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Emeritus Professor Deborah Brennan

Emeritus Professor Deborah Brennan

Emeritus Professor

BA Syd., MA Macq., PhD Syd., FASSA

Arts, Design & Architecture (ADA)
Social Policy Research Centre

Professor Deborah Brennan BA Syd., MA Macq., PhD Syd., FASSA, is one of Australia’s leading researchers in comparative welfare,Ìý family policy and gender and politics. 

Deborah has held visiting positions at the London School of Economics, Oxford University, Trinity College Dublin and the University of Melbourne. She is the author of The Politics of Australian Child Care (Cambridge University Press, 1998) and co-editor with Louise Chappell of 'No Fit Place for Women'. Women in New South Wales Politics, 1856-2006 (UNSW Press, 2006) as well as numerous scholarly articles in the areas of gender, politics and family policy. She has contributed to national and international debates in her field and has advised both the Australian and UK governments on the development of policies for families and children. She was the Inaugural Convenor of the National Association of Community Based Children's Services (NABCBS) and is a former President of the Australian Political Science Association.

Deborah is a member of several international research networks including the Feminist International Institutionalist Network (FIIN), the Political and Social Economy of Care (PASEC), the International Network on Leave Policies and Research, and a network on Migration and Care in the Asia-Pacific.Ìý

Deborah is an editor of Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State and Society and serves on the editorial advisory boards of Families, Relationships and Societies andÌý the Journal of Poverty and Social Justice (formerly Benefits).

Current advisory positions include:
International Advisory Board, United States Study Centre, University of Sydney
NSW Ministerial Carers Advisory Council
Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University
Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation, Dept of Education and Communities, NSWÌý

