The sociology of antibiotics and the antimicrobial resistance crisis. This project aims to investigate the sociological dimensions of antibiotics consumption by examining the views and experiences of clinicians, decision-makers, and members of the general population. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the social aspects of antibiotics use and consumer-provider interactions. Expected outcomes of this project include stronger consumer-provider collaborations about antibiotic use a ....The sociology of antibiotics and the antimicrobial resistance crisis. This project aims to investigate the sociological dimensions of antibiotics consumption by examining the views and experiences of clinicians, decision-makers, and members of the general population. The project expects to generate new knowledge about the social aspects of antibiotics use and consumer-provider interactions. Expected outcomes of this project include stronger consumer-provider collaborations about antibiotic use and a new evidence-base to guide policy decisions. This project should provide significant benefits for the national response to antimicrobial resistance, including enhanced public education and public policy.Read moreRead less
From mainstream to margins: The denormalisation of underage heavy drinking. This mixed-methods study aims to investigate changes in, and contemporary experiences of, heavy drinking for underage young people in Australia. The project expects to generate new knowledge on whether and how processes of ‘de-normalisation’ are shaping heavy drinking practices and experiences of social inclusion for underage young people. Expected outcomes of the project include the development of a contemporary theoret ....From mainstream to margins: The denormalisation of underage heavy drinking. This mixed-methods study aims to investigate changes in, and contemporary experiences of, heavy drinking for underage young people in Australia. The project expects to generate new knowledge on whether and how processes of ‘de-normalisation’ are shaping heavy drinking practices and experiences of social inclusion for underage young people. Expected outcomes of the project include the development of a contemporary theoretical model of underage drinking. This should provide significant benefits such as advancing understanding of the social and structural factors shaping heavy underage drinking practices. Findings can be used to inform policy directions aiming to holistically maximise health and social wellbeing for young people.Read moreRead less
Living Alone in Australia Project (LAAP). This study investigates one aspect of the changing nature of Australia's social fabric. It asks whether the sharp rise in living alone reflects a breakdown in Australia's social fabric or simply marks a change in the way in which the fabric is woven. Living alone has important implications for social policy, service provision and housing. But before these implications are identified we need a much better understanding of who lives alone and what living ....Living Alone in Australia Project (LAAP). This study investigates one aspect of the changing nature of Australia's social fabric. It asks whether the sharp rise in living alone reflects a breakdown in Australia's social fabric or simply marks a change in the way in which the fabric is woven. Living alone has important implications for social policy, service provision and housing. But before these implications are identified we need a much better understanding of who lives alone and what living alone means for people in terms of their social ties. By understanding the causes and consequences of the increasing popularity of living alone the study will help identify those who are at ?risk? and thus assist with effective targeting of supports and interventions.Read moreRead less
Sick, lonely and left behind? A sociological study of loneliness. Loneliness is a serious and rapidly growing social problem in Australia. Although the negative health effects and mounting healthcare costs of loneliness are known, effective responses to loneliness are not. Taking a sociological approach, this project aims to generate new knowledge about the experience and meanings of loneliness for people and communities, and the social factors implicated in the rise of loneliness in contemporar ....Sick, lonely and left behind? A sociological study of loneliness. Loneliness is a serious and rapidly growing social problem in Australia. Although the negative health effects and mounting healthcare costs of loneliness are known, effective responses to loneliness are not. Taking a sociological approach, this project aims to generate new knowledge about the experience and meanings of loneliness for people and communities, and the social factors implicated in the rise of loneliness in contemporary Australia. By focusing on loneliness in people with long-term health conditions, this knowledge will be used to develop policy and practice recommendations for the health- and community-care sectors in how to support people and communities experiencing loneliness.Read moreRead less
Lived experiences of treatment for hepatitis C in Australia. This project aims to support uptake of new hepatitis C treatments. With the introduction of new treatments in 2016, the Australian Government adopted the WHO’s goal of eliminating the disease by 2030. While early treatment rates were high, they have since plateaued, with stigma and poor information considered key obstacles. This project will generate new knowledge on treatment decisions and experiences, using a proven qualitative metho ....Lived experiences of treatment for hepatitis C in Australia. This project aims to support uptake of new hepatitis C treatments. With the introduction of new treatments in 2016, the Australian Government adopted the WHO’s goal of eliminating the disease by 2030. While early treatment rates were high, they have since plateaued, with stigma and poor information considered key obstacles. This project will generate new knowledge on treatment decisions and experiences, using a proven qualitative methodology. In doing so, it will produce a website covering personal experiences of treatment, issues in treatment decision-making, and advice on enhancing life on treatment and after. It will tackle hepatitis C-related stigma, and inform and benefit potential treatment users, families and relevant professionals.
