Leading Issues Journal November 2007 

 

Global Issues

Every seven seconds a malnourished child dies : More food is not enough
MSF calls for expanded use of nutrient rich ready-to-use food

The international medical humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontičres (MSF) in October 2007 called for increased and expanded use of nutrient dense ready-to-use food (RUF) to reduce the five million annual deaths worldwide related to malnutrition in children under five. Current food aid, which focuses on fighting hunger, not treating malnutrition, is not doing enough to address the needs of young children most at risk, MSF warned.

“It’s not only about how much food children get, it’s what’s in the food that counts,” said Dr. Christophe Fournier, President of MSF’s International Council. “Without the right amounts of vitamins and essential nutrients in their diet, young kids become vulnerable to disease that they would normally be able to fight off easily. Calls for increased food aid ignore the special needs of young children who are at the greatest risk of dying.”

RUF, which come in individually wrapped rations, contain all the necessary nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that a young child needs. This dense therapeutic food which has milk powder, sugars and vegetable fats can be produced and stored locally and transported easily even in hot climates. It allows a child to recover from being malnourished and catch up on lost growth. Being easy-to-use, mothers—not doctors and nurses—are the main caregivers, meaning far more children at risk can be reached.

“In Somalia we are giving acutely malnourished kids packets of ready-to-use food and we see them gain weight and begin thriving within a couple of weeks,” said Dr Gustavo Fernandez, MSF Head of Mission in Somalia. “RUFs are practical to use in places like Somalia where security is very bad. General food distribution is also needed, but it is not going to be very effective to treat kids under three years old.”

Through this early treatment or prevention approach in Niger, MSF is providing mothers with small containers of RUF as a supplement to their normal diet. Early results from this ongoing project, which is reaching more than 62,000 children, indicate that RUF is significantly more effective than the traditional approach of supplying fortified flours and cooking oil to mothers of young children.

MSF is calling for donors and UN agencies to urgently speed up the introduction and expand the use of RUF. This is going to take a new allocation of funds to cover the cost of €750 million to reach the most vulnerable. But it will also take a realigning of food aid strategies with existing and newly developed products that have the nutrition needed to cure malnourished children.

MSF has been treating malnutrition with therapeutic RUF since the first products became available in the late 1990s, and in 2006 treated more than 150,000 children with acute malnutrition in 22 countries.

Source: http://www.msf.org.au/

The 21st Century Donor

According to a UK study by Joe Saxton, Michele Madden, Chris Greenwood & Brian Garvey for nfp synergy based in the UK,

to raise money from the 21st Century donor effectively the successful 21st Century Charity will need to…

1. Become as distinct, competitive and appealing as the best commercial brands.

Charities compete with an individual’s personal and leisure spending as much as with other charities.

2. Demonstrate and communicate value-for-money and impact, so that donors can see how their contribution makes a difference to clients and beneficiaries.

3. Engage donors by motivation and giving ‘products’, as much as on the basis of demography and wealth. Donors like and respond to opportunities to give where the price, the rewards, the package and the relationship are all clearly set out.

4. Offer a wider choice of giving products which match donors’ motivation. For example, some donors want giving centred around social interaction such as challenge events and others around the impact of their donation.

5. Blur the boundaries between giving and living – create more active and rewarding lifestyle events, from fun runs to peak challenges, from dinner parties to midnight walks. The best social fundraising makes it unclear whether people are primarily fundraising or primarily having a great time.

6. Make donors stakeholders, with a real say in how they give and how their money gets spent. While this does not mean that donors have the final say in how the money gets spent (unless they are government!) it does mean that their views are really important. Therefore dialogue between donors and service deliverers becomes more important.

7. Stress what a donor can expect out of the giving experience: this might be about the emotional return of giving, the recognition process or the involvement. The more money people give, the more they want to be involved.

8. Appeal intensely to specific, defined target audiences. A lukewarm appeal to the general public is worth far less than a burning passion amongst a key demographic or attitudinal group.

