Sustaining older workers' competence: Informing policy and practice. Maintaining the effective working life of older Australian workers is central for sustaining the economic and social health of the nation and for their workplace efficacy and sense of self as productive members of the community. This project will identify and recommend practices and policies for both Australian workplaces and educational institutions to sustain and develop further the skills of Australia's growing number of ol ....Sustaining older workers' competence: Informing policy and practice. Maintaining the effective working life of older Australian workers is central for sustaining the economic and social health of the nation and for their workplace efficacy and sense of self as productive members of the community. This project will identify and recommend practices and policies for both Australian workplaces and educational institutions to sustain and develop further the skills of Australia's growing number of older workers and effectively manage their work transitions. These outcomes will also be used to inform processes and practices to develop the capacities of older Australians in maintaining personally and economically productive working lives.Read moreRead less
Social Futures and Life Pathways of Young People in Queensland: Waves 2 and 3 of Longitudinal Study. Much has been written about the unprecedented change in society and how it impacts on the identities of young people. It has been argued that young people's life trajectories are much more diverse, flexible and unpredictable than they were in the past. In 2006 the investigators surveyed over 6000 young Queenslanders aged 13 about what they think of their future and how they cope with change. This ....Social Futures and Life Pathways of Young People in Queensland: Waves 2 and 3 of Longitudinal Study. Much has been written about the unprecedented change in society and how it impacts on the identities of young people. It has been argued that young people's life trajectories are much more diverse, flexible and unpredictable than they were in the past. In 2006 the investigators surveyed over 6000 young Queenslanders aged 13 about what they think of their future and how they cope with change. This project follows-up participants when they are 15 and 17 to provide important information for researchers, policymakers and others about how young people think about their futures, engage with society, and move through school, work and family in a world of rapid change and uncertainty.Read moreRead less
Social Futures, Orientations and Identities of Young People in Queensland. Much has been written about the unprecedented change in society and how it impacts on the identities of young people. It has been argued that life pathways of young people are much more diverse, flexible and unpredictable than they were in the past and that they are developing new strategies of coping with these new conditions. This research will follow a large cohort of young Australians through adolescence to empiricall ....Social Futures, Orientations and Identities of Young People in Queensland. Much has been written about the unprecedented change in society and how it impacts on the identities of young people. It has been argued that life pathways of young people are much more diverse, flexible and unpredictable than they were in the past and that they are developing new strategies of coping with these new conditions. This research will follow a large cohort of young Australians through adolescence to empirically investigate how young people think of their future and how they master their life trajectories in a world of rapid change and uncertainty. Read moreRead less
Social inclusion through community embedded, socially supported university education. Through the collaboration of community agencies and tertiary institutions this research project identifies key impacts of community embedded socially supported higher education upon enhancing the social inclusion of disadvantaged Australians. It identifies the educational and social support factors which contribute to the effectiveness of this strategy and the cost and benefits of this innovative educational pa ....Social inclusion through community embedded, socially supported university education. Through the collaboration of community agencies and tertiary institutions this research project identifies key impacts of community embedded socially supported higher education upon enhancing the social inclusion of disadvantaged Australians. It identifies the educational and social support factors which contribute to the effectiveness of this strategy and the cost and benefits of this innovative educational pathway to social inclusion for governments and the community. Read moreRead less
Developing Effective School-Community Learning Partnerships for Sustainability. The research contributes to 2 areas of national concern:achieving environmental sustainability and strengthening social cohesion, especially in the expanding urban growth corridors of Australian cities. It will develop guidelines for facilitating models of community learning partnerships that build social capital as a vehicle for protecting natural capital. Knowledge generated will advance conservation practices for ....Developing Effective School-Community Learning Partnerships for Sustainability. The research contributes to 2 areas of national concern:achieving environmental sustainability and strengthening social cohesion, especially in the expanding urban growth corridors of Australian cities. It will develop guidelines for facilitating models of community learning partnerships that build social capital as a vehicle for protecting natural capital. Knowledge generated will advance conservation practices for natural capital:water, energy, biodiversity and waste, and strengthen the school-community partnership elements of programs such as ResourceSmart and the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI), supported extensively by networks of local, State and Commonwealth governments, schools and community groups.Read moreRead less
Social futures and life pathways of young people in Queensland: waves 4 and 5 of a longitudinal study. This project assesses the impact of globalisation on the attitudes, behaviors, and life pathways of a cohort of over 7000 young Queenslanders, first surveyed when they were aged 12 and 13. Participants will be followed up when they are aged 19 and 20 and 20/21 to examine their experiences of the transition from school to work, family and social life.
