A couples-based approach to the problem of workless families

The objective of this paper is to evaluate a 'couples-based'policy intervention designed to reduce the number of Australian families with dependent children in which no adult was in paid employment. Selected women on family benefits (who were partnered with men receiving unemployment benefits) were randomly invited to participate in an interview process designed to identify strategies for increasing economic and social participation. The overall effect of the interview process led to lower hours of work among family benefit recipients, but to greater participation in job search and in study or training for work-related reasons. Whether women were interviewed with their partner or not had no effect on the level of economic activity of participants.