Sydney emerges as the most segregated of our biggest capital cities, and the trend will continue without broad changes in government policy and investment.
So much of day to day life is not powered by technology, but what happens if you’ve been behind bars for years? It’s time prisoners better prepared inmates for life once they’ve served their time.
Stephanie Land’s sequel to her mega-successful debut memoir Maid works as hard as she does – but while its details of low-income single-parent life as a student are valuable, it suffers by comparison.
In general, an ageing population puts added pressure on the working-age population to be more productive – just to maintain total output – amid growing fiscal constraints.
But on the positive side, support for multiculturalism and ethnic diversity continues to grow and is likely to be a valuable asset to our social cohesion in future.
One 11-year old girl told us she knows once rent is paid, there is almost nothing left over. So she never takes school excursion notes home, in case the cost is too much.
Australians’ average subjective well-being has barely deviated over the past few years. But there have been some remarkable changes among disadvantaged groups.
Australia has a wide gap in educational outcomes between children in poverty and their better-off peers. A new study indicates why reducing child poverty is the best way to lift our educational game.
As lockdowns ease and those who are double-vaccinated gain extra freedoms, we’re likely to see a greater divide between the rich, who tend to have higher vaccination rates, and the poor.
Children of parents with degrees are 60% more likely than ‘first in family’ students to want to go to university. The aspiration gap exists throughout school, but equity policies neglect its impacts.
Governments must ensure access to preschool for all children, many of whom will have had their learning and development affected by COVID-19. It will help children recover, as well as the economy.
Tim Adair, The University of Melbourne and Alan Lopez, The University of Melbourne
There is a large and widening gap between the richest and poorest Australians in terms of risk of dying before the age of 75, according to a study tracking the trend from 2006-16.
In Australia, the highest rates of mental illness can be found in the poorest sections of society. But poor people with mental disorders often struggle to access the care they need.