Social Work & Gender Inequality in Australia

This assignment delves into the complex intersection of social work, gender inequality, and poverty in Australia. It examines how social policies like the Parents Next program and the Age Pension impact single-parent families and older Australians, often disproportionately affecting women. The analysis incorporates academic research on culturally relevant social work practices, international perspectives on reciprocal exchanges, and real-world examples highlighting the struggles faced by marginalized groups due to gender pay gaps and systemic disadvantages. Students are expected to critically evaluate current policies and propose potential solutions to address these pressing social issues.

Social Work

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
1. Impact of following policies on low income people...............................................................1
2. Relationship between gender and income inequality in Australia and its impact on
individuals and Australian society..............................................................................................2
3. Suggestion of some policies to address inequality with its expected results..........................3
4. Some innovative ways to support and assist people on low incomes....................................4
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
In Australian society, there is difference in income level of people residing in society. So
it creates gap in society among upper and lower level income people. There is difference in
mindset of people as well because of their behaviour. So in this report, there is discussion about
Australian and NSW government policies which has impact on society. Apart from this it also
provides knowledge about relationship in gender and income inequality. Some suggestions are
provided to remove inequality in income level of consumers because of changing policies
(Baldwin, 2016).
MAIN BODY
1. Impact of following policies on low income people
There are different policies, planned by authorised parties of Australia for improving
condition of society. But sometimes, it increases gap among people on the basis of their income.
In this report, there is discussion about two policies i.e. parenting payment and disability support
pension.
Parenting Payment
This is the payment which individual will get if they have responsibilities of caring and
growing up their children. This is the financial assistance through which young child can grow
properly by getting incentives and dependency on support from income can be reduced. This is
the way through parents are ready to take care of their children and this ultimately positively
affects growth and development of Australia. There are some eligible criteria under which this
facility can availed such as limited income, age of children has to 8 or 6 ( in case of single parent
) . Parents can not claim this payment before birth of infant . Amount of parent payment
depending of assets and income of parents (Banks, 2016).
According to Veronica Sheen (2019) There is negative impact on lowered income people
because of this policies. There is change in this policy such as before 2006 parents will get
allowances till their child become sixteen. But after 20o6 this act altered single parents specially
women whose children between eight to fifteen are shifted to lower new - start allowance. People
who are registered earlier are exempted, so there is dissatisfaction among people who are
residing in society. After 2012, there is no exemption to earlier parents as well. So this makes
imbalance in people because they undertake their children for 15 hours per week in case of
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young children, but this act has been modified and age of children are specified as six years. So
lower income people are dissatisfied because they have less income and they have to manage and
take care of their children as well.
The Age Pension
This is the system in which some money is rewarded to people of their retirement. There
is provision of getting pension which around 65% people thinks as personal source of income.
When people gets retired, then are not able to work with more effectiveness and efficiency, so in
this case this is the best option which people thinks to adopt. This has negative impact on
performance of society because people do not want to work physically. This also affects fertility
rate of society. People have view that with growing age, they are not able to work, so this option
is best but at the same time, there is difference in working style for old age people. This results in
affecting efficiency of people residing in society. Australia is the first country which introduces
pension policies, so there is difference in rich and lowered income people. Fertility rate in
society gets affected which gives negative impact on growth of society (Ferguson, 2016).
2. Relationship between gender and income inequality in Australia and its impact on individuals
and Australian society
Gender inequality is the major issue which arise in Australia. There is difference in rights
of women and men in society. There is difference in earning of men and women in society.
There is no difference in working style of men and women but still there is difference in their
pay rate. This is the biggest issue which creates barriers of women growth and development in
society. As per survey, it is analysed that women get 15.3% less than men because of
discrimination in industry. There is issue in government policies of Australia which results in
creating gap among men and women. So it is clear that there is direct relationship between
gender and pay sale of individual.
This has direct impact on performance of individuals at workplace. In Wilkinson's industry, at
broadcast level, 47% are females, but at top level 100% of individuals are male. Australia is such
as developed country but due to gender pay gap, there are possibilities of poverty in country.