9. Woo more big givers, corporate and individual, via the offer of recognition and the opportunity to change both their own lives and the lives of beneficiaries.

10. Integrate the experience of giving time, money or activism so as to retain loyal supporters able to give different things at different life stages, from nursery to nursing home. Giving and volunteering are better seen as one activity which focuses on giving time or money, depending on life-stage, circumstances and wealth.

Rising to the Humanitarian Challenge in Iraq

Armed violence is the greatest threat facing Iraqis, but the population is also experiencing another kind of crisis of an alarming scale and severity. Eight million people are in urgent need of emergency aid; that figure includes over two million who are displaced within the country, and more than two million refugees. Many more are living in poverty, without basic services, and increasingly threatened by disease and malnutrition. Despite the constraints imposed by violence, the government of Iraq, the United Nations, and international donors can do more to deliver humanitarian assistance to reduce unnecessary suffering. If people’s basic needs are left unattended, this will only serve to further destabilise the country.

While horrific violence dominates the lives of millions of ordinary people inside Iraq, another kind of crisis, also due to the impact of war, has been slowly unfolding. Up to eight million people are now in need of emergency assistance. This figure includes:

• four million people who are ‘food-insecure and in dire need of different types of humanitarian assistance’

• more than two million displaced people inside Iraq

• over two million Iraqis in neighbouring countries, mainly Syria and Jordan, making this the fastest-growing refugee crisis in the world.

This paper describes the humanitarian situation facing ordinary Iraqis and argues that, while violence and a failure to protect fundamental human rights pose the greatest problems, humanitarian needs such as food, shelter, water and sanitation must be given more attention. Although responding to those needs is extremely challenging, given the lack of security and of competent national institutions, Oxfam and the NGO Coordination Committee in Iraq (NCCI) believe that more could be done. The government of Iraq could extend the distribution of food parcels, widen the coverage of emergency cash payments, decentralise decision-making and support civil society groups providing assistance. The international donors and UN agencies could intensify their efforts to coordinate, fund and deliver emergency aid. These measures will not transform the plight of Iraqis but they can help alleviate their suffering. The paper focuses on needs inside the country, which are less visible, and does not refer in detail to the refugees in neighbouring countries.

Iraqis are suffering from a growing lack of food, shelter, water and sanitation, health care, education, and employment. Of the four million Iraqis who are dependent on food assistance, only 60 per cent currently have access to rations through the government-run Public Distribution System (PDS), down from 96 per cent in 2004.

Forty-three per cent of Iraqis suffer from ‘absolute poverty’. According to some estimates, over half the population are now without work. Children are hit the hardest by the decline in living standards. Child malnutrition rates have risen from 19 per cent before the US-led invasion in 2003 to 28 per cent now.

The situation is particularly hard for families driven from their homes by violence. The two million internally displaced people (IDPs) have no incomes to rely on and are running out of coping mechanisms. In 2006, 32 per cent of IDPs had no access to PDS food rations, while 51 per cent reported receiving food rations only sometimes.

The number of Iraqis without access to adequate water supplies has risen from 50 per cent to 70 per cent since 2003, while 80 per cent lack effective sanitation. The ‘brain drain’ that Iraq is experiencing is further stretching already inadequate public services, as thousands of medical staff, teachers, water engineers, and other professionals are forced to leave the country. At the end of 2006, perhaps 40 per cent had left already.

The people of Iraq have a right, enshrined in international law, to material assistance that meets their humanitarian needs, and to protection, but this right is being neglected. The government of Iraq, international donors, and the United Nations (UN) system have been focused on reconstruction, development, and building political institutions, and have overlooked the harsh daily struggle for survival now faced by many. All these actors have a moral, political, and in the case of the government, legal obligation to protect ordinary Iraqis caught up in the conflict. They also have a responsibility to find ways to secure the right conditions for the delivery of assistance, both where conflict is intense and in less insecure parts of the country to which many people have fled.

