Refugees and Employment: Exploring the Effects of Visible Difference on Discrimination. This project investigates the impact of ?visible difference? (racial, religious, language) on the success of refugee resettlement in Australia, as measured by employment outcomes. Employment is a major factor determining positive resettlement, yet according to available data, our own research in progress, and anecdotal evidence, unsatisfactory employment outcomes are widespread among refugee communities (DIMI ....Refugees and Employment: Exploring the Effects of Visible Difference on Discrimination. This project investigates the impact of ?visible difference? (racial, religious, language) on the success of refugee resettlement in Australia, as measured by employment outcomes. Employment is a major factor determining positive resettlement, yet according to available data, our own research in progress, and anecdotal evidence, unsatisfactory employment outcomes are widespread among refugee communities (DIMIA 2002; Jupp 2001). However, few studies have been undertaken to explore this. Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies, the research looks at barriers and facilitators to successful employment outcomes for refugees, from the point of view of refugees and employers. Results will be fed back to employers, employer agencies, refugee communities and government.Read moreRead less
The People's Police? Victoria Police Recruitment and Retention: Policy and Practice for a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Society. This project will develop evidence-based policies and procedures for the recruitment and retention of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community members to Victoria Police. Based on the theory that a representative police force will better meet the needs and priorities of the communities it serves and draws its resources from, it is no longer accept ....The People's Police? Victoria Police Recruitment and Retention: Policy and Practice for a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Society. This project will develop evidence-based policies and procedures for the recruitment and retention of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) community members to Victoria Police. Based on the theory that a representative police force will better meet the needs and priorities of the communities it serves and draws its resources from, it is no longer acceptable for organisations to deliver standardised services to a culturally and linguistically diverse community without regard for that diversity. The outcome will be the development and implementation of a recruitment policy, which will lead to the development of a multi-cultural police force that reflects the community it serves.Read moreRead less
Low Paid Services Employment in Australia: Dimensions, Causes, Effects and Responses. The project brings together academic researchers, with those who assist and advocate for the low paid in both the union and welfare sectors, to develop understanding about low paid services sector work in Australia. The project goes beyond existing theoretical and empirical work by examining intersecting wage and welfare system effects, through a gendered, spatial, longitudinal, and household analysis. The proj ....Low Paid Services Employment in Australia: Dimensions, Causes, Effects and Responses. The project brings together academic researchers, with those who assist and advocate for the low paid in both the union and welfare sectors, to develop understanding about low paid services sector work in Australia. The project goes beyond existing theoretical and empirical work by examining intersecting wage and welfare system effects, through a gendered, spatial, longitudinal, and household analysis. The project will examine the dynamic interactions of the labour market, welfare system, community and family structures, in representative household types, analysing relationships between low pay and social exclusion in the growing services sector, and evaluating policy responses.Read moreRead less
Place, Scale and Employment Relations in Australia: Enterprise Agreements and Individual Contracts in the Coal and Finance Industries. This study will explore the spatial (geographical) content of workplace agreements. It will probe underlying processes of how unions and management in the coal and finance industries use inherent geographical dimensions to influence and shape industrial relations. Overcoming the spatial-blindness that has pervaded industrial relations research to enhance underst ....Place, Scale and Employment Relations in Australia: Enterprise Agreements and Individual Contracts in the Coal and Finance Industries. This study will explore the spatial (geographical) content of workplace agreements. It will probe underlying processes of how unions and management in the coal and finance industries use inherent geographical dimensions to influence and shape industrial relations. Overcoming the spatial-blindness that has pervaded industrial relations research to enhance understanding of new employment mechanisms and their implications for the future is imperative. Significant conceptual advance will be achieved by integrating core concepts from labour geography with notions of industrial relations decentralisation and practices that preference individualism over collectivism.Read moreRead less