Children as health advocates in families: assessing the consequences. This project intends to examine how health knowledge taken home by primary-aged children affects children’s wellbeing, family food practices and family relationships. Widespread public concern with obesity means children can be seen as advocates for change in family health practices. The project plans to investigate the consequences for children and families of primary school healthy eating programs, with particular attention ....Children as health advocates in families: assessing the consequences. This project intends to examine how health knowledge taken home by primary-aged children affects children’s wellbeing, family food practices and family relationships. Widespread public concern with obesity means children can be seen as advocates for change in family health practices. The project plans to investigate the consequences for children and families of primary school healthy eating programs, with particular attention to diverse family groups. It plans to use a multimethod qualitative approach including video diaries and interviews with children and parents within families. Results are expected to inform school health and education policy practices and provide resources for those working on health issues with primary-school-aged children and families, to facilitate child and family wellbeing.Read moreRead less
Improving local government solid waste management practices through deliberative citizen decision-making and behaviour change communication strategies. This project aims to provide a democratic procedure (deliberative processes) to enhance local government's ability to deal with contentious economic, social, and environmental issues. Instead of top-down communication methods (education and edict), two processes are evaluated: commitment and feedback to people as local leaders, and the deliberati ....Improving local government solid waste management practices through deliberative citizen decision-making and behaviour change communication strategies. This project aims to provide a democratic procedure (deliberative processes) to enhance local government's ability to deal with contentious economic, social, and environmental issues. Instead of top-down communication methods (education and edict), two processes are evaluated: commitment and feedback to people as local leaders, and the deliberation of a citizen jury with access to expert knowledge. These processes will be simultaneously tested in
a mature (Ipswich) and emerging (Springfield) community with different demographic profiles. The expected outcome is greatly enhanced recycling output based on the enhanced citizenship of those involved, and the responsiveness of the service provider to 'bottom-up' deliberation and communication.Read moreRead less
Youth-led learning: local connections and global citizenship. Focussing on social connections across racial and religious boundaries, the project directly addresses two areas of immediate national concern: young peoples' wellbeing, and Australia's relationship with its neighbours. The project will generate a new model of sustainable partnership across NGOs and learning institutions to provide youth-led, global education programs for school-aged youth, promoting learning from a local basis about ....Youth-led learning: local connections and global citizenship. Focussing on social connections across racial and religious boundaries, the project directly addresses two areas of immediate national concern: young peoples' wellbeing, and Australia's relationship with its neighbours. The project will generate a new model of sustainable partnership across NGOs and learning institutions to provide youth-led, global education programs for school-aged youth, promoting learning from a local basis about global issues. In creating this shared evidence base the project will benefit two industry sectors (NGOs and Education) and facilitate the development of effective processes toward young people's greater participation in social life.Read moreRead less
How art-based social enterprise helps marginalised young people. This project aims to analyse how art-based social enterprise organisations manage training and work transitions and develop the health and well-being of marginalised young people. After the Global Financial Crisis, young people were disproportionately affected by unemployment and precarious employment. The most marginalised young people make up more than 55% of those unemployed for more than a year. Social enterprises are a rapidly ....How art-based social enterprise helps marginalised young people. This project aims to analyse how art-based social enterprise organisations manage training and work transitions and develop the health and well-being of marginalised young people. After the Global Financial Crisis, young people were disproportionately affected by unemployment and precarious employment. The most marginalised young people make up more than 55% of those unemployed for more than a year. Social enterprises are a rapidly expanding sector of the Australian economy with 20,000 programmes in operation. Using a longitudinal, critical case methodology. the project intends to provide a strong evidence base to develop long-term strategy for policy and engagement practice in the sector.Read moreRead less