The entire Report  is at  Oxfam

 

 

 
Japan and India as partners for the peace and stability of Asia
Hiroshi Hirabayashi / Nautilus Institute

India and Japan should set out in concrete terms the political, economic and other goals of their 'strategic global partnership'. India should strengthen its commitments to East Asia. India and Japan must convince Beijing that the world, particularly Asia, has a better chance of achieving peace and stability if the three Asian heavyweights work closely together.

Hiroshi Hirabayashi, a councilor of the Japan Forum on International Relations who is expected to become the president of the Japan-India Association soon and served as Ambassador of Japan to India between 1998 and 2002, writes, 'In the Asian theater in particular, where numerous elements of insecurity persist, it [India] is expected to become a guarantor of peace and stability. This will be more effective if India strengthens its partnership with Japan, an increasingly proactive contributor to this end.'

Read the full text of Japan and India as partners for the peace and stability of Asia

The Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP

Prime Minister of Britain

 

The Governance of Britain

As one of his first moves, the new British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has released a Green Paper, The Governance of Britain, to launch discussion of a wide range of constitutional reform.

Executive summary of The Governance of Britain

The Government’s vision and proposals for constitutional renewal are set out in this document. The document explores the rights and responsibilities that shape the relationships which the people of this country have with each other.

It considers the relationship people have with the institutions of the state, at a local, regional and national level.

This document discusses how to modernise the role of the executive in our system of governance. It looks at options to make both the executive, and Parliament, more accountable to the people and to reinvigorate our democracy.

Some of the reforms proposed will be taken forward immediately, and some in legislation in the next session of Parliament. Some represent the first step towards a final outcome of renewing trust in our democratic institutions.

As part of this, the Government wants to engage people around the country in a discussion on citizenship and British values and will be conducting a series of events around the UK to gain as much input as possible.

Limiting the powers of the executive

The Government will seek to surrender or limit powers which it considers should not, in a modern democracy, be exercised exclusively by the executive (subject to consultation with interested parties and, where necessary, legislation).

These include powers to:

• deploy troops abroad;

• request the dissolution of Parliament;

• request the recall of Parliament;

• ratify international treaties without decision by Parliament;

• determine the rules governing entitlement to passports and for the granting of pardons;

• restrict parliamentary oversight of the intelligence services;

• choose bishops;

• have a say in the appointment of judges;

• direct prosecutors in individual criminal cases; and

• establish the rules governing the Civil Service.

The Government will also:

• work to increase parliamentary scrutiny of some public appointments, ensure that appointments are appropriately scrutinised more generally; and

• review the role of the Attorney General to ensure that the office retains the public’s confidence.

Making the executive more accountable

The Government will act to ensure that it is answerable to Parliament and the people. The Government has published a revised Ministerial Code with new arrangements for independent advice to Ministers and more transparency around Ministers’ interests and travel.

The Government will:

• consider legislation with the aim of maximising the effectiveness of the Intelligence and Security Committee and, in the interim, propose changes to improve the transparency and resourcing of the Committee;

• publish a National Security Strategy which will be overseen by a new National Security Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister;

• introduce a pre-Queen’s Speech consultative process on its legislative programme;

• simplify the reporting of Government expenditure to Parliament;

• invite Parliament to hold annual parliamentary debates on the objectives and plans of major Government Departments; and

• limit the pre-release of official statistics to Ministers to 24 hours before publication.

Re-invigorating our democracy

The Government will:

• continue to develop reforms for a substantially or wholly elected second chamber;

• consider extending the duration in which parties can use all-women shortlists for the selection of electoral candidates;

• better enable local people to hold service providers to account;

• place a duty on public bodies to involve local people in major decisions;

• assess the merits of giving local communities the ability to apply for devolved or delegated budgets;

• consult on moving voting to weekends for general and local elections;

• complete and publish a review of voting systems in line with the Government’s manifesto commitment; and

• review the provisions that govern the right to protest in the vicinity of Parliament.

