Join us for the launch of this important research on how the $550 per fortnight Coronavirus Supplement and the temporary suspension of mutual obligations influenced the time use and wellbeing of people receiving social security payments.

These unprecedented policy shifts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia provided an opportunity to examine the outcomes of a more supportive and caring social security system compared with pre-pandemic settings.

The primary research questions were:

• What are the impacts of providing a $550 Coronavirus Supplement to people receiving social security payments?

• What are the impacts of temporarily suspending mutual obligations?

• Did the temporary increase in payments and the suspension of mutual obligations change the way respondents used their time?

• How did the time use of people receiving the Supplement compare with respondents who did not receive the Supplement?

Our special guest speakers include:

• Philip Alston, John Norton Professor of Law and former UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty and Human Rights

• Federal Senator for Western Australia Rachel Siewert (Australian Greens)

• An advocate with lived experience of the social security system.

Presentations will be followed by a Q&A with the presenters and researchers.

A Zoom link will be sent to you upon registration.

Researchers and report authors:

Dr Elise Klein, Australian National University

Professor Kay Cook, Swinburne University of Technology

Susan Maury, Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand

Kelly Bowey, Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare