Myra’s research explores gender, ageing and care, examining how policies and services can build wellbeing in work and in care over the lifecourse. Her focus areas include experiences of work/care reconciliation, policy needs of people with unpaid care responsibilities, and inequalities in retirement incomes.
She combines traditional academic research with applied policy research for government and non-government organisations, including a number of evaluations of policies and programs, and has led 13 research projects. Her projects have covered financial security, welfare reform, the way families manage chronic illness, the policy needs of parents, grandparents and unpaid carers, the dynamics of work and care over the lifecourse, and the experiences of disadvantaged young people such as those in out of home care. She makes regular contributions to public and media debate on issues such as grandparenting, retirement decisions, balancing work and care, young carers, and intergenerational relationships. She has close working relationships with the community sector including peak bodies in the areas of young people, parents, carers and seniors, and sits on the Board of COTANSW.