Britain’s future: the citizen and the state

The Government will:

• initiate an inclusive process of national debate to develop a British statement of values;

• work with Lord Goldsmith to conduct a review of British citizenship;

• launch a Youth Citizenship Commission, looking at citizenship education, ceremonies and the possibility of reducing the voting age; and

• consult on the current guidance on flying the Union Flag from government buildings and Westminster Parliament.

National Issues  

WOMEN’S ELECTORAL LOBBY AUSTRALIA

Election Guide 2007

 

 WEL scores party policies and promises

 

“Labor scores 45% with some gaps which it can fill to get a pass mark for female friendly policies. It does well on IR, child care and education. The Coalition fails dismally with a miserable 8% because it has offered virtually nothing we like in these areas and draws complete blanks in many other areas like rights and housing,” said WEL Australia Chair Eva Cox. “High scores are possible as the Greens and Democrats both pass comfortably!”

 

“Both major parties score badly in areas such as income support for the very poorest, such as those on benefits e.g. sole parents and those on Youth Allowance and Newstart. We will update the scores in the final week so we hope the Coalition is about to woo women with some attractive promises”.

 

More women are telling pollsters they will vote for the ALP over the Coalition, so there is a clear incentive for the Coalition to announce a better child care package, and for both parties to do more but they have to be of real benefit!

 

‘There are no extra marks for offering more unpaid parental leave as long as neither major party will give a clear commitment to fund paid maternity leave, despite widespread public approval.”

 

“Not surprisingly, two of the current parliamentary minor parties are much more aware of women voters: the Greens scored 71% and the Democrats 59% . However Family First proved being minor was not necessarily good, as they did very badly with 9.5%. Their concerns were limited to certain types of families and very few issues so we suggest they change their name to Only Some Families First as they do little for the women in most families.” Eva Cox suggested.

 

To view WEL’s Election ‘Form Guide’ in its entirety visit www.wel.org.au

Calls for a national strategy to tackle poverty

Around one in seven Australians who turn to welfare organisations for help lack a substantial meal at least once a day according to new research released in Anti-Poverty Week (14-20 October. 07). The report is part of an Australian Research Council-funded project called “Left out and missing out: Towards new indicators of disadvantage” – led by Professor Peter Saunders from the Social Policy Research Centre at the University of New South Wales in partnership with Mission Australia, Anglicare (Sydney) and the Brotherhood of St Laurence; as well as the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS).

Survey responses from around 670 clients accessing the welfare organisations’ services reveal a higher level of deprivation when measured against community standards.  As well as the most basic need for food, 33.5 per cent of clients lack a decent and secure home; 31 per cent are unable to buy prescribed medicines; 38.8 per cent didn’t have access to mental health services; and 27 per cent have children who are unable to participate in school activities and outings.

The research pays particular attention to households with children, revealing 55 per cent don’t have access to annual dental check ups, 36 per cent don’t have access to up-to-date school books or new school clothes and 18.1 per cent lack a separate bed per child.

The research surveyed a random sample of 2700 Australians, resulting in broad agreement that the ‘essentials of life’ go beyond things which are solely income-related to include access to health services, reasonable housing, the space you live in and strong community and personal relationships.

In terms of a national poverty strategy, the report calls on Australia to adopt a plan similar to those found in other OECD nations – such as the United Kingdom and Ireland – with identified targets and timeframes for addressing disadvantage in a comprehensive way.

Source: BSL.org

Fighting poverty or fantasy figures: the reality of Australian aid
Flint Duxfield and Kate Wheen / Aid/Watch

This report takes a microscope to Australia's aid budget and reveals that upwards of a billion dollars in Australia's aid fails to contribute to meaningful poverty reduction in aid recipient countries. In analysing the effectiveness of Australia’s development contribution, this report finds widespread structural flaws in Australia’s aid program revealing serious problems in terms of both the quantity and, more importantly, the quality of the aid Australia provides.

