Voluntary income management in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands

The Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands is an Aboriginal Local Government Area located in north-west South Australia. In 2012, the local Women\u27s Council requested the introduction of income management into the APY Lands. The report found there are indications that income management may have made a modest contribution to addressing some of the challenges, but cannot alone make significant inroads into the social problems within the community. • Executive summary This is the final report of an examination of the implementation and early impacts of the introduction of Voluntary Income Management (VIM) in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. The project is a qualitative study of VIM in the APY Lands.  This study focuses on how the measure is operating in the short-term, after its introduction in October 2012. The study is based primarily on qualitative and quantitative face to face interviews with community members in Pukatja (Ernabella) and Amata – two of the biggest communities in the APY Lands. The project also draws on reports provided by the Department of Social Services on the number and profile of individuals on VIM in the APY Lands. The main findings are: •    The majority of community members and other stakeholders who participated in this study were positive about income management being introduced into the APY Lands. •    The fact that the communities had requested income management, and had been consulted about its introduction, appears to have had a major influence on the communities’ view of income management. •    Similarly the fact that the vast majority of people on income management in the APY Lands were on the Voluntary measure has facilitated the acceptance of income management in the APY Lands. •    Generally income management has been implemented smoothly but there were reportedly some early practical issues around the acceptance of the BasicsCard in some outlets. This was quickly remedied. •    There are mixed responses in relation to the impact of income management on the wellbeing of the community as a whole, but overall there is a belief that it has had a positive impact so far, although its impact is limited. •    The main reasons provided for the communities requesting income management were financial harassment (‘humbug’), misuse of alcohol and cannabis (gunja), gambling, and parents neglecting their children

The construction of racial identity in infants of mixed parentage

This thesis was submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and awarded by Brunel University.In recent years there has been much debate in this country around the issue of race, and specifically around the role of 'black' children placed trans-racially for adoption. Little attention has been focused on the situation of mixed-race infants in their natural families. This study aims to explore the origins of racial identity development in mixed-race infants; consider how family relationships affect this development; study some of the effects of parents own identity development on the development of racial identity in children; and examine how parents and children negotiate racial cultural and gender differences within the family. The study was carried out in three phases; two intensive infant observations were conducted over several months; semi-structured interviews with five white mothers; and a second set of interviews was carried out with nine sets of parents, employing the 'life history' approach. The thesis considers the current debate around interracial families. This debate is then placed within the wider discussion on the development of racial awareness, preference and identity, and the role of racism in contemporary society. Theories of the genesis of prejudice are discussed, as are the studies which consider the racial preferences of children. The condition of mixed-race people as viewed by the marginal theorists is addressed, and the nature of interracial sexual partnerships. Previous studies have focused on racial awareness and preference. In order to focus on identity, the thesis discusses theories of identity development which encompass the sociological, cognitive and psychoanalytic perspectives. These theories were used as a basis for the first two phases of the study. These 'modernist' theories are critiqued, in the light of 'post-modernist' theories of race and identity on which the third phase is then based. These interviews concentrate on families' constructions of difference and identity. After discussing the methodologies of previous studies in the area a methodology is set out for this study. The first two phases were aimed at discovering causal links between mother's pasts, their parenting behaviour and their children's emerging racial identities. In the third part the method aimed at obtaining parents' life stories, establishing narrative rather than causal links. Stories were analyzed to confirm similarities and differences in how families deal with race and culture issues. The observations and interviews all showed that racial and cultural issues were significant in all the families, and formed part of the infants' milieu from a very early age. However these issues were dealt with very differently in various families. Some were concerned about 'race' and colour, while others were more focused on culture, religion or nationality. Conflict in some families became racialised, while in other families gender or cultural issues caused more difficulties. Racism was experienced by all the 'black' parents, but its effects were very variable. All the families felt that their children were in a process of developing positive 'mixed' identities. Qass was found to be a critical factor which influenced the way racial identity was constructed. The thesis concludes with a re-examination of the notions of 'race', 'identity' and 'development', and shows that the 'structural-developmental' model of identity development shared by social-work anti racist and psychoanalytic theory is too narrow and prescriptive, and should be replaced by a new theory of 'narrative identity' based on post-modernist insights