With survey, it is analysed that there are difference reasons due to which women earn less than
men such as around 75% females work for part time job , secondly, they are employed for low
paying job roles. There is problem of industrial segregation as well in which female works works
where working style is as per gendered such as health care organisations, social assistance, etc.
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There is negative impact on performance of individuals, when females are getting lower
income as compared to men, then this gets hurt. They are not satisfied and does not work with
full efficiency. In order to understand changes in better and effective manner. As females are not
getting equal rights, so it gives negative impact on development of society. There is increment in
competition but people are not able to get what they want and actually desired (Fernando Chang-
Muy and Congress, 2015).
When there is inequality in society on the basis of gender, then Australia can not stand in
context of other country. Society is not able to handle competition at global level. There is
dissatisfaction among people residing in society, so this affects image of Australia in negative
manner. There is act for equal remuneration in Australia but still, there is strong gap between pay
on the basis of gender inequality. If any project assigned to group including men and women.,
then there are bright possibilities that performance of women will not up to the mark because
they are dissatisfied regarding pay scale to men for the same work. So performance of group also
affects negatively (Johns, 2017).
3. Suggestion of some policies to address inequality with its expected results
As per above discussion, it is clear that there are some issues which affects growth and
development of Australian society, so it is important to make changes for getting positive impact
on society. There are some suggestions through which above mentioned policies assist in
improving performance of society and individuals as well-
 There must be payment to single parent of children aged 6 years because it is tough for
them to work as well as take care of their children in best and relevant manner. When
policies are framed for single parent, then awareness among people generated and they
also take care of their children in better manner. This ultimately gives positive impact on
growth and development of society.
 For age pension policy, there must requirement of tightening the pension policy, so
lowered income people can achieve it. It is important to check properly documents
arranged by individuals in order to make performance in better and relevant manner.
 There must be change in pay scale policies under specific law and if still organisations
are paying less to women as compared to men, then strict actions has to be taken. This is
the best way through which equity in pay abiding gender is important.
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 There must be some specific platform where women can file case for not getting
appropriate money as compared to men. There must be education program for women, so
they will aware about their rights and powers.
 According to Stilinovic M., (2019) There is must be some specific share in decision
making of an organisation, so equal rights of decision making, leadership can be provided
to them. There must be programs for improving and enhancing women's economic
empowerment.
 At domestic level as well, there must not be violence with fem,ales. In case any case
happens, then there must be provision of they can direct file petition in court. There are
different social organisations working in society for growth and development, they must
create awareness among women by interacting them in person at workplaces, home, etc.
 There must be interview of women and broadcast at televisions who face issues and then
struggle for it to get their rights. This is the best way which is impressive and effective
for getting positive impact on empowerment of women.
4. Some innovative ways to support and assist people on low incomes
There must requirement of some policies such as awareness program which makes it easy
for people to understand policies of government and its positive impact can be made. Program
has to be held at corporate offices so meals as well as females can be educated. According to
Norman Hermant ( 2019 ), there is requirement of government interference, so people can
educate themselves in better and effective manner. There are some innovative ways through
which Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) can implement campaign in better and
effective way. These are discussed as under-
 While planning for creating awareness program, it must be advertised, so people can
connect it with familiarly. This is the best way through which it is easy to understand
them about for what program is being organised.
 Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS) must use social media platform such as
making page on Facebook, paid promotion at Instagram, You Tube, making celebrities
brand ambassador, etc.. These are the ways which are more impressive to create
awareness in society about social cause campaign.
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 There must be sponsorship of different social working organisations as well and funding
for such events are considered under non- taxable income. So this Australian Council of
Social Services (ACOSS) get financial assistance as well.
 When some campaign is organised, then there must be feedback from viewer regarding
analysing how was it and whether they are able to understand it or not. With it is easy to
plan further programs in better and effective manner.