Read the full text of Fighting poverty or fantasy figures: the reality of Australian aid (PDF file)

Same-Sex: Same Entitlements

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission released its report Same-Sex: Same Entitlements on 22 June 2007. This reports on the inquiry into discrimination against same-sex couples in accessing financial and work-related entitlements. HREOC found that 58 federal laws discriminated against same-sex couples, including areas such as superannuation, Medicare and child support. While same-sex couples were 'first-class tax-payers’ they were second-class citizens in terms of entitlements and this also meant a discriminatory impact on their children.' This was the inquiry that Howard government ministers instructed their departments and agencies not to make submissions to.

Read the Report:

Same - Sex: Same Entitlements
2006 Corporate Responsibility Index Results

The Corporate Responsibility Index, developed and maintained by Business in the Community, is an initiative of St James Ethics Centre. The 2006 Corporate Responsibility Index results are out now. Rio Tinto appears to have ranked the highest in the Corporate Responsibility Index.

 

 Call for Women to Register with new AppointWomen Online Database

Talented women who are keen to contribute their skills and knowledge on Australian Government boards are encouraged to register with the new AppointWomen online database.

The Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues, the Hon Julie Bishop, today announced that the new free and confidential online registration and search service was now up and running.

“AppointWomen is part of the National Strategy for the Increased Participation of Women on Boards, which is supported by State and Territory Governments,” Minister Bishop said.

“It will support the efforts of Australian Government departments to identify talented women, with diverse skills and experience, who are actively seeking appointment to boards or other decision-making bodies.

“The Australian Government is committed to increasing the number of women in leadership roles, and AppointWomen will make it easier for women to register their interest, and for departments to find suitable women candidates.

“AppointWomen is an effective, user-friendly and efficient database tool, and already contains more than 1,000 CVs.”

The new web-based AppointWomen database has many advantages over the previous paper-based system, including:

  • Improved quality and currency of CVs;
  • Faster services to both candidates and Australian Government agencies;
  • Boards will have access to greater diversity of skills, perspectives and knowledge.

“In addition to AppointWomen registrants, Government departments also have access, through the AppointWomen system, to candidates registered with the privately run Women on Boards.”

Women can register with AppointWomen by going to www.appointwomen.gov.au and following the instructions to complete the online registration form. Once you validate your account, you can build and update your resume as often as you wish.

Source: Office for Women

Women's Policy Audit by the Democrats

All legislation would have to be examined for its impact on women, to ensure women are not disadvantaged, under the Australian Democrats’ Women’s policy launched in October 07.

The Women’s Income Statement is one of a number of key proposals being put forward by the Democrats in their “Women’s Policy Audit”, to ensure women’s rights and concerns are a key issue in this election campaign. 

“Women’s policy has been sidelined and ignored for too long by the major parties. It’s time our concerns were placed front and centre of the agenda,” Democrats’ Status of Women Spokesperson Senator Natasha Stott Despoja said. 

Other key initiatives being put forward by the Democrats include:

  • paid maternity leave;

  • a Work and Family Act and Commissioner;

  • a $20 million anti-domestic violence awareness campaign for young people and workplaces;

  • Federal Government funding for White Ribbon Day;

  • a national review of pay equity in Australia, to be conducted by the AIRC, to examine why the gender pay gap is growing in Australia; and

  • measures to ensure pregnancy counselling organisations can not mislead or deceive women seeking advice on an unplanned pregnancy.

The Democrats would also reintroduce an annual Women’s Budget Statement, and move the Office for Women back into the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, to ensure women’s policy is not only considered in relation to any family roles they may have. 

“The Democrats would put women’s issues at the top of the agenda,” Democrats’ lead Senate candidate for South Australia, Ms Ruth Russell said. 

“The Democrats challenge both major parties to prove their commitment to women at this election,” Senator Stott Despoja said.

