Professional induction of female and male firefighters in a metropolitan fire station. This research offers new understanding of how the gendered professional identity of recruit firefighters is shaped by the regimes of selection, training and transition to work, in a metropolitan fire station. Doctoral research will explore whether women's relational and communication capacities are developed or discouraged in a masculinist work setting such as firefighting. The project will enhance understandi ....Professional induction of female and male firefighters in a metropolitan fire station. This research offers new understanding of how the gendered professional identity of recruit firefighters is shaped by the regimes of selection, training and transition to work, in a metropolitan fire station. Doctoral research will explore whether women's relational and communication capacities are developed or discouraged in a masculinist work setting such as firefighting. The project will enhance understanding of why some occupations remain male dominated despite 20 years of policy and program level change initiatives. It will have direct benefits for both metropolitan and rural firefighting services in Australia, assisting them to adapt to new professional and equity imperatives.Read moreRead less
Changing the way that Australians enter the workforce: part-time working careers of young full-time school and tertiary students. As student-working is now the way in which most Australians enter the workforce it is essential to have a greater understanding of the phenomenon and assimilate it into the way that we think about jobs, careers and training. New careers theory of international significance will be developed from the findings. Moreover, as most student jobs are in the service sector, s ....Changing the way that Australians enter the workforce: part-time working careers of young full-time school and tertiary students. As student-working is now the way in which most Australians enter the workforce it is essential to have a greater understanding of the phenomenon and assimilate it into the way that we think about jobs, careers and training. New careers theory of international significance will be developed from the findings. Moreover, as most student jobs are in the service sector, student working has the potential to facilitate Australia's move to a more diverse economy and to develop a wider range of work-related skills. The project thus cuts across disciplinary boundaries to assist in strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric. Read moreRead less
Older Workers and Labour Market Adjustment: The Case of Ansett Airlines. By tracing over 5 years the post-retrenchment careers of former Ansett Airlines employees, the study will advance knowledge of labour market adjustments for mature skilled workers from a global service industry. The work will improve understanding of labour market inequality, marginal employment and the relationship between age, household circumstances and workers' willingness to relocate in search of work. By addressing t ....Older Workers and Labour Market Adjustment: The Case of Ansett Airlines. By tracing over 5 years the post-retrenchment careers of former Ansett Airlines employees, the study will advance knowledge of labour market adjustments for mature skilled workers from a global service industry. The work will improve understanding of labour market inequality, marginal employment and the relationship between age, household circumstances and workers' willingness to relocate in search of work. By addressing two National Research Priorities - the barriers to labour market participation of older workers and the motivations of skilled workers who emigrate from Australia - the project will contribute to the development of labour market policies attuned to the demands of an ageing workforce in a globalising economy.Read moreRead less
Spatial structure of emerging labour markets in China: a study of social and political institutions in localities. This project will identify factors influencing the structure of emerging local labour markets in China during economic transition. It will (i) measure spatial variations in the degree to which markets for labour have emerged in China; (ii) characterise national, provincial and local influences over the operation of labour markets; (iii) evaluate competing explanations of labour mar ....Spatial structure of emerging labour markets in China: a study of social and political institutions in localities. This project will identify factors influencing the structure of emerging local labour markets in China during economic transition. It will (i) measure spatial variations in the degree to which markets for labour have emerged in China; (ii) characterise national, provincial and local influences over the operation of labour markets; (iii) evaluate competing explanations of labour market transitions; and (iv) evaluate the capacity of Chinese governments to direct economic change in new markets. The project will integrate geographical theory of local labour markets and theories of transition in China, extending and enriching both.Read moreRead less
Gender and Employment Equity: Strategies for Advancement in Australian Universities. Gender inequity in pay and employment remain a feature of Australian society and can impair labour productivity. Lower female labour force participation rates continue to be a major issue, resulting in less than optimum use of women's skills. This project undertakes detailed analysis of these issues in Australian Universities, the major training site for the national skilled workforce. It will develop practical ....Gender and Employment Equity: Strategies for Advancement in Australian Universities. Gender inequity in pay and employment remain a feature of Australian society and can impair labour productivity. Lower female labour force participation rates continue to be a major issue, resulting in less than optimum use of women's skills. This project undertakes detailed analysis of these issues in Australian Universities, the major training site for the national skilled workforce. It will develop practical strategies to promote gender equity in universities. As women's participation is a major driver of labour force growth, this research will provide vital information for many industries.Read moreRead less
