Social Inequality and Social Welfare

The human service and welfare systems are meant to support us through life, from early childhood to old age. Yet they may fail to address our real concerns; placing conditions on who can receive social support or managing our needs rather than enabling us to thrive. How have governments attempted to address various social issues and support social groups that have traditionally been marginalised or disadvantaged? This subject tackles these questions by engaging students in a range of case studies related to social inequality. In this context, students will apply their understanding of gender, age, disability, geographic disadvantage, sexuality, and ethnic-migrant status and analyse the approaches and frameworks governments have designed to address inequality through these axes employing a systems approach. Integrating conceptual and programmatic insights, students will develop critical and practical skills necessary to drive systems change in their own policy work.