Australian news media and Indigenous policymaking 1988-2008. Our research will enhance both journalistic and policymaking practice by providing comprehensive, contemporary data about the relationships between journalism practices and Indigenous policymaking processes. We will examine media texts, policy documents, public statements and journalists' and policymakers' local knowledge. The ways in which Indigenous issues are discussed through the public media have concrete policy outcomes that impa ....Australian news media and Indigenous policymaking 1988-2008. Our research will enhance both journalistic and policymaking practice by providing comprehensive, contemporary data about the relationships between journalism practices and Indigenous policymaking processes. We will examine media texts, policy documents, public statements and journalists' and policymakers' local knowledge. The ways in which Indigenous issues are discussed through the public media have concrete policy outcomes that impact on the lives of Indigenous Australians, on the relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and ultimately on Australia as a nation. As such, the research falls within theNational Research Priority area of maintaining good health, by aiming to strengthen Australia's social and economic fabric.Read moreRead less
Carers and social inclusion: new frameworks, evidence and policy lessons. This project aims to improve our understanding of informal carers' social inclusion through new conceptual frameworks, geographical and longitudinal analysis and lessons from international best practice. The outcomes of the project will inform Australia policies fostering social inclusion and the social and economic wellbeing of Australian carers.
The Extent and Cost of Kinship Foster Care of Orphans in Rural China. This project will explore the extent of kinship foster care provided to orphaned children in rural China. It will also, for the first time, estimate the costs of kinship care, by modifying Australian budget standards research to suit conditions in rural China. The project will combine a strong research team with a leading international non-government agency working in China and will draw on support from government officials fr ....The Extent and Cost of Kinship Foster Care of Orphans in Rural China. This project will explore the extent of kinship foster care provided to orphaned children in rural China. It will also, for the first time, estimate the costs of kinship care, by modifying Australian budget standards research to suit conditions in rural China. The project will combine a strong research team with a leading international non-government agency working in China and will draw on support from government officials from the Ministry of Civil Affairs. The results will be used to estimate child poverty among the target group and will provide a knowledge base for future research in the area.Read moreRead less
Left Out and Missing Out: Towards New Indicators of Social Exclusion and Material Deprivation. This ground-breaking project will utilise academic knowledge and practical agency experience built up over decades to produce a new framework for identifying and measuring exclusion and deprivation in contemporary Australian society. It will generate new findings on public attitudes to the 'necessary requirements' needed to participate at all levels in society and the economy. It will examine the popul ....Left Out and Missing Out: Towards New Indicators of Social Exclusion and Material Deprivation. This ground-breaking project will utilise academic knowledge and practical agency experience built up over decades to produce a new framework for identifying and measuring exclusion and deprivation in contemporary Australian society. It will generate new findings on public attitudes to the 'necessary requirements' needed to participate at all levels in society and the economy. It will examine the population profile of the individuals and groups who are denied these opportunities, using both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (focus group) data, and its findings will complement existing data collections.Read moreRead less
The Smith Family VIEW Clubs of Australia: From Philanthropy towards Social Enterprise. This project offers the opportunity to do original and innovative research with one of Australia's most successful women's community service organisations, The Smith Family VIEW (Voice, Interests and Education of Women) Clubs. The research will investigate the clubs' response to The Smith Family plan for them to play a new role in social development and social change, and whether this response differs among cl ....The Smith Family VIEW Clubs of Australia: From Philanthropy towards Social Enterprise. This project offers the opportunity to do original and innovative research with one of Australia's most successful women's community service organisations, The Smith Family VIEW (Voice, Interests and Education of Women) Clubs. The research will investigate the clubs' response to The Smith Family plan for them to play a new role in social development and social change, and whether this response differs among clubs in rural and regional and metropolitan areas. Conducted in collaboration with a major national community organisation, the project will provide multi-disciplinary training in social policy in the specialist research environment of the Social Policy Research Centre.Read moreRead less