Opportunities for information sharing: case studies

Personal information provided to government and non-government service providers is highly sensitive. Appropriate collection, management and storage of personal information are critical elements to citizen trust in the public sector. However, misconceptions about the frameworks governing sharing personal information can impact on the coordination of services, case management and policy development.   The NSW Department of Premier & Cabinet engaged the Social Policy Research Centre to develop three case studies that identified the challenges to sharing information appropriately, and the opportunities for better personal information sharing between government agencies and non-government organisations. Improved sharing of personal information in these areas can support more effective policy development, leading to improved service delivery performance and coordination.   The Social Policy Research Centre identified the legislative and policy framework for each case study, conducted qualitative research on the interpretation of this framework, and developed three case study reports

"Only White People can be Racist: What does Power have to do with Prejudice?"

Social researchers and activists who use the sociological definition of racism – that 'Racism = Prejudice + Power' – generally aim to attain racial equality by equalising differences in social power among racial groups. However, this definition can be taken to extreme when the role of social power is given disproportionately more weight than the role prejudice in explaining the occurrence and entrenchment of racism in society, such as assertions that racism is synonymous with White supremacy. Such a definition is logically flawed, demonstrates reverse racism, is disempowering for individuals from all racial groups who strive for racial equality, and absolves those who do not. We examine how the recent literature on cultural competency may provide a more effective strategic framework for reducing racism. Cultural competency is a move away from ethnocentrism and towards respect and value for cultural difference, with no racial group treated as a reference point around which the discourse on race relations revolves. In short, by properly acknowledging the role of prejudice, and not exclusively focusing on power, all racial groups can be better empowered to take responsibility for protecting the human right to racial equality

Framework for the cost benefit analysis of the NSW Department of Community Services Brighter Futures Program. CHERE Working Paper 2009/4.

Brighter Futures is the NSW DOCS early intervention program targeting children aged 0 to 8. The program is designed to ?support pregnant women and families with young children aged 0-8 years who require long-term support (up to two years) by a range of services. The program gives particular priority to those families with children under three years.? (Department of Community Services, 2007). To be able to access the Brighter Futures program, parents must also have a vulnerability that is likely to worsen if not addressed with the services and support available to the parents and children which include home visits, quality children?s services and a parenting program (Department of Community Services, 2007). A Consortium led by the Social Policy Research Centre, and including the Centre for Health Economics Research and Evaluation (CHERE) at UTS and Pamela Meadows from the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, has been commissioned to undertake the evaluation of all aspects of the program. An important component of the evaluation process is economic evaluation. This paper is set out as follows; Section 2 provides a brief introduction to economic appraisal in relation to the Brighter Futures program and sets out the links between the envisaged cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and cost benefit analysis (CBA). It also outlines the broad challenges faced when undertaking economic appraisals in the field of program such as Brighter Futures. Section 3 sets out a methodological framework for undertaking the CBA of the Brighter Futures program, including methods for addressing key evaluation challenges and Section 4 outlines the main tasks for the CBA work.ealry intervention, Brighter Futures, economic evaluation

The Stronger Families in Australia (SFIA) Study: Phase 2

The Stronger Families in Australia (SFIA) Study: Phase 2 Ben Edwards, Killian Mullan, Ilan Katz and Research Report No. 29 — September 2014 Read full publication The Stronger Families in Australia Study: Phase 2 Key messages CfC has had some of the desired effects on parents and children, but these were not strong or sustained for long enough to make statistically significant differences over the long term. Over the five waves of SFIA, the vast majority of findings indicated that the wellbeing of children and parents in CfC communities was better than in comparison communities, even if these differences did not reach statistical significance. Very few studies of early intervention services follow children for six years and provide the depth of information that SFIA has been able to deliver. Many other studies of early intervention services have also failed to find sustained positive effects over the longer term (e.g., NESS Team, 2012). Whether another model, a more intensive version of CfC or a set of evidence-based interventions would have had a greater effect is not known. This report presents a medium- to long-term evaluation of the Communities for Children (CfC) initiative. This Australian Government initiative aims to improve services for young children and their families and the communities they grow up in. The evaluation, known as the Stronger Families in Australia (SFIA) study, looks at the impact of CfC on child, family, and community outcomes. Phase 1 of the evaluation, published in 2009, found a small but positive impact of the initiative. This new report presents findings from Phase 2 of the study, which followed up 1,927 of the original study families, with the children now aged from 8-10 years old. Phase 2 also introduced a new cohort of 1,800 families and four new "contrast" sites