Small business job creation: employer and employee perspectives of job quality. Small business is high on the policy agenda as employment growth is trending downwards. Recent recommendations to increase small business employment highlight the importance of both quantity and job quality. This project will investigate what is a quality small business job from employer and employee perspectives. The research will focus on new small business jobs in the Latrobe Valley - a 'less favored' region. The ....Small business job creation: employer and employee perspectives of job quality. Small business is high on the policy agenda as employment growth is trending downwards. Recent recommendations to increase small business employment highlight the importance of both quantity and job quality. This project will investigate what is a quality small business job from employer and employee perspectives. The research will focus on new small business jobs in the Latrobe Valley - a 'less favored' region. The findings will fill a significant gap in knowledge about the process of job generation and lead to a better understanding of the determinants of job quality from different perspectives, which can assist economic policy development.Read moreRead less
Implications of Emerging Forms of Labour Management in Transitional Economies for Households Livelihood Strategies: China and Vietnam. This project aims to (1) investigate institutional changes to labour management during the economic transitions of China and Vietnam and (2) analyse their impact on the livelihood strategies of households. The research will be based on a large interview study of officials, managers and workers in the TCF and electronics industries in four cities. The project wi ....Implications of Emerging Forms of Labour Management in Transitional Economies for Households Livelihood Strategies: China and Vietnam. This project aims to (1) investigate institutional changes to labour management during the economic transitions of China and Vietnam and (2) analyse their impact on the livelihood strategies of households. The research will be based on a large interview study of officials, managers and workers in the TCF and electronics industries in four cities. The project will contribute details about China and Vietnam to the theoretical literature about the management of labour and the relations between restructuring / transition and gender at work. The project will inform policy makers, businesses, nongovernment groups and academics about the social implications of transition.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
WorkChoices and the Evolution of Australian Working Life: The Changing Role of the Labour Contract. Both internationally and nationally, there is much speculation as to how the transformation of the industrial relations framework will impact on workers and the broader community. Knowledge of the impact of WorkChoices is vital for employers, unions and governments to understand the influence the industrial relations framework has on Australia's social and economic fabric. The survey will address ....WorkChoices and the Evolution of Australian Working Life: The Changing Role of the Labour Contract. Both internationally and nationally, there is much speculation as to how the transformation of the industrial relations framework will impact on workers and the broader community. Knowledge of the impact of WorkChoices is vital for employers, unions and governments to understand the influence the industrial relations framework has on Australia's social and economic fabric. The survey will address some of the social issues that are debated widely in Australia such as the impact of the industrial relations changes on wages and wage inequality, work and family balance, skills development and shortages, workers in regional areas, and workers in low skilled and low paid jobs.Read moreRead less
Re-conceptualising citizenship and the commodification of labour: the experiences of young casual workers in the South Australian labour market. This qualitative study addresses existing gaps regarding the nature and strength of workplace voice and agency of young casual workers in South Australia especially at a time when the growth of casual employment is reviving the notion that human labour is returning to commodity status. This study considers the implications for skill and training, gend ....Re-conceptualising citizenship and the commodification of labour: the experiences of young casual workers in the South Australian labour market. This qualitative study addresses existing gaps regarding the nature and strength of workplace voice and agency of young casual workers in South Australia especially at a time when the growth of casual employment is reviving the notion that human labour is returning to commodity status. This study considers the implications for skill and training, gendered aspects of labour market regulation, and potential forms of effective advocacy to assist young casual workers to workplace citizenship and long-term employment from their perspective. The study has theoretical and policy implications.Read moreRead less
Pay alignment: Fact or fallacy? The project will make an important contribution to our understanding of the impact of employee pay system configuration on firm performance and, in turn, on national productivity and Australia's social and economic fabric. The findings will enrich pay system theory and guide evidence-based improvement in firms' pay practices. It will help employers to identify the most contextually appropriate and effective ways to manage pay level, structure and plan choice and t ....Pay alignment: Fact or fallacy? The project will make an important contribution to our understanding of the impact of employee pay system configuration on firm performance and, in turn, on national productivity and Australia's social and economic fabric. The findings will enrich pay system theory and guide evidence-based improvement in firms' pay practices. It will help employers to identify the most contextually appropriate and effective ways to manage pay level, structure and plan choice and thus to design pay systems that employees in different workplace contexts perceive as fair and that enhance organisational performance and ability to attract, motivate and retain high calibre staff.Read moreRead less