With the help of above mentioned policies, it is easy for Australian Council of Social
Services (ACOSS) can focus on campaigning regarding inequality on the basis of wage gap and
creating awareness for pension plan providing its advantages and importance.
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CONCLUSION
From the above discussion, knowledge about policies of Australian government of
parenting payment and age pension is clear. There is requirement of some measures, through
which it gives positive impact on growth and development of country. There is requirement of
planning operations for reducing gap between gender pay scale with the help of educating
people. There must be use of social media platform to creates awareness among youngsters. This
makes it easy to get positive impact on performance of individuals and groups.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Baldwin, M. (2016). Critical reflection: Opportunities and threats to professional learning and
service development in social work organizations. In Social work, critical reflection and
the learning organization (pp. 51-66). Routledge.
Banks, S. (2016). Everyday ethics in professional life: Social work as ethics work. Ethics and
Social Welfare. 10(1). 35-52.
Ferguson, H. (2016). What social workers do in performing child protection work: evidence from
research into face‐to‐face practice. Child & Family Social Work. 21(3). 283-294.
Fernando Chang-Muy, J. D., & Congress, E. P. (Eds.). (2015). Social work with immigrants and
refugees: Legal issues, clinical skills, and advocacy. Springer Publishing Company.
Hadley, R., & Hatch, S. (2018). Social welfare and the failure of the state: centralised social
services and participatory alternatives. Routledge.
Johns, R. (2017). Using the law in social work. Learning Matters.
Karger, H. (2017). A dream deferred: How social work education lost its way and what can be
done. Routledge.
Karvinen-Niinikoski, S. (2016). Social work supervision: Contributing to innovative knowledge
production and open expertise. In Social work, critical reflection and the learning
organization (pp. 33-50). Routledge.
Knight, C. (2015). Trauma-informed social work practice: Practice considerations and
challenges. Clinical Social Work Journal. 43(1). 25-37.
Martínez, M. A. & et. al. (2015). Analyzing the scientific evolution of social work using science
mapping. Research on Social Work Practice. 25(2). 257-277.
Midgley, J. (2016). Promoting reciprocal international social work exchanges: Professional
imperialism revisited. In Indigenous Social Work around the World (pp. 59-74).
Routledge.
Osei-Hwedie, K., & Rankopo, M. J. (2016). Developing culturally relevant social work
education in Africa: The case of Botswana. In Indigenous social work around the
world (pp. 231-246). Routledge.
Osei-Hwedie, K., & Rankopo, M. J. (2016). Developing culturally relevant social work
education in Africa: The case of Botswana. In Indigenous social work around the
world (pp. 231-246). Routledge.
Online
Sheen. V., 2019. Harsh realities of a policy that moves more into poverty. [Online]. Available
through: <https://theconversation.com/harsh-realities-of-a-policy-that-moves-more-into-
poverty-10097>.
The gender pay gap is hurting productivity. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://theconversation.com/the-gender-pay-gap-is-hurting-productivity-76780>.
Stilinovic. M., 2019. How Far Has Australia Come In Terms Of Gender Equality? [Online].
Available through: <https://www.forbes.com/sites/millystilinovic/2017/03/07/how-far-
has-australia-come-in-terms-of-gender-equality/#629243f54eaf>.
Hermant. N., 2019. Parents Next program comes under fire from single mothers who say it
'makes life harder'. [Online]. Available through: <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-
02-01/centrelink-payment-parentsnext-under-fire/10763732>.
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Single Parent Payment: Centrelink Sole Parenting Payment explained. 2019. [Online]. Available
through: <https://www.practicalparenting.com.au/single-parent-payment-centrelink-
sole-parenting-payment-explained>.
Age Pension. 2019. [Online]. Available through: <https://www.dss.gov.au/seniors/benefits-
payments/age-pension>.
Gender Equality In Australia. 2016. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.equalityrightsalliance.org.au/who-we-are/gender-equality-in-australia/>.
Strategies for Assisting Low-Income Families. 2019. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.brookings.edu/research/strategies-for-assisting-low-income-families/>.
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