The relationship between working arrangements and well-being in regional coal-mining communities. Our project aims to strengthen Australia's social fabric and help prevent psychological health problems by examining social capital in Australian coal mining communities in a holistic way. We integrate these aims with analysis of working and employment arrangements (including contracting and working hours), occupational health and safety and psychological well-being. Issues for groups that have not ....The relationship between working arrangements and well-being in regional coal-mining communities. Our project aims to strengthen Australia's social fabric and help prevent psychological health problems by examining social capital in Australian coal mining communities in a holistic way. We integrate these aims with analysis of working and employment arrangements (including contracting and working hours), occupational health and safety and psychological well-being. Issues for groups that have not been systematically considered before including women miners, long distance commute workers and miners' families, are to be addressed in this large scale Australian survey. This project helps strengthen Australian economic fabric by tackling some major labour problems facing the coal industry. Read moreRead less
Measuring the triple bottom line: an investigation of social, environmental and economic outcomes in the South Australian electricity market. The project will investigate the social, economic and environmental performance of the South Australian electricity market. It will track the impact of the implementation of full retail contestability in the SA electricity market. It will provide a suite of measurement tools for consumer groups to analyse market outcomes.
Social Safety Nets in India: Effectiveness, Nutritional Impact and Political Economy. India is, potentially, one of Australia's most significant trading and strategic partners. As India, a democratic country with low per capita income deepens its economic reforms programs, their success depends critically upon domestic political support which would require that the policies adopted make a significant dent on poverty. The proposed research will examine the impact of two of the most significant p ....Social Safety Nets in India: Effectiveness, Nutritional Impact and Political Economy. India is, potentially, one of Australia's most significant trading and strategic partners. As India, a democratic country with low per capita income deepens its economic reforms programs, their success depends critically upon domestic political support which would require that the policies adopted make a significant dent on poverty. The proposed research will examine the impact of two of the most significant policy initiatives for poverty alleviation and thus provide critical analyses of how a democratic polity should address poverty. The project's results will also have significant implications for the design of AusAID's recommended anti-poverty interventions in other developing countries. Read moreRead less
Currencies of Care: Establishing the scope of performance indicators in child and family welfare services. This project aims to establish the scope of performance indicators for assessing outcomes in welfare services in urban, regional and rural contexts. Its significance lies in the analysis of outcomes, in addition to service outputs, and in advancing understanding of performance assessment beyond a narrow focus on urban service delivery environments. The project combines UnitingCare Burnside' ....Currencies of Care: Establishing the scope of performance indicators in child and family welfare services. This project aims to establish the scope of performance indicators for assessing outcomes in welfare services in urban, regional and rural contexts. Its significance lies in the analysis of outcomes, in addition to service outputs, and in advancing understanding of performance assessment beyond a narrow focus on urban service delivery environments. The project combines UnitingCare Burnside's experience in and commitment to delivery of high quality services with the CIs' interdisciplinary expertise in evaluation of caring work. Anticipated outcomes include development of a conceptual framework for performance assessment which will be used by the industry partner in managing and delivering services.Read moreRead less
INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE: UNDERSTANDING, BUILDING AND SUSTAINING EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE IN RURAL, REMOTE AND URBAN INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITIES. This project investigates Indigenous community governance - its structures, processes, institutions, leadership, powers and capacities - across rural, remote and urban settings. It will longitudinally assess the effectiveness of different forms of governance, and their consequences for socioeconomic development. It applies an innovative, multi ....INDIGENOUS COMMUNITY GOVERNANCE: UNDERSTANDING, BUILDING AND SUSTAINING EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE IN RURAL, REMOTE AND URBAN INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITIES. This project investigates Indigenous community governance - its structures, processes, institutions, leadership, powers and capacities - across rural, remote and urban settings. It will longitudinally assess the effectiveness of different forms of governance, and their consequences for socioeconomic development. It applies an innovative, multi-disciplinary focus on community governing bodies, mapping their cultural, local and regional governance environments, and analysing the role of State and national-level policy networks and objectives. The project will refine theoretical models of Indigenous governance; develop recommendations for improving governance capacity; and design options for sustainable arrangements that address inter-cultural matters of scale, autonomy, representation, and accountability.Read moreRead less
Labour Force Challenges in the Building and Construction Industry: Skills Infrastructure and Migrant Workers. The project examines the sustainability of present labour supply arrangements in the building and construction industry in the context of restructuring and reorientation of the major construction companies and the intensification of pyramid sub-contracting arrangements. This will highlight the challenges engendered by the changing pattern of training and skill accreditation, sourcing an ....Labour Force Challenges in the Building and Construction Industry: Skills Infrastructure and Migrant Workers. The project examines the sustainability of present labour supply arrangements in the building and construction industry in the context of restructuring and reorientation of the major construction companies and the intensification of pyramid sub-contracting arrangements. This will highlight the challenges engendered by the changing pattern of training and skill accreditation, sourcing and recruitment arrangements, and industry resort to immigrant and short-term and clandestine migrant workers. The analysis of labour supply arrangements will inform a better assessment of the capacity of the industry to improve construction standards and promote technological advances, and thereby contribute to charting a new strategic vision.Read moreRead less
Introducing China: The World's Oldest and Newest Major Power. China's weight in regional affairs is growing rapidly on all fronts, and will continue to do so into the indefinite future. China will be the largest single source of dynamism and turbulence in our region. Australia's political and business leaders will be confronted with decisions and choices with significant ramifications for our well-being into the longer term future. A deeper understanding of China's aspirations, and of the impa ....Introducing China: The World's Oldest and Newest Major Power. China's weight in regional affairs is growing rapidly on all fronts, and will continue to do so into the indefinite future. China will be the largest single source of dynamism and turbulence in our region. Australia's political and business leaders will be confronted with decisions and choices with significant ramifications for our well-being into the longer term future. A deeper understanding of China's aspirations, and of the impact that China is having on the outlook of others in the region, will improve the odds for sensible decisions and choices. It may also be the key to avoiding choices that we do not wish to make.Read moreRead less