Making a Difference: Building on Children's Perspectives on Economic Adversity. Governments allocate a large volume of resources to address the needs of children. Investigating children's perspectives on the nature and impacts of economic adversity in the family, at school and in the community will provide a better understanding of how policy can make a difference to children's lives. The direct involvement of major government and non-government agencies in the research will strengthen its relev ....Making a Difference: Building on Children's Perspectives on Economic Adversity. Governments allocate a large volume of resources to address the needs of children. Investigating children's perspectives on the nature and impacts of economic adversity in the family, at school and in the community will provide a better understanding of how policy can make a difference to children's lives. The direct involvement of major government and non-government agencies in the research will strengthen its relevance and impact. The resulting improvements in service design and delivery will generate substantial economic and social benefits in areas that align with the designated national research priorities.Read moreRead less
Measurement and explanation of family change in Australia in comparative perspective: a longitudinal approach. As other similar countries are now well-advanced in the use of longitudinal analysis of family change, the Australian research proposed here will provide a better comparative view of the efficacy of Australian policies and programs related to families. Policy based on static analysis is more limited because it conceives people's family lives as being static where the reality is dynamic. ....Measurement and explanation of family change in Australia in comparative perspective: a longitudinal approach. As other similar countries are now well-advanced in the use of longitudinal analysis of family change, the Australian research proposed here will provide a better comparative view of the efficacy of Australian policies and programs related to families. Policy based on static analysis is more limited because it conceives people's family lives as being static where the reality is dynamic. We have little understanding of the causes and consequences of this dynamism in Australia. Such an understanding is essential if policy is to enable people to make choices that lead to positive pathways to self reliance and supportive family structures.Read moreRead less
Enabling Disability? Autonomous Technologies & CaLD persons with disability. Over 1 million disabled Australians are from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities, the majority of whom are ineligible for disability and multicultural services. CaLD persons with disability significantly rely on digital information systems, devices and platforms to secure their economic, social and cultural inclusion. Evidence to date documents the continual exclusionary impact of artificial intelli ....Enabling Disability? Autonomous Technologies & CaLD persons with disability. Over 1 million disabled Australians are from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities, the majority of whom are ineligible for disability and multicultural services. CaLD persons with disability significantly rely on digital information systems, devices and platforms to secure their economic, social and cultural inclusion. Evidence to date documents the continual exclusionary impact of artificial intelligence (AI) behind such technologies in addition to its inaccessibility to complex end-users. Yet, AI is now central to socio-economic well being and inclusion. In partnership with community and industry, this project will inform future AI developments and policy increasing its adaptability, accessibility and affordability.
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Life after care: the life-histories of those who left institutional and other forms of out-of-home care, 1945-1989. This project, developed in close collaboration with the Industry Partner, MacKillop Family Services, will examine the impact of having been in out-of-home care for the subsequent identities and life histories of successive generations of care leavers. While focused on Catholic institutions in Victoria, it will provide more general insights into the role of church-based children's h ....Life after care: the life-histories of those who left institutional and other forms of out-of-home care, 1945-1989. This project, developed in close collaboration with the Industry Partner, MacKillop Family Services, will examine the impact of having been in out-of-home care for the subsequent identities and life histories of successive generations of care leavers. While focused on Catholic institutions in Victoria, it will provide more general insights into the role of church-based children's homes. Based on archival and oral history methods, it will also be an opportunity for those who experienced care to tell the story of life after leaving care.Read moreRead less
Material Deprivation and Social Exclusion among Young Australians: A Child-Focused Approach. This project aims to extend recent research on adult social disadvantage to examine the circumstances of young Australians, aged between 11 and 16 years. New indicators will be developed that build on and reflect the attitudes, views and experiences of young people. The indicators will then be applied to measure the degree of disadvantage using data collected from a large survey of New South Wales school ....Material Deprivation and Social Exclusion among Young Australians: A Child-Focused Approach. This project aims to extend recent research on adult social disadvantage to examine the circumstances of young Australians, aged between 11 and 16 years. New indicators will be developed that build on and reflect the attitudes, views and experiences of young people. The indicators will then be applied to measure the degree of disadvantage using data collected from a large survey of New South Wales school students and a smaller survey of service users. Summary indicators will be developed and used to examine how the nature and severity of disadvantage varies with factors such as age, school and location. The study aims to produce a template for national application in all schools and the initial policy implications of the findings will be explored with key stakeholders.Read moreRead less