To inquire into and report on matters relating to welfare dependence of families and outcomes for children, and in conducting the inquiry, the committee:
a.examine the reasons for welfare dependence, with particular focus on why some families require welfare assistance for short periods only and why others become ‘trapped’ in the system;
b.consider:
i.the factors preventing parents from gaining employment;
ii.the impact of intergenerational unemployment on children;
iii.the important role of parents as ‘first teachers’;
iv.a multi-generational approach which assists parents and their children together;
v.the impact, if any, of welfare in creating disadvantage; and
vi.the impact of economic development in different locations and geography;
c.recommend options for:
i.breaking cycles of disadvantage;
ii.measuring the effectiveness of evidence-based interventions;
iii.the improvement of the financial capacity and security of families; and
iv.better coordinating services between tiers of government to support families; and
d.consider any other related matter.