Changing Nature of Family in Australia

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Changing Nature of Family in AustraliaWhat is the family?A family is a group of people who are related by kinship ties: relations of blood, marriage or adoption. The family unit is one of the most important social institutions, which is found in some form in nearly all known societies. It is a basic unit of social organization, and plays a key role in socializing children into the culture of their society.

Size of the familyThe average size of a family has decreased from 2.6 people per family to between 2.2 to 2.2. Australia's average family size is predicted to be 2.5 people in 2011 and it is estimated to be smaller than New Zealand (2.6), Japan (2.6) the same as the USA and Canada and greater than England (2.2)81% of children aged between 0-14 live in two parent families; while 19% live in one parent families.

The number of children living in a family with one parent is predicted to decreaseRolesRoles play a very important part in healthy family operationFamily roles are the regular patterns of behaviour by which individuals fulfil family functions and needsAlong with roles come certain social and family expectations for how those roles should be fulfilled.

For example, parents are expected to teach, discipline, and provide for their children. And children are expected to assist and respect their parents. As family members age, they take on extra roles, such as becoming a spouse, parent, or grandparent. A person's role is always growing or changing, depending upon his or her age and family stage.

There are many roles within a family; however, researchers have identified the following five roles as being essential for a healthy family.

1. Provision of ResourcesProviding resources, such as money, food, clothing, and shelter, for all family members is one of the...