Linking Schools and Early Years Project evaluation Evaluation framework (2010-13)

Ilan Katz and kylie valentine, with colleagues from the Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC), University of New South Wales will conduct an evaluation of the project. Evaluation has been built into the project model from the outset, and there is a clear intention to examine the effectiveness of the model and the potential for wider implementation. The evaluation will be based on data collected from each of the primary groups involved in the project, and from contextual data on the three project communities. The primary groups involved include: • The parents of children starting school. • Schools. • Early education and care (EEC) services, that is, services whose primary business is delivering early education and care services to children in the prior to school years. For the purposes of the project the term ‘early childhood education and care’ services refers to: kindergarten or pre-school, long day care and family day care. • Local government. • Child and Family services, including organisations, groups and agencies whose primary business is delivering health, family support, advocacy and advice services to young children and their families. Example of Child and Family services are maternal and child health, playgroups, pre-school field officers, neighbourhood renewal, libraries etc. This document updates and replaces the original evaluation framework published as an appendix to the baseline or Time 1 (T1) evaluation report (valentine and Dinning, 2009). The most significant change is the expansion of process evaluation methodologies with the addition of primary data collection

Acute periapical abscesses in patients with herpes simplex type 1 and herpes zoster

Aim: To assess the prevalence of acute periapical abscesses (PAs) in patients infected with herpes simplex type 1 (HS-1) and herpes zoster (HZ). Materials and methods: Integrated data of hospital patients was used. History of HS-1 and HZ diagnosis was retrieved by searching the appropriate query in the database. All cases were diagnosed for acute PAs by calibrated dentists in a hospital setting for patients admitted to urgent care. Diagnosis was made based on clinical examination and imaging data confirming the diagnosis of acute PAs without sinus tract. The odds ratio (OR) for the prevalence of acute PAs and its association with history of HS-1 and HZ were then calculated. Results: The prevalence of acute PAs in patients with a history HS-1 was 2.43% as compared to 0.59% in the general patient population of the hospital. The OR was 4.12 and the difference in prevalence was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of acute PAs in patients with a history HZ was 2.78% as compared to 0.59% in the general patient population of the hospital. The OR was 4.71 and the difference in prevalence was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Under the conditions of this study, it appears that the prevalence of acute PAs is significantly higher in patients with a history of HS-1 and HZ infections and may warrant an antiviral therapy in certain resistant periapical abscesses

Family resilience where families have a child (0-8 years) with disability: final report

Using the findings from the primary data collection with families and stakeholders, this report develops the understanding of resilience in these families. It also analyses service practices and models and looks at how services can assist families to build and maintain resilience. Using the findings from the primary data collection with families and stakeholders, this report develops the understanding of resilience in these families. It also analyses service practices and models in order to identify and define elements of practice that build family resilience, detract from family resilience, and are crucial to the maintenance of resilience during times of transition. The report concludes with a section on how services can assist families to build and maintain resilience

Fair Computation with Rational Players

We consider the problem of fair multiparty computation, where fairness means (informally) that all parties should learn the correct output. A seminal result of Cleve (STOC 1986) shows that fairness is, in general, impossible to achieve if a majority of the parties is malicious. Here, we treat all parties as rational and seek to understand what can be done. Asharov et al. (Eurocrypt 2011) showed impossibility of rational fair computation in the two-party setting, for a particular function and a particular choice of utilities. We observe, however, that in their setting the parties have no strict incentive to compute the function even in an ideal world where fairness is guaranteed. Revisiting the problem, we show that rational fair computation is possible, for arbitrary functions, as long as the parties have a strict incentive to compute the function in an ideal world where fairness is guaranteed. Our results extend to more general utility functions that do not directly correspond to fairness, as well as to the multi-party setting. Our work thus shows a new setting in which game-theoretic considerations can be used to circumvent a cryptographic impossibility result