Families Then and Now | Australian Institute of Family Studies

About the project

Since the establishment of the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) in 1980, Australian families have undergone profound changes. AIFS is releasing a series of snapshots to outline some of the changes in Australian families over the last four decades. Topics include household composition and family structure, housing ownership and rental, fertility, work and family, and employment and income.

Publications

Happy business owner opening the door at a cafe wearing a facemask to avoid the spread of coronavirus

Families Then & Now: How we worked

Diana Warren, Lixia Qu and Jennifer Baxter
Research Report— August 2020

The sixth snapshot from our Families Then and Now series outlines changes in when, how and where we work from 1980 to today.

Closeup of hands taking money out of a wallet

Families Then & Now: Income and wealth

Diana Warren
Research Report— August 2020

The fifth snapshot from our Families Then and Now series outlines changes in household incomes and wealth and the amount of debt from 1980 to today.

Upclose rearview shot of a young couple holding hands at the beach

Families Then & Now: Couple relationships

Lixia Qu
Research Report— July 2020

The fourth snapshot from our Families Then and Now series outlines changes to couple relationships from 1980 to today.

Close up of a hand holding newborn baby's hand

Families Then & Now: Having children

Lixia Qu
Research Report— July 2020

The third snapshot from our Families Then and Now series focuses on fertility rate and births per woman from 1980 to today.

Toddler feeding bread to her father as they have breakfast

Families Then & Now: Households and families

Lixia Qu
Research Report— July 2020

The second snapshot from our Families Then and Now series outlines some of the changes in Australian households and families from 1980 to today.

Melbourne city skyline in the distance and house roofs in the foreground

Families Then & Now: Housing

Diana Warren and Lixia Qu
Research Report— July 2020

This first snapshot from our Families Then and Now series outlines changes in the housing arrangements of Australian families from 1980 to today.

The Australian Institute of Family Studies acknowledges the traditional country throughout Australia on which we gather, live, work and stand.

We acknowledge all traditional custodians, their Elders past, present and emerging, and we pay our respects to their continuing connection to their culture, community, land, sea and rivers.

© 2021 Australian Institute of Family Studies.