Suchergebnisse

This paper discusses ambiguities of mutual obligation at the levels of: defining the new political middle ground, policies for dealing with non‐compliance, the analytical frames that are used to support it, and discourses of contract. It concludes by locating these ambiguities within the cultural anthropological notion of symbol. As a symbol, mutual obligation has the power to confound its critics — criticism of the notion and its inconsistent policy prescriptions is generally not assessed as right or wrong, but rather is rendered irrelevant.

Human services in Australia have gone through major change as part of an international trend towards managerialism and increased use of market mechanisms. Moving Beyond Managerialism aims to open a discussion on constructive responses that recognise and move beyond the realities of the current situation. The first section considers Australia's experience in the context of international trends, noting considerable international common features. Other chapters document consequences of these changes, including the changing identities of human service practitioners, and the changing terrain in which relevant knowledge is constructed and managed. These changes in professional identities and knowledge are linked to new modes of action, and to changes in human service organisations. The final section considers the prospects for pro-active engagement with these changes, so that practitioners, modes of action and human service organisations may best serve the needs of beneficiaries and clients. This book will attract readers in the fields of social policy, social work, welfare studies and politics who have an interest in the impact of managerial and market policies on human services and associated professional practice.