New international evidence suggests that life histories have more important impacts on people’s family lives than the current arrangements in which they are living and that current arrangements are better explained using past dynamics. This group will develop new theories and methodologies to advance the understanding of family change and create new data and foster international collaborations that can enhance development of models for explaining family change. Research in this area will investigate the dynamic nature of the family types in which people live, changes in family formation behaviour and the work-family balance. This research will be aimed at contributing to the advancement of family policy.
Researchers
Dr Ann Evans
Dr Edith Gray
Dr Bina Gubhaju
Professor Bryan Rodgers
Dr Bruce Smyth
Dr Vu Son
PhD candidates
Liz Allen
Annmarie Ashton
Nea-ann Bax
Ha Dao
Alice Falkiner
Helen Moyle
Lan Thai
Maria Vnuk
Projects
Major projects for 2011-14 include:
The Shared Parenting after Separation Study
In many countries, shared-time parenting – where children spend equal or near-equal amounts of time with each parent (also known as 'joint physical custody' or 'dual residence') – is emerging as a new family type following divorce or separation. Since 1 July 2006, courts with family law jurisdiction in Australia have a responsibility, in cases where the presumption of equal shared parental responsibility is not rebutted, to consider making orders for the children to spend equal or else substantial and significant periods of time with each parent where such arrangements are in the children’s best interest and reasonably practicable. The impact of the Australian family law changes is of considerable interest to researchers, policy-makers, practitioners and separated parents themselves. This project explores separated parents’ views about shared-time parenting after separation, and parents’ experiences of different types of arrangements under the new law.
Studies of child support reform
Sweeping changes to the Australian Child Support Scheme were introduced in mid 2008, featuring a dramatically different system for the calculation of child support. The extent to which the new Scheme is ‘fairer’ and will improve the wellbeing of children and their families needs to be tested. This study aims to collect information from separated parents about their opinions and experiences of the new child support system, and the ways in which changes to the system may have impacted on their families. Prior to the introduction of the new child support formula on 1 July 2008, a large random sample of separated parents registered with the Child Support Agency was interviewed. Follow-up interviews have been undertaken with respondents who agreed to be re-contacted, to see how the new scheme is working and to explore its impact on families. A new group of parents, separated since July 2008, is being interviewed to introduce some post-reform experiences to the research program (funded by ARC Linkage, Department of Human Services, FAHCSIA).
This project has been completed.
Studies of post-separation parenting
The Family Court often decides whether to allow a parent to relocate with children despite opposition from the other parent. A parliamentary review of the family law system conducted in 2003 lamented the lack of research about the aftermath of decisions about children. This project will begin to fill this gap by exploring experiences after relocation decisions. Interviews will be conducted with affected parents and, importantly, children. The resulting analysis will inform future decision-making on relocation after separation. It will also contribute to the debate about the development of a more flexible and responsive family law system (ARC-funded).
Studies of fertility, marriage and divorce in Australia, including work and family issues and the life courses of Australians
Studies here include the development of a new methodology for monitoring fertility trends and its application to the forecasting of the number of births in Australia, sex preference for children in Australia, living apart together relationships, non-marital childbearing, pathways to the first birth, repartnering following separation, contraception in Australia, analysis of HILDA and the Negotiating the Life Course surveys. The group oversees the Australian component of the multi-national survey, Generations and Gender. (funded by ARC, FAHCSIA)
Do Australian parents want both a son and a daughter?
Negotiating the Life Course
Repartnering in Australia
Childbearing within cohabiting unions in Australia
Living apart together relationships
Studies of Australian children including measures of disadvantage, and obesity
The principal source of information is the Longitudinal Study of Australia’s children (funded by NHMRC, ARC, FAHCSIA).
Teenage pregnancy
This project explores the education, family formation and labour force outcomes of teenage mothers; uses longitudinal methods to analyse the effect of a teenage pregnancy on the life course of individuals of different generations, and; examines through in-depth interviews the experience of social inclusion and exclusion for young women in the years following a teenage birth. This multi-method approach will be used to determine the most appropriate forms of support required to garner better outcomes for teenage mothers and their children (ARC-funded).
Studies of the family in history
These include fertility decline in 19th century Tasmania and 19th century Lancashire and genealogical studies in China.
Further information
Professor Bryan Rodgers
E: bryan.rodgers@anu.edu.au
T: +61 2 6125 0399