The utilisation of social science research in policy development and program review. This project will enhance the use of evidence in social policy and improve the relevance of applied social research. It will produce new insights into factors affecting the success of evidence-based decision-making by examining social research utilisation within various agencies at federal and state levels. National and community benefits centre on how to improve the policy uptake of social research. This will c ....The utilisation of social science research in policy development and program review. This project will enhance the use of evidence in social policy and improve the relevance of applied social research. It will produce new insights into factors affecting the success of evidence-based decision-making by examining social research utilisation within various agencies at federal and state levels. National and community benefits centre on how to improve the policy uptake of social research. This will contribute to the development of improved support systems to enhance the consideration of evidence-based policy. Outcomes will be applicable to governments, policy-makers and academics in Australia and abroad. Ways to improve research partnerships between academic social scientists and public sector agencies will be identified. Read moreRead less
Learned Academies Special Projects - Grant ID: LA170100011
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,000.00
Summary
The use of big data for social policy: benefits and risks. This project aims to investigate the benefits and risks of using ‘big data’ and analytics for social policy. Drawing on documentary sources and interviews with experts and stakeholders, the project will use five case studies to examine the capability, underlying assumptions and possible impacts of such techniques. The project will bring together a multi-disciplinary team of social and data scientists to identify the infrastructural, tech ....The use of big data for social policy: benefits and risks. This project aims to investigate the benefits and risks of using ‘big data’ and analytics for social policy. Drawing on documentary sources and interviews with experts and stakeholders, the project will use five case studies to examine the capability, underlying assumptions and possible impacts of such techniques. The project will bring together a multi-disciplinary team of social and data scientists to identify the infrastructural, technical, and social, ethical and legal issues that need to be addressed. The project will define key issues for future research, promote collaboration between the social sciences and big data disciplines, while creating opportunities for building capability for researchers in the social sciences. Read moreRead less
Understanding engagement to regulate the commercial determinants of health. This project aims to generate new knowledge on how government and non-government organisations can prevent
poor health via their effective regulation of harmful commodity industries, specifically alcohol and highly-processed
food. The significance of this project is its innovative approach to regulation, with a focus on engagement
processes between state and non-state actors for the management of harmful commodities. Exp ....Understanding engagement to regulate the commercial determinants of health. This project aims to generate new knowledge on how government and non-government organisations can prevent
poor health via their effective regulation of harmful commodity industries, specifically alcohol and highly-processed
food. The significance of this project is its innovative approach to regulation, with a focus on engagement
processes between state and non-state actors for the management of harmful commodities. Expected outcomes
include improved methodologies in the field of health governance, and enhanced capacity among Partner
organisations to engage effectively with different industries. These outcomes should benefit health policy
prevention goals.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE110100032
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$240,000.00
Summary
Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography ion trap mass spectrometer to develop new capabilities in environmental and human toxicology. This facility will be dedicated to developing methods and analyses of environmental contaminants and by-products that are currently not well understood. Having this analytical capability will underpin leading research in environmental toxicology and chemistry, and will help to minimise environmental and human exposure to harmful contaminants.
Developing new methods for building health policy capacity in Australia. This project will contribute to improving the capacity for policy analysis, development and evaluation in the health policy workforce and state health jurisdictions in this country. Building health policy capacity will enable the Australian health system to more effectively address current and emerging challenges including an ageing population, increasing incidence of chronic disease, pressures for cost containment, continu ....Developing new methods for building health policy capacity in Australia. This project will contribute to improving the capacity for policy analysis, development and evaluation in the health policy workforce and state health jurisdictions in this country. Building health policy capacity will enable the Australian health system to more effectively address current and emerging challenges including an ageing population, increasing incidence of chronic disease, pressures for cost containment, continuing poor Aboriginal health and emerging threats to Australia's public health, health security and National Health Strategy.Read moreRead less
An assessment of late night alcohol restrictions in Queensland. An assessment of late night alcohol restrictions in Queensland. This project aims to assess the effect of 2.00am cease of alcohol service for licensed venues across Queensland, identify modifiable elements and develop policy advice. Alcohol-related harm is a major social order issue which requires evidence-based policy. Using the most sophisticated models to date—including outlet density, enforcement, demographic variables and other ....An assessment of late night alcohol restrictions in Queensland. An assessment of late night alcohol restrictions in Queensland. This project aims to assess the effect of 2.00am cease of alcohol service for licensed venues across Queensland, identify modifiable elements and develop policy advice. Alcohol-related harm is a major social order issue which requires evidence-based policy. Using the most sophisticated models to date—including outlet density, enforcement, demographic variables and other variables—this project will build unique datasets, including archival data, foot-traffic counting, key stakeholder and patron interviews, to evaluate the effect of alcohol restrictions and identify policy lessons for other jurisdictions in Australia and internationally.Read moreRead less
Effective clinical handover communication: improving patient safety, experience and outcomes. Improving written and spoken communication in clinical handover will significantly reduce critical incidents in hospitals. The link between communication and critical incidents in hospitals is well documented. One third of the $2 billion p.a. direct financial costs to Australia of critical incidents, is attributed to poor communication between clinicians. National and international governments and heal ....Effective clinical handover communication: improving patient safety, experience and outcomes. Improving written and spoken communication in clinical handover will significantly reduce critical incidents in hospitals. The link between communication and critical incidents in hospitals is well documented. One third of the $2 billion p.a. direct financial costs to Australia of critical incidents, is attributed to poor communication between clinicians. National and international governments and health agencies have targeted clinical handover as critical in safe, effective health care. This project will generate new knowledge of handover to significantly improve patient safety and enable health professionals to enhance their communicative practices, thereby improving the quality of the patient journey through the hospital system.Read moreRead less
Sparking a National Conversation. This project aims to understand why some promises of a ‘national conversation’ on a policy issue seem to be mere hyperbole, while others seem more authentic. Using an evaluative framework based on the latest democratic theory, and the aims and understandings of key actors in each case, the project plans to compare three cases that claimed to spark a national conversation: the Scottish National Conversation 2007–14; debates around the Affordable Care Act in the U ....Sparking a National Conversation. This project aims to understand why some promises of a ‘national conversation’ on a policy issue seem to be mere hyperbole, while others seem more authentic. Using an evaluative framework based on the latest democratic theory, and the aims and understandings of key actors in each case, the project plans to compare three cases that claimed to spark a national conversation: the Scottish National Conversation 2007–14; debates around the Affordable Care Act in the United States, 2009; and the ongoing issue of Indigenous constitutional recognition in Australia. The project aims to identify why some real-world efforts work better than others, and draw lessons for replicating best practice in Australia. Project outcomes may provide advice to policy-makers on how to engage citizens better in the major issues of the day.Read moreRead less
Sexual health and relationships in young Indigenous people. Despite higher notified rates of sexually transmissible infections and blood borne viruses and often negative depictions of young indigenous people, very little is known of the health and well being of young Indigenous people. This project will for the first time provide a national profile of risk behaviours, levels of knowledge and the types of health services young Indigenous people access for sexual health and blood borne viruses. Th ....Sexual health and relationships in young Indigenous people. Despite higher notified rates of sexually transmissible infections and blood borne viruses and often negative depictions of young indigenous people, very little is known of the health and well being of young Indigenous people. This project will for the first time provide a national profile of risk behaviours, levels of knowledge and the types of health services young Indigenous people access for sexual health and blood borne viruses. The findings of this research will set the foundations for a longer term strategy to ensure trends and behaviours can be identified among the population and where necessary interventions can be implemented. Read moreRead less