Professor Finn addressed the topic of welfare to work in tough economic times, drawing on wider developments from OECD countries and key UK developments in radical reform of disability benefits, the introduction of a single ‘Universal Credit’ working age benefit, and the commissioning of large scale ‘prime contractors’ to deliver employment assistance – a different approach to outsourcing compared with that used in Australia.

Dan Finn is Professor of Social Inclusion at the University of Portsmouth and was previously co-Director of the independent Unemployment Unit. His research interests include the reform and outsourcing of public employment services, benefit activation policies and the implementation of welfare to work policies.

Footage of this event can be accessed at the ANU YouTube channel.