Provides a rich synthesis of research and theory of nascent and emergent innovative work of social suffering through rich empirical examination of changing welfare structures, regimes and technologies. Synthesises, critiques and expands the boundaries of existing research which has been undertaken from a number of different disciplinary and international perspectives and examines in rich empirical analysis its implications for specific subjectivities. Fills an existing gap within the international literature through focusing upon the Australian case and empirically demonstrate the significance of Australia to identifying and understanding global trends.