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Welfare state and social policy
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The transformation of Australian social policy since the 1980’s would be best characterised by the transition from the ‘welfare state’ to ‘social investment state’ (McClelland and Smith, 2014, pp 106). Key to understanding the welfare and social policy reform that has been occurring from the 1980’s would be to look at the social understanding and interpretation of social citizenship (Shaver, 2001). Welfare has been seen as it should be provided on condition and not as a right of citizenship (Shaver, 2002 p.340).
The social policy reform in an attempt to tackle the increased unemployment that then existed, placed importance on the notions of participation, self-reliance and active engagement in the labour market, as important prerequisites
This essay will attempt to assess the impact of the 1942 Beveridge Report on the post 1945 UK welfare state. A welfare state is essentially ‘policy intervention through the state [to provide] forms of support and protection’ for all its citizens. (Alcock: 1998: 4) This means that the state will fund or provide provisions for services which are of need to its citizens. This is funded through citizens who pay taxes or National Insurance when they have active work, which in turn helps out the vulnerable members within a society. This concept is in essence designed to maintain the welfare of citizens from birth to the grave.
Maestro by Peter Goldsworthy provides an insight into 1960s/70s Australia and helps reinforce common conceptions about Australian culture. One common conception Goldsworthy reinforces in this text is Australia’s increasing acceptance of multiculturalism. Maestro, set in the 1960s to 1970s, shows Australians growing more accepting and tolerant of other cultures. This shift in perspective was occurring near the end of the White Australia/Assimilation Policy, which was phased out in the late 1970s/early 1980s. An example of this shifted perspective in Maestro is Paul’s father’s opinion about living in Darwin:
Elder, Catriona. "The Working Man Is Everywhere: Class and National Identity." Being Australian: Narratives of National Identity. Crows Nest, N.S.W: Allen & Unwin, 2007. 40-53. Print.
When Australia’s 21st Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, was swept into power in December 1972 there was huge anticipation for dramatic and swift change. Australia had been under the control of a conservative liberal government for 23 consecutive years, and Whitlam’s promises if social change were eagerly anticipated. Whitlam, despite his failings as a negotiator, managed to implement a huge array of reforms and changes, many of which shaped Australia into the country it is today. However is that enough to say he succeeded? Even Whitlam today admits that he regrets doing “too much too soon”, and perhaps Whitlam’s government was a government that was too socially progressive for its time, which could perchance have been a foreshadowing of things to come for the most recent labor government of Julia Gillard which has been labeled by some as the most incompetent government since Whitlam. Gough Whitlam has had the most books written and published about him than any other Australian Prime Minister to Date. This essay will argue that Whitlam was a successful leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP), who had the ability and charisma to lead Australia in an era of prosperity; he did however succumbed to a few grave errors of judgment that ultimately led to his downfall, however his ultimate goal was to transform Australia which he achieved. Whitlam’s’ errors were seen as being due to his inability take advice from senior figures on how to turn his amateur government into a competent one and his inflexible approach to dealing with the hostile senate that the Australian public gave him, and often led to his government being labeled the worst in Australian history and as a failure.
The Cold War hindered social reform in the United States because of the increase in the separation between individuals and the failure of the government to resolve the issue of inequality within the United States. Social reform can be defined the use of common goals to bring about change within the political and social aspects of society. From the 1940s to the 1990s, the Cold War was the main focus of society. This conflict was a systematic response to various pressures and fears that had not been resolved by World War II. The government shifted its focus away from dealing with the social issues that already existed in the United States to focus on the nuclear threat and the communist threat that existed abroad.
So what is social policy? David Gill is often regarded as one of the most authoritive authors on the subject (1973 cited by Lavalette and Pratt 1997). For Gill it was “the analysis of access to life-enhancing and life-sustaining resources” In his book 'Social Policy' (Titmuss, 1974) Timuss suggested that 'policy' is action-orientated and proble...
...come in Australia. This report analysed Australia’s increase in poverty and ultimately the inequality gap between the low income earners and the high income earners. It is evident that although the line between inequality and equality are unlikely to meet it is important that individuals in society are receiving social justice.
Blau, J. (2004). The dynamics of social welfare policy. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, Inc.
This mini-paper will discuss the social welfare system. The mini-paper includes a discussion of welfare Policy, residual and institutional approach, and what is Social Welfare and Social Security. Midgely, (2009), pointed out that social welfare systems deliver services that facilitate and empower our society, especially to those persons who require assistance in meeting their basic human needs. The goal of social welfare is to provide social services to citizens from diverse cultures, and examples include Medicare, Medicaid, and food benefits. Midgley,( 2009).
During class, the Progressive Era from 1890-1916 was discussed. The countless reforms happened in the Progressive Era were bound to be controversial. Nevertheless, based on our study, it was my contention that the Progressive Era was successful on account of the changes made on social welfare and on the role of presidents.
Since the Welfare reform law was introduced in 1996 it has impacted American society greatly. The new welfare policy, named the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), replaced the Aid to Family and Dependent Children (AFDC) program; they have five known differences that only affect the ones who need the assistance. Critics argue that the TANF has negatively impacted the society while some argue that it has not. Linda Burnham, author of “Welfare Reform, Family Hardship & Woman of Color,” asserts that “welfare reform has increased the hardship faced by many women leaving welfare for work and their movement into low-wage jobs, exposes them to higher level of housing insecurities, homelessness, food insecurity, and hunger.” She also argues that women of color “are especially vulnerable to the negative impact of welfare reform” (38).
Welfare reforms are changes in the operation of a given welfare system. Changes to welfare policy did not transpire until the 1990’s, the most recent changes have been the Supplemental Security Income, Medicaid, and food stamps.
As early as 14th century a labour shortage brought about a law that sets out how the state would make provision for those who are unemployed. Religious bodies were allowed to collect money to help the poor and the community too were expected to take up some responsibility for the unemployed, sick and disabled. As at that time,
Cheyne, C., O’Brien, M., Belgrave, M. (2008). Social Policy: In Aotearoa New Zealand (4th ed). Australia and New Zealand: Oxford University Press
It has been suggested by social scientists that to understand the role and importance of social policy in our society, the term social welfare must be explored. Social policy refers to the levels of interaction between government and society to focus on social welfare and social wellbeing. Furthermore, the primary purpose of government social policy is social welfare (Midgley, 2009, p. 5). In social work, social policy and social welfare are combined to form social welfare policy. Therefore, this paper aims to explore definitions of social welfare policy, social models and their services, as well as the social implications of social welfare.