A society divided: a multilevel approach for understanding socio-economic opportunity and vulnerability. Despite a strong economy since the early 1990s uneven socioeconomic outcomes remain characteristic of Australian society. The costs to individuals, communities and society itself of these uneven outcomes are significant. Crucially policy needs understand the multi-dimensional nature of the drivers of these uneven outcomes so as to ameliorate the negative cost. In its integration of multilevel ....A society divided: a multilevel approach for understanding socio-economic opportunity and vulnerability. Despite a strong economy since the early 1990s uneven socioeconomic outcomes remain characteristic of Australian society. The costs to individuals, communities and society itself of these uneven outcomes are significant. Crucially policy needs understand the multi-dimensional nature of the drivers of these uneven outcomes so as to ameliorate the negative cost. In its integration of multilevel research methodologies this project aims to advance understandings of well targeted and effective policy interventions. It combines the skills and knowledge of researchers trained in economics and sociology, whose collaboration is a direct result of a linkage formed within an ARC research network. Read moreRead less
Un-neighbourliness: The nature, causes and outcomes of neighbour problems. Neighbourliness - that is, positive relations between neighbours - brings significant social benefits that are well known. Yet neighbours can also be a major source of nuisance, conflict and stress. Very little is known about the negative side of neighbouring and no research has been conducted on its nature, causes and outcomes. This project examines un-neighbourliness as an empirical and sociological problem in four subu ....Un-neighbourliness: The nature, causes and outcomes of neighbour problems. Neighbourliness - that is, positive relations between neighbours - brings significant social benefits that are well known. Yet neighbours can also be a major source of nuisance, conflict and stress. Very little is known about the negative side of neighbouring and no research has been conducted on its nature, causes and outcomes. This project examines un-neighbourliness as an empirical and sociological problem in four suburban contexts. It is significant in that it aims to: identify the factors that undermine neighbourliness and inform policies to address those factors; assist relevant agencies in managing neighbour problems; and advance understanding about good - and bad - neighbouring in contemporary suburban life.Read moreRead less
DETERMINANTS OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN CITIES: The South East Queensland Urban Region in Comparative Perspective. This is the Australian component of an international project on quality of life (QOL) in cities. It examines people's perceived QOL and relates this to objective indicators such as employment levels and neighbourhood safety. We examine the South East Queensland urban region; our collaborators focus on Detroit (USA) and Belo Horizonte (Brazil). Our research tests the recent propositio ....DETERMINANTS OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN CITIES: The South East Queensland Urban Region in Comparative Perspective. This is the Australian component of an international project on quality of life (QOL) in cities. It examines people's perceived QOL and relates this to objective indicators such as employment levels and neighbourhood safety. We examine the South East Queensland urban region; our collaborators focus on Detroit (USA) and Belo Horizonte (Brazil). Our research tests the recent proposition that QOL is the key element in the rise of the new economy characterised by increasing emphasis on consumption and expansion of the services sector. Understanding the relationship between QOL and the new economy is vital for future urban planning.Read moreRead less
Partner choice and sexual behaviour among gay and bisexual men. Current social and political debate about what constitutes legitimate relationships hinge on the status of same-sex relationships. Partner choice is key to understanding individuals' sexual behaviour and the relationships they develop in response. Yet gay and bisexual men's (GBM) sexual partner choices have not been researched. The project aims to describe types of partner choices among GBM and how these affect the specific sex prac ....Partner choice and sexual behaviour among gay and bisexual men. Current social and political debate about what constitutes legitimate relationships hinge on the status of same-sex relationships. Partner choice is key to understanding individuals' sexual behaviour and the relationships they develop in response. Yet gay and bisexual men's (GBM) sexual partner choices have not been researched. The project aims to describe types of partner choices among GBM and how these affect the specific sex practices, including risk behaviours, in which they engage and their style and pattern of relationships. It also aims to identify the contextual and individual factors associated with these choices. This evidence is expected to inform current debate and help improve health promotion and relationship support work among GBM.Read moreRead less
Sampling Gay Men: Testing Methodological Alternatives in a Minority Population. This project will systematically assess the efficacy and appropriateness of five separate techniques for the recruitment of gay and homosexually active men in Australia. The project will use the data from the Australian Study of Health and Relationships to assess the representativeness of the samples obtained. Using theoretical considerations of the inter-relationship of identity, attraction and practice, the suitabi ....Sampling Gay Men: Testing Methodological Alternatives in a Minority Population. This project will systematically assess the efficacy and appropriateness of five separate techniques for the recruitment of gay and homosexually active men in Australia. The project will use the data from the Australian Study of Health and Relationships to assess the representativeness of the samples obtained. Using theoretical considerations of the inter-relationship of identity, attraction and practice, the suitability of recruitment strategies for research projects addressing key elements of gay men's health will be assessed. As a by-product of the sampling exercise, a description of the key health concerns of gay and homosexually active men will be developed. Read moreRead less
