Entrenched disadvantage - long-term, persistent, and chronic disadvantage - is a 'wicked problem' in Australia, and current government policies to remove entrenchment are not working. This paper explains the nature and scope of entrenched disadvantage and calls for new policies that work to both lessen disadvantage and make sure it does not become entrenched. To explore these issues in more detail, the paper features three chapters that examine the particular key areas of education gaps, Indigenous disadvantage, and mental illness. These chapters are written by noted experts Peter Saunders, Francisco Azpitarte, Eve Bodsworth, Anne Hampshire, Nicholas Biddle, and Lorna Moxham.

"This paper is about disadvantage in Australia, and in particular, about Australians who experience deep and persistent disadvantage. Strong economic growth is a way of increasing living standards and opportunities. Yet despite growing levels of prosperity over the last two decades, and the unemployment rate more than halving, there are concerns within the community that some Australians are being 'left behind'."--Page 3.

This handbook addresses the current state and practice of school psychology with a focus on standards unique to Australia, including historical, legal, ethical, practical, and training factors. It provides a compilation of the most current research-based practices as well as guidelines for evidence-based assessment and intervention for common conditions (e.g., autism, depression, learning disabilities) and for delivering appropriate services to targeted student populations (e.g., LGBT, gifted, medical issues). Chapters discuss the application of national and international school psychology practices within the Australian educational and psychological structure. The handbook also examines the lack of formal resources specific to Australia’s culture and psychology systems, with its unique mix of metropolitan cities and the vast geographic landscape that spans regional and remote areas. It offers numerous case studies and innovative school mental health programs as well as recommendations for professional development and advocacy that are unique to Australian school psychology. Topics featured in this Handbook include: Evidence-based assessment and intervention for dyscalculia and mathematical disabilities. Identification and management of adolescent risk-taking behaviors and addictions. Understanding and responding to crisis and trauma in the school setting. Prevention and intervention for bullying in schools. Class and school-wide approaches to addressing behavioral and academic needs. The role of school psychologists in the digital age. Practical advice for school psychologists facing complex ethical dilemmas. The Handbook of Australian School Psychology is a must-have resource for researchers, scientist-practitioners, and graduate students in child and school psychology, social work, and related fields that address mental health services for children and adolescents.

Recognition of disadvantage is seen as crucial in preparing socially just teachers who can recognize and address inequities, and this engaging guide provides innovative strategies to reflect on disadvantage. Coupled with its discursive partners, inclusion and diversity, trainee teachers are asked to engage with theories of disadvantage, and advised to recognize, support and lead change for students who historically experience high levels of exclusion and marginalization. But what does disadvantaged mean? In this book, the authors draw together international perspectives to explore the subtle and complex differences produced by the keyword disadvantage in different geo-political contexts, and look at the political, historical, social, and cultural significance of the word. They showcase narratives from the subjects of disadvantage, including indigenous perspectives. They include standpoints from immigrants, asylum seekers and refugees and consider the intersectional nature of disadvantage, for instance, the experiences of LGBTQI+ groups who are living in poverty.

The report, carried out by Professor Tony Vinson for Jesuit Social Services and Catholic Social Services Australia, finds that pockets of concentrated and severe social disadvantage have become entrenched across rural and remote as well as suburban Australia.

This open access book examines how families and other social institutions interact to shape outcomes over the life course. It considers how to use research evidence to reduce social disadvantage through translation of evidence to support public policies and programs. The chapters focus on key life course stages such as early child development, adolescence, emerging adulthood, parenting, marriage, relationships and ageing, as well as examining experiences and outcomes for selected social groups such as Indigenous children, migrants and refugees, and gay, lesbian and bisexual groups. The book presents evidence using high-quality and recent data. With a focus on Australia, the volume provides new insights into how context shapes life course pathways and outcomes and a contrast to work that typically focuses on Europe and the United States. It will be of value to anyone interested in understanding how family background and life course pathways influence social disadvantage.

Livable Cities from a Global Perspective offers case studies from around the world on how cities approach livability. They address the fundamental question, what is considered "livable?" The journey each city has taken or is currently taking is unique and context specific. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to livability. Some cities have had a long history of developing livability policies and programs that focus on equity, economic, and environmental concerns, while other cities are relatively new to the game. In some areas, government has taken the lead while in other areas, grassroots activism has been the impetus for livability policies and programs. The challenge facing our cities is not simply developing a livability program. We must continually monitor and readjust policies and programs to meet the livability needs of all people. The case studies investigate livability issues in such cities as Austin, Texas; Helsinki, Finland; London, United Kingdom; Warsaw, Poland; Tehran, Iran; Salt Lake City, United States; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Sydney, Australia; and Cape Town, South Africa. The chapters are organized into such themes as livability in capital city regions, livability and growth and development, livability and equity concerns, livability and metrics, and creating livability. Each chapter provides unique insights into how a specific area has responded to calls for livable cities. In doing so, the book adds to the existing literature in the field of livable cities and provides policy makers and other organizations with information and alternative strategies that have been developed and implemented in an effort to become a livable city.

This book examines the resurgence in Australia of locality-based social policy (concerned with the spatial dimensions of disadvantage), after the political failures of the market oriented approach to regional reform. The book proposes that these trends are leading to a new 'post-competition' policy regime in Australia that mirrors global policy trends.

"The Legal Australia-Wide Survey (LAW Survey) provides the first comprehensive quantitative assessment across Australia of an extensive range of legal needs on a representative sample of the population. It examines the nature of legal problems, the pathways to their resolution, and the demographic groups that struggle with the weight of their legal problems." -- Law and Justice Foundation of N.S.W. website.

This volume engages with questions of justice and equality, and how these can be achieved in modern society. It explores how theory and research can inform policy and practice to bring about real change in people’s lives, helping readers understand and interrogate patterns and causes of inequality, while investigating how these might be remedied. Chapters outline ways in which theories of justice inform and are factored into effective actions, programmes and interventions. The book includes an international selection of case studies. These range from global inequalities in development and health to cross-border conflict; from gender justice to disability violence; from child protection to disability-inclusive research; from illicit drug use to torture prevention; and from prison wellbeing to sexual and reproductive health and rights. Together, contributors explore: how social science and humanities scholarship can lead to a better understanding of, and capacity to respond to, key social issues and problems the importance of normative reflection and a concern for principles of justice in pursuit of social change the importance of community voice and grassroots action in the pursuit of justice, equity and equality. Envisioning a better world – in which concern for the just treatment of all trumps the pursuit of privilege and inequality – Practical Justice: Principles, Practice and Social Change will appeal to students and academics in disciplines as diverse as philosophy, political science, sociology, anthropology, geography and education, and in fields such as policy studies, criminology, healthcare, social work and social welfare.