Abstract
In this book, Mendes—who has a formidable reputation in policy research and practice—analyses four policies: Victoria’s Out-of-Home Care programme; the establishment of the first Medically Supervised Injecting Room in Victoria; the abolition of the Australian Government Cashless Debit Card (CDC); and the long struggle to increase the national JobSeeker unemployment payment. Through these cases, he demonstrates how good policy proposals were delayed, and how persistent resistance and advocacy ultimately contributed to their successful adoption. He follows an analytical path that examines why failed policy approaches are maintained and how a reorientation towards human need can lead to appropriate and productive change.
The challenges or resistances come from a range of voices, including international and local research, shifts in political ideas within key major political parties in and out of government, advocates and campaigners. The four case studies are based on important areas for social work practice and provide valuable insight into the importance of social policy for social work practice that seeks to support key vulnerable groups and individuals. These key social policy areas are similar in the level of social and political controversy they provoked. All four were subject to hostility from conservatives and deep and passionate support from social justice groups and individuals. From a social work perspective, they reflect core fields of social justice practice for young people unable to live at home, healthcare support and social justice for illicit drug users, support for people in poverty (especially First Nations people targeted by the CDC) and people outside of normative economic citizenship through unemployment.
With a focus on social work practice and wider social justice and human rights goals, Mendes discusses a general set of principles and action tools for students of policy and advocacy activists who seek to influence and change policies. Drawing on Stachowiak’s (2013) 10 social science theories of change, he discusses three approaches: ‘Large Leaps’ (‘displacement’ of existing policies by new frameworks); ‘policy window’ (opportunity to activate); and ‘Coalition’ building. Mendes also establishes clear guidance for understanding various actors and terms in social policy processes.
Each policy case is analysed in terms of historical and institutional contexts, key debates, chronologies of change, legislative details and narratives of transformation.
It also includes lived experience voices and Mendes’ personal involvement in resistance and change. This is extremely valuable as a way of demonstrating the importance of adherence to social work values and principles as both a policy activist and a social work researcher and scholar. Various ideological differences and voices of political parties surrounding these policies provide astute insights into the policy process.
Mendes concludes the book by pulling together commonalities across the four case studies. In doing so, he mentions again key actors, particularly recognising coalitions outside formal institutions. This is integrated with the roles of social work and social justice action, recognising key organisations, such as the Australian Council of Social Services. Mendes also establishes a well-summarised table of key enablers for policy change (p. 91) that succinctly outlines the central objective of this book as a guide and a set of tools for students and activists. This book is a very important contribution to social policy analysis and social work knowledge on how to work towards positive social change in key sites of social work practice. Each case study provides highly informative insights about four important fields of practice as well as an excellent set of approaches to understanding policy processes and the politics of social change for all students of social work. The book also provides important insights for advocates, activists and researchers seeking to transform policy and services.
