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Dr Megan Blaxland

Dr Megan Blaxland

Senior Lecturer

BSocSc (Hons) ¹ú²ú¾«Æ·, PhD, USyd.

Arts, Design & Architecture
Social Policy Research Centre

Dr Megan Blaxland, B Soc Sci (Hons), PhD, is a Senior Research Fellow at the Social Policy Research Centre. Her research aims to improve the policies and services that support Australian families experiencing adversity. Her research focuses on the community services sector and how to maintain a robust and responsive system. Dr Blaxland specialises in early childhood education and care (ECEC) policy and practice, and how to ensure marginalised families can successfully navigate services, systems, and subsidies. She has extensive experience designing, conducting and analysing complex multi-site qualitative research.

Research Summary

Family policy, low income families, early childhood education and care, child care, family day care.
Phone
+61 2 9385 7834
E-mail
m.blaxland@unsw.edu.au
Location
208 Goodsell Building
  • Book Chapters | 2024
    Skattebol J; Blaxland M, 2024, 'CONCEPTUALIZING CHALLENGING CHILDHOODS: Contemporary Models and Frameworks for Addressing Vulnerability', in The Routledge Handbook on the Influence of Built Environments on Diverse Childhoods, pp. 23 - 35,
    Book Chapters | 2022
    Cortis N; Blaxland M; Adamson E, 2022, 'Quality and marketised care: The case of family day care', in Designing Social Service Markets: Risk, Regulation and Rent-Seeking, ANU Press, pp. 39 - 70,
    Book Chapters | 2022
    Cortis N; Blaxland M; Adamson E, 2022, 'Quality and marketised care: The case of family day care', in Meagher G; Stebbing A; Perche D (ed.), Designing Social Service Markets: Risk, Regulation and Rent-Seeking, ANU Press, Canberra, pp. 39 - 70,
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Blaxland M; Shang X; Fisher KR, 2018, 'Women and care in China', in Handbook on Gender and Social Policy, Edward Elgar Publishing,
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Blaxland M; Shang X; Fisher KR, 2018, 'Women and care in China', in Shaver S (ed.), Handbook of Gender and Social Policy, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK, pp. 430 - 447,
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Fisher KR; Shang X; Blaxland M, 2017, 'Disability and welfare services', in Handbook of Welfare in China, Edward Elgar Publishing, pp. 252 - 265,
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Fisher KR; Shang X; Blaxland M, 2017, 'Disability and welfare services', in Carillo B; Hood J; Kadeza P (ed.), Handbook of Welfare in China, Edward Elgar, pp. 252 - 265,
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Galea NR; Rogan A; Blaxland M; Powell A; Chappell L; Dainty A; Loosemore M, 2017, 'A new approach to studying gender in construction', in Emuze F; Smallwood J (ed.), Valuing People in Construction, Routledge, Abingdon, pp. 113 - 129,
    Book Chapters | 2010
    Blaxland M, 2010, 'Mothers and mutual obligation: policy reforming the good mother', in Goodwin S; Huppatz K (ed.), The Good Mother: Contemporary Motherhoods in Australia, Sydney University Press, Sydney, pp. 131 - 151,
  • Edited Books | 2022
    Perche D; Meagher G; Stebbing A, (eds.), 2022, Designing social service markets: Risk, regulation and rent-seeking, ANU Press, Canberra,
    Edited Books | 2018
    Shaver S, (ed.), 2018, Handbook of Gender and Social Policy, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK and Northampton MA, USA,
  • Journal articles | 2023
    CORTIS N; BLAXLAND M; CHARLESWORTH S, 2023, 'Care theft: Family impacts of employer control in Australia's retail industry', Critical Social Policy,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Fisher K; Purcal C; Blaxland M; Robinson S; Quan Farrant F; Kayess R; Edwards Y, 2023, 'Factors that help people with disability to self-manage their support', Disability and Society, 39, pp. 1821 - 1839,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Fisher KR; Cortis N; Shang X; Blaxland M, 2023, 'Chinese and Australian Neoliberal Policy Responses to Risks in Social Service Purchasing', Social Policy and Society, pp. 1 - 16,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Skattebol J; Adamson E; Blaxland M, 2023, 'Serving families who face economic and related adversities: the ‘5 As’ of effective ECEC service delivery', Frontiers in Education, 8,
