Life Chances

Janet Taylor’s study of young people growing up in Melbourne is part of a longitudinal study undertaken by the Brotherhood of St Laurence which tracked the lives of 167 babies born in 1990. Reminiscent of the Seven Up series, this important study explores many of the key questions which social workers ponder, relating to how individuals develop and in particular how their opportunities are affected by family finances and security of employment and by their access to housing, education, health care and social support. The stories are told mainly in the words of the young people and their families who participated in the study, exploring the challenges which they faced growing up. The Brotherhood of St Laurence was prompted to conduct the study by Bob Hawke’s famous 1987 declaration that “by 1990 no Australian child will be living in poverty”. 25 years later, this is one of the longest studies of its type in Australia. Taylor’s book provides an in-depth exploration into the lives of five of the young people from the inner suburbs of Melbourne who participated in this study; Debbie, Amy, Tom, Sally and Will were visited by interviewers at ages 6 months, 3 years, 5, 6, 11, 15, 18 and 21. Their stories provide illustration of the effects of poverty, family breakdown, the importance of the welfare system and the intergenerational cycle of disadvantage which can be broken by opportunity. These issues are brought to life by the stories of these young people, and the familiarity of the context and the stories will resonate with many readers. On a broader level, these on-going stories provide tangible evidence of the impact of social and economic changes on the lives of individuals and the “life chances” of a generation. Education and a strong connection to significant others emerge as positive influences for the future of these five young people. “Life Chances” provides a fascinating understanding of many of the basic principles of the establishment of the welfare system, whilst teasing out the reality of this in the detail of everyday life. - Glenda Kerridge, Victorian Social Work Connect, August 2015