Treating Families Fairly is an alliance of child and family service organisations, peak bodies and academics advocating for policies that uphold the rights of children and families, and speaking out against policies that cause harm, with a particular focus on social security and welfare conditionality.

The alliance was formed in 2017 in response to concerns that conditional welfare policies at the federal level were having a negative impact on children and families and the delivery of state-funded services. You can read our purpose statement.

Our aim is for a more equitable society that supports the wellbeing and development of children and their families. The alliance focuses on the intersections between poverty, child and family wellbeing, and government approaches to social problems, and advocates for social security reform.

The choices that government make about social security and welfare have a profound impact on the lives of the people that the child and family services sector support in Victoria. We know that alleviating poverty and stress are the keys to improving outcomes for children, young people and families. Policy areas that the alliance has considered include:

• The adequacy of social security payment rates
• The Cashless Debit Card trials and compulsory income management (i.e., BasicsCard)
• The ParentsNext program
• The proposed drug testing trials for people receiving social security payments
• The establishment of a Social Security Commission
• Child Impact Assessments

During Anti-Poverty Week 2018, we developed a Statement of Principles that we are calling on governments to use as a starting point for policy and program design and development.

The alliance is co-chaired by Michele Lonsdale, Deputy CEO and Director of Social Policy and Research at the Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, and David Tennant, CEO of FamilyCare.