Out of the Institution. An investigation of deinstitutionalization, exploring the effectiveness of supported housing for people with psychiatric disabilities leaving care. The project has two objectives. The first is to investigate outcomes of a unique model of supported housing for deinstitutionalised people living in the community. The second is to survey people that are about to be deinstitutionalised along with staff and family and set up a framework for longitudinal analysis of this group. ....Out of the Institution. An investigation of deinstitutionalization, exploring the effectiveness of supported housing for people with psychiatric disabilities leaving care. The project has two objectives. The first is to investigate outcomes of a unique model of supported housing for deinstitutionalised people living in the community. The second is to survey people that are about to be deinstitutionalised along with staff and family and set up a framework for longitudinal analysis of this group. While a major social policy reform, deinstitutionalisation in Australia has been under-researched, despite the potential pitfalls. This project will provide information and analysis that will help government and community agencies to seek and provide better outcomes for clients and communities.Read moreRead less
150 low income Australians: a group biography over time. This project has significant potential to contribute social and economic benefits. In 2004-5, the Commonwealth is to spend some $20 billion on these income support programs, which are received by over 2 million citizens. There is significant national and international policy focus on welfare-to-work measures. Major changes in Australia for PPS and DSP recipients are to be implemented from mid-2006, and the project will enable us to better ....150 low income Australians: a group biography over time. This project has significant potential to contribute social and economic benefits. In 2004-5, the Commonwealth is to spend some $20 billion on these income support programs, which are received by over 2 million citizens. There is significant national and international policy focus on welfare-to-work measures. Major changes in Australia for PPS and DSP recipients are to be implemented from mid-2006, and the project will enable us to better understand how these changes are experienced. This most recent package of measures is also linked to policy concerns about expanding the workforce as the population ages. The project findings will contribute substantially to the priority goal of strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric.Read moreRead less
Public-private partnerships as a solution to housing affordability problems: a case study of an inner urban development. Through a case study of an innovative inner city, medium density, low cost housing project, the characteristics of a public-private partnership will be described and analysed in many contexts. The financial, political and institutional impediments to the development of such ventures will be identified and broadened to a solution for other Australian municipalities. This will ....Public-private partnerships as a solution to housing affordability problems: a case study of an inner urban development. Through a case study of an innovative inner city, medium density, low cost housing project, the characteristics of a public-private partnership will be described and analysed in many contexts. The financial, political and institutional impediments to the development of such ventures will be identified and broadened to a solution for other Australian municipalities. This will be achieved by policy and process recommendations. The model will be used to provide a practical solution to low cost inner city housing, which to date has not been sustainably achieved in Australia.
Read moreRead less
Managing medium density development: a municipal case study. There has been no applied, local government-focused research on medium-density residential development. This issue creates the most political and planning problems for many urban local governments in Australia. Using the case study municipality of Boroondara (Melbourne), the aim is to identify, explain and address the many problems associated with such development. This will advance our knowledge about the implications of medium densit ....Managing medium density development: a municipal case study. There has been no applied, local government-focused research on medium-density residential development. This issue creates the most political and planning problems for many urban local governments in Australia. Using the case study municipality of Boroondara (Melbourne), the aim is to identify, explain and address the many problems associated with such development. This will advance our knowledge about the implications of medium density housing for municipalities and thus enable the implementation of better management practices.Read moreRead less
Inner urban public housing redevelopment: a case study of the high rise estate at Kensington, Melbourne. Many of the old public housing estates in Australia require redevelopment, the first of these high rise towers now due for demolition in Melbourne. This project will trace the redevelopment process on one estate from conception to post-occupancy, analysing the financial, organisational, political and construction hurdles that had to be overcome. This analysis will serve as a comprehensive m ....Inner urban public housing redevelopment: a case study of the high rise estate at Kensington, Melbourne. Many of the old public housing estates in Australia require redevelopment, the first of these high rise towers now due for demolition in Melbourne. This project will trace the redevelopment process on one estate from conception to post-occupancy, analysing the financial, organisational, political and construction hurdles that had to be overcome. This analysis will serve as a comprehensive model for other imminent developments, particularly as a model for the incorporation of private sector development interests.
