The causes and consequences of marital separation and divorce in Australia. This project will use longitudinal Australian data to investigate the causes and consequences of marriage breakdown. Most previous Australian divorce research has concentrated on describing overall trends, or has used samples of separated and divorced populations only. This study will use data from representative population samples to first develop a conceptual framework for understanding the structural and demographic ....The causes and consequences of marital separation and divorce in Australia. This project will use longitudinal Australian data to investigate the causes and consequences of marriage breakdown. Most previous Australian divorce research has concentrated on describing overall trends, or has used samples of separated and divorced populations only. This study will use data from representative population samples to first develop a conceptual framework for understanding the structural and demographic determinants of marriage breakdown in Australia, second gain a greater understanding of the financial and health implications of separation and divorce over time, and third identify issues that arise from the research that are relevant for informing social policy relating to marital breakdown. The main outcomes will be a significant advance in our understanding of the factors contributing to divorce and the consequences of divorce in Australia and the provision of essential knowledge to better inform policies relating to marital separation and divorce.Read moreRead less
Everyday Incivilities. The study aims to provide the best available evidence on the seriousness of everyday incivilities between strangers in public places as a social problem in Australian society. This will involve gathering self-report data from socially diverse Australians for the purpose of exploring social group differences in (i) the type and prevalence of everyday incivilities experienced, and (ii) the social and psychological costs of exposure to everyday incivilities. The information ....Everyday Incivilities. The study aims to provide the best available evidence on the seriousness of everyday incivilities between strangers in public places as a social problem in Australian society. This will involve gathering self-report data from socially diverse Australians for the purpose of exploring social group differences in (i) the type and prevalence of everyday incivilities experienced, and (ii) the social and psychological costs of exposure to everyday incivilities. The information gathered will be used to identify high risk social groups and public places, and serve as a basis for developing programs for reducing everyday incivilities.Read moreRead less
A longitudinal study of the housing stability of the homeless in Victoria. This is a longitudinal panel study of the homeless in urban and rural Victoria; it will interview residents of transitional housing over two years, analysing factors that contribute to success or failure in achieving housing stability. The research starts from the assumption that homelessness is not simply a condition of being without shelter at a specific point in time, but is a situation of chronic housing instability. ....A longitudinal study of the housing stability of the homeless in Victoria. This is a longitudinal panel study of the homeless in urban and rural Victoria; it will interview residents of transitional housing over two years, analysing factors that contribute to success or failure in achieving housing stability. The research starts from the assumption that homelessness is not simply a condition of being without shelter at a specific point in time, but is a situation of chronic housing instability. The project proposal has the support of a consortium of housing agencies in urban and rural Victoria who anticipate specific outcomes in service design evaluation and in detailed knowledge about the causes of homelessness.Read moreRead less
Understanding the Spatial and Social Drivers of Employment Transitions. This project reconsiders significant changes in the Australian labour market by utilising new conceptual tools based on temporal and spatial dimensions of productive activities and employment. The analysis provides an understanding of the socio-economic and spatial drivers of job and employment transitions and how they vary across Australia. The outcomes will be a new hierarchical model of labour market regions for assessin ....Understanding the Spatial and Social Drivers of Employment Transitions. This project reconsiders significant changes in the Australian labour market by utilising new conceptual tools based on temporal and spatial dimensions of productive activities and employment. The analysis provides an understanding of the socio-economic and spatial drivers of job and employment transitions and how they vary across Australia. The outcomes will be a new hierarchical model of labour market regions for assessing the social impact of employment transitions in regions, localities and remote areas providing evidence to inform region-specific policy. The innovative statistical methodology to enhance current analytical models of spatial variation in employment transitions will contribute significantly to international research. Read moreRead less
The role of online social networks in successful ageing: benefitting from 'who you know' at older ages. The project will increase understanding of how online social networking contributes to successful ageing through partnering, economic and voluntary activity, family and social connectedness. The findings will inform policy recommendations, social interventions and education programs designed to enhance 'ageing well, ageing productively'. These are expected to benefit the health and well-being ....The role of online social networks in successful ageing: benefitting from 'who you know' at older ages. The project will increase understanding of how online social networking contributes to successful ageing through partnering, economic and voluntary activity, family and social connectedness. The findings will inform policy recommendations, social interventions and education programs designed to enhance 'ageing well, ageing productively'. These are expected to benefit the health and well-being of older Australians, with economic benefits of increased contributions to society and fewer demands on services. Social and economic benefits are also expected from insights into reducing the technological and psychological barriers that prevent older people from benefiting from the Internet and online social networking.Read moreRead less