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Location
204 Goodsell Building
  • Books | 2006
    2006, 'No Fit Place for Women?' Women in NSW Politics, 1856-2006, Chappell L; Brennan DJ, (ed.), UNSW Press, Sydney
  • Book Chapters | 2020
    Brennan D; Cortis N, 2020, 'Community Services, Individualism and Markets', in McClelland A; Smyth P; Marston G (ed.), Social Policy in Australia: Understanding for Action (4th Edition), Oxford University Press, Docklands, VIC, pp. 310 - 329
    Book Chapters | 2020
    Brennan D, 2020, 'The good mother in australian child care policy', in Australian Mothering: Historical and Sociological Perspectives, pp. 339 - 358,
    Book Chapters | 2018
    Adamson E; Brennan D, 2018, 'Care and Migration', in Handbook on gender and social policy, Edward Elgar, pp. 253 - 266,
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Brennan D; Adamson EA, 2017, 'Early Education and Child Care Policy in Australia', in Grace R; Hodge K; McMahon C (ed.), Children, Families and Communities, edn. 5, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, pp. 318 - 336
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Brennan D; Charlesworth S; Adamson EA; Cortis N, 2017, 'Out of Kilter: Changing Care, Migration and Employment Regimes in Australia', in Gender, Migration, and the Work of Care: A Multi-Scalar Approach to the Pacific Rim, Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 143 - 165,
    Book Chapters | 2017
    Brennan D; Williamson S, 2017, 'Time to Care: Paid Family Leave as Baseline Support for Gender Equality in Employment', in D'Agostino M; Marks Rubin M (ed.), Governing in a Global World: Women in Public Service, Routledge,
    Book Chapters | 2016
    Brennan D, 2016, 'The business of care: Australia’s experiment with the marketisation of childcare', in Australian Public Policy: Progressive Ideas in the Neoliberal Ascendency, Policy Press
    Book Chapters | 2014
    Brennan D; Cass B, 2014, 'Grandparents as primary carers of their grandchildren: Policy and Practice insights from research', in Hayes A; Higgins DJ (ed.), Families, Policy and the Law, Melbourne, pp. 109 - 118,
    Book Chapters | 2014
    Brennan D; Fenech M, 2014, 'Early education and care in Australia: Equity in a mixed market-based system?', in An Equal Start?: Providing Quality Early Education and Care for Disadvantaged Children, pp. 171 - 192
    Book Chapters | 2014
    Brennan D, 2014, 'The business of care: Australia’s experiment with the marketisation of childcare', in Miller C; Orchard L (ed.), Australian Public Policy: Progressive Ideas in the Neoliberal Ascendency, Policy Press, Bristol, UK, pp. 151 - 167
    Book Chapters | 2014
    Brennan DJ, 2014, 'The business of care: Australia’s experiment with the marketization of childcare’, in L. Orchard and C. Miller (eds), 151-168.', in Orchard L; Miller, C. (ed.), Australian Public Policy: Progressive Ideas in the Neo-Liberal Ascendency, The Policy Press, Bristol
    Book Chapters | 2012
    Alexander M; Whitehouse G; Brennan DJ, 2012, 'Australia', in Moss P; Korintus M (ed.), International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research, Employment Relations Research Series No. 100, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, London
    Book Chapters | 2012
    Brennan DJ; Adamson E, 2012, 'Child Care and Australian Social Policy', in Bowes J; Grace R (ed.), Children, Families and Communities, edn. Revised, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, pp. 205 - 218
    Book Chapters | 2012
    Brennan DJ; Adamson E, 2012, 'Early childhood education and care policy', in Bowes J; Grace R; Hodge K (ed.), Children, families, communities: contexts and consequences, edn. 4th, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, pp. 255 - 270
    Book Chapters | 2012
    Chappell L; Brennan DJ; Rubenstein K, 2012, 'A Gender and Change Perspective on Intergovernmental Relations', in Kildea P; Lynch A; Williams G; George (ed.), Tomorrow's Federation: Reforming Australian Government, edn. Original, Federation Press, Australia, pp. 228 - 245
    Book Chapters | 2012
    valentine K; Brennan DJ, 2012, 'Community Services', in Clune D; Smith R (ed.), From Carr to Kenneally: Labor in office 1995-2011, Allen & Unwin, Sydney, pp. 150 - 158
    Book Chapters | 2010
    Brennan DJ, 2010, 'Federalism, Childcare and Multilevel Governance in Australia', in Haussman M; Sawer M (ed.), Federalism, Feminism and Multilevel Governance, Ashgate Pub., Farnham, Surrey, England, pp. 37 - 50,
    Book Chapters | 2009
    Alexander M; Whitehouse G; Brennan DJ, 2009, 'Australia', in Moss P; Korintus M (ed.), International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research, Employment Relations Research Series No. 100, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, London
    Book Chapters | 2009
    Brennan D, 2009, 'Australia: The difficult birth of paid maternity leave', in The Politics of Parental Leave Policies: Children, Parenting, Gender and the Labour Market, pp. 15 - 32
    Book Chapters | 2009
    Brennan DJ; Chappell L, 2009, 'Women and Gender', in Rhodes RAW (ed.), The Australian Study of Politics, Palgrave Macmillan, London, pp. 338 - 346,
