Work/Life Balance, Well-Being and Health: Theory, Practice and Policy. This project links to the national research priority of promoting and maintaining good health in two ways. It establishes a new annual national measure of work/life balance, a critical element of good health and well-being, assisting understanding about work/life conflict and informing workplace and government policy responses to it, strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric. Deep study of work/life issues in the h ....Work/Life Balance, Well-Being and Health: Theory, Practice and Policy. This project links to the national research priority of promoting and maintaining good health in two ways. It establishes a new annual national measure of work/life balance, a critical element of good health and well-being, assisting understanding about work/life conflict and informing workplace and government policy responses to it, strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric. Deep study of work/life issues in the health sector will also inform recruitment, retention and well-being in the health workforce, with flow-on to the health system more broadly. The project includes analysis of 'pre-retirement' work/life issues, also linking to the 'ageing well, ageing productively' priority. Read moreRead less
Young people's understandings of the relation between work, the labour market and education: Their origins and effects. Young people's pathways between school and work have become much more diverse and complex than in the past. Yet the impact of family background on their education and employment outcomes has hardly changed. This project focuses on young people's perceptions of the relation between work, education and the labour market and the pathways open to them. Taking account of recent m ....Young people's understandings of the relation between work, the labour market and education: Their origins and effects. Young people's pathways between school and work have become much more diverse and complex than in the past. Yet the impact of family background on their education and employment outcomes has hardly changed. This project focuses on young people's perceptions of the relation between work, education and the labour market and the pathways open to them. Taking account of recent major changes in the youth labour market, the research aims to understand the role of these perceptions in shaping young people's choices and pathways, how these vary according to social background and experience, and how they affect employment outcomes.Read moreRead less
Measuring and managing the intellectual capital of the ageing workforce. Many employees are retiring prematurely, placing increasing strains on the social security system. Moreover, their accumulated competencies, expertise, and organisational corporate wisdom (intellectual capital) may be lost. There is a growing recognition that much of the wealth of organisations resides in their intellectual capital. This project will develop a methodology to measure intellectual capital and will increase un ....Measuring and managing the intellectual capital of the ageing workforce. Many employees are retiring prematurely, placing increasing strains on the social security system. Moreover, their accumulated competencies, expertise, and organisational corporate wisdom (intellectual capital) may be lost. There is a growing recognition that much of the wealth of organisations resides in their intellectual capital. This project will develop a methodology to measure intellectual capital and will increase understanding of how companies can retain it. Potential long-term benefits include more efficient management of intellectual capital and enhanced retention of mature workers, with consequent savings in social security. The project will be benchmarked against similar developments in other countries.Read moreRead less
Gendering Impact Assessment: a new framework for producing gender-inclusive policy. Much public policy lacks sensitivity to the differing needs of diverse women and men. The result can be ineffective policy, and policy that reinforces unequal gender relations. This project will: a) produce an innovative, context-sensitive gender analysis framework to promote the development of gender-inclusive policy; b)generate new knowledge about the processes shaping gendered policy outcomes; c) develop pract ....Gendering Impact Assessment: a new framework for producing gender-inclusive policy. Much public policy lacks sensitivity to the differing needs of diverse women and men. The result can be ineffective policy, and policy that reinforces unequal gender relations. This project will: a) produce an innovative, context-sensitive gender analysis framework to promote the development of gender-inclusive policy; b)generate new knowledge about the processes shaping gendered policy outcomes; c) develop practical strategies to bridge the gap in expertise between policy development at government level and implementation in organisations. The goals are: to promote gender equality, and to enable better decision-making at the outset, to save time and money later.
Read moreRead less
Reconceptualising partnership: new options for effective partnerships between State governments and the third sector in employment services in Australia. The rapid devolution of employment services from the Commonwealth Employment Service to a model of contracted Job Network agencies assumes effective partnerships between Commonwealth, State, third sector and private organizations. Recent research suggests this is not the case. Furthermore, the industry partner, SACOSS, argues that the disparate ....Reconceptualising partnership: new options for effective partnerships between State governments and the third sector in employment services in Australia. The rapid devolution of employment services from the Commonwealth Employment Service to a model of contracted Job Network agencies assumes effective partnerships between Commonwealth, State, third sector and private organizations. Recent research suggests this is not the case. Furthermore, the industry partner, SACOSS, argues that the disparate requirements of Australian States in addressing local circumstances and diverse needs of disadvantaged jobseekers have not been met. This collaborative project will use network analysis methodology to assess alternative models of governance and identify best options for effective State/third sector partnerships that promote efficient and equitable labour markets.Read moreRead less