Australian Research Council (ARC) Grants

ARC LP – A benefit-cost analysis of the Early Years Education Program (CIs- Professor Jeff Borland and Dr Yi-Ping Tseng)

This project undertakes a benefit-cost analysis of the Early Years Education Program (EYEP). EYEP is an innovative early years education and childcare program for children at risk of abuse and neglect that is being trialled by the Childrens' Protection Society in Melbourne. The use of randomised evaluation method in the trial, the innovative and extensive nature of EYEP, the inter-disciplinary research team, and the breadth of data collection, provide the opportunity to complete a high quality benefit-cost analysis that will be internationally unique. Results from the study have the potential to influence the design of childcare and education for 30,000 at-risk children in Australia, as well as informing approaches in regular childcare. This is a Linkage Project and the collaborating organisation is the Childrens’ Protection Society. Funding runs from 2014 to 2017.

ARC LP – Ending long-term homelessness permanently: How to make effective links between housing and long-term support (CIs- Dr Guy Johnson and Dr Yi-Ping Tseng)

Australian services for homeless people typically provide short to medium-term assistance and accommodation. This approach struggles to meet the complex needs of the long-term homeless. Recently there has been considerable government investment in new approaches to end long-term homelessness but evidence supporting the efficacy of these approaches is limited. This project builds on a four year Randomised Controlled Trial of the Journey to Social Inclusion pilot-program which was designed to end long-term homelessness. The project will track participants for an additional two years. The research will provide new knowledge on what practices and factors generate positive outcomes and what factors and practices sustain positive outcomes. This is a Linkage Project and the collaborating organisation is the Sacred Heart Mission. Funding runs from 2014 to 2016.

ARC LP - Improving Employment Outcomes in Early Psychosis: Social and Economic Benefits of Early Intervention

Over 74% of people with psychotic illnesses like schizophrenia, despite wanting to work, are unemployed - which is a higher figure than for any other disability group. This project examines an evidence-based method in which young people with psychosis can be effectively supported to return to the competitive labour market. In Australia, unemployment of people with schizophrenia costs $927 million, over half the total illness costs of schizophrenia. For people with psychosis, unemployment exacerbates social and economic marginalisation. This project aims to reduce the economic cost of unemployment among the mentally ill as well as using employment to reduce social marginalisation of people with mental illness. This is a Linkage Project and the collaborating organisation is the ORYGEN Research Centre. Funding runs from 2008 to 2011.

ARC DP - Effects on Labour Supply, Savings and Welfare of the 2007 Policy Change to Superannuation and Age Pensions

This projectsl's central question falls within the priority goal of 'Strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric'. Understanding the effects of alternative superannuation tax arrangements is crucial in view of concerns regarding aggregate private savings and labour force participation in an ageing economy. Low savings or participation could have implications for sustained economic growth. This project's outcomes will provide an indication of the potential effects of policies on labour supply and savings. After further modifications, the model developed in this project can also address other questions in the context of life-cycle decisions under uncertainty, such as labour supply, fertility or health. funding for this project runs from 2009 to 2010.

ARC DP - Understanding the Saving Behaviour of Australian Households: Private Retirement Provision and the Policy for Forced Saving

The outcomes from the research on Australian retirement saving behaviour will generate a range of national benefits. First, the collaboration of researchers across institutions, and internationally, will enhance and promote Australian research skills. Second, Australian research will be placed at the forefront of an important, international field. Third, the research will make fundamental contributions to the evidence base for the design of public policies to ensure Australians have access to adequate resources in retirement. This is an urgent public policy concern due to the rapid ageing of the Australian population: the fraction aged over 65 years is forecast to double from 10% to 20% over the next 40 years. Funding from this project runs from 2007 to 2009.

ARC DP - The Effects of the Tax and Social Security System on Labour Supply and Social Welfare

This research will provide independent assessment of the work-incentive effects of government policies in the area of income tax, social security and childcare costs. Capacity constraints may threaten sustained economic growth in Australia. Understanding and supporting the drivers of work force participation is stated in the National Research Priorities as being vital. In addition to the empirical results, the project provides a set of tools that can be used to evaluate new policies with respect to the effects on labour supply, income distribution and social welfare. This will provide timely and independent evidence on which to evaluate new policies and therefore increase the quality of the debate on tax and social security policy. Funding for this project runs from 2007 to 2009.

ARC LP - Job Retention and Advancement of Disadvantaged Job-Seeker

This was an ARC Linkage Project conducted in collaboration with the Brotherhood of St Laurence. Funding for this project ran from 2007 to 2012.

Empirical methods were adopted to determine what is necessary for job retainment and career advancement of disadvantaged jobseekers. Job retainment and advancement are essential to prolonged workforce participation and the development of human capital of disadvantaged jobseekers re-entering the workforce. Understanding and supporting the drivers of workforce participation is identified as a National Research Priority. Therefore, the project findings are of considerable imortance to employment policy development in Australia to help ensure that future policy developments improve the human capital of disadvantaged entrants to the labour market and alleviate longer-term poverty and social exclusion.

Please see the following research brief for a summary of the findings of the project Research Brief

ARC LP Experimental Evaluation of YP4 - Is 'Joining Up' Services for Homeless and Jobless People a Net Benefit to Society?

This project will provide evidence on the social costs and benefits of programs that seek to 'join up' delivery of government services - with specific reference to young homeless jobseekers. This knowledge has direct application in future design of government policies on implementing programmes for government payment recipients with multiple sources of disadvantage. Furthermore, the project will provide a 'case study' demonstration of the capacity for not-for-profit organisations to independently undertake policy reform, and to implement that reform in a way that allows rigorous evaluation of its effects. The project will also extend research expertise in the area of program evaluation, particularly as applied in the Australian context. This is a Linkage Project and the partner oranisations are the Hanover Welfare Service, Melbourne City Mission, the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Loddon Mallee Housing Services. Funding for this project runs from 2006 to 2008.

ARC LP - Economic Modelling of the Nurses' Labour Market in Australia

Nurses play an important role in the health system and help to ensure individuals lead healthier, happier and more productive lives. Devising cost effective policies to ensure an adequate supply of motivated and productive nurses is crucial in achieving efficiency and equity in the health care system. The results of this research will be used by government to help set optimal pay and conditions for nurses, and to ensure that these are competitive with other nurse employers. This will provide a firm evidence base to reduce nurse shortages and therefore increase the quality of patient care in Australia. This is a Linkage Project and the partner organisation is the Department of Human Services. Funding for this projects runs from 2006 to 2009.

ARC DP - Labour Market Transitions and Dynamics in Australia: An Analysis of the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey

This major program of research is focused on understanding:

The focus of the research will be on key transitions in the lives of Australians, and in particular on transitions between welfare and work, between unpaid work and paid work, between different types of employment, and between paid work and retirement.

Research questions include:

At the heart of the research program will be the longitudinal data collected in the HILDA Survey over the period 2001 to 2008. Funding for this project runs from 2006 to 2008.

Projects

The Dynamics of Economic and Social Change

Projects