    Book Chapters | 2009
    Brennan DJ, 2009, 'A late delivery? The politics of maternity leave in Australia', in Kamerman S; Moss P (ed.), The politics of parental leave policies: Children, parenting, gender and the labour market, The Policy Press, Bristol, pp. 33 - 50,
    Book Chapters | 2008
    Brennan DJ; Alexander M; Whitehouse G, 2008, 'Australia', in Moss P; Korintus M (ed.), International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research, Employment Relations Research Series No. 100, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, London, pp. 121 - 133
    Book Chapters | 2008
    Brennan DJ, 2008, 'Child Care and Australian Social Policy', in Bowes J; Grace R (ed.), Children, Families and Communities, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, pp. 206 - 219
    Book Chapters | 2007
    Brennan DJ, 2007, 'Childcare', in Galligan B; Roberts W (ed.), Oxford Companion to Australian Politics, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, pp. 96 - 97
    Book Chapters | 2007
    Brennan DJ, 2007, 'Generations of care: demographic change and public policy in Australia', in Phillips R (ed.), Generational Change and Social Policy Challenges: Australia and Korea, University of Sydney Press, Sydney, pp. 115 - 139
    Book Chapters | 2007
    Brennan DJ, 2007, 'Home and away: the policy context in Australia', in Elliot A; Hill E; Pocock B (ed.), Kids Count: Better Early Childhood Education and Care in Australia, University of Sydney, Sydney, pp. 57 - 74
    Book Chapters | 2006
    Brennan DJ; Chappell L, 2006, 'Inaugural Impressions', in 'No Fit Place for Women?' Women in NSW Politics, 1856-2006, edn. Original, UNSW Press, Sydney
    Book Chapters | 2006
    Brennan DJ, 2006, 'Community Services: Challenges for the Twenty-First Century', in McClelland A; Smyth P (ed.), Social Policy in Australia, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, pp. 224 - 237
    Book Chapters | 2006
    Chappell L; Brennan DJ, 2006, 'Gender and NSW Politics', in 'No Fit Place for Women?' Women in NSW Politics, 1856-2006, edn. Original, UNSW Press, Sydney
    Book Chapters | 2002
    Brennan DJ, 2002, 'Australia. Child Care and State-Centred Feminism in a Liberal Welfare Regime', in Michel S; Mahon R (ed.), , Routledge
  • Journal articles | 2021
    Brennan D, 2021, 'A Call to (Caring) Arms: A Response to The Care Manifesto: The Politics of Interdependence', Social Politics, 28, pp. 834 - 842,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Howe J; Charlesworth S; Brennan D, 2019, 'Migration pathways for frontline care workers in australia and new zealand: Front doors, side doors, back doors and trapdoors', University of New South Wales Law Journal, 42, pp. 211 - 241,
    Journal articles | 2018
    Brennan D; Adamson E, 2018, 'Care and migration', ,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Adamson EA; Cortis N; Brennan D; Charlesworth S, 2017, 'Social care and migration policy in Australia: Emerging intersections?', Australian Journal of Social Issues, 52, pp. 78 - 94,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Adamson EA; Brennan D, 2016, 'Return of the Nanny: Public Policy towards In-home Childcare in the UK, Canada and Australia', Social Policy and Administration: an international journal of policy and research, 51, pp. 1386 - 1405,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Mahon R; Bergqvist C; Brennan D, 2016, 'Social Policy Change: Work-family Tensions in Sweden, Australia and Canada', Social Policy and Administration, 50, pp. 165 - 182,
    Journal articles | 2014
    Adamson EA; Brennan D, 2014, 'Social investment or private profit? Diverging notions of 'investment' in early childhood education and care', International Journal of Early Childhood, 46, pp. 47 - 61,
    Journal articles | 2014
    Chappell L; Brennan D, 2014, 'Introduction: Gendering the intergovernmental relations Agenda', Australian Journal of Public Administration, 73, pp. 357 - 360,
    Journal articles | 2014
    Purcal C; Brennan D; Cass B; Jenkins B, 2014, 'Grandparents raising grandchildren: impacts of lifecourse stage on the experiences and costs of care', Australian Journal of Social Issues, 49, pp. 467 - 488,
    Journal articles | 2013
    Mahon R; Brennan D, 2013, 'Federalism and the "new politics" of welfare development: Childcare and parental leave in Australia and Canada', Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 43, pp. 90 - 108,
    Journal articles | 2013
    Newberry S; Brennan D, 2013, 'The Marketisation of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in Australia: A Structured Response', Financial Accountability and Management, 29, pp. 227 - 245,
    Journal articles | 2013
    Newberry S; Brennan DJ, 2013, 'Economic and Social Policy Tensions: Early Childhood Education and Care in a Marketised Environment', Accounting Auditing and Accountability Journal
    Journal articles | 2013
    valentine K; Jenkins B; Brennan D; Cass B, 2013, 'Information Provision to Grandparent Kinship Carers: Responding to Their Unique Needs', Australian Social Work, 66, pp. 425 - 439,
    Journal articles | 2012
