key influences on health, including access to work, education, housing and community infrastructure, how these influences impact on health and how access to these influences is inequitable. Posted 12-05-2008

People, places, processes: Reducing health inequalities through balanced health approaches
Mark Boyd and others / VicHealth
This document provides an overview of current evidence from health promotion approaches, with the specific aim of analysing their potential to reduce health inequalities. Posted 12-05-2008

Practices, policies and procedures that influence juror satisfaction in Australia
Jane Goodman-Delahunty and others / Australian Institute of Criminology
The report highlights a range of issues regarding the jury system and processes, from community perceptions and juror information through to management of jurors during and after trials. Posted 12-05-2008

Counting the costs of crime in Australia: a 2005 update
Kiah Rollings / Australian Institute of Criminology
AIC research in 2003 examined the costs of crime to the Australian community. This current report provides an update to the previous work by estimating the costs of crime for 2005 as well as highlights the need for improved availability of Australian crime data. Posted 12-05-2008

Getting good teachers into challenging schools
Suzanne Rice / Curriculum Leadership
Australia has relatively high levels of education, and our students perform well in international achievement tests, but there is an unacceptable gap between the performance of our best students and our weakest, many of whom are pooled in schools that are hard to staff. Posted 12-05-2008

Estimating cognitive gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians
Andrew Leigh and Xiaodong Gong / Centre for Economic Policy Research
Improving cognitive skills of young children has been suggested as a possible strategy for equalising opportunities across racial groups. Posted 12-05-2008

What makes us happy?
Robert A. Cummins / Australian Centre on Quality of Life
This report provides the key findings from seven years of research into the lives and happiness of the Australian population. Posted 12-05-2008

The wellbeing of Australians: The effect of seven successive home-loan rate
Robert A. Cummins / Australian Centre on Quality of Life
The Australian Unity Wellbeing Index has monitored the subjective wellbeing of the Australian population since April 2001 and this report concerns a special survey commissioned to detect whether a series of interest rate rises had decreased the subjective wellbeing of the population. Posted 12-05-2008

National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) roadmap review discussion paper
National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS)
The National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) program aims to achieve a strategic and collaborative approach to investment in world-class research facilities, networks and infrastructure that are accessible to researchers and meet their long-term needs. NCRIS provides Australian researchers with major research facilities, supporting infrastructure and networks necessary for world-class research amounting to $542 million over 2005-2011. Responses need to be in by Wednesday 14 May. Posted 12-05-2008

Report of the community relations commission investigation into African humanitarian settlement in NSW
Community Relations Commission, New South Wales Government
This report makes 41 recommendations to improve settlement outcomes for refugees and humanitarian entrants from Africa. The recommendations made in the report are national in scope and relate to key agencies in both the Australian Government and the NSW Government. Posted 09-05-2008

The effectiveness of cross-cultural training in the Australian context
Robert Bean / Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
A 15-month national research study of the effectiveness of cross-cultural training (CCT) in the Australian public and community sectors has produced statistically significant evidence that CCT is of direct benefit to employees, their organisations and their clients. Posted 09-05-2008

The social costs and benefits of migration
Kerry Carrington, Alison McIntosh and Jim Walmsley / Centre for Applied Research in Social Science, The University of New England
The social benefits of migration far outweigh the costs, especially in the longer term. The evidence that is available overwhelmingly supports the view that migrants to Australia have made and continue to make substantial contributions to Australia's stock of human, social and produced capital. Posted 09-05-2008

Evaluation of skilled migration to the Riverina
Community Relations Commission, New South Wales Government
This evaluation is encouraging of skilled migration initiatives in the region and recognises the benefits that skilled migration to the Riverina can bring for employers, migrants, and host communities. Posted 09-05-2008

Commercial television industry financial trends 1978-79 to 2005-06
Australian Communications and Media Authority
In the 20-year period from 1979-80, commercial television revenues outpaced the general Australian economy. However, since 2000 television revenue growth has slowed. Posted 09-05-2008

Working with families concerned with school-based bullying
Jodie Lodge / Australian Family Relationships Clearinghouse
This paper discusses the research literature on the effects of bullying on the health and wellbeing of young people, effective prevention and intervention strategies, and offers suggestions for engaging young people in conversations about bullying. Posted 09-05-2008

Arts and disability action plan 2008-2010
Australia Council for the Arts
The Australia Council has developed the arts and disability action plan 2008-2010 to guide the organisation in its operations, programs and strategies in relation to access and equity for people with disabilities. Posted 09-05-2008

KiwiSaver or KiwiSucker? A critical view
Phil Rennie / The Centre for independent Studies
With KiwiSaver and New Zealand Super combined, it is now possible for a young person on the average wage to retire on a higher income than they enjoy during their working life. It is a complete overload to have a subsidised saving scheme on top of an age pension that is the highest in the OECD. Posted 08-05-2008

The false promise of GP super clinics, part 1: preventive care
Jeremy Sammut / The Centre for Independent Studies
This policy monograph analyses the implications of the government’s preventive health agenda and finds that the evidence does not support the claims that are frequently made about the long-run benefits of focusing more heavily on prevention. Posted 08-05-2008

Breaking the shackles: the continuing fight against censorship and spin 2008
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
This is the 2008 edition of the Alliance's annual report into the state of press freedom in Australia, and reports some promising developments over the past twelve months. Posted 08-05-2008

Beyond the blame game: accountability and performance benchmarks for the next Australian Health Care Agreements
National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission
The report highlights twelve health and health care challenges that must be addressed in the Australian Health Care Agreements to enhance health promotion and wellness and to make the health system work better for the people who need it and use it Posted 08-05-2008

Review of Australia's consumer policy framework: final report
Productivity Commission
While Australia's consumer policy framework has considerable strengths, parts of it require an overhaul, according to this report. The first step in this process should be the introduction of a single generic consumer law applying across Australia, based on the consumer provisions in the Trade Practices Act, modified to address gaps in its coverage and scope. Posted 08-05-2008