Welfare without the Welfare: The Intersection of People and Unemployment Policy
Principal Supervisor - Dr Donna Bridges
Co-Supervisor - Dr Wilson Dobud
My research focuses on the experiences of unemployed welfare recipients in Australia, exploring how they navigate the unemployment welfare system and the challenges they experience. It takes a ground-up approach, focusing on the perspectives and lived experiences of welfare recipients, whose voices are often overlooked in policy design and public debate.
The research will examine the gap between the lived realities of welfare recipients and the ways these realities are represented in policy and governance structures. It will explore how the theories of neoliberalism and paternalism shape unemployment welfare policies and practices, and how these influence recipients' interactions with the system. It will also examine how these frameworks impact health, well-being, daily life, employment, social participation, and future aspirations.
The research aims to build knowledge that can contribute to the development of more human-centred and effective policies and practices, supporting dignity, well-being, and genuine pathways to social and economic participation, and working towards reducing socioeconomic disadvantage among unemployed welfare recipients.
I chose to undertake my Doctorate at Charles Sturt University because of its strong commitment to applied research that tackles real-world issues, particularly socio-economic disadvantage.
As an alumnus, having completed my Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Graduate Certificate at CSU, I have developed a deep connection to the university and benefited from consistent academic support throughout my journey. My research, which explores the challenges faced by individuals in disadvantaged communities, is influenced by my own experiences growing up within a cycle of socio-economic disadvantage.
CSU’s practical research focus and commitment to addressing social inequality align closely with my values and research aims, making it the ideal environment to continue my academic and professional development and contribute to meaningful social change.