 Government policies and wider community attitudes towards Indigenous socio-economic disadvantage in the reconciliation decade
Andrew Gunstone / School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences, Monash University

In 1991, the Australian Commonwealth Parliament unanimously passed the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act 1991. This Act implemented a ten-year process that aimed to reconcile Indigenous and non-Indigenous people by the end of 2000. One of the main goals of the reconciliation process was to develop a continuing national commitment to address Indigenous socioeconomic disadvantage in the areas of health, education, housing, employment and law. However, this goal was not achieved by the conclusion of the reconciliation process at the end of 2000.

In this paper for the 2007 Australasian Political Studies Association conference, Andrew Gunstone examines the failure of this socio-economic goal. First, he briefly discusses the appalling levels of Indigenous socio-economic disadvantage. Second, he argues that two interrelated factors significantly contributed to the failure to develop a national commitment to address Indigenous socioeconomic disadvantage during the reconciliation process. These factors were the government approaches to addressing Indigenous socio-economic disadvantage and non-Indigenous people’s attitudes and understandings concerning Indigenous socio-economic disadvantage.

Read the full text of Government policies and wider community attitudes towards Indigenous socio-economic disadvantage in the reconciliation decade (PDF file)

Governing work life intersections in Australia over the life course: policy and prospects
Barbara Pocock / Centre for Work+Life, University of South Australia

This paper examines the current situation of Australians as they put together their work and larger lives, under a particular policy regime. It reviews current policy settings governing care and work, finds them wanting in key respects (especially for particular groups of workers), and argues that some recent Australian policy proposals and actions do not adequately respond to the problem. The paper refers to industrial relations law, childcare policies and leave arrangements. The paper argues that an ethic of care needs to accompany Australia’s well developed ethic of work, and that new arrangements are necessary to govern their simultaneous realisation.

Read the full text of Governing work life intersections in Australia over the life course: policy and prospects

National Federation of Parents, Families and Carers: Federal Election Platform

The National Federation of Parents, Families and Carers has released its 10-point Federal Election Platform.   The Federation is Australia's first national voice for parents, families and carers was formed on Wednesday 8th August 2007.
 

Housing affordability: a 21st century problem
Judith Yates and Vivienne Milligan and others / Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute

This report provides an overview of the major findings that have emerged out of the third AHURI-funded National Research Venture (NRV3), Housing affordability for lower income Australians. It identifies the major risks and challenges in relation to Australia's housing problem in the 21st century, as well as drawing out policy implications.
Read the full text of Housing affordability: a 21st century problem (PDF file)

Australian Government Consultation Blog

Government agencies in Australia have traditionally involved citizens and community in the processes and decisions that affect them. With the advent of e-government and the increasing use of information and communication technologies to enhance government service delivery, opportunities arise for agencies to engage and involve citizens and communities through new channels.

With over seventy nine percent of Australians actively using the Internet, the take up of social computing technologies are fostering greater participation in online forums. The Australian Government is inviting community feedback on how the government can utilise new internet technologies to better consult with people. This consultation focuses on citizens: how they would prefer to use an online consultation website and what features they would wish to include. The government wishes to particularly encourage more people to participate in the government policy and service delivery development process. Following consultation, the information gathered will be used to identify the requirements for a new Australian Government consultation website.

As part of the consultation process, AGIMO has released the Australian Government Consultation Blog Discussion Paper to explore how all Australian government consultations could be made accessible and be promoted online via a single website.

This paper also discusses a number of enhancements to the blog concept which have been proven in other internet contexts to encourage participation by people.

Download the Discussion Paper

Australian Government Consultation Blog Discussion Paper

Australian Government Consultation Blog Discussion Paper (PDF - 602KB)

Election 2007: Federal-State Relations

By Roger Wilkins / Australian Review of Public Affairs

The roles and responsibilities of different levels of government in Australia are becoming increasingly unclear. This lack of clarity has allowed ad hoc arrangements to emerge, and encourages sub-optimal policy in vital areas including human services and infrastructure development. Ambiguity makes lines of accountability unclear, has inhibited incentives to produce good policy, has confounded efficient government and undermined the appropriate determination of revenue allocation. How should Australian federalism be reformed? State and federal roles need to be structured so that they are clear, distinct, and work well and the right incentives must be created to support sound policy development.

