Access to justice in interpreted proceedings: the role of Judicial Officers. This project aims to examine the ways judicial officers can improve courtroom communication and prevent miscommunication and error, particularly in criminal cases where speakers of the 'new and emerging' and Aboriginal languages are involved, and where interpreters receive limited or no specialised training. Using an innovative interdisciplinary approach, the project aims to generate new knowledge in examining the varia ....Access to justice in interpreted proceedings: the role of Judicial Officers. This project aims to examine the ways judicial officers can improve courtroom communication and prevent miscommunication and error, particularly in criminal cases where speakers of the 'new and emerging' and Aboriginal languages are involved, and where interpreters receive limited or no specialised training. Using an innovative interdisciplinary approach, the project aims to generate new knowledge in examining the variations in judicial officers communications practice when working with interpreters, and their impact on the effective transmission of information in the courtroom. Expected outcomes of this project will include improved outcomes of interpreted communication and a better access to justice for non-English speaking participants.Read moreRead less
How are decisions made in Children's Court care matters and what are the outcomes for children? How are decisions made in Children's Court child protection cases and what are the outcomes for children? This research will examine, for the first time in Australia, the evidence provided to the courts, how it is used and viewed by legal and non-legal professionals, and how these link with children's experiences and their developmental outcomes.
Interpreters in court: witness credibility with interpreted testimony. The study will improve access to justice for non-English speaking witnesses, testifying in court through an interpreter. It achieves this by taking advantage of new wireless technologies to transform the social and technological environment of the courtroom.
Mode, accuracy and credibility in court interpreting. This project aims to examine factors affecting the accuracy of interpreting and the effect of interpreters on witness credibility. Judicial cases rely on oral evidence. Witness credibility is assessed based on the content of the testimony and the speaker’s demeanour. When witnesses do not speak English, their credibility is evaluated through an interpreter. Inaccurate interpretations can result in miscarriages of justice, making accuracy of i ....Mode, accuracy and credibility in court interpreting. This project aims to examine factors affecting the accuracy of interpreting and the effect of interpreters on witness credibility. Judicial cases rely on oral evidence. Witness credibility is assessed based on the content of the testimony and the speaker’s demeanour. When witnesses do not speak English, their credibility is evaluated through an interpreter. Inaccurate interpretations can result in miscarriages of justice, making accuracy of interpretation essential. This project aims to provide empirical evidence to support best practice and a basis for policy recommendations to courts to enhance the fairness of the justice system for all members of the community, regardless of language and background.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100348
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$346,449.00
Summary
The Changing Rights to Family Life in Australia: Biomedicine and Legal Governance in Globalisation. This project investigates the impact of globalisation and biomedicine on the constitution of family through a cultural study of legal processes. It compares two contrasting and currently contested cases in Australia (transnational surrogacy arrangements and family reunification in immigration) to study the biomedicalisation of parenthood, the role of reproduction in border politics and legal trans ....The Changing Rights to Family Life in Australia: Biomedicine and Legal Governance in Globalisation. This project investigates the impact of globalisation and biomedicine on the constitution of family through a cultural study of legal processes. It compares two contrasting and currently contested cases in Australia (transnational surrogacy arrangements and family reunification in immigration) to study the biomedicalisation of parenthood, the role of reproduction in border politics and legal transformations in governing 'family life'. The research will move beyond a critique of human rights, analysing justifications within legal doctrines, and exploring how the meaning of family is affected by science, capitalism and humanitarianism. Read moreRead less
Rape victims on trial: understanding police officers' and jurors' beliefs about sexual assault, victims, and perpetrators. This project will enhance justice in cases of sexual assault. This project will discover the extra-legal factors that influence how victims of sexual assault are viewed by police and jurors, and test two ways to reduce the influence of these misconceptions in the criminal justice system.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160101127
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$292,251.00
Summary
Cutting red tape around donations: A new model for deductible gifts. This project intends to simplify the categorisation of recipients of tax deductible gifts so that it is easy to give and receive gifts and so gifts go only to those organisations that are in keeping with public policy. Donations cost approximately $1.3 billion annually. It is therefore important that donation is a streamlined process that encourages social pluralism while ensuring there is a good use of public money. Research i ....Cutting red tape around donations: A new model for deductible gifts. This project intends to simplify the categorisation of recipients of tax deductible gifts so that it is easy to give and receive gifts and so gifts go only to those organisations that are in keeping with public policy. Donations cost approximately $1.3 billion annually. It is therefore important that donation is a streamlined process that encourages social pluralism while ensuring there is a good use of public money. Research indicates that the current approach to determining donation deductibility status is complex and out of step with government policy, public discourse and community needs. The proposed framework will be simple, take into account public policy and be adaptable to the community’s changing needs and values.Read moreRead less
Protected Action Ballots and Protected Industrial Action under the Fair Work Act: The Impact of Ballot Procedures on Enterprise Bargaining Processes. Under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), lawful industrial action may be taken by employees in support of collective bargaining, provided that they have first authorised the action in a secret ballot. This research project explores the effect of the statutory process by which a bargaining representative of such employees seeks permission from the Fair W ....Protected Action Ballots and Protected Industrial Action under the Fair Work Act: The Impact of Ballot Procedures on Enterprise Bargaining Processes. Under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), lawful industrial action may be taken by employees in support of collective bargaining, provided that they have first authorised the action in a secret ballot. This research project explores the effect of the statutory process by which a bargaining representative of such employees seeks permission from the Fair Work Commission to conduct a ballot. It will examine the impact of the ballot requirement and statutory process on decision-making by bargaining representatives and subsequent employee access to industrial action in order to understand the effect of the regulatory scheme on enterprise bargaining behaviour. It is the first empirical study of strike ballots, analysing an important public policy area.Read moreRead less
1989 and the rule of law revolution. This project explores three elements of the post-1989 worldwide rule of law revolution: constitutionalism, 'dealing with the past', and rule of law promotion. Australia increasingly seeks to promote the rule of law internationally, but these efforts draw on an inadequate base of knowledge and theory. This project work will expand that base.
Constitutional change in authoritarian regimes: the case of Myanmar. This project aims to understand how and why constitutions change in authoritarian regimes. After decades of authoritarian rule, there is lively public debate about formal amendment of the Myanmar constitution. Based on rigorous qualitative methods including archival research and in-depth interviews, this project expects to investigate why Myanmar's Constitution is both a constraint and an enabler of democratic reform. This time ....Constitutional change in authoritarian regimes: the case of Myanmar. This project aims to understand how and why constitutions change in authoritarian regimes. After decades of authoritarian rule, there is lively public debate about formal amendment of the Myanmar constitution. Based on rigorous qualitative methods including archival research and in-depth interviews, this project expects to investigate why Myanmar's Constitution is both a constraint and an enabler of democratic reform. This timely socio-legal project seeks to inform Australia’s political, economic and cultural engagement with Myanmar as a strategic neighbour in south-east Asia and a new market for foreign investment.Read moreRead less