The costs of youth homelessness in Australia. This three-year research project will provide a detailed picture of the cost of youth homelessness in Australia, the use of services by young homeless people and the costs and benefits of providing support services to young homeless people. The study will extend the evidence base on the cost-effectiveness of programs attempting to alleviate youth homelessness, and enable Australian governments, community groups and agencies involved in the provision ....The costs of youth homelessness in Australia. This three-year research project will provide a detailed picture of the cost of youth homelessness in Australia, the use of services by young homeless people and the costs and benefits of providing support services to young homeless people. The study will extend the evidence base on the cost-effectiveness of programs attempting to alleviate youth homelessness, and enable Australian governments, community groups and agencies involved in the provision of support services to homeless youth to understand better the pathways followed by young homeless people and the impact of service provision on the lives of young homeless people.Read moreRead less
Enabling engagement and inclusion: organisational factors that embed active support in accommodation services for people with intellectual disability. The study will investigate the processes and structures necessary to ensure frontline staff deliver high quality support to people with intellectual disability, which enables them to engage in meaningful activity. This knowledge will inform disability service organisation processes and provide indicators of structures necessary for effective servi ....Enabling engagement and inclusion: organisational factors that embed active support in accommodation services for people with intellectual disability. The study will investigate the processes and structures necessary to ensure frontline staff deliver high quality support to people with intellectual disability, which enables them to engage in meaningful activity. This knowledge will inform disability service organisation processes and provide indicators of structures necessary for effective services.Read moreRead less
Reaching Isolated Carers: Contacting Carers with Unmet Needs for Information and Support. The proposed study ?Reaching Isolated Carers? is an extensive collaboration between the Social Policy Research Centre, a consortium of the relevant New South Wales government departments and Carers NSW. The project aims to use an innovative method for identifying isolated carers (i.e. carers who do not self-identify) and their needs. Isolated carers may be unaware of support services and the way these servi ....Reaching Isolated Carers: Contacting Carers with Unmet Needs for Information and Support. The proposed study ?Reaching Isolated Carers? is an extensive collaboration between the Social Policy Research Centre, a consortium of the relevant New South Wales government departments and Carers NSW. The project aims to use an innovative method for identifying isolated carers (i.e. carers who do not self-identify) and their needs. Isolated carers may be unaware of support services and the way these services can satisfy their needs. The project proposes evidence-based strategies to develop an effective policy for reducing the isolation of these carers. Informing isolated carers about support services would lead to significant improvements in carers? lives.Read moreRead less
Social Cohesion through Football. This project will help strengthen Australia's social and economic fabric, one of the priority goals aimed at promoting and maintaining good health for all Australians. The proposed inter-disciplinary study will provide new evidence on how sports programs can foster community building, social inclusion and social cohesion, helping families and individuals to live healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives. The proposed study will provide critically needed guidance ....Social Cohesion through Football. This project will help strengthen Australia's social and economic fabric, one of the priority goals aimed at promoting and maintaining good health for all Australians. The proposed inter-disciplinary study will provide new evidence on how sports programs can foster community building, social inclusion and social cohesion, helping families and individuals to live healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives. The proposed study will provide critically needed guidance on best-practice for governments and communities to develop and evaluate sport-based and related programs to address social cohesion and social inclusion. The result will enable humanitarian refugees to overcome barriers that hinder their participation in Australian communities.Read moreRead less
Forgotten Australians: identifying long term outcomes for people who lived in institutional and other forms of out-of-home care. In line with international recognition that children who lived in orphanages have suffered disenfranchisement and disadvantage in adulthood, this project will add to empirical knowledge of this population, track experiences associated with adverse and the more optimal life outcomes, and identify areas for intervention to promote their wellness.