    Brennan DJ; Cass B; Himmelweit S; Szebehely M, 2012, 'The Marketisation of Care: Rationales and Consequences in Liberal and Nordic Welfare States', Journal of European Social Policy, 22, pp. 377 - 391,
    Journal articles | 2012
    Mahon R; Anttonen A; Christina B; Brennan DJ; Barbara H, 2012, 'Convergent Care Regimes: Childcare Arrangements in Australia, Canada, Finland and Sweden', Journal of European Social Policy, 22, pp. 419 - 431,
    Journal articles | 2012
    Mahon R; Brennan DJ, 2012, 'Federalism and the New Politics of Welfare Development: Childcare and Parental Leave in Australia and Canada', Publius - the Journal of Federalism, 42, pp. 1 - 19
    Journal articles | 2012
    Williams F; Brennan D, 2012, 'Care, markets and migration in a globalising world: Introduction to the Special Issue', Journal of European Social Policy, 22, pp. 355 - 362,
    Journal articles | 2012
    Williams F; Brennan DJ, 2012, 'Care Markets and Migration in a Globalizing World', Journal of European Social Policy, 22, pp. 355 - 362
    Journal articles | 2012
    Williams F; Brennan DJ, 2012, 'Converging Variations in Migrant Care Work in Europe’ Journal of European Social Policy', Journal of European Social Policy, 20, pp. 363 - 376,
    Journal articles | 2011
    Brennan DJ; Mahon R, 2011, 'State structures and the politics of childcare', Politics and Gender, 7, pp. 286 - 293
    Journal articles | 2007
    Brennan DJ, 2007, 'Babies, budgets and birth rates: work and family policy in Australia, 1996-2006', Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State and Society, 14 (1), pp. 31 - 57
    Journal articles | 2007
    Brennan DJ, 2007, 'The ABC of child care politics', Australian Journal of Social Issues, 42 (2), pp. 213 - 225
    Journal articles | 2005
    Brennan D, 2005, 'Children and families: Forty years of analysis and commentary in the Australian Journal of Social Issues', Australian Journal of Social Issues, 40, pp. 73 - 90,
    Journal articles | 2005
    Brennan DJ, 2005, 'Forty Years of Research on Children and Families', Australian Journal of Social Issues, 40, pp. 73 - 90
    Journal articles | 2003
    Cass B; Brennan D, 2003, 'Taxing women: The Politics of Gender in the Tax-transfer System', eJournal of Tax Research, Vol. 1, pp. 37 - 63
    Journal articles | 2003
    Cass B; Brennan DJ, 2003, 'Taxing Women', eJournal of Tax Research, 1
    Journal articles | 2002
    Baird M; Brennan DJ; Cutcher L, 2002, 'A Pregnant Pause in the Provision of Paid Maternity Leave in Australia', Labour and Industry, 13
    Journal articles | 2002
    Cass B; Brennan D, 2002, 'Communities of support or communities of surveillance and enforcement in welfare reform debates', Australian Journal of Social Issues, 37, pp. 247 - 262,
    Journal articles | 2002
    Cass B; Brennan DJ, 2002, 'Communities of Support or Communities of Enforcement and Surveillance in Welfare Reform Debates', Australian Journal of Social Issues, 37, pp. 247 - 262
    Journal articles | 2000
    Bernstein RH; Brennan D; Cherney BJ; Friedman E; Mattingly AG, 2000, 'Panel discussion. Solutions to health care issues.', Managed care (Langhorne, Pa.), 9, pp. 26 - 30
  • Working Papers | 2009
    Adamson E; Skattebol J; valentine K; Brennan DJ; Katz I; Helyar S; Woodruff J; Bevan K, 2009, Because children and families matter: Delivering on the National Reform Agenda,, UnitingCare Australia, Canberra.,
    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, UNSW, Sydney,
  • Other | 2020
    Baldassar L; Hill E; Hamilton M; Brennan D; Dymond T; Withers M; Stevens C; Kintominas A, 2020, Submission to the Select Committee on Temporary Migration on the impact temporary migration has on the Australian economy, wages and jobs, social cohesion and workplace rights and conditions, ,
    Reports | 2018
    Hamilton M; Kintominas A; Brennan D, 2018, The Temporary Sponsored Parent Visa, Migrant Grandparents and Transnational Family Life, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, ,
    Reports | 2018
    Pascoe S; Brennan DJ, 2018, Lifting our Game: Report of the review to achieve educational excellence in Australian schools through early childhood interventions, Victorian Government, Melbourne, ,
    Reports | 2016
    Cortis N; Brennan D, 2016, Aligning Practice with Vision: Developing SDN’s Pathways Approach, 2013-15, Social Policy Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, SPRC Report 09/16,
    Reports | 2014
    Brennan D; Adamson E, 2014, Financing the Future: An equitable and sustainable approach to early childhood education and care, Sydney, SPRC Report Series, 01/14,
    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
    Cortis N; valentine K; Brennan D, 2014, Becoming and being an integrated organisation: the experience of SDN Children’s Services [baseline report 2014], SDN Children's Services, 17/2014,
    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 | 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
    Brennan D; Cass B; Flaxman S; Hill T; Jenkins B; McHugh M; Purcal C; valentine K, 2013, Grandparents raising grandchildren: towards recognition, respect and reward, 14/2013,
    Reports | 2013
