Tess McGirr's picture

Tess McGirr

Contact details

Tess has a long-held passion for social policy. In her most recent role in the Department of Social Services, Tess provided advice on children’s policy, family policy and programs, homelessness policy, family safety, gambling and financial wellbeing (including welfare quarantining measures such as income management and the cashless debit card trial). Tess also has experience overseeing delivery of various social service and infrastructure initiatives in communities and town camps in the Northern Territory, and has worked in the private and not-for-profit sectors.

Tess’ doctoral research will use a mixed-methods approach to examine how social services can best complement reforms in the tax and transfer systems to improve employment outcomes. Her study will investigate the impact of social services on welfare receipt, and consider options for service supports and interventions such as case management and individualised mutual obligation compacts. This will involve exploring how conditionality arrangements can be tailored to the individual needs of the welfare recipient, including addressing non-vocational barriers to employment.

Mailing address

Crawford School of Public Policy
ANU College of Asia & the Pacific
J.G. Crawford Building No. 132
Lennox Crossing
The Australian National University
Canberra ACT 2601 Australia

Updated:  28 March 2024/Responsible Officer:  Crawford Engagement/Page Contact:  CAP Web Team