The failed neoliberal takeover of our human services - When will our leaders see it's not working?!

Jennifer interviews Dr Bob Davidson, who is an honorary Research Fellow at Macquarie University, about the neoliberalism takeover of our human services over the last 40 years or so.The NDIS is discussed as an example. Bob highlights some of the fundamental failures of this neoliberal project, including too many service providers, bad actors, a range of scandals plaguing human service areas (including aged care and early childhood education), absence of transparency about the use of public money by private operators, lack of access or existence of some services even when people are eligible, the loss of community or collective-oriented programs, and onerous adminstrative load on individuals accessing the scheme.While criticising the neoliberal approach to human services, with governments stepping back from their responsibilities, Bob believes that the human service system can include some for-profit providers.ReferenceBob Davidson 2024, 'Neoliberalism and human services: the National Disability Insurance Scheme', in Captured: How neoliberalism transformed the Australian state, eds: Phillip Toner, Michael Rafferty, Sydney: Sydney University Press.