Labour Matters: The Recomposition of Trade Union Action in a Globalising Era: Australia and Canada1983-2003. Trade unions are struggling to craft innovative responses to globalisation's pressures, while seeking to shore up their traditional role in 'porous' national economies. We compare Australia with Canada 1983-2003: semi-peripheral countries facing similar pressures from globalisation, but responding differently in governance and trade union action. Labour innovation is set against the backd ....Labour Matters: The Recomposition of Trade Union Action in a Globalising Era: Australia and Canada1983-2003. Trade unions are struggling to craft innovative responses to globalisation's pressures, while seeking to shore up their traditional role in 'porous' national economies. We compare Australia with Canada 1983-2003: semi-peripheral countries facing similar pressures from globalisation, but responding differently in governance and trade union action. Labour innovation is set against the backdrop of changes in employment regulation and employment security. We examine innovation through national and transnational union campaigns that parallel in two countries, to evaluate innovation in Australia. Postgraduate research training in internationally comparative social science methodology is provided and results disseminated in academic, practitioner and public fora.Read moreRead less
Pathways then and now: new student transitions to adulthood in a comparative context. This project will generate new knowledge about young people's development and use of 'creative capital', which is crucial to their participation in the new labour markets in a post-industrial society. The research is designed to contribute directly to new policy frameworks in post-compulsory education and training that acknowledge the need for young people to make creative choices, develop positive pathways and ....Pathways then and now: new student transitions to adulthood in a comparative context. This project will generate new knowledge about young people's development and use of 'creative capital', which is crucial to their participation in the new labour markets in a post-industrial society. The research is designed to contribute directly to new policy frameworks in post-compulsory education and training that acknowledge the need for young people to make creative choices, develop positive pathways and to live within supportive family and community contexts. In this way, the project will support the Government's agenda of strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric in the fact of weaker traditional support structures.Read moreRead less
Flexible career patterns: graduate redefinitions of outcomes in the new labour market. The research will identify graduate redefinitions of the meaning of ?career? and the construction of flexible career patterns in response to changes in the labour market. The centrepiece of the research program is the extension of a ten-year cohort of 1300 Australian graduates who are now 5-7 years out from graduation. The wider significance of the emerging themes is tested through comparison with a Canadian ....Flexible career patterns: graduate redefinitions of outcomes in the new labour market. The research will identify graduate redefinitions of the meaning of ?career? and the construction of flexible career patterns in response to changes in the labour market. The centrepiece of the research program is the extension of a ten-year cohort of 1300 Australian graduates who are now 5-7 years out from graduation. The wider significance of the emerging themes is tested through comparison with a Canadian cohort and with a younger Australian cohort. The research findings are significant to the formation of responsive post-compulsory education and training policy and programs that meet the changing needs of young Australians.Read moreRead less
Transforming the organisation of schooling: Technology and organisational change in the junior years of secondary school. Qualitative methods will be used to document ruptures in the traditional organisation of junior secondary schooling and to explore the role played by information and communication technology (ICT). Literature on the integration of ICT across the curriculum, generic capabilities in school-aged learners and the middle years of schooling suggests that a multi-dimensional constru ....Transforming the organisation of schooling: Technology and organisational change in the junior years of secondary school. Qualitative methods will be used to document ruptures in the traditional organisation of junior secondary schooling and to explore the role played by information and communication technology (ICT). Literature on the integration of ICT across the curriculum, generic capabilities in school-aged learners and the middle years of schooling suggests that a multi-dimensional construct will be developed, accommodating changes in the organisation of time, space and knowledge and in the roles played by teachers, students and parents. An analysis of the qualitative data will inform the development of a questionnaire which will then be tested and validated.Read moreRead less
Managing the Volunteer Workforce: Flexible Structures and Strategies to Integrate Volunteers and Paid Workers. Volunteers now play a vital role in many service-oriented organisations. This project proposes an innovative framework to assist organisations to develop flexible and appropriate structures and strategies for the management of volunteer and paid workforces. The approach draws upon Atkinson's (1984) "Flexible Firm" concept. A flexibility model is applied to the relationship between volun ....Managing the Volunteer Workforce: Flexible Structures and Strategies to Integrate Volunteers and Paid Workers. Volunteers now play a vital role in many service-oriented organisations. This project proposes an innovative framework to assist organisations to develop flexible and appropriate structures and strategies for the management of volunteer and paid workforces. The approach draws upon Atkinson's (1984) "Flexible Firm" concept. A flexibility model is applied to the relationship between volunteers and the broader workforce. The project aims (a) to understand, conceptualise and evaluate the roles, functions and structure of volunteer groups within paid workforces; (b) to investigate how positive relationships, training, effective communication and flexibility can enhance the contribution of volunteers in the workforce and (c) to propose mechanisms which can improve the deployment of human capital within larger service-oriented organisations such as the National Museum of Australia and Museum of Victoria.Read moreRead less
Drivers and contexts of affirmative action, equal opportunity and diversity strategies. This project will use a case-study approach to provide a series of rich accounts about the introduction, implementation and evaluation of affirmative action and equal employment opportunity strategies in twelve Australian organizations. Focussing on in-depth interviews with key personnel from the Chief Executive Officers to those women intended to benefit from such strategies, the research will provide ground ....Drivers and contexts of affirmative action, equal opportunity and diversity strategies. This project will use a case-study approach to provide a series of rich accounts about the introduction, implementation and evaluation of affirmative action and equal employment opportunity strategies in twelve Australian organizations. Focussing on in-depth interviews with key personnel from the Chief Executive Officers to those women intended to benefit from such strategies, the research will provide ground-breaking evidence about the drivers behind such organizational change, the factors associated with successful implementation, and the range of indicators on which such strategies have been evaluated.Read moreRead less
Fluid security in the Asia Pacific. At a time of global and regional insecurity fuelled by economic and terrorism concerns, this project will provide a rigorous evidence base for the Asia Pacific to better manage mobility in a more inclusive way. This directly fits with understanding our region and the world by providing an evidence base for better understanding of how and why people move throughout the Asia Pacific and their impact and experiences of security. It also contributes to protecting ....Fluid security in the Asia Pacific. At a time of global and regional insecurity fuelled by economic and terrorism concerns, this project will provide a rigorous evidence base for the Asia Pacific to better manage mobility in a more inclusive way. This directly fits with understanding our region and the world by providing an evidence base for better understanding of how and why people move throughout the Asia Pacific and their impact and experiences of security. It also contributes to protecting Australia from terrorism and crime by identifying the reasons and ways people move in unauthorized ways and therefore to help to design systems that reduce experiences of victimization and criminalisation.Read moreRead less
Work-Life Integration: Developing the 'Dual Agenda' in Theory and Practice. This project addresses the important and urgent need to reconcile