Read the full text of Election 2007: federal-state relations

Towards a fairer Australia: ACOSS 2007 Election Statement
Australian Council of Social Service Posted: 07-10-2007

As Australians prepare to vote in 2007, they face important choices over the future fairness of their country. Australia’s headline figures of economic growth and low official unemployment stand in stark contrast to the daily reality of two million Australians who live in poverty. Despite economic prosperity, one in ten Australians struggle to pay for the bare basics such as housing, food, utilities and health care and often cannot access other essentials such as work, education, aged care, child care, counselling and legal services. The social and economic cost of this disadvantage can be seen in 'poverty postcodes', typically on the outer edges of metropolitan cities and in rural areas, where many people are unemployed, have minimal levels of education, live on low incomes and often have disabilities and illness.

Read the full text of Towards a fairer Australia: ACOSS 2007 Election Statement (PDF file)

What's the score? A survey of cultural diversity and racism in Australian sport
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

This report sheds light on what existing strategies and programs have been adopted by 17 national sporting organisations, federal and state governments, various non-government sporting agencies and human rights institutions to combat racism within sport. The report also looks at what steps have been taken to develop an inclusive, non-discriminatory culture within sport by players, spectators and the broader viewing public.

Read the full text of What's the score? A survey of cultural diversity and racism in Australian sport

In the balance: The future of Australia's primary schools
Max Angus and Harriet Olney / Edith Cowan University; John Ainley / Australian Council for Educational Research

This is the fourth in a series of studies investigating the resourcing of Australian primary schools. The first surveyed the views of principals; the second examined the relative levels of funding of primary and secondary schools from the nineteenth century to the present; and the third presented intensive case studies of the level and use of resources in 30 primary schools. This study builds on the earlier studies and examines the capacity of Australian primary schools to meet the challenges facing them.

Researchers from the Australian Council for Educational Research drew a random sample of 160 primary schools structured so that schools from each State and sector were included. All government and non-government education authorities gave permission for the schools in their jurisdictions to take part. It was agreed that there would be no reporting of differences among states or school systems and that individual schools would not be identified. The conclusions reached in the study therefore apply to Australian primary schools generally. The study focused on: curriculum coverage and assessment; targeted support in core curriculum areas for resource intensive students (students with special needs and/or behaviour disorders); teacher quality; and school discretion and control of resource allocation.

The study finds that Australian primary schools do not have sufficient resources to achieve fully the goals set for them by governments; in many of the schools serving low socioeconomic communities, the shortage is acute. However, some of the challenges facing primary schools are not due to a resource insufficiency.

Read the full text of In the balance: the future of Australia's primary schools (Ple)

Staff Bullying in Australian Schools

An online national survey of staff bullying for all those employed in Australian schools was conducted by the University of New England from 22 June 07 to 8 October, 2007  in collaboration with the Australian Catholic University. The website contains the first national electronic survey that seeks the experiences of support staff, teachers, executives and principals with the phenomenon of staff bullying in both government and non-government schools.

The research aims to:

  • identify the forms and manifestations of staff bullying in Australian schools;
  • investigate if the phenomenon is due to individual or organisational factors;
  • canvass current practices which reduce the level of staff bullying;
  • differentiate the phenomenon by specific criteria such as school systems, school type, school size, the gender, age and experience of participants.

The expected outcomes are to inform the Australian education profession of the existence, forms and effects of staff bullying and to identify leadership practices that limit or prevent the phenomenon of staff bullying in schools.

The research findings will be disseminated via the websites of peak professional groups linked to UNE's website and through publications in internationally refereed journals. The findings are expected to be available from late December 2007.