Family support policy in Australia: the need for a paradigm shift

Australian women show a strong attachment to employment. This article shows that this includes most mothers of pre-school children. However, Australia’s family tax rebate, family income support and children subsidy systems penalise rather than help mothers who work. There needs to be a paradigm shift in these arrangements if the family preferences of most mothers are to be addressed. Such a shift is an essential component of policies which address Australia’s declining birthrate. Copyright. Monash University and the author/s