The Social Impact of the Transformation of Asia-Pacific Ports. The Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region of maritime trade. Globalisation has resulted in changed management and ownership structures for ports with implications for labour relations, dockland redevelopment and relations with their social and economic hinterlands. These changes have social and environmental consequences, that are especially stark in the developing countries in the Asia-Pacific. While environmental issues have b ....The Social Impact of the Transformation of Asia-Pacific Ports. The Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing region of maritime trade. Globalisation has resulted in changed management and ownership structures for ports with implications for labour relations, dockland redevelopment and relations with their social and economic hinterlands. These changes have social and environmental consequences, that are especially stark in the developing countries in the Asia-Pacific. While environmental issues have been thoroughly expolored, social transformations and impacts are poorly understood. We a suitable conceptual framework and methodology to anticipate, manage and assess the implication of change. This project seeks to conceptualise, compare and measure the social impact of changes to Asia-Pacific ports.Read moreRead less
Assessing the effectiveness of early childhood education and care (ECEC) programs in Australian communities. The focus of this study is optimising early learning and social experiences and establishing positive life trajectories for Australia's children. This addresses the National Research Priority, A healthy start to life, and aligns with the National Productivity Agenda. The study provides evidence about the effectiveness of ECEC programs in diverse Australian communities and examines the con ....Assessing the effectiveness of early childhood education and care (ECEC) programs in Australian communities. The focus of this study is optimising early learning and social experiences and establishing positive life trajectories for Australia's children. This addresses the National Research Priority, A healthy start to life, and aligns with the National Productivity Agenda. The study provides evidence about the effectiveness of ECEC programs in diverse Australian communities and examines the contribution of different ECEC provision to children's attainments at school entry through to the first national testing at age 8. Measured outcomes address the COAG productivity agenda to include health, social inclusion and education. Findings will inform theory internationally and policy, investment and ECEC practices in AustraliaRead moreRead less
Australian Volunteers Abroad in Communities in the Asia/Pacific Region. Each year over 300 Australian volunteers work abroad in communities in the Asia Pacific region. This project researches key questions about the role of volunteers in contributing to regional stability, community capacity building and poverty alleviation. The research also explores questions about the preparation and knowledge required for overseas volunteers working in local communities in the future. The project aims to ana ....Australian Volunteers Abroad in Communities in the Asia/Pacific Region. Each year over 300 Australian volunteers work abroad in communities in the Asia Pacific region. This project researches key questions about the role of volunteers in contributing to regional stability, community capacity building and poverty alleviation. The research also explores questions about the preparation and knowledge required for overseas volunteers working in local communities in the future. The project aims to analyse an important aspect of Australia's interaction with the Asia Pacific region; identify key features of volunteering from the perspective of volunteers, volunteer organisations, host communities and government; and develop up-to-date research material and procedures for preparing Australian volunteers.Read moreRead less
Community Management of Human Services in the Quasi-market: A critical examination of management practices in government funded community service providers. Small community organisations providing human services in Australia are in crisis following introduction by governments of funding practices based on quasi-market constructs of 'purchasing' and 'contracting'. These organisations traditionally based their structure and practices on participation of, and accountability to, the local community. ....Community Management of Human Services in the Quasi-market: A critical examination of management practices in government funded community service providers. Small community organisations providing human services in Australia are in crisis following introduction by governments of funding practices based on quasi-market constructs of 'purchasing' and 'contracting'. These organisations traditionally based their structure and practices on participation of, and accountability to, the local community. Explicit positioning of government as "customer" fundamentally alters this relationship. The research partners are increasingly aware of the practical issues for community management committees attempting to mediate these changes. In this research the emergent structures and practices of community organisations will be critically examined, and their impact on service provision analysed, through qualitative methods and textual analysis.Read moreRead less
Improving contact between children in out-of-home care and their birth parents: developing and trialling a contact intervention. There is little evidence on how to best manage contact between the 37,648 children in care nationally and their birth parents. The aim of this project is to develop and trial a new model of contact which will reduce distress, improve children's relationships with their birth parents and increase successful reunifications in the long term.