    Journal articles | 2023
    Storer D; Lafferty L; Graham S; Murphy D; Rance J; Brener L; Seale H; Hammoud MA; Prestage G; Beadman M; Gardner K; Blaxland M; Bolt R; Caruana T; Philpot S; Rule J; Bryant J, 2023, 'Perceptions of COVID-19 Vaccines: Lessons from Selected Populations Who Experience Discrimination in the Australian Healthcare System', Health & Social Care in the Community, 2023, pp. 1 - 10,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Blaxland M; Skattebol J; Hamilton M; Van Toorn G; Thomson C; Valentine K, 2022, 'From being at risk to being a risk : Journeys into parenthood among young women experiencing adversity', Families, Relationships and Societies, 11, pp. 321 - 339,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Graham S; Blaxland M; Bolt R; Beadman M; Gardner K; Martin K; Doyle M; Beetson K; Murphy D; Bell S; Newman CE; Bryant J, 2022, 'Aboriginal peoples' perspectives about COVID-19 vaccines and motivations to seek vaccination: a qualitative study', BMJ Global Health, 7, pp. e008815,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Robinson S; Blaxland M; Fisher K; Johnson K; Kuang C; Graham A; Neale K, 2020, 'Recognition in relationships between young people with cognitive disabilities and support workers', Children and Youth Services Review, 116, pp. 105177,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Blaxland M; Fisher KR; Shang X, 2015, 'Transitional and Developmental Challenges for Chinese Social Policy', Asian Social Work and Policy Review, 9, pp. 1 - 2,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Pan R; Mao L; He N; Zhang J; Chen K; Liao C; Tang X; Gong X; Blaxland M; De Wit J, 2015, 'Factors associated with establishment-based female sex workers accessing health care services in Shanghai', AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV, 27, pp. 688 - 692,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Zhong L; Blaxland M; Zuo T, 2015, 'Without Rice, Even the Cleverest Housewife Cannot Cook: Sustainable Livelihoods Research in a Poor Chinese Village', Asian Social Work and Policy Review, 9, pp. 3 - 17,
    Journal articles | 2014
    Blaxland M; Shang X; Fisher KR, 2014, 'People Oriented: a New Stage of Social Welfare Development in China', Journal of Social Service Research, 40, pp. 508 - 519,
    Journal articles | 2013
    Blaxland M, 2013, 'Street-level Interpellation: How Government Addresses Mothers Claiming Income Support', Journal of Social Policy, 42, pp. 783 - 797,
    Journal articles | 2011
    Fisher KR; Shang X; Blaxland M, 2011, 'Introduction: moving towards human rights based social policies in China', Social Policy and Society, 10, pp. 67 - 70,
    Journal articles | 2011
    Fisher KR; Shang X; Blaxland M, 2011, 'Review Article: human rights based social policies challenges for China', Social Policy and Society, 10, pp. 71 - 77,
    Journal articles | 2011
    Smyth C; Blaxland M; Cass B, 2011, ''So that's how I found out I was a young carer and that I actually had been a carer most of my life'. Identifying and supporting hidden young carers', Journal of Youth Studies, 14, pp. 145 - 160,
    Journal articles | 2010
    Craig L; Mullan K; Blaxland M, 2010, 'Parenthood, policy and work-family time in Australia 1992--2006', Work Employment and Society, 24, pp. 27 - 45,
    Journal articles | 2008
    Cass B; Blaxland M; Smyth C, 2008, '‘So that’s how I found out I was a young carer and that I actually had been a carer most of my life.’ Identifying and supporting hidden young carers', Family Tax Benefit Part B: Where to from here?