Assessing and enhancing the quality of longitudinal survey data. Australia has begun investing heavily in the collection of population-wide longitudinal survey data. Most of that effort has focused first on collection and dissemination and second on analysis, with scant attention paid to the quality of data collected. This is unfortunate given that longitudinal surveys exhibit many problems (e.g., attrition, panel conditioning, and seam effects) that are not relevant in more ubiquitous cross-sec ....Assessing and enhancing the quality of longitudinal survey data. Australia has begun investing heavily in the collection of population-wide longitudinal survey data. Most of that effort has focused first on collection and dissemination and second on analysis, with scant attention paid to the quality of data collected. This is unfortunate given that longitudinal surveys exhibit many problems (e.g., attrition, panel conditioning, and seam effects) that are not relevant in more ubiquitous cross-section of surveys. Without adequate resources devoted to these methodological issues, the quality of substantive research will be questioned and interest from potential users decline. Maximizing the investment being made in longitudinal data thus requires a complementary investment in methodological research.Read moreRead less
Network dynamics and field evolution: hubs, clusters and interorganisational ties in biotechnology. The study will support a robust biotechnology industry in Australia, which delivers economy-wide benefits and provides employment for local life scientists. Although Australia has a long history of innovation and achievement in the life sciences, commercial benefits in the field have often been harvested elsewhere. Australian governments are making substantial investments in biotechnology, includi ....Network dynamics and field evolution: hubs, clusters and interorganisational ties in biotechnology. The study will support a robust biotechnology industry in Australia, which delivers economy-wide benefits and provides employment for local life scientists. Although Australia has a long history of innovation and achievement in the life sciences, commercial benefits in the field have often been harvested elsewhere. Australian governments are making substantial investments in biotechnology, including education and training, directed towards developing the local industry. The proposed study will make these investments more informed, facilitating fine-grained development of public policy and industry strategy.Read moreRead less
The role of households, neighbourhoods and networks in social statistics. Many issues affect the social progress of the country. Social research can determine the factors affecting issues such as unemployment, poverty, educational attainment, crime victimization and poor health. Survey and other data are used extensively to examine these conditions and their association with attributes of people. This project will provide methods to better determine the impact of effects associated with the h ....The role of households, neighbourhoods and networks in social statistics. Many issues affect the social progress of the country. Social research can determine the factors affecting issues such as unemployment, poverty, educational attainment, crime victimization and poor health. Survey and other data are used extensively to examine these conditions and their association with attributes of people. This project will provide methods to better determine the impact of effects associated with the household structure and other groups and social networks. The improved ability to assess the impact of these factors will have economic and social benefits. These benefits will arise from improved analysis leading to better decisions and improvements in the design of research studies improving their cost efficiency.Read moreRead less
Poor Women and Lonely Men: Examining Gendered Social Inclusion and Connection in Australia. This project directly supports the national research priority goal of 'strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric' (as part of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health). Inclusive societies reap many benefits (economic, education, crime, health etc), and information revealed about relevant gendered patterns will help build social inclusion and connection in Australia by informing inclusive strategi ....Poor Women and Lonely Men: Examining Gendered Social Inclusion and Connection in Australia. This project directly supports the national research priority goal of 'strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric' (as part of Promoting and Maintaining Good Health). Inclusive societies reap many benefits (economic, education, crime, health etc), and information revealed about relevant gendered patterns will help build social inclusion and connection in Australia by informing inclusive strategies and policies. The project also supports the national research priority goal 'ageing well and productively', by informing policy-contexts of specific disadvantage, such as amongst those ageing alone. The project will also add to broader understandings about the links between social inclusion, connection and wellbeing.Read moreRead less
Establishing Breastfeeding: an analysis of the language and practices used by midwives and lactation consultants when interacting with new mothers. Breastfeeding confers extensive health benefits for infants and women, and social and economic benefits for Australian society. Studies indicate that although 80 to 90 percent of women initiate breastfeeding, approximately 25% cease within the first six weeks. It is estimated that if the prevalence of breastfeeding at three months post-birth increase ....Establishing Breastfeeding: an analysis of the language and practices used by midwives and lactation consultants when interacting with new mothers. Breastfeeding confers extensive health benefits for infants and women, and social and economic benefits for Australian society. Studies indicate that although 80 to 90 percent of women initiate breastfeeding, approximately 25% cease within the first six weeks. It is estimated that if the prevalence of breastfeeding at three months post-birth increased from 60% to 80%, a saving of at least $11.5 million would be made to the Australian health system. This study will provide knowledge about the impact of health professionals' practices on women's infant-feeding decisions, identifying effective components of professional support to inform interventions that increase breastfeeding durationRead moreRead less