How parents manage climate anxiety: coping and hoping for the whole family. This project studies how Australian parents manage climate anxiety for themselves and their families. Using mixed-methods/mixed-media approaches, it examines whether an increase in climate disasters is accelerating the spread of collective anxiety amongst families, how parents manage this anxiety for their children and partners, and if there are associated mental health burdens and gendered inequities in this management. ....How parents manage climate anxiety: coping and hoping for the whole family. This project studies how Australian parents manage climate anxiety for themselves and their families. Using mixed-methods/mixed-media approaches, it examines whether an increase in climate disasters is accelerating the spread of collective anxiety amongst families, how parents manage this anxiety for their children and partners, and if there are associated mental health burdens and gendered inequities in this management. It also looks at climate anxiety management across generations and climate histories, drawing out pessimistic/optimistic narratives about the future to enable action, resilience, and hope. It will produce an evidence base and photo-voice/documentary resources to help parents and support organisations combat climate anxiety.Read moreRead less
A socio-cultural analysis of eating disorders among pre-teen boys and girls. This project tackles the tough question of why there has been a dramatic increase in eating disorders amongst very young boys and girls by examining the social conditions of children's lives in contemporary Australia. The findings will provide important information for policy makers, educators and clinicians working with children and families.
Understanding the role of trauma in alcohol and other drug-related problems. This project aims to investigate the relationship between trauma and alcohol and other drug (AOD)-related problems. Using a robust set of qualitative and ethnographic methods, the project expects to advance international knowledge on how experiences of trauma influence AOD consumption, and the diverse factors that shape variation in experience and outcomes for individuals. Expected outcomes include targeted recommendati ....Understanding the role of trauma in alcohol and other drug-related problems. This project aims to investigate the relationship between trauma and alcohol and other drug (AOD)-related problems. Using a robust set of qualitative and ethnographic methods, the project expects to advance international knowledge on how experiences of trauma influence AOD consumption, and the diverse factors that shape variation in experience and outcomes for individuals. Expected outcomes include targeted recommendations to improve AOD responses, policy and trauma-informed AOD care, and increased capacity of the Australian health workforce to respond to trauma and AOD-related problems. This should provide significant benefit by reducing the harms, and economic and social costs associated with AOD consumption.Read moreRead less
When caring ends: Understanding and supporting informal care trajectories. This project aims to advance understandings of how, why, when, and for whom caring ends, including the socio-cultural and relational factors that shape experiences before, during, and after caring. Using an innovative, multi-method sociological approach, and foregrounding carers’ voices, this project expects to generate new knowledge on the meaning and experience of care and caring. This project is significant in bringing ....When caring ends: Understanding and supporting informal care trajectories. This project aims to advance understandings of how, why, when, and for whom caring ends, including the socio-cultural and relational factors that shape experiences before, during, and after caring. Using an innovative, multi-method sociological approach, and foregrounding carers’ voices, this project expects to generate new knowledge on the meaning and experience of care and caring. This project is significant in bringing together leading researchers and key carer-focused organisations, spanning service sectors and moving across care relationships, life stages and contexts. Expected outcomes include enhanced service capacity with tangible policy and practice benefits that will enable sustainable and fulfilling informal caring experiences.Read moreRead less
Australian Spirituality: Wellness, Wellbeing and Risks. While there has been significant research conducted in Australia on rising religious diversity and those who are non-religious, spirituality has not received the same scholarly attention despite its popularity. This is the first nationwide study of spirituality in Australia, investigating First Nations, religious, and holistic spirituality, their contributions to wellbeing, and their possible risks. It includes a national survey and intervi ....Australian Spirituality: Wellness, Wellbeing and Risks. While there has been significant research conducted in Australia on rising religious diversity and those who are non-religious, spirituality has not received the same scholarly attention despite its popularity. This is the first nationwide study of spirituality in Australia, investigating First Nations, religious, and holistic spirituality, their contributions to wellbeing, and their possible risks. It includes a national survey and interviews with spiritual persons, and case studies of sacred places around the country. This project also draws on the expertise of leading First Nations, Australian and international scholars, and will be of national benefit in its capacity to inform practices and policies for personal and planetary wellbeing.Read moreRead less
A comparative sociocultural and bioethical study of uterus transplants . This socio-cultural study aims to undertake a comparative study of the new Australian Uterine Transplant (UTx) trial with established and emerging UTx programs in the US and India. Expected outcomes of this project include: enhanced understandings of the experiences and meanings of uterine transplant for women donors, recipients and staff involved in UTx trials; an exploration of the ethical issues raised by this technolog ....A comparative sociocultural and bioethical study of uterus transplants . This socio-cultural study aims to undertake a comparative study of the new Australian Uterine Transplant (UTx) trial with established and emerging UTx programs in the US and India. Expected outcomes of this project include: enhanced understandings of the experiences and meanings of uterine transplant for women donors, recipients and staff involved in UTx trials; an exploration of the ethical issues raised by this technology; and a comparison of social responses to uterine transplants across different societies.This study is anticipated to provide theoretical insights on the social and ethical impacts of this technology for improved public policy responses. Read moreRead less
Understanding the Australian public's expectations of personalised genomics. This multi-disciplinary project aims to be the first to explore the Australian public's awareness of new developments in genetic science that allow healthy individuals to access their own genetic makeup. Called 'personal genomics', this broad group of genetic tests can be used for a variety of purposes that include ancestry, paternity, sporting ability and health. These tests are developing at a rapid rate yet little is ....Understanding the Australian public's expectations of personalised genomics. This multi-disciplinary project aims to be the first to explore the Australian public's awareness of new developments in genetic science that allow healthy individuals to access their own genetic makeup. Called 'personal genomics', this broad group of genetic tests can be used for a variety of purposes that include ancestry, paternity, sporting ability and health. These tests are developing at a rapid rate yet little is known about why, how and where they are used by the public. This project will employ a mixed methods approach to examine how the public might engage with this new technology. The research aims to help define educational strategies and supports and thereby to inform national policy for personal genomics.Read moreRead less
Globalisation and Teacher Movements into and out of multicultural Australia. Education underpins a cohesive and successful society, but today education is increasingly globalised. This project explores the 'brain circulation' of Australian teaching professionals. It will produce a comprehensive national picture of the dynamics (personal and institutional) underlying the movement of teachers into and out of Australia, with a focus on regional and rural areas as well as the cities. It will result ....Globalisation and Teacher Movements into and out of multicultural Australia. Education underpins a cohesive and successful society, but today education is increasingly globalised. This project explores the 'brain circulation' of Australian teaching professionals. It will produce a comprehensive national picture of the dynamics (personal and institutional) underlying the movement of teachers into and out of Australia, with a focus on regional and rural areas as well as the cities. It will result in a refining of Australia's policies and procedures in order to better attract and retain immigrant teachers and to regain emigrant teachers. Read moreRead less
Using a biosocial approach to advance pandemic influenza control. This project investigates Australia's capacity to cope with pandemic influenza outbreaks, with a special focus on the lives of everyday citizens. By consulting members of the general public and professionals, this project will advise governments on how Australians can be assisted to prepare for the next outbreak of pandemic influenza.
What makes a community resilient? Examining changes in the adaptive capacities of Brisbane suburbs before and after the 2011 flood. This project will be the first study to examine the key community processes and structures associated with community resilience both before and after the 2011 Brisbane floods. Drawing on a longitudinal study of Brisbane suburbs, it will critically assess the conditions under which suburban communities respond to and recover from a major disaster.