Drivers and contexts of affirmative action, equal opportunity and diversity strategies. This project will use a case-study approach to provide a series of rich accounts about the introduction, implementation and evaluation of affirmative action and equal employment opportunity strategies in twelve Australian organizations. Focussing on in-depth interviews with key personnel from the Chief Executive Officers to those women intended to benefit from such strategies, the research will provide ground ....Drivers and contexts of affirmative action, equal opportunity and diversity strategies. This project will use a case-study approach to provide a series of rich accounts about the introduction, implementation and evaluation of affirmative action and equal employment opportunity strategies in twelve Australian organizations. Focussing on in-depth interviews with key personnel from the Chief Executive Officers to those women intended to benefit from such strategies, the research will provide ground-breaking evidence about the drivers behind such organizational change, the factors associated with successful implementation, and the range of indicators on which such strategies have been evaluated.Read moreRead less
Fluctuating demands and unexpected events: An action research approach to improving work-family interaction in project-based construction work. Construction workers, who comprise 8.5% of Australia's workforce, are a high risk group for work-family conflict (WFC), which is linked to negative outcomes for individuals, families and organizations. The construction industry is facing a skills shortage but remains unattractive to young workers and those with family/care responsibilities. The research ....Fluctuating demands and unexpected events: An action research approach to improving work-family interaction in project-based construction work. Construction workers, who comprise 8.5% of Australia's workforce, are a high risk group for work-family conflict (WFC), which is linked to negative outcomes for individuals, families and organizations. The construction industry is facing a skills shortage but remains unattractive to young workers and those with family/care responsibilities. The research will help the construction industry to re-think cultural expectations about work hours and design jobs that reduce WFC and promote work-family interaction. The research will help the industry improve its ability to attract and retain a diverse workforce and contribute to a reduction in the social and economic costs of WFC.Read moreRead less
Fluid security in the Asia Pacific. At a time of global and regional insecurity fuelled by economic and terrorism concerns, this project will provide a rigorous evidence base for the Asia Pacific to better manage mobility in a more inclusive way. This directly fits with understanding our region and the world by providing an evidence base for better understanding of how and why people move throughout the Asia Pacific and their impact and experiences of security. It also contributes to protecting ....Fluid security in the Asia Pacific. At a time of global and regional insecurity fuelled by economic and terrorism concerns, this project will provide a rigorous evidence base for the Asia Pacific to better manage mobility in a more inclusive way. This directly fits with understanding our region and the world by providing an evidence base for better understanding of how and why people move throughout the Asia Pacific and their impact and experiences of security. It also contributes to protecting Australia from terrorism and crime by identifying the reasons and ways people move in unauthorized ways and therefore to help to design systems that reduce experiences of victimization and criminalisation.Read moreRead less
Rural adjustment or structural transformation? Discovering the destinations of exiting farm families. The findings of this research will assist local, State and Federal governments to intervene effectively in processes of regional and rural structural adjustment. It will generate economic benefits by recommending policies that facilitate growth and promote sustainable rural businesses while at the same time sheltering rural communities and individual households from adverse outcomes. It will con ....Rural adjustment or structural transformation? Discovering the destinations of exiting farm families. The findings of this research will assist local, State and Federal governments to intervene effectively in processes of regional and rural structural adjustment. It will generate economic benefits by recommending policies that facilitate growth and promote sustainable rural businesses while at the same time sheltering rural communities and individual households from adverse outcomes. It will contribute social benefits by identifying policies to improve the outcomes of rural adjustment for families and individuals. The new knowledge it provides will inform the politics of regional change and remove some of the uncertainties that currently impede the implementation of rural adjustment policies.Read moreRead less
Managing the Volunteer Workforce: Flexible Structures and Strategies to Integrate Volunteers and Paid Workers. Volunteers now play a vital role in many service-oriented organisations. This project proposes an innovative framework to assist organisations to develop flexible and appropriate structures and strategies for the management of volunteer and paid workforces. The approach draws upon Atkinson's (1984) "Flexible Firm" concept. A flexibility model is applied to the relationship between volun ....Managing the Volunteer Workforce: Flexible Structures and Strategies to Integrate Volunteers and Paid Workers. Volunteers now play a vital role in many service-oriented organisations. This project proposes an innovative framework to assist organisations to develop flexible and appropriate structures and strategies for the management of volunteer and paid workforces. The approach draws upon Atkinson's (1984) "Flexible Firm" concept. A flexibility model is applied to the relationship between volunteers and the broader workforce. The project aims (a) to understand, conceptualise and evaluate the roles, functions and structure of volunteer groups within paid workforces; (b) to investigate how positive relationships, training, effective communication and flexibility can enhance the contribution of volunteers in the workforce and (c) to propose mechanisms which can improve the deployment of human capital within larger service-oriented organisations such as the National Museum of Australia and Museum of Victoria.Read moreRead less