Child Youth and Families Welfare System and Services

INTRODUCTION TO A WELFARE SYSTEM

All throughout history welfare systems directed exclusively towards the betterment of human conditions have been given the utmost importance. The welfare system is the one in which the governing body of a state or a particular geographic location, establishes a series of services under the system, aimed at providing absolute support and security to its residents. Residents primarily involve the children, youth, and families. Most developed and developing countries have welfare systems and services categorized under the system for the individual and social welfare of all. The programs undertaken for providing welfare depends on the governing body and the requirements of the people.

UNDERSTANDING THE WELFARE SYSTEM AND SERVICES

A welfare state or a country is one that has developed a successful welfare system whose policies and services are formed for the ultimate purpose of providing economic and social support to its residents (McKay and Lindberg, 2019). The principles of a welfare system are based on the factors equitable distribution of facilities and services, along with equal distribution of opportunities and wealth. The most noteworthy element of a successful welfare system is the contribution of the services exclusively for people unable to avail themselves. The benefits of a modified welfare system and favourable comparison with other welfare systems have been enjoyed by most Australians since the past few years. The countable factors which define a welfare system are basically the quality and quantity of nutrition available, overall living and working conditions and generic life expectancy rate. In a recent timeline, improvements in welfare services have led to a higher rate of life expectancy in Australia. The federal government analyses and frames national welfare policies and are also managed by the states and territories. In every welfare system the national government influences majority of the financial arrangements with the state and territory being in action. The Australian welfare system evolved because of genuine concern for the general public. The primary services which must be included in a successfully operative welfare system are to provide employment benefits and a considerable amount of base payment. While some system work towards the uplifting of living and working standards, there exists another system too which include healthcare benefits and educational benefits as well. Social security, mandatory insurance programs undertaken by the federal governing body and providing welfare payments are the highlights of a welfare system. The groundwork for a welfare system began since the occurrence of the Great Depression at the huge cost of the condition of poor and working class.

THE WELFARE SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THE WELFARE SYSTEM

The National Framework highlights a pioneering and progressing approach to the well-being of the children. In light of the increasing number of offences against children, the Australian government has come up with services aimed at protecting its children by at large. The state and territory government and the non-government sector as well, through the National Coalition of Child Safety and Well-being have been working hand in hand to produce a comprehensive solution for the protection of Australia’s children. The Fourth Action Plan of 2018-2020 was undertaken to exclusively provide protection and welfare benefits to the children belonging from remote communities (dss.gov.au, 2017). The aim was to keep the aboriginal children connected to their roots, their families, culture and childhood.

Besides a child welfare system, youth welfare must also be given equal attention since adolescent is the crucial growth period which requires maximum benefits for maximum development. A youth-focused system is a basically proactive, adrenaline-driven and developmentally framed system. The Third Action Plan (2015-2018) under the National Framework was undertaken by the state and territory government which included three major strategies aimed towards the Australian Youth: early intervention in the formative years, helping the youth in out-of-home care to fend for their own in adulthood and particularly protecting the children and youth from Indigenous communities (aihw.gov.au, 2017). 

The department involved in providing welfare services to families in Australia has issued family support services with benefits and payment. Governmental organizations and well as the non-governmental ones aim at providing maximum support through grants and funding. New parents and young parents with low-income rate and health issues, unable to provide for their child or children are eligible to benefit from the welfare system. There currently exists 139 welfare services provided for the maximum welfare of the families with children and youth unable to avail for themselves and new services, around 70 of them have been introduced since 2018 (aihw.gov.au, 2017).

AUSTRALIA’S WELFARE SYSTEM STATISTICS

$161 billion was spent by the Australian government for the welfare of its citizen. This count is estimated to be about, $6482 per person (dss.gov.au, 2017).

For elderly citizens, 3 out of 10, that is, 1.2 million people opted for elderly care services.

2.3 million, people aged between 18 to 64 received income supports in 2018 (aihw.gov.au, 2017).

Tracking individual and household determinants are the basis of a welfare system’s progress indicator. The measure of inequality is increasing, which can potentially damage social and economic well-being. Poverty reduction and supply of economic benefits should be the primary concern of the governing body involved in providing welfare services to the underprivileged.

The reforms are done by the Australian government on the welfare system mainly focuses on a simple and sustainable economic support system, growing and strengthening individual and family capability, engaging children, youth, families and individuals to build a healthy community.

REVIEW OF AUSTRALIA’S WELFARE SYSTEM

According to the Australian government’s report on the welfare system, the renewed purpose is to make the system fairer and more effective for the maximum satisfaction of the children, youth and families.  Providing incentives for working-class who are underpaid or not to the level of fair payment, appropriate support for people who aren’t able to work as the general working mass, promote social and economic participation through measures that enable individual and family development, providing both natural and economic sustainability to individuals and families with lower income rate for current and future establishments as well and easy accessibility to understand and deliver efficient welfare system and policies.

REFERENCES

aihw.gov.au, (2017) AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT Available at https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/population-groups/children-youth/reports Accessed on 8th June 2020

aihw.gov.au, (2017) AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT Available at https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/health-welfare-overview/australias-welfare/overview Accessed on 9th June 2020

aihw.gov.au, (2017) AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT Available at https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/australias-welfare-2019-in-brief/contents/table-of-contents Accessed on 7th June 2020

dss.gov.au, (2017) AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT Available at https://www.dss.gov.au/review-of-australias-welfare-system Accessed on 8th June 2020

McKay, F. and Lindberg, R., 2019. The important role of charity in the welfare system for those who are food insecure. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health.