Challenges in Australian Families

This article discusses the challenges faced by Australian families due to high living costs. It explores the impact of these challenges on social policy and practice, the cultural diversity of Australia, and the specific impact on Aboriginal communities. The article also highlights the theoretical and ethical frameworks that guide social workers in addressing these challenges.

Running head: CHALLENGES IN AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES
CHALLENGES IN AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES
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1CHALLENGES IN AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES
Introduction
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it has been estimated that the standards
of living in Australia have been increasing at an alarming rate, resulting in rising costs incurred
during procurement of basic commodities, services and products. Such high costs and standards
of living not only influence decisions underlying the daily lives of citizens, but also heavily
determine the functioning and efforts of social workers as well as the implementation of policy
frameworks aimed at improving the social wellbeing of communities and nations (Western &
Tomaszewski, 2016). The following paragraphs of this paper will aim to shed light on the issue
of high living cost in Australia as per the political, cultural and social diversity of Australia, the
impact of this challenge on social policy and practice, the ethical and theoretical frameworks
which will guide social workers to address this challenge and the impact of this challenging issue
of high living cost on Aboriginal communities of Australia.
Discussion
Political, Cultural and Social Diversity
As postulated by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there is a need increase taxes paid by
income at rates of 2 to 2.5 % for the purpose of achieving the rising standards of living, as well
as across basic commodities required for daily life such as transport services and fuel. While
high rates of living may be a reflection of positive economical growth across the nation, such
increments are associated with increasing difficulties in terms of affordability since the rise in in
the daily wages of citizens are not as high as the reported rising costs of living. Additionally he
high costs of living may result in financial hardships across socially disadvantaged communities

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hence leading to disparities across the nation in terms of overall achievement of social wellbeing
(Lee, Kane, Ramsey, Good & Dick, 2016).
Prior to addressing the challenging issue of high cost and standards of living which are
expensive in Australia, there is need to first, address the diversity of the nation. Australia is a
country of diverse and cultural background, comprising of citizens belonging to not only from
native Australian communities but also from Indigenous populations such as the Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander communities (Bohingamu Mudiyanselage et al., 2017). Additionally, the
cultural diversity of Australia also comprises of individuals from various ethnic communities
such as, Indians, Chinese, German, Scottish, English, Irish, Italian and Chinese. While the high
numbers of ethnic groups reflect the high cultural diversity of the nation, the prevalence of the
same can result in disparities in achieving positive outcomes of social wellbeing. It is worthwhile
to note that individuals belonging to culturally diverse communities, varied from mainstream
Australia culture are often at a disadvantage (Nghiem, Khanam, Vu & Tran, 2019). This is due
to the fact that issues like cultural discrimination, language barriers and newly acquired
immigrant status results in reduced accessibility to employment, leading to reduced acquisition
of financial resource, low income and a difficulty to meet high costs of living. Hence, this
reflects the key association between cultural diversity and challenges to social wellbeing in the
form of culturally diverse people being unable to keep up with the rising costs of living in
Australia (Rosewall & Shoory, 2017).
It is also worthwhile note that the population of Australia consists of multiple social
groups, diverse from each other. These include groups such as children, adolescents, adults and
the elderly. Of these, social groups such as the elderly, chronically ill as well as individuals who
are unemployment must be addressed with greater priority (Whiteford, 2017). A reported by

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ABC News, social groups such as the elderly receiving pensions as well as the ill, poor, disabled
or the unemployed, are negatively affected financially, since the economic resources acquired
from pensions and as welfare payments are far less in comparison to the rising costs of living
(ABC News, 2019). Further, the economic difficulties of these socially diverse groups are further
aggravated since their socially disadvantaged status, limits their access to a stable income and
hence, makes it unable to them to adequately live a life of comfort and financial security in the
face of high costs of living (Mendes, 2017).
The political diversity in Australia has been met with significant criticism in recent times,
with the claim there remains a dearth of political leaders hailing from immigrant or Aboriginal
communities. This can result in key disparities in the achievement of overall social wellbeing
across the nation amidst the emerging challenge of high costs of living, since an absence of
political representation of ethnically diverse groups results in inequalities in terms of social
welfare policies and equitable distribution of commodities and public health resources (Ahlquist,
2017). Additionally, a disparities in social wellbeing due to high costs of living can further
coexist due to diversity in lifestyle behavior and economy, as observed in the variations in terms
Cost of Living Index. According to the Index, costs of living in Melbourne have risen to 64,
Adelaide to 58, Cairns to 69, Hobart to 82 and Canberra to 103, respectively. However, stability
was observed in some cities, such as the costs of living estimated to be 56 in Perth, 93 in
Brisbane and 68 in Darwin. Hence, on a national level, inequities in social wellbeing across
communities residing in various cities are bound to exist in terms of high costs of living (ABC
News, 2019).