Poor Women and Lonely Men: Examining Gendered Social Inclusion and Connection in Australia. This project directly supports the national research priority goal of 'strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric' (as part of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health). Inclusive societies reap many benefits (economic, education, crime, health etc), and information revealed about relevant gendered patterns will help build social inclusion and connection in Australia by informing inclusive strategi ....Poor Women and Lonely Men: Examining Gendered Social Inclusion and Connection in Australia. This project directly supports the national research priority goal of 'strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric' (as part of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health). Inclusive societies reap many benefits (economic, education, crime, health etc), and information revealed about relevant gendered patterns will help build social inclusion and connection in Australia by informing inclusive strategies and policies. The project also supports the national research priority goal 'ageing well and productively', by informing policy-contexts of specific disadvantage, such as amongst those ageing alone. The project will also add to broader understandings about the links between social inclusion, connection and wellbeing.Read moreRead less
The History of an Urban Chinese Factory Community in Transition. Changes over the past five decades at a Chinese state-owned industrial enterprise and its adjoining residential compound will be explored largely through in-depth oral histories by a collaborative team of Australian and Chinese researchers; and the implications for China's ongoing economic and urban social transformation will be addressed. This will be the first study of its kind, and the University of California Press, a leading p ....The History of an Urban Chinese Factory Community in Transition. Changes over the past five decades at a Chinese state-owned industrial enterprise and its adjoining residential compound will be explored largely through in-depth oral histories by a collaborative team of Australian and Chinese researchers; and the implications for China's ongoing economic and urban social transformation will be addressed. This will be the first study of its kind, and the University of California Press, a leading publisher in this field, is keen to publish a book based on the study.Read moreRead less
The Just-in-Time Self: Young Men, Skill and Narratives of Aspiration in the New Economy. Employers and policy-makers frequently lament the 'skills gap': the shortage of workers with the skills required to perform the available jobs. This cannot be solved simply by funding more vocational training courses. To improve participation in training it is important to understand how vocational aspirations are formed. This research will demonstrate how, through their involvement in collective creative pr ....The Just-in-Time Self: Young Men, Skill and Narratives of Aspiration in the New Economy. Employers and policy-makers frequently lament the 'skills gap': the shortage of workers with the skills required to perform the available jobs. This cannot be solved simply by funding more vocational training courses. To improve participation in training it is important to understand how vocational aspirations are formed. This research will demonstrate how, through their involvement in collective creative projects, young men from poor backgrounds, develop skills and inclinations that might move them beyond the traditional model of manual labour to develop the flexibility required of workers in the 'new economy'.Read moreRead less
Crimes, Places and Communities: A Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Collective Capacity with implications for community-based crime prevention. This project seeks to provide policy makers in Australia with better evidence on which to protect Australia from crime. Our project will provide insights as to how communities might more effectively insulate themselves from crime over time. Our research has the potential to lead the future direction in Australian approaches to community-based crime preven ....Crimes, Places and Communities: A Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Collective Capacity with implications for community-based crime prevention. This project seeks to provide policy makers in Australia with better evidence on which to protect Australia from crime. Our project will provide insights as to how communities might more effectively insulate themselves from crime over time. Our research has the potential to lead the future direction in Australian approaches to community-based crime prevention and crime control programs.
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The pressures of modern manhood. Mapping the impact of homophobia on the lives of Australian men. this study will construct a detailed map of the impact of homophobia on men;s behaviour, lifestyles and risk-taking (gay or not). It explores the possibility that through devices like taboo and loss of face homophobia can (i) make certain behaviours and life patterns unpalatable and alienate men from safer, healthier behaviours; (ii) block retreat from danger : and (iii) promote risky, antisocial, h ....The pressures of modern manhood. Mapping the impact of homophobia on the lives of Australian men. this study will construct a detailed map of the impact of homophobia on men;s behaviour, lifestyles and risk-taking (gay or not). It explores the possibility that through devices like taboo and loss of face homophobia can (i) make certain behaviours and life patterns unpalatable and alienate men from safer, healthier behaviours; (ii) block retreat from danger : and (iii) promote risky, antisocial, hyper-masculine posturing. from the innovative perspective of the interplay of homophobia with masculinity, we expect to uncover key insights into how homophobia makes an important contribution to the pressures of modern manhood.Read moreRead less