    Journal articles |
    Cass B; Smith C; Hill T; Blaxland M; Hamilton M, 'Young Carers in Australia:Understanding the Advantages and Disadvantages of Their Care Giving', SSRN Electronic Journal,
  • Working Papers | 2008
    Brennan DJ; Press F; Blaxland M; Purcal C; Ner S, 2008, Building an International Research Collaboration in Early Childhood Education and Care: Background Materials for a Workshop Funded by the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY), SPRC, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ·, Sydney,
  • Reports | 2024
    Naidoo Y; Blaxland M; Wong M; Katz I, 2024, Uniting Families Report 2024, Uniting NSW.ACT, Sydney,
    Reports | 2023
    Blaxland M; Giuntoli G; Katz I, 2023, Evaluation of SDN Family Preservation Program. Final report, Social Policy Research Centre
    Reports | 2023
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2023, At the precipice: Australia’s community sector through the cost-of-living crisis, findings from the Australian Community Sector Survey., ACOSS, Sydney,
    Reports | 2023
    Giuntoli G; Blaxland M; Katz I, 2023, Evaluation of SDN Family Preservation Program. Interim report, Social Policy Research Centre
    Reports | 2022
    Blaxland M; Bryant J; Kristy G; Beadman M; Bolt R; Doyle M; Graham S; Newman C; Murphy D; Bell S; Beetson K; Wilms J; Penning K, 2022, Rapid qualitative assessment of COVID health needs in three NSW Aboriginal communities: Method and data report site 3,
    Reports | 2022
    Bryant J; Blaxland M; Gardner K; Beadman M; Bolt R; Doyle M; Graham S; Newman C; Murphy D; Bell S; Beetson K; Wilms J, 2022, Rapid qualitative assessment of COVID-19 health needs in a regional NSW Aboriginal community: report 3,
    Reports | 2022
    Carroll M; Giuntoli G; Baxter J; Blaxland M; Katz I, 2022, Disability Inclusion Program Evaluation. Interim report, Social Policy Research Centre
    Reports | 2022
    Cortis N; Blaxland M; Adamson E, 2022, Counting the Costs: Sustainable funding for the ACT community services sector,
    Reports | 2022
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2022, Carrying the costs of the crisis: Australia’s community sector through the Delta outbreak, ACOSS, Sydney,
    Reports | 2022
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2022, Helping people in need during a cost-of-living crisis: findings from the Australian Community Sector Survey, ACOSS, Sydney,
    Reports | 2022
    Giuntoli G; Blaxland M; Carroll M; Baxter J; Katz I, 2022, Disability Inclusion Program Evaluation. Final report, Social Policy Research Centre
    Reports | 2021
    Blaxland M; Bryant J; Gardner K; Beadman M; Bolt R; Doyle M; Graham S; Newman C; Murphy D; Bell S; Beetson K; Wilms J, 2021, Rapid qualitative assessment of COVID-19 health needs in urban Sydney Aboriginal communities: report 2, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Centre for Social Research in Health, Sydney,
    Reports | 2021
    Blaxland M; Cortis N, 2021, Valuing Australia’s community sector: Better contracting for capacity, sustainability and impact, ACOSS, Sydney,
    Reports | 2021
    Bryant J; Bolt R; Blaxland M; Gardner K; Beadman M; Doyle M; Graham S; Newman C; Murphy D; Bell S; Beetson K; Wilms J, 2021, Perspectives of COVID vaccines among Aboriginal people living in western Sydney, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Centre for Social Research in Health, Sydney,
    Reports | 2021
    Cortis N; Blaxland M; Charlesworth S, 2021, Challenges of work, family and care for Australia’s retail, online retail, warehousing and fast food workers, Sydney,
    Reports | 2021
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2021, Meeting community needs in difficult times: experience of Australia’s community sector, ACOSS, Sydney,
    Reports | 2021
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2021, Meeting demand in the shadow of the Delta outbreak: Community Sector experiences, ACOSS, Sydney,
    Reports | 2021
    Giuntoli G; Carroll M; Blaxland M; Baxter J; Katz I, 2021, Disability Inclusion Program Evaluation. Project plan, Social Policy Research Centre
    Reports | 2021
    Skattebol J; Blaxland M; Adamson E, 2021, The Five Aspects of Effective Engagement in Early Childhood Education: Approachability, Acceptability, Availability, Affordability, Appropriateness, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney,
    Reports | 2020
    Blaxland M; Bryant J; Gardner K; Beadman M; Bolt R; Doyle M; Graham S; Newman C; Murphy D; Bell S; Beetson K; Wilms J; Penning K, 2020, Rapid qualitative assessment of COVID-19 health needs in urban Sydney Aboriginal communities: report 1, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Centre for Social Research in Health, Sydney,
    Reports | 2020
    Blaxland M; Fisher K; Purcal C; Robinson S; Frances QF; Pearson Gotting M; Kayess R, 2020, National Disability Insurance Scheme: People who self manage their NDIS plan, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney, ,
    Other | 2020
