The differential impact of performance-based and size-based funding of university research in Australia and Germany. The project will significantly increase knowledge about organisational and individual responses to systems of financing university research. A comparison of University research in Australia to a 'ground state' of research that has not been affected by evaluation-based funding will assist Australian policy makers to better manage the use of tax payer dollars to fund research. The ....The differential impact of performance-based and size-based funding of university research in Australia and Germany. The project will significantly increase knowledge about organisational and individual responses to systems of financing university research. A comparison of University research in Australia to a 'ground state' of research that has not been affected by evaluation-based funding will assist Australian policy makers to better manage the use of tax payer dollars to fund research. The project will identify adaptive behaviour, and will thus support the discussion about possible consequences of the upcoming new Research Quality Framework in Australia. German science policy will benefit from insights into the long-term effects of formula-based funding that cannot as yet be observed in Germany.Read moreRead less
Social Networks and Political Change in Contemporary Rural China. Rural China is home to nearly one-sixth of the world's population. Reforms in the Chinese countryside triggered a prolonged period of economic growth that has become the engine of the world economy and the major destination for Australian exports. Political and economic developments in the agricultural sector and the continued industrialisation of China's rural regions have an immediate impact on the Australian economy and will sh ....Social Networks and Political Change in Contemporary Rural China. Rural China is home to nearly one-sixth of the world's population. Reforms in the Chinese countryside triggered a prolonged period of economic growth that has become the engine of the world economy and the major destination for Australian exports. Political and economic developments in the agricultural sector and the continued industrialisation of China's rural regions have an immediate impact on the Australian economy and will shape Australia's relations with China long into the twenty-first century. Australia is a world leader in research on contemporary China and this project will help to consolidate that position.Read moreRead less
Business collective action, networks and discourse: a fiscal sociology of mining tax reform in Australia. The mining tax revolt in 2010 was a landmark event in government-business relations in Australia, acknowledged by multinational corporations and governments around the world for its broader ramifications. This project is the first systematic study of what happened, and its implications for our understanding of government-business relations.
An action research project to strengthen inter-professional learning and practice across the ACT health system. There are 14 beneficial reasons why this project is vital to the fabric of our nation. These include: the economic benefits of a more efficient health-care system; the social benefits of more responsive and resilient workplaces; the research benefits of better knowledge about how professionals can work together effectively; the consumer benefits of improved patient care; health sector ....An action research project to strengthen inter-professional learning and practice across the ACT health system. There are 14 beneficial reasons why this project is vital to the fabric of our nation. These include: the economic benefits of a more efficient health-care system; the social benefits of more responsive and resilient workplaces; the research benefits of better knowledge about how professionals can work together effectively; the consumer benefits of improved patient care; health sector benefits in assisting health reforms to be more effective; and education sector benefits in understanding how professionals from different disciplines can learn together more collaboratively. The benefits are transferable to other industries and professional groups, as well as to Australia's international partners.Read moreRead less
Standing up to racism and racial bullying among Australian school students. This project aims to substantially increase understandings of bystander responses (including their extent, nature, potential, merits, benefits, and constraints) as a means of countering racism and racial bullying among Australian school students. This aims to be achieved through examining experiences of, attitudes towards, and responses to, racism and racial bullying among school students; identifying health, wellbeing, ....Standing up to racism and racial bullying among Australian school students. This project aims to substantially increase understandings of bystander responses (including their extent, nature, potential, merits, benefits, and constraints) as a means of countering racism and racial bullying among Australian school students. This aims to be achieved through examining experiences of, attitudes towards, and responses to, racism and racial bullying among school students; identifying health, wellbeing, education and social outcomes of racism and racial bullying for individuals, schools and communities; exploring the enablers and obstacles associated with bystander responses to racism and racial bullying; and by developing and piloting a school-based program to foster bystander responses to racism and racial bullying.Read moreRead less
Communities and New Patterns of Stratification in a Chinese City. China plays a major geopolitical role in the Asia-Pacific region. It is essential to understand the political and social challenges faced by China. Whether or not Chinese urban areas are going to experience a period of further growth and stability depends largely on the ability of the Chinese government to manage social change. This research will be the first systematic investigation into contemporary community building in China. ....Communities and New Patterns of Stratification in a Chinese City. China plays a major geopolitical role in the Asia-Pacific region. It is essential to understand the political and social challenges faced by China. Whether or not Chinese urban areas are going to experience a period of further growth and stability depends largely on the ability of the Chinese government to manage social change. This research will be the first systematic investigation into contemporary community building in China. By looking at the fundamental re-organisation of urban society, it will significantly improve the understanding of the complex social implications of China's rapid modernization and regional integration, and provide unprecedented insights on the perspectives for political reform. Read moreRead less
Using museums to counter racism and increase acceptance of diversity among young people. Although little is known about the topic, racism is a significant issue for young Australians. This project will reveal how high school students and their teachers understand racism, diversity and identity. It will also determine how museum programs can reduce racism and increase acceptance of diversity among high school students and their teachers.
'Digital Natives': Growing up with new and old media in Australia. Developing a sophisticated digital literacy is important for both the future of children, the cultural, social and economic well-being of the nation. Digital literacy requires not only communications infrastructure but targeted investment in human skills. Investing in the development of a digitally literate Australian population has become an explicit means for promoting the future economic and social well-being of the nation. Th ....'Digital Natives': Growing up with new and old media in Australia. Developing a sophisticated digital literacy is important for both the future of children, the cultural, social and economic well-being of the nation. Digital literacy requires not only communications infrastructure but targeted investment in human skills. Investing in the development of a digitally literate Australian population has become an explicit means for promoting the future economic and social well-being of the nation. The information provided by this project has the potential to contribute significantly to giving children 'a healthy start to life' in their early years. Read moreRead less
Opportunity spaces - community engagement in the planning, use and governance of shared school facilities. This project will capitalise on investment across Australia in renewing schools and building community education precincts. The work will illuminate the role played by civic infrastructure in community building, the benefits of coordinating social and educational services, and the potential of schools as learning resources for the whole community.
The institutional structure of e-government: a cross-policy, cross-country comparison. Governments have expended vast resources on building websites, yet how government is structured on the internet is unknown. This project will map Australia's online government for the first time and assess to how websites are supporting improved government service. The study will support government innovation in web design and service delivery.