Subject guides: Policy Studies: Tracing policy history

Tracing policy history

There are many sources that can be used to trace the history of or identify key landmarks in policy development.

The following questions, as examples, require the location of sources which establish the history of a policy area:

What is mutual obligation and how has it shaped government policy on unemployment?
What type of family support payments were made in the 1960s?
How has health policy changed in the last twenty years?
Adequate housing is essential for social inclusion. Compare current government policy on homelessness and supported accommodation with policies in the 1990s.
How has feminism shaped child care provision in Australia?

Researching policy history

Use Library Search or a research database to find books or articles that provide an overview or discuss the history of a policy area.

This may be useful in providing an understanding of policy differences over time and between governments.

Material that provides theoretical consideration of policy and policy change can also be located in these secondary sources.

Try using a keyword search on your topic and include the terms "policy" or "government policy".
e.g.
- homeless* policy australia*
- refugee "government policy" Australia*
Use Advanced library Search and filter by the subject field for a more specific search
- Housing policy Australia
- People With Disabilities Government Policy Australia
- Public Welfare Australia
- Child care Government policy Australia
- Older people care government policy Australia
a research database will help you locate journal articles that discuss or analyse a current policy area. Articles may also discuss differences between the policies of a particular Government or policies for different time periods.
- Click on the Finding articles tab to locate research databases for policy studies.
use a chronology to quickly identify landmarks or changes in policy provisions

Official sources for policy history

Policy information can be sourced from many parliamentary and other official government documents. Consult the Parliamentary, legal and media sections of this guide for additional information and resources. The following all provide access to policy information.

Parliamentary debates - may provide a background to policy decisions or perceived problems with a policy area.
Parliamentary Library publications - access to chronologies,background and research papers on many policy issues
Bills Digest - prepared for parliamentary debates digests provide information relating to Bills (proposed legislation). A digest usually includes purpose and main provisions of a bill and background information on proposed legislation in some cases the digest includes the positions of significant interest groups and press commentary
Parliamentary Committees -access to the reports and papers produced by committees may be useful for policy research. Committees often make recommendations on proposed policy changes or may examine a specific policy.
Official government publications - annual reports and other publication produced by Government Departments and agencies will also help identify policy for a particular government or over a period of time.

Sources for Current Government Policy

Websites for Government Departments and Agencies document current government policies on areas of responsibility. A website may include
- policy statements and media releases, reports and other publications outlining policy, programs and initiatives and campaigns all which relate to a policy area.
- Remember policy is complex, sometimes there will be a report or media release which summarises a specific policy. Frequently policy will be represented not only by publications and statements but also through legislation, programs and initiatives.

Key websites

Australian Policy and History
The Australian Policy & History (APH) Network aims to provide policymakers, the media and the general public with relevant, accessible information about the historical background to current events and issues. We connect historians with those making and commenting on public policy, so that the insights gained from the past can be used to inform decision-making in the present, in turn leading to better outcomes in the future.
Australian Institute of Family Studies
The Australian Government's key research body in the area of family wellbeing. They conduct research to increase the understanding of Australian families and the issues that affect them.

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Publishes articles and factsheets that relate to the history of Australian social policy. For e.g., Herscovitch, (2008) A and Stanton, D. A History of Social Security in Australia. Family Matters. No. 80

Australian Institute of Family Studies. National Child Protection Clearinghouse. History of child abuse and neglect bibliography.

Alan Hayes, Ruth Weston, Lixia Qu and Matthew Gray Families then and now 1980-2010
Australian Bureau of Statistics - Year Books
The Australian Bureau of Statistics publishes annual yearbooks for Australia and the States and Territories. The yearbooks publish information on many aspects of Australia and Australian Society. They can be useful for obtaining information both current and historical on many policy areas including education, income support, health and welfare and for quickly identifying key services and statistics for a specific year.
Australian Journal of Public Administration
The Australian Journal of Public Administration regularly publishes administrative chronicles of each State and periodically the Federal government. Administrative chronicles were published from 1976-1988 and recommenced publication in 1996.
The chronologies outline both administrative changes but also comment on policy administration and implications.

Past and Present

The following reports/publications provide information on services or issues relating to income support policy. All can be located using government websites or Library resources.

Services Australia - Families
The Guide to payments and other information relating to Family income support is available from the website of Services Australia - Families. You can use the link above to locate the government department for your policy area.
Australian Government Sites
Discover a range of information about our government. Here you’ll find lists of Australian departments and agencies, government services, how to contact and engage with government and parliament, where to enrol to vote, how to locate government publications, and how our system of government works.
State Parliaments
Australia has a federal system of government with a national parliament and legislative assemblies and councils (parliaments) in each state and territory. Each state except Queensland has a lower house called the Legislative Assembly or House of Assembly, and an upper house called the Legislative Council. The parliaments of Queensland and the two territories only have a Legislative Assembly.
Select your state or territory for links to their parliaments and to find contact information for members.

Finding Royal Commissions, Committees of Inquiry and House Committee Reports

Royal Commissions, Committees of Inquiry and many reports from House and Senate committees frequently make recommendations on proposed policy changes or may examine a specific policy.

Use the Finding Australian Government Reports Guide to locate indexes for Parliamentary Papers and Royal Commissions.

As well as the Papers available online from Parliamentary websites or in volumes of Parliamentary papers you can locate reports in the Library collection by using Library advance search.

Finding Australian Government Reports
Royal Commissions and Commissions of Inquiry
This list includes all Royal Commissions and Commissions of Inquiry (the nomenclature varies) appointed by the Australian Government from 1902, under the provisions of the Royal Commissions Act 1902. It does not include Royal Commissions appointed by Australian state or territory governments, unless the Australian Government was also involved.