Reports and papers
Microfinance and the Household Economy - October 2011 (PDF 1.14MB)
This research report found that people on the poverty line are good money managers but must constantly juggle finances to make ends meet.
People interviewed for the research reported that getting a small loan gave them the confidence and breathing space to embark on a course of education, training and employment or simply look after the needs of their family.
Microfinance therefore functions as an important stepping stone in people overcoming financial hardship. But it is most effective as one element of a multi-dimensional reponse to poverty and financial inequality.
This important research was funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) as part of their national commitment to microfinance in Australia.
Caught Short - September 2011 (PDF 563KB)
The Caught Short Interim Report is an Australian Research Council report by RMIT University and the University of Queensland with funds provided by the National Australia Bank and Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service. The research investigates the lived experiences of 112 individuals borrowing small, short-term loans from non-bank companies in Queensland, NSW and Victoria.
The report reveals repeat borrowing as a frequent occurrence with payday loans:
- 44% of borrowers interviewed discussed a practice of cycling - how they had immediately taken out a new loan once the previous loan had been paid out
- 23% became involved in a spiralling process of refinancing the balance of a partially paid-out loan to start a new loan
- 25% took out two or more parallel loans from the same or different lenders simultaneously.
RMIT produced a video about the launch of the report. View it here.
Filling The Gap - April 2011 (PDF 1.31 MB)
This model addresses a number of long-standing gaps in existing service provisions which make it harder for many women leaving situations of violence to rebuild their lives. The model draws upon extensive primary research commissioned by Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service, in addition to research reports undertaken by a number of community sector and government bodies.
It was developed in consultation with a reference group comprising a range of key sector stakeholders as well as policy and practice experts in the field of family violence. The model recommends complementing existing service provisions to create a systematic response for women and children who require more targeted and longer term support than the current Victorian Integrated Family Violence Service System provides.
Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service, in association with McAuley Community Services for Women, recently released the model for comment from the family violence sector.
And Dr Kathy Landvogt from our Social Policy and Research Unit was recently interviewed about the model on the afternoon show on radio station ABC774. Listen to her interview with Richard Stubbs here.
Educational Dimensions of Poverty - 2011 (PowerPoint 3.18 MB)
This PowerPoint presentation discusses how varying socio-economic status can affect educational outcomes, especially at primary and secondary levels. These outcomes can have long term negative impacts for individuals in terms of accessing life's opportunities, as well as ramifications for communities more widely. It is not a level playing field, but what can be done?
Just Credit - January 2011 (PDF 1.48 MB)
This report and collection of case studies documents the experiences of No Interest Loan Scheme (NILS) and StepUP borrowers with observations by microfinance workers and volunteers to identify further research and practice issues for improving microfinance service.
Smiling for the First Time - September 2010 (7.4MB)
Our research reveals that being in receipt of a government income and having a long-term illness or disability are the strongest predictors of debt. Moreover, the more debts people have the more likely they are to have some form of mental illness. This report finds that there is an interrelationship between poverty, mental illness and debt.
Sudanese Scoping Project - August 2010 (PDF 391.7 KB)
Our project engaged with community sector organisations and members of the Sudanese community to scope the level of need for specialist services for the growing Sudanese population in the Cities of Yarra and Brimbank.
Researching the Gaps November - 2009 (PDF 2.43 MB)
This report examines the needs of women and their children who have experienced long-term domestic violence. Included in the report are interviews with 10 women who were long-term clients of our service; consultations with key family violence stakeholders from government and non-government service providers; interviews and a workshop with our staff; and a national and international literature review.
Under Pressure - 2009 (PDF 7.36MB)
Undertaken in partnership with the Victorian Council of Social Services, RMIT University and emergency relief peak body, ER Victoria, this study examines the demand for emergency relief in Victoria. The project involved the collection of quantitative and qualitative data from 2000 emergency relief recipients and investigated whether increases to the cost of living and Federal Government policies addressing income security contribute to the demand for emergency relief.
Money, Dignity and Inclusion - 2008 (PDF 2.76MB)
This research addresses a concern that the emerging financial literacy strategies, especially those promoted by government, do not speak to the reality of women living on low incomes, and that resources for financial literacy have largely ignored the needs of women living on low incomes.
A Step in the Right Direction: Step Up Loan Program - 2007 (PDF 883.0 KB)
This report describes the progress of the Step UP loan program in addressing financial inclusion, the experiences of the National Austrlia Bank and of Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service's microfinance team in developing a program which meets the real needs of people, and the possibilities for future expansion around Australia. While the report records the processes and the statistics of the loans, the remarkable story is that of the people who are borrowers.
A Balancing Act or Mission Impossible 2006 (PDF 184 KB)
This Occasional Paper examines the issue of employment services provided by Church agencies and the challenges they experience. A strong case can be made for why Church agencies should be involved in the provision of employment services, however, the circumstances and nature of the services delivered under contract involve these agencies in social control. How should they respond? This paper examines the dilemmas, the responses made and some of the alternatives.
A Just Peninsula 2006 (PDF 3.06 MB)
This booklet of articles was written by the local Mornington Peninsula community about their activities supporting a multicultural and socially just Australia. In the booklet, we acknowledge Mornington Peninsula residents' groups and initiatives supporting people from non English-speaking backgrounds, record the stories of the Mornington Peninsula groups and activities supporting intercultural understanding, showcase the variety of ways people are participating in social justice issues and inspire people to become involved.
Critical Financial Capability - 2006 (PDF 495.3 KB)
This Issues Paper aims to contribute to the developing ‘financial literacy' sector by presenting a theoretical framework for financial literacy education that explicitly supports an empowerment philosophy, places ‘financial literacy' within the broad social context of financial inclusion and takes a community development approach to its practice.
Small Loans Big Changes - 2005 (PDF 1.0 MB)
This report describes the impacts for families of receiving a no interest loan. The research records the experience and outcomes for families in their own words and seeks their views on the worth of the program. The story told is one of enhanced connectedness and social participation.