Low income earners and other disadvantaged people will be hit hardest by climate change, with any carbon tax taking a disproportionately large amount out of their budgets, according to research to be presented this week at the Australian Social Policy Conference at UNSW.
Low income earners and other disadvantaged people will be hit hardest by climate change, with any carbon tax taking a disproportionately large amount out of their budgets, according to research to be presented this week at the Australian Social Policy Conference at UNSW.
Michael Raper from the Welfare Rights Centre will call for a "triple E" approach to climate change, incorporating policies that are economically and environmentally responsible, but which are also as equitable as possible.
This is one of 150 papers and three keynote presentations to be delivered at the three-day event, which is hosted by UNSW's Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC). The theme of this year's conference is 'Social Policy through the Life Course: Building Community Capacity and Social Resilience'.
Three internationally renowned researchers will give major speeches including Jeanne Brooks-Gunn, a Professor in Child Development and Education at Columbia University, who will recommend a better mix of early learning programs and policies to help school readiness for children who are disadvantaged. Her research shows that gaps including vocabulary and cognition are seen early - often by three years of age.
The other keynote speakers are Professor Barbara Pocock, Director of the Centre for Work + Life at the University of South Australia ('Governing Work Life Intersections in Australia over the Life Course') and Fiona Williams, a Professor in Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Leeds ('Shifting child-care policies and practices in Western Europe').
On Thursday, four provocative forums will be held concurrently on topics including 'Rethinking Indigenous policies and programs' and 'Australia's demographic challenges'. Participants include some of Australia's top academics and representatives from government and Non-Government Organisations.
Other conference highlights:
For the full program go to the conference website
What: 2007 Australian Social Policy Conference When: 9.30am Wednesday 11th - Friday 13th JulyWhere: UNSW Kensington Campus
For media wishing to attending the conference, or hoping to organise an interview, please contact: Susi Hamilton, UNSW media unit, 9385 1583 or 0422 934 024