    Cortis N; Blaxland M; Breckenridge J; valentine K, 2020, Datasets - National Survey of the Family and Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Workforces Dataverse, ,
    Reports | 2020
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2020, Australia's Community Sector and COVID-19: Supporting Communities Through the Crisis, ACOSS, Sydney,
    Reports | 2020
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2020, Challenges for Australia’s Community Sector: ERO supplementation, fair funding for fair pay, ACOSS, Sydney
    Other | 2020
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2020, Dataset - Australian Community Sector Survey 2019, Australian Data Archive, ,
    Reports | 2020
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2020, The profile and pulse of the sector: Findings from the 2019 Australian Community Sector Survey, ACOSS, Sydney,
    Reports | 2020
    Li B; Shang X; Cui Y; Blaxland M, 2020, Migration, urbanisation, climate change and children in China—issues from child rights perspective, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney,
    Reports | 2020
    Skattebol J; Hamilton M; Thomson C; Blaxland M; MacAndrew S, 2020, Housing: Stories of resourcefulness, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney,
    Reports | 2020
    Skattebol J; Hamilton M; Thomson C; Blaxland M; valentine K; MacAndrew S, 2020, Aftercare: Stories of resourcefulness, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney,
    Reports | 2020
    Skattebol J; Hamilton M; Thomson C; Blaxland M; valentine K; MacAndrew S, 2020, Education: Stories of resourcefulness, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney, ,
    Reports | 2020
    Thomson C; Blaxland M; Skattebol J; Hamilton M; valentine K, 2020, Stories of housing and home: A snapshot from the Stories of Resourcing and Resourcefulness project, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney,
    Reports | 2019
    Baxter J; Bray R; Carroll M; Hand K; Gray M; Katz I; Skattebol J; Blaxland M, 2019, Child Care Package Evaluation: Early monitoring report.
    Reports | 2019
    Blaxland M; Skattebol J; Thomson C; Hamilton M; valentine K, 2019, Stories of educational engagement among young people with complex needs: A snapshot from the Stories of Resourcing and Resourcefulness project, Social Policy Research Centre, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Sydney, Sydney,
    Reports | 2019
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2019, Demand for Community Services Snapshot 2019, ACOSS, Sydney
    Reports | 2019
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2019, Training and workforce development in Specialist Homelessness Services, SPRC, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Sydney
    Reports | 2019
    Skattebol J; Hamilton M; Thomson C; Blaxland M; valentine K, 2019, Stories of aftercare services and support needs after leaving care: A snapshot from the Stories of Resourcing and Resourcefulness project, Social Policy Research Centre, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Sydney, Sydney, SPRC Report 11/19,
    Reports | 2018
    Cortis N; Blaxland M; Breckenridge J; valentine K; Mahoney N; Chung D; Cordier R; Chen Y; Green D, 2018, National Survey of Workers in the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Sectors, Social Policy Research Centre, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Sydney, Sydney,
    Reports | 2017
    Blaxland M; Adamson E, 2017, Comparative Perspectives on Family Day Care: Structure, Regulation, and Research Gaps, Social Policy Research Centre, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Sydney, Sydney, 06/17, ,
    Reports | 2017
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2017, Workforce Issues in Specialist Homelessness Services, Social Policy Research Centre, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Sydney, Sydney, 08/17,
    Reports | 2017
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2017, Workforce Issues in the NSW Community Services Sector, Social Policy Research Centre, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Sydney, Sydney, 07/17,
    Reports | 2017
    Robinson S; Graham A; Fisher KR; Meltzer A; Blaxland M; Johnson K, 2017, Preventing abuse and promoting personal safety in young people with disability,
    Reports | 2016
    Blaxland M; Adamson EA; Cortis N, 2016, Perspectives on quality in Australian family day care, Social Policy Research Centre, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Australia, Sydney, SPRC Report, 01/16, ,
    Reports | 2016
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2016, The State of Tasmania’s Community Service Sector, 2015, Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales,
    Reports | 2016
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2016, The State of the Community Service Sector in the Australian Capital Territory, 2016, Social Policy Research Centre, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ· Australia, Sydney, SPRC Report 19/16, ,