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Taking Time: Work-family time pressure, time quality and healthy activities. Australian families report very high time stress. This project explores links between parental time pressure, health and wellbeing, innovatively capturing individual, family and social perspectives. Using new measures, it analyses time diary data from ten countries to discover how amount, composition and gender share of work-family time affect parents' time quality and healthy activities across different societal contex ....Taking Time: Work-family time pressure, time quality and healthy activities. Australian families report very high time stress. This project explores links between parental time pressure, health and wellbeing, innovatively capturing individual, family and social perspectives. Using new measures, it analyses time diary data from ten countries to discover how amount, composition and gender share of work-family time affect parents' time quality and healthy activities across different societal contexts. It also examines whether there are differences in outcomes by socio-economic status and family structure, in Australia and cross-nationally. The results are expected to inform policy, to promote health and wellbeing, and to encourage sustainable employment-childcare practices.Read moreRead less
Impact of parents' employment on children's well-being: The influence of employment quality, time and activities with children, and parenting practices. Most Australian children now grow-up in families where both their mother and their father are employed. Using a new national dataset, this research examines how parents' working conditions are related to children's well-being. It is proposed that parents' availability, resources, and family functioning mediate between parental employment and chi ....Impact of parents' employment on children's well-being: The influence of employment quality, time and activities with children, and parenting practices. Most Australian children now grow-up in families where both their mother and their father are employed. Using a new national dataset, this research examines how parents' working conditions are related to children's well-being. It is proposed that parents' availability, resources, and family functioning mediate between parental employment and child outcomes. The Growing-Up in Australia study (available in 2005) surveys 10,000 children, combining measures of child well-being, existing validated measures of work conditions and family functioning, with a new child-focused diary that measures time and activities undertaken with children. New knowledge generated will inform future policy development.Read moreRead less
Job quality and the mental health and well-being of working parents and their children. Maximizing workforce participation is a national priority, essential to support an ageing population. Also critical is the full development of children's capabilities; part of a healthy start to life. Jobs, parents, children and family life lie at the centre of these priorities. Although employment supports families financially, this may come at a cost if aspects of the job affect parent well-being, or strain ....Job quality and the mental health and well-being of working parents and their children. Maximizing workforce participation is a national priority, essential to support an ageing population. Also critical is the full development of children's capabilities; part of a healthy start to life. Jobs, parents, children and family life lie at the centre of these priorities. Although employment supports families financially, this may come at a cost if aspects of the job affect parent well-being, or strains family relationships, which are critical to children's development and well-being. As well as informing industrial relations changes, this project will benefit the twin economic and social policy goals of workforce participation while at the same time supporting the health and well-being of parents and their children.Read moreRead less
Critical perspectives on serodiscordance in family life. This project aims to produce the first empirical picture of Australian families affected by HIV, hepatitis C or hepatitis B, to shed light on how families manage adversity in diverse households and community contexts. The project plans to conduct qualitative research with individuals, families and other stakeholders to reveal the interplay between diversity in family forms and understandings and experiences of serodiscordance, or mixed inf ....Critical perspectives on serodiscordance in family life. This project aims to produce the first empirical picture of Australian families affected by HIV, hepatitis C or hepatitis B, to shed light on how families manage adversity in diverse households and community contexts. The project plans to conduct qualitative research with individuals, families and other stakeholders to reveal the interplay between diversity in family forms and understandings and experiences of serodiscordance, or mixed infection status. In developing a critical theory of serodiscordance that departs from the biomedical emphasis on ‘risk management’, novel insights are anticipated on accommodating difference and disruption, managing secrets and stigma, and responsibilising care and treatment within families. The project also anticipates the generation of new and important knowledge regarding the contributions of families to community wellbeing.Read moreRead less
Analysing gender in research and policy on alcohol-related violence. This project aims to provide insights into gendered aspects of research and policy on alcohol-related violence among young people. It will produce knowledge through a comparative approach encompassing key alcohol policy contexts in Australia, Canada and Sweden. Project outcomes will improve the capacity of health and policy practitioners to understand the relationships between gender, alcohol and violence; reconceptualise resp ....Analysing gender in research and policy on alcohol-related violence. This project aims to provide insights into gendered aspects of research and policy on alcohol-related violence among young people. It will produce knowledge through a comparative approach encompassing key alcohol policy contexts in Australia, Canada and Sweden. Project outcomes will improve the capacity of health and policy practitioners to understand the relationships between gender, alcohol and violence; reconceptualise responses to alcohol-related problems; inform the development of future alcohol research and policy; increase the capacity to respond more effectively to alcohol use; and reduce alcohol-related harm.Read moreRead less