This paper argues that Australia's dynamic and socially mobile society neither safeguards the position of the privileged nor frustrates the aspirations of the disadvantaged. Executive summary The ‘fair go’ is a core Australian value. The idea that everyone should have the opportunity to improve their lot in life is a central element of Australia’s social...

Questions relating to identity and meaning are fundamental questions of life. As such, they have been the subject of study by scholars across a diverse range of disciplines, including psychology, theology, sociology and philosophy, throughout history. Despite this diversity, scholars agree that identity and meaning are inter-related issues which are central to the lives of...

This paper is part of a series that attempts to re-position the perceptions and contributions of older people in contemporary Australian society. The world is undergoing a profound demographic shift, with almost every nation state experiencing population ageing on a scale that is unprecedented. This means that we have to search for new models by...

In 2011, one in seven people in Australia was aged 65 years or over. This paper looks at a range of characteristics of older people including where they lived and the activities they participated in, including paid and voluntary work, unpaid child care and caring for people because of disability, long term illness or problems...

This bulletin argues that a more responsive social housing system requires improved access to and greater choice of housing allocations, with improved mobility within the system. Key findings: