It is intended that this volume will provide a useful reference work and guide to the research output of the Australian Institute of Family Studies over twenty-one years.

Since its inception in 1980, the publishing and distribution of Institute authored and edited works is the principal means by which the Institute meets its information dissemination responsibilities. The Institute has published its research findings under its own imprint, as well as in conjunction with commercial publishing houses, and in external refereed journals.

This volume of the Institute’s collected works brings together a wide range of publications associated with the Institute over the past twenty-one years.

The work of the Institute includes material by Institute researchers published in books, edited collections, series publications such as the early Discussion Papers, Working Papers and Early Childhood series, the current Research Papers, Research Reports and Briefing Papers series, and Family Matters. The Institute’s Information Program also initiates publications such as those from the National Child Protection Clearinghouse and the Australian Family & Society Abstracts database. Papers from the Institute’s seven national conferences are also included in this volume.