    Brennan DJ, 2013, Review of NSW Government Funding for Early Childhood Education, NSW Department of Education and Communities, Sydney
    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,
    Conference Presentations | 2012
    Purcal C; Cass B; Brennan DJ, 2012, 'Grandparents raising grandchildren: impacts of lifecourse stage on the experiences and costs of care', presented at UK Social Policy Association (SPA) Annual Conference, York, UK
    Conference Presentations | 2011
    Cass B; Brennan DJ; Thomson CM; Adamson E; Hamilton M; Purcal C, 2011, 'Experiences of young carers and young adult carers: Life-course stage dimensions of caregiving and the implications for policy and practice', presented at Social Policy Association Annual Conference, Lincoln, UK
    Conference Presentations | 2011
    Cass B; Brennan DJ; Thomson CM; Adamson E; Hill T; Purcal C; Hamilton M, 2011, 'The life-course stage dimensions of care-giving by young people: experiences, perspectives and implications for policy', presented at Workshop Research and Policy on Care in Liberal and Social Democracies: Australia, the UK and Finland, Sydney
    Reports | 2011
    Cass B; Brennan DJ; Thomson CM; Hill T; Purcal C; Hamilton M; Adamson E, 2011, Young carers: Social policy impacts of the caring responsibilities of children and young adults, Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney
    Conference Presentations | 2011
    Chappell L; Brennan DJ; Rubenstein K, 2011, 'Australian Intergovernmental Relations: A Gender and Change Perspective', presented at Research Roundtable, Faculty of Law, University of NSW, Sydney, Australia
    Reports | 2011
    Zhu A; Brennan DJ; Adamson E; Whiteford P, 2011, Leave Patterns of Australian Mothers, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
    Conference Presentations | 2010
    Helyar S; valentine K; Skattebol J; Adamson E; Brennan DJ; Bevan K; Woodruff J, 2010, 'Because children and families matter: delivering on the national reform agenda', presented at 11th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, 07 July 2010 - 09 July 2010
    Conference Presentations | 2010
    Jenkins B; Brennan DJ; Cass B; valentine K, 2010, 'Information provision and kinship care: incorporating grandparent kinship carers as aged citizens and as a vulnerable user group', presented at 11th Australian Institute of Family Studies Conference, Melbourne, 07 July 2010 - 09 July 2010
    Conference Presentations | 2010
    Jenkins B; Brennan DJ; Cass B; valentine K, 2010, 'The information-related needs of grandparent kinship carers in Australia: a cross-jurisdictional analysis’', presented at Association of Children’s Welfare Agencies 2010 Conference, Sydney, 02 August 2010 - 04 August 2010
    Conference Presentations | 2010
    Skattebol J; Blaxland M; Brennan DJ; Purcal C, 2010, 'Progressive policies? Australian early childhood policy and low income families', presented at Mapping Families – Practices and Concepts of Children, Parents and Professionals, Bielefeld, Germany
    Reports | 2009
    Brennan D; Blaxland M; Tannous K, 2009, A Strategic Assessment of the Children’s Services Industry, Government of South Australia, Adelaide,
    Conference Papers | 2009
    Brennan DJ, 2009, 'Women in the Bear Pit', in Australasian Political Studies Association Conference, Macquarie University, Sydney, presented at Australian Political Studies Association, Macquarie University, Sydney, 28 September 2009 - 30 September 2009
    Reports | 2009
    Brennan DJ, 2009, 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), Social Policy Research Centre, Sydney, 13/09,
    Conference Papers | 2009
    Purcal C; Cass B; Hamilton M; Thomson CM; Brennan DJ, 2009, 'From support to prevention: policies and services for young carers', in From support to prevention: policies and services for young carers, Australian Social Policy Conference: An Inclusive Society? Practicalities and Possibilities, Sydney, presented at Australian Social Policy Conference: An Inclusive Society? Practicalities and Possibilities, Sydney, 08 July 2009 - 10 July 2009
    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
    Brennan DJ, 2008, 'Playing the Market: Public Agendas and Private Profits in Child Care', in Proceedings of Dilemmas in Human Service Provision, University of East London, London, presented at Dilemmas for Human Services, London, 11 September 2008 - 12 September 2008
    Conference Presentations | 2008
    Cass B; Brennan D; Thomson CM; Hill T; Michail S; Purcal C; Smyth C, 2008, 'Young Carers: Identifying supportive policies and programs - some ideas from the field', presented at Young Carers Workshop, Sydney, 02 December 2008

My Teaching

HDR Supervision: Professor Brennan has a long record of successful higher degree supervision. Recent students have completed theses on welfare reform, domestic violence, equity and education and young women in the Australian women’s movement.

Professor Brennan welcomes PhD candidates with an interest in social policy, particularly family policy, child care, comparative social policy (UK, USA and Scandinavia), social policy history and policy learning and transfer.

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