    Reports | 2015
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2015, State of the Community Service Sector in NSW 2015, Social Policy Research Centre, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ·, Sydney, SPRC Report 07/2015, ,
    Conference Papers | 2015
    Loosemore M; Powell A; Blaxland M; Galea N; Dainty A; Chappell L, 2015, 'Rapid Ethnography in Construction Gender Research', in Raiden AB; Aboagye-Nimo E (ed.), Proceedings of the 31st Annual ARCOM Conference, Association of Researchers in Construction, Lincoln, UK, pp. 1271 - 1280, presented at 31st Annual ARCOM Conference, Lincoln, UK, 07 September 2015 - 09 September 2015,
    Reports | 2015
    Thompson A; Blaxland M; valentine K; Sawrikar P, 2015, Co-design and Family Agency Capacity Research Project: Final Report, Social Policy Research Centre, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ·, Sydney, SPRC Report 1/2015,
    Reports | 2014
    Cortis N; Blaxland M, 2014, The state of the community service sector in New South Wales 2014, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ·, Council of Social Service of New South Wales, SPRC Report, 4/2014, ,
    Reports | 2014
    Cortis N; Blaxland, M ; Brennan, D ; Adamson, E , 2014, Family Day Care at the Crossroads: Quality and Sustainability in Uncertain Times, Social Policy Research Centre, NSW Family Day Care Association, 24/2014, ,
    Reports | 2014
    Jenkins BL; Blaxland M; Adamson E; Brennan D; Purcal C; Skattebol J, 2014, Insights into child care and early education: Dandenong and surrounds, Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney, SPRC Report Series, 5/2014,
    Reports | 2014
    Skattebol J; Blaxland M; Brennan D; Adamson E; Purcal C; Hill T; Jenkins B; Williams F, 2014, Families at the Centre: What do low income families say about care and education for their young children?, Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney, SPRC Report Series, SPRC 28/14,
    Reports | 2013
    Adamson E; Brennan D; Blaxland M; Jenkins BL; Purcal C; Skattebol J, 2013, Insights into early child care and education: Elizabeth Grove,
    Reports | 2013
    Jenkins BL; Adamson E; Blaxland M; Brennan D; Purcal C; Skattebol J, 2013, Insights into child care and early education: Fitzroy, 23/2013,
    Reports | 2013
    Purcal C; Adamson E; Blaxland M; Brennan D; Jenkins BL; Skattebol J, 2013, Insights into child care and early education: Marrickville, Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney, 24/2013,
    Reports | 2013
    Purcal C; Adamson E; Brennan D; Blaxland M; Jenkins BL; Skattebol J, 2013, Insights into child care and early education: Caboolture, Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney, SPRC Report Series, 21/2013,
    Reports | 2009
    Blaxland M; Mullan K; Craig L, 2009, Australian Work and Family Policy 1992-2006, Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney, SPRC Report, 3/09,
    Conference Papers | 2009
    Blaxland M, 2009, 'Welfare to work activity agreements, or how to reduce mothers’ autonomy by requiring they do what they are already doing', in Proceedings from the ASPC, SPRC, ¹ú²ú¾«Æ·, presented at Australian Social Policy Conference: An Inclusive Society? Practicalities and Possibilities, Sydney, 08 July 2009 - 10 July 2009,
    Reports | 2009
    Brennan D; Blaxland M; Tannous K, 2009, A Strategic Assessment of the Children’s Services Industry, Government of South Australia, Adelaide,
    Reports | 2009
    Cass B; Smyth C; Hill T; Blaxland M; Hamilton M, 2009, Young carers in Australia: understanding the advantages and disadvantages of their care giving, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Canberra, Social Policy Research Paper, 38,
    Conference Presentations | 2009
    Skattebol J; Blaxland M; Purcal C; Brennan D, 2009, 'Integrated services: voices and silences from Australian history', presented at NIFeTY, Melbourne
    Conference Papers | 2008
    Smyth C; Cass B; Blaxland M, 2008, 'So that’s how I found out I was a young carer and that I actually had been a carer most of my life.’ Identifying and supporting hidden young carers', in So that’s how I found out I was a young carer and that I actually had been a carer most of my life.’ Identifying and supporting hidden young carers, Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, Australia, presented at Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, Australia, -
    Conference Presentations | 2008
    Smyth C; Cass B; Blaxland M, 2008, 'So that’s how I found out I was a young carer and that I actually had been a carer most of my life.’ Identifying and supporting hidden young carers', presented at Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, Australia, 09 July 2008 - 11 July 2008
    Reports | 2005
    Blaxland M, 2005, Australian and British Welfare to Work Programmes for Parents, One Parent Families, United Kingdom
    Reports | 2005
    Blaxland M, 2005, Mutual obligation for Australian parents in receipt of income support, One Parent Families United Kingdom