1. Moving to the Fringe: Vulnerability of Young Families Who Relocate to Non-Metropolitan Areas Wendy Hillman, Karen Healy and Anne Hampshire

2. Background 3 year ARC funded project 3 year ARC funded project Industry Partners Industry Partners –The University of Queensland –Office of Economic and Statistical Research (Queensland Treasury) –The Benevolent Society –Mission Australia

3. Background Four research sites Four research sites –Southern inland Queensland –Southern/Central coastal Queensland –Central coast New South Wales –Outer south western Sydney

5. Choice of Research Sites Consulted with Geographers/Demographers Consulted with Geographers/Demographers Australian Bureau of Statistics census data (2001) Australian Bureau of Statistics census data (2001) Queensland Centre for Population Research (QCPR) Queensland Centre for Population Research (QCPR) Looked at areas of interest to project Looked at areas of interest to project –SLA (Local Statistical Area) formed part of a redefined/newly formed SD (Statistical Division) –Rated each SLA

6. Choice of Research Sites Planning, Information and Forecasting Unit (PIFU) data Planning, Information and Forecasting Unit (PIFU) data OESR data OESR data

7. Creation of Profile of Each Research Site Socioeconomic indexes for areas (SEIFA) – –Index of Advantage/Disadvantage – –Index of Disadvantage –Index of Economic Resources –Index of Education and Occupation (ABS 2001).

8. Creation of Profile of Each Research Site Map other indicators onto SEIFA data  The objective of the profile is to identify areas of relative risk for social exclusion of young families in SLAs across Qld as indicated by:  Index of disadvantage measures – specifically low income, low educational achievement, and high levels of unemployment (possibly also households without motor vehicles) – we intend to use the ABS index of disadvantage.  Family characteristics of disadvantage – specifically the proportion of single parent families  Educational participation – specifically pre-school attendance  Health – Low birth weight, teenage pregnancy (or, specifically, birth rates amongst teenagers), psychiatric hospital admissions.

9. Participants Local service providers Local service providers –Council development/economic officers –Welfare workers –Childcare workers –Teachers –Healthcare workers Young families with children aged 0-8 years Young families with children aged 0-8 years

10. Definitions Young Families Young Families We define young families as one or more primary carer(s) with responsibility(ies) for child(ren) aged 0-8 years of age.

11. Definitions Non-Metropolitan Non-Metropolitan ‘The term non-metropolitan is used to refer to all parts of the country outside of centres with more than 100,000 inhabitants’ (Hugo, G. 2002: 1).

12. Definitions Social Exclusion Social Exclusion The term social exclusion encompasses ‘not only low material means but the inability to participate effectively in economic, social, political and cultural life’ (Green cited in Baum, Stimson, O’Connor, Mullins and Davis 1999:4).

13. Definitions Vulnerability Vulnerability ‘Vulnerability has … two sides: an external side of risk, shocks and stress to which an individual or household is subject; and an internal side which is defenceless, meaning a lack of means to cope without damaging loss’ (Chambers 1989: 1).

14. Definitions Risk Risk Researchers such as Bowes and Hayes (1999) and Werner and Smith (1992) refer to risk as ‘the extent to which people are vulnerable to negative consequences …’ (Farrell 2004: 236).

15. Methodology Construction of profile for research site communities Construction of profile for research site communities Scoping of research sites Scoping of research sites Conduct stakeholder interviews Conduct stakeholder interviews Conduct in-depth interviews with approx 40 young families across four study sites Conduct in-depth interviews with approx 40 young families across four study sites Action Research: Work with stakeholders to identify, implement and evaluate practical policy responses for promotion of the social inclusion of young families in non-metropolitan areas Action Research: Work with stakeholders to identify, implement and evaluate practical policy responses for promotion of the social inclusion of young families in non-metropolitan areas

16. Why Young Families Relocate Perceived better lifestyle Perceived better lifestyle –Rural, non-metropolitan living Enticements/Perceived enhanced opportunities Enticements/Perceived enhanced opportunities –work, leisure, cheaper land/houses Perceived cheaper living conditions Perceived cheaper living conditions - Rent/mortgage, food Perceived anonymity Perceived anonymity –Less surveillance – Centrelink, Police, Child Support Agency, ex-partner(s)/spouse(s)

17. Australian Policy Context Federal government Federal government –Stronger Families and Communities Strategy –National Agenda for Early Childhood New South Wales Government New South Wales Government –Families First Queensland Government Queensland Government –Putting Families First –Queensland Families: Future Directions

18. Factors That Contribute to Vulnerability of Families After Relocation Lack of Services Lack of Services –Child Welfare –Education –Family support –Health Lack of Initial Response to Families Moving to non-Metropolitan Areas – resulting in social exclusion Lack of Initial Response to Families Moving to non-Metropolitan Areas – resulting in social exclusion Cost of Housing Cost of Housing Commuting – cost of petrol, transport, car – lack of local/regional transport Commuting – cost of petrol, transport, car – lack of local/regional transport

19. Conclusion Many families are relocating to non-metropolitan areas due to ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors of economic, social and political origin. Many families are relocating to non-metropolitan areas due to ‘push’ and ‘pull’ factors of economic, social and political origin. Poverty, social exclusion and isolation form part of the daily existence for many of these young families. Poverty, social exclusion and isolation form part of the daily existence for many of these young families. The lack of response from government and welfare agencies contributes to the vulnerability and cohesion of these young families, which in turn, puts them at risk socially, emotionally, economically and physically. The lack of response from government and welfare agencies contributes to the vulnerability and cohesion of these young families, which in turn, puts them at risk socially, emotionally, economically and physically.