E-Welfare

Abstract

In the next three chapters the use of e-government in three different policy domains is examined: welfare, taxation and health. Each chapter begins with an overview of the key policy, administrative and technological transformations and pressures which have occurred in that policy domain across OECD countries. After the international overview, the specifics of the Australian context are then presented, followed by a description of two e-government case studies. In this chapter the two e-welfare projects examined are: the EDGE system, an expert support system for the assessment of eligibility to family-related government cash benefits; and Community Connect, an ICT-facilitated programme to provide more holistic welfare services amongst local welfare agencies.