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Social Work and Policy Practice
A key requisite of social work and welfare is the formulation and implementation of
policies and services aimed at achievement of social welfare. Despite the efficiency in term of
design or usage of comprehensive theoretical frameworks, the success of a policy or public
health service lies in its accessibility to people across various walks of life. In a situation of high
costs of living, coupled with social disadvantages of chronic illness, remote residence, ageing,
immigrant status, poverty and Indigenous identity, a beneficial policy or social service targeting
social welfare may not be affordable or accessible to certain communities. This results in
disparities of policy benefits and resources, inequities in social wellbeing and hence, an overall
negative impact of high living costs on the practice of social work and policies (Daly &
Ferragina, 2018).
Theoretical and Ethical Frameworks
While working with a number of individuals, groups and communities, social workers are
required to adhere to a number of theoretical frameworks for the purpose of navigating their
duties. One of these include adopting theoretical frameworks of person centered and client
centered approaches. This necessitates social workers to encourage direct participation of
communities and individuals in public health campaigns and policies so as to incorporate their
individualized needs in the development of their social wellbeing plan. Hence, prior to
implementation of public health or social welfare services, social workers must take into account
the various hardships and personalized aspects of the client, such as income, cultural preferences
and even affordability in terms of costs of living (Turner, 2017). Additionally, social workers
must also adhere to a strengths based theory where social work and practice must be directed
towards developing the strengths of individuals and using the same to empower their

5CHALLENGES IN AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES
achievement of social wellbeing. Further, social workers must engage in anti oppressive practice
and ensure that no community is discriminated or exploited or oppressed based on their caste,
gender, race or healht condition (Ellis, 2018). In terms of ethical frameworks, social workers
must also adhere to the Code of Ethics formulated by the Australian Association of Social
Workers, which necessitates practicing of culturally responsive social work, respect for the needs
and preferences of the person, such as difficulties associated with high costs of living and
deliverance of social work in alignment with basic human rights and dignity of the individual
(Australian Association of Social Workers., 2019).
Impact on Aboriginals
Such high standards of living are estimated to result in negative health consequences as
well as unfavorable financial outcomes and hence, decreased achievement of social wellbeing,
across citizens belonging to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This is due to the
fact that such Indigenous communities generally reside in rural areas with reduced accessibility
to employment and financial resources as well as reduced accessibility to the benefits offered by
social welfare policy frameworks (Altman, 2018). Further, key issues in achieving employment
can also be associated with social barriers such as language, stigma and discrimination - all of
which contribute to reduced income, reduced standards of living and an increasing emergence of
loss of social wellbeing and increased societal disparities amidst a background of high costs of
living (Smith, 2018). Hence, social workers as well as organizations engaged in working with
diverse communities as well as formulation of social policies, but adopt culturally competent
approaches and hence, ensure that the unique needs of Aboriginal families are met adequately.
High costs of living are estimated to negatively impact Aboriginal communities and hence, social
welfare workers and organizations as well as national governmental bodies must seek to enhance

6CHALLENGES IN AUSTRALIAN FAMILIES
affordability and accessibility through provision of subsidies as well as establishment of
educational, healthcare, employment and public services in such areas to assist such groups in
combating high costs of living (Hamdullahpur, Jacobs & Gill, 2017).
Conclusion
Hence, it can be observed that Australia is currently overcome with a challenge of high
costs of living. While the rising costs of living may reflect high rates of economic progress, the
same can result in disparities in terms of overall achievement of social wellbeing, for culturally
diverse groups, social groups like the elderly, the poor, the unemployed and the chronically ill.
Further issues in social welfare disparities in terms of high costs of living can occur across
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities due to their reduced political representation as
well as reduced accessibility in terms of employment and sources of income. To conclude, in
order to address negative impacts on social policy implementation, social workers must hence
seek to address these needs by formulating comprehensive, patient centered policies and public
health services.

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