Read moreRead less
Psychosocial and mental health policy in countries emerging from conflict and natural disaster: analysis of policy and program responses. International donor involvement in psychosocial and mental health policy and programming in complex emergencies has been plagued with controversy. With this project, Australian researchers will help build a much needed evidence base for psychosocial and mental health policy formulation and implementation. It will specifically enhance programming responses in ....Psychosocial and mental health policy in countries emerging from conflict and natural disaster: analysis of policy and program responses. International donor involvement in psychosocial and mental health policy and programming in complex emergencies has been plagued with controversy. With this project, Australian researchers will help build a much needed evidence base for psychosocial and mental health policy formulation and implementation. It will specifically enhance programming responses in conflict- and disaster-affected countries of the Asia-Pacific region, where Australia is devoting considerable resources and attention. Better insights into policy processes and the transferability of experience will maximise Australia's response and operational effectiveness, and will have immediate relevance in Tsunami affected areas.Read moreRead less
Socially Responsible Indicators for Policy, Practice and Benchmarking in Service Organisations. The Australian Government, while attempting to limit the spiralling costs of the welfare state, has encouraged market principles and practices in service organisations. This has raised value dilemmas and administrative tensions for education and welfare organisations who, while committed to social justice and social responsibility, have to operate efficiently and effectively. This research aims, thr ....Socially Responsible Indicators for Policy, Practice and Benchmarking in Service Organisations. The Australian Government, while attempting to limit the spiralling costs of the welfare state, has encouraged market principles and practices in service organisations. This has raised value dilemmas and administrative tensions for education and welfare organisations who, while committed to social justice and social responsibility, have to operate efficiently and effectively. This research aims, through the identification and analysis of tensions between social and economic value orientations in the workplace, to develop a values framework and key socially responsible indicators for the improvement of policy, decision making and practice within the Industry Partners and the wider service sectors.Read moreRead less
Advocacy in the age of compacts: Strengthening the policy development dimension of partnership agreements between government and community organisations. The proposed research will be the first attempt to evaluate the roll-out of compacts in Australia. In order to ensure that the new compacts continue to be responsive to the needs of both government and community organisations it is crucial that their early operation be evaluated and the findings used to create ongoing mechanisms for monitoring, ....Advocacy in the age of compacts: Strengthening the policy development dimension of partnership agreements between government and community organisations. The proposed research will be the first attempt to evaluate the roll-out of compacts in Australia. In order to ensure that the new compacts continue to be responsive to the needs of both government and community organisations it is crucial that their early operation be evaluated and the findings used to create ongoing mechanisms for monitoring, outcome evaluation, and skill-building. The proposed project will assist Austraian governments to identify performance indicators for outcomes in the context of the compacts, particularly those that lead to the effective contribution of community organisations in policy development.Read moreRead less
Theoretical and policy implications of changing work/life patterns and preferences of Australian women, men and children, households and communities. This project establishes a Research Fellowship for Ass. Prof. Barbara Pocock, that will principally analyse and investigate, over five years, the relationship of changing patterns of work (broadly defined) in Australia, and the changing nature of Australian households, communities and workplaces. The study explores the effects of work upon househol ....Theoretical and policy implications of changing work/life patterns and preferences of Australian women, men and children, households and communities. This project establishes a Research Fellowship for Ass. Prof. Barbara Pocock, that will principally analyse and investigate, over five years, the relationship of changing patterns of work (broadly defined) in Australia, and the changing nature of Australian households, communities and workplaces. The study explores the effects of work upon households, along with individual preferences and household, community and workplace structures (and their interaction), drawing out implications for social theory and policy. It will analyse policy, quantitative data, and collect and analyse new qualitative data at Australian sites, within an international context.Read moreRead less
Social Capital and Sustainable Development: An International Study. A collaborative international study of social capital and sustainability in local communities will address the following objectives: 1. to characterize the properties of networks that generate social capital and of network formation; and 2. to analyze the mechanisms by which social capital contributes to sustainable development. The project will involve intensive comparative case studies of five communities, three in Canada and ....Social Capital and Sustainable Development: An International Study. A collaborative international study of social capital and sustainability in local communities will address the following objectives: 1. to characterize the properties of networks that generate social capital and of network formation; and 2. to analyze the mechanisms by which social capital contributes to sustainable development. The project will involve intensive comparative case studies of five communities, three in Canada and two in Australia. Within each case community, an intensive qualitative and quantitative analysis will be conducted of the theorized mechanisms for the development of social capital and its mobilization for reconciliation of the ecological, economic and social imperatives required for sustainable development.
Read moreRead less