A society divided: a multilevel approach for understanding socio-economic opportunity and vulnerability. Despite a strong economy since the early 1990s uneven socioeconomic outcomes remain characteristic of Australian society. The costs to individuals, communities and society itself of these uneven outcomes are significant. Crucially policy needs understand the multi-dimensional nature of the drivers of these uneven outcomes so as to ameliorate the negative cost. In its integration of multilevel ....A society divided: a multilevel approach for understanding socio-economic opportunity and vulnerability. Despite a strong economy since the early 1990s uneven socioeconomic outcomes remain characteristic of Australian society. The costs to individuals, communities and society itself of these uneven outcomes are significant. Crucially policy needs understand the multi-dimensional nature of the drivers of these uneven outcomes so as to ameliorate the negative cost. In its integration of multilevel research methodologies this project aims to advance understandings of well targeted and effective policy interventions. It combines the skills and knowledge of researchers trained in economics and sociology, whose collaboration is a direct result of a linkage formed within an ARC research network. Read moreRead less
DETERMINANTS OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN CITIES: The South East Queensland Urban Region in Comparative Perspective. This is the Australian component of an international project on quality of life (QOL) in cities. It examines people's perceived QOL and relates this to objective indicators such as employment levels and neighbourhood safety. We examine the South East Queensland urban region; our collaborators focus on Detroit (USA) and Belo Horizonte (Brazil). Our research tests the recent propositio ....DETERMINANTS OF QUALITY OF LIFE IN CITIES: The South East Queensland Urban Region in Comparative Perspective. This is the Australian component of an international project on quality of life (QOL) in cities. It examines people's perceived QOL and relates this to objective indicators such as employment levels and neighbourhood safety. We examine the South East Queensland urban region; our collaborators focus on Detroit (USA) and Belo Horizonte (Brazil). Our research tests the recent proposition that QOL is the key element in the rise of the new economy characterised by increasing emphasis on consumption and expansion of the services sector. Understanding the relationship between QOL and the new economy is vital for future urban planning.Read moreRead less
Building sustainable social capital in new communities. Industry partners and investigators have identified the need for foundation knowledge about social capital and the development of new communities in Australia. The current environment is of increasing responsibility for property developers to account for their social responsibility/corporate citizenship, and manage increasing responsibility for developing communities which provide social, economic and cultural benefit to Australia's well-be ....Building sustainable social capital in new communities. Industry partners and investigators have identified the need for foundation knowledge about social capital and the development of new communities in Australia. The current environment is of increasing responsibility for property developers to account for their social responsibility/corporate citizenship, and manage increasing responsibility for developing communities which provide social, economic and cultural benefit to Australia's well-being. The study identifies the extent to which planning and strategic interventions in new communities contribute to, or detract from, social capital building. The results will be used to identify long term theoretical and practical strategies for strengthening and sustaining social capital in new communities.Read moreRead less
What makes a community resilient? Examining changes in the adaptive capacities of Brisbane suburbs before and after the 2011 flood. This project will be the first study to examine the key community processes and structures associated with community resilience both before and after the 2011 Brisbane floods. Drawing on a longitudinal study of Brisbane suburbs, it will critically assess the conditions under which suburban communities respond to and recover from a major disaster.
The actor and institutional dynamics in emerging socio-technical transitions. The project addresses the translation of environmental resource policies to widespread practice in the face of institutional inertia. The outcome informs the design of policy mechanisms for enabling the emergence and mainstreaming of alternative resource technologies and consolidates Australia's leadership in urban water resource management.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150100382
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$388,376.00
Summary
Exiting homelessness and sustaining housing. The project aims to produce evidence and to provide theoretical and policy relevant knowledge about how people are able to exit chronic homelessness and attain housing. Generating knowledge and developing strategies to end homelessness and to realise positive life outcomes for highly marginalised people is an enduring theoretical, policy and substantive question. By closely engaging with people with experiences of homelessness, and the people that pro ....Exiting homelessness and sustaining housing. The project aims to produce evidence and to provide theoretical and policy relevant knowledge about how people are able to exit chronic homelessness and attain housing. Generating knowledge and developing strategies to end homelessness and to realise positive life outcomes for highly marginalised people is an enduring theoretical, policy and substantive question. By closely engaging with people with experiences of homelessness, and the people that provide them with services and housing, the research will gather first-person accounts of people's actions and motivations to generate practice and policy relevant knowledge to help reduce homelessness and improve wellbeing, social and economic participation for excluded individuals.Read moreRead less
Un-neighbourliness: The nature, causes and outcomes of neighbour problems. Neighbourliness - that is, positive relations between neighbours - brings significant social benefits that are well known. Yet neighbours can also be a major source of nuisance, conflict and stress. Very little is known about the negative side of neighbouring and no research has been conducted on its nature, causes and outcomes. This project examines un-neighbourliness as an empirical and sociological problem in four subu ....Un-neighbourliness: The nature, causes and outcomes of neighbour problems. Neighbourliness - that is, positive relations between neighbours - brings significant social benefits that are well known. Yet neighbours can also be a major source of nuisance, conflict and stress. Very little is known about the negative side of neighbouring and no research has been conducted on its nature, causes and outcomes. This project examines un-neighbourliness as an empirical and sociological problem in four suburban contexts. It is significant in that it aims to: identify the factors that undermine neighbourliness and inform policies to address those factors; assist relevant agencies in managing neighbour problems; and advance understanding about good - and bad - neighbouring in contemporary suburban life.Read moreRead less
Examining the impact of employment on social relationships in urban communities. Intra-community relationships are associated with positive health outcomes for communities and residents by increasing social support, promoting engagement and encouraging community belonging. Community health outcomes are also linked to community socio-economic disadvantage suggesting that strengthened community relationships can potentially reduce socio-economic disparities in health. However, first an understan ....Examining the impact of employment on social relationships in urban communities. Intra-community relationships are associated with positive health outcomes for communities and residents by increasing social support, promoting engagement and encouraging community belonging. Community health outcomes are also linked to community socio-economic disadvantage suggesting that strengthened community relationships can potentially reduce socio-economic disparities in health. However, first an understanding of the complex effects of employment on forming and sustaining community relationships is needed. This research will provide policy makers with evidence to better balance and address objectives of increasing employment, strengthening community and improving health by taking into account their interdependencies.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
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100735
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$346,000.00
Summary
Charting work, life and well-being after the auto industry. This project aims to study the effects of industrial decline. Plans by Australia's last remaining car-makers to close local automotive assembly operations by 2016-17 are part of a major structural change in Australia’s economy and society away from manufacturing. This project will document how automotive employees and components manufacturers in Melbourne and Geelong contend with the transition. It will also explore how Federal and Vict ....Charting work, life and well-being after the auto industry. This project aims to study the effects of industrial decline. Plans by Australia's last remaining car-makers to close local automotive assembly operations by 2016-17 are part of a major structural change in Australia’s economy and society away from manufacturing. This project will document how automotive employees and components manufacturers in Melbourne and Geelong contend with the transition. It will also explore how Federal and Victorian State government transitional arrangements can safeguard manufacturing skills and occupations, mitigate socio-economic disadvantage in closure-affected communities and prevent workers and their families from sliding into precarity.Read moreRead less