Research Utilisation in Child Protection Policy: Understanding and Conceptualising the Role of Research in Social Policy Development. The findings of this project will have significant benefits for vulnerable children and families by enhancing the capacity for research-informed policy in child protection. In this way, the project will also have significant flow-on economic benefits for Local, State and Federal Governments by decreasing the social and economic costs associated with child abuse an ....Research Utilisation in Child Protection Policy: Understanding and Conceptualising the Role of Research in Social Policy Development. The findings of this project will have significant benefits for vulnerable children and families by enhancing the capacity for research-informed policy in child protection. In this way, the project will also have significant flow-on economic benefits for Local, State and Federal Governments by decreasing the social and economic costs associated with child abuse and neglect. Research funding will have a greater impact by the increased understanding this study will provide about how research can be more effectively used in policy.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
The limited promise of 'equality biographies': Young Australians negotiate modern gendered identities, family and citizenship engagements in a divided society. Apart from its contribution to the international sociological debate concerning the individualization thesis, the project will contribute to pressing policy issues, ie. declining fertility, accessibility of abortion, appropriate childcare, humane immigration policies in a world with millions of refugees and reconciliation. Based on an em ....The limited promise of 'equality biographies': Young Australians negotiate modern gendered identities, family and citizenship engagements in a divided society. Apart from its contribution to the international sociological debate concerning the individualization thesis, the project will contribute to pressing policy issues, ie. declining fertility, accessibility of abortion, appropriate childcare, humane immigration policies in a world with millions of refugees and reconciliation. Based on an empirically grounded analysis in a rich qualitative data set revealing how young Australians see themselves negotiating family, work and citizenship, the project will construct the vocabularies by which young people locate themselves in the community. The results will make contributions to policy debates by suggesting changes that are responsive to the needs and aspirations of the citizens of the future.Read moreRead less
Parents' networks: the circulation of knowledge about children's literacy learning. Families' differential access to literacy knowledge and resources is a factor in children's unequal literacy outcomes. Networks are a means by which knowledge and resources are accessed. In investigating how parents' networks operate, how organisations' networks access parents, and ideas about children's literacy circulating through these networks, this study will inform policy and practice in community service ....Parents' networks: the circulation of knowledge about children's literacy learning. Families' differential access to literacy knowledge and resources is a factor in children's unequal literacy outcomes. Networks are a means by which knowledge and resources are accessed. In investigating how parents' networks operate, how organisations' networks access parents, and ideas about children's literacy circulating through these networks, this study will inform policy and practice in community service provision, family literacy and parent education. It will provide new knowledge about the impact of culture, gender, technology and globalisation on parents' access to ideas about children's literacy which will be valuable in developing programs and practices appropriate to different families and communities.Read moreRead less
Gendered violence and citizenship: the complex effects of intimate partner violence on mental health, housing and employment. This project will examine how intimate partner violence (IPV) impacts on women's citizenship through its effects on the interconnected dimensions of mental health, housing and employment over time. It will produce evidence on women's active and diverse responses to IPV, and provide new understandings of gender, violence and citizenship.
Mapping the developmental trajectories of foster families. Currently lacking in Australian research on foster care is a developmental account of foster families. This research will, through an ethnographic study of foster families, provide a map of the unique shapes that foster families take, and will provide much needed information about the support needs of both foster carers and children.
Understanding Foster Carers' Motivations: Personal, Political & Historical Perspectives on Care Provision in Australia. Due to the increasing number of children in care nationally, and the declining number of available foster care placements, there is current considerable interest in understanding the most appropriate means to recruit and retain foster carers. This project involves a national interview study of carers from several Australian States to understand the factors that most strongly mo ....Understanding Foster Carers' Motivations: Personal, Political & Historical Perspectives on Care Provision in Australia. Due to the increasing number of children in care nationally, and the declining number of available foster care placements, there is current considerable interest in understanding the most appropriate means to recruit and retain foster carers. This project involves a national interview study of carers from several Australian States to understand the factors that most strongly motivate people to become carers. Based on interviews with carers and other important stakeholders, the results will help us to understand the nature of the foster-carer role within the current political and social climate and help inform future national recruitment strategies.
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