Australian transplants: the political ecology of Acacia exchanges across the Indian Ocean. The case studies and conclusions arising out of this project will help environmental practitioners and policymakers make informed decisions about exotic plant introductions, balancing needs to 'safeguard' Australia on the one hand with interests in 'improving' Australia on the other. The project's innovative focus on the comings and goings of a single plant genus also makes a significant contribution to ....Australian transplants: the political ecology of Acacia exchanges across the Indian Ocean. The case studies and conclusions arising out of this project will help environmental practitioners and policymakers make informed decisions about exotic plant introductions, balancing needs to 'safeguard' Australia on the one hand with interests in 'improving' Australia on the other. The project's innovative focus on the comings and goings of a single plant genus also makes a significant contribution to Australian environmental studies, by generating richer public discussion of the question of native versus introduced plants. Finally, it will produce new knowledge about our iconic wattles (made accessible through a book), increase international collaboration across the Indian Ocean, and train two postgraduate students.Read moreRead less
Pathways to health and wellbeing through housing: a new causal understanding of relationships, processes and interventions. Does housing make Australians healthier or less healthy, how can we target housing assistance so that it improves individual health and wellbeing? This research answers these questions, it develops new methods for understanding the complex causal relationship between housing and health, and evidence of how housing can improve health and wellbeing.
The enigma of arrival: Movements of the mimosa bush and the baobab across the Indian Ocean into pre-British Australia. This project will provide new insights into northern Australia's historical place in Indian Ocean networks of trade, cultural, and biological exchanges. By seeking to solve the enigmas of arrival of the mimosa bush and baobab our project will create new knowledge about the pre-British environmental history of Australia. Its integrative approach will generate significant public ....The enigma of arrival: Movements of the mimosa bush and the baobab across the Indian Ocean into pre-British Australia. This project will provide new insights into northern Australia's historical place in Indian Ocean networks of trade, cultural, and biological exchanges. By seeking to solve the enigmas of arrival of the mimosa bush and baobab our project will create new knowledge about the pre-British environmental history of Australia. Its integrative approach will generate significant public interest and richer discussion on the question of native versus introduced plants, helping environmental practitioners make informed decisions about alien plants and develop a more balanced perspective on biodiversity management. Finally, it will increase international collaboration across the Indian Ocean and train two postgraduate students. Read moreRead less
New Regionalism and the Dynamics of Local Economies. The economic development of Australia's regions is of ongoing concern and importance to governments, communities and businesses. This research will provide new insights into the factors underpinning local economic growth, and the extent to which these are supported or otherwise by emerging approaches in regional policy and practice. This is especially important given the need to ensure the effectiveness regional and local development strategie ....New Regionalism and the Dynamics of Local Economies. The economic development of Australia's regions is of ongoing concern and importance to governments, communities and businesses. This research will provide new insights into the factors underpinning local economic growth, and the extent to which these are supported or otherwise by emerging approaches in regional policy and practice. This is especially important given the need to ensure the effectiveness regional and local development strategies. By analysing the dynamics of local economies in their policy context, the research will offer development strategies that will underpin economically sustainable businesses, localities and regions. This has the potential to lead to more productive and prosperous regional and local economies.Read moreRead less
Improving Sub-national Population Forecasts. The aim of this project is to make significant advances in two related areas of regional, council area and local population forecasting, namely improving accuracy, and providing an indication of forecast uncertainty. Population forecasts often turn out to be far more inaccurate than users realise and fail to come with any information about reliability. Every year forecasts inform a wide variety of planning and policy development activities and influen ....Improving Sub-national Population Forecasts. The aim of this project is to make significant advances in two related areas of regional, council area and local population forecasting, namely improving accuracy, and providing an indication of forecast uncertainty. Population forecasts often turn out to be far more inaccurate than users realise and fail to come with any information about reliability. Every year forecasts inform a wide variety of planning and policy development activities and influence investment decisions worth billions of dollars. In order to increase the value of forecasts to users, this project aims to combine methods from a range of disciplines to devise more accurate ways of forecasting populations, and provide accompanying information on their likely error.Read moreRead less
Alternative Models of Governance for Australian Local Government: Classification, Evaluation and Policy. Local government plays a central role in the lives of almost all Australians by providing essential services subject to local democratic oversight. Its smooth running is thus critical to the national interest. However, many local authorities are in dire financial straits, with services curtailed, and vital infrastructure deteriorating. Various alternative models of local governance, often inv ....Alternative Models of Governance for Australian Local Government: Classification, Evaluation and Policy. Local government plays a central role in the lives of almost all Australians by providing essential services subject to local democratic oversight. Its smooth running is thus critical to the national interest. However, many local authorities are in dire financial straits, with services curtailed, and vital infrastructure deteriorating. Various alternative models of local governance, often involving resource sharing and regional alliances, have been adopted as solutions to these problems. Unfortunately, almost no scholarly effort has been invested in this area. This project seeks overcome this neglect by identifying these models, evaluating their potential, and contributing to policy discussion and development.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100242
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$353,773.00
Summary
Bushfires, faith and community cohesion: building a resilient Australia. Bushfire emergencies in Australia have social, ethical and political, as well as biophysical causes. Hidden in embedded vulnerability, social norms and institutional structures, these causes are often critical obstacles to building resilient communities. This project aims to identify key ways to heighten resilience by examining how sacred and secular faith affects the ability of individuals and communities to prepare for, r ....Bushfires, faith and community cohesion: building a resilient Australia. Bushfire emergencies in Australia have social, ethical and political, as well as biophysical causes. Hidden in embedded vulnerability, social norms and institutional structures, these causes are often critical obstacles to building resilient communities. This project aims to identify key ways to heighten resilience by examining how sacred and secular faith affects the ability of individuals and communities to prepare for, respond to and recover from bushfires. Using ethnographic methods, this project will critically examine evidence of bushfire vulnerability, resilience and adaptation strategies driven by, retained in, or promoted through faith and ethics.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE200100912
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$384,136.00
Summary
The Photovoltaic Turn in Africa. This project aims to develop a detailed understanding of the drivers behind the recent rapid rise of photovoltaic (solar) energy products in East Africa through extensive fieldwork research in Kenya and Uganda. This project expects to generate new knowledge on the complex dynamics of renewable energy transitions in Africa. Expected outcomes of this project include the development of theoretical, empirical and policy insights that will inform how sustainable and j ....The Photovoltaic Turn in Africa. This project aims to develop a detailed understanding of the drivers behind the recent rapid rise of photovoltaic (solar) energy products in East Africa through extensive fieldwork research in Kenya and Uganda. This project expects to generate new knowledge on the complex dynamics of renewable energy transitions in Africa. Expected outcomes of this project include the development of theoretical, empirical and policy insights that will inform how sustainable and just energy transitions are able to be realised in energy poverty contexts in the Global South. This should provide benefits, such as helping to inform the actions of governments, aid donors, businesses and organisation working to eliminate energy poverty in Africa.Read moreRead less
What's in a name? Attachment and interference in placename-based identity. Why do conflicts often arise when naming authorities and other interests propose changing long-standing placenames? This project will address this question by researching opposition to specific proposals to change placenames - in particular the renaming of Hazelwood North with Churchill and resistance to the renaming of places in and around the Grampians National Park in the early 1990s. A community will be selected to ....What's in a name? Attachment and interference in placename-based identity. Why do conflicts often arise when naming authorities and other interests propose changing long-standing placenames? This project will address this question by researching opposition to specific proposals to change placenames - in particular the renaming of Hazelwood North with Churchill and resistance to the renaming of places in and around the Grampians National Park in the early 1990s. A community will be selected to document place identity and contrast these mental maps with official registers of placenames. The outcome will provide naming authorities with a greater knowledge of community attitudes to placenames and greater understanding of resistance to renaming proposals. The study will provide a detailed understanding of placename attachment, identity, and resistance to interference into sense of place.Read moreRead less
Housing Assistance and the Life Course: Understanding the Impact of Policy Alternatives. Australian governments are confronted by increasing pressure to assist low-income and vulnerable households gain access to affordable and appropriate housing. Over 100,000 Australians are homeless and 1.3 million households experience housing stress. This project will answer the question, what form of housing assistance generates the best outcomes for both vulnerable individuals and society as a whole? It d ....Housing Assistance and the Life Course: Understanding the Impact of Policy Alternatives. Australian governments are confronted by increasing pressure to assist low-income and vulnerable households gain access to affordable and appropriate housing. Over 100,000 Australians are homeless and 1.3 million households experience housing stress. This project will answer the question, what form of housing assistance generates the best outcomes for both vulnerable individuals and society as a whole? It does so through interviews with low income home purchasers, private tenants and public tenants. The research will strengthen Australia's social fabric by helping governments make better decisions around housing assistance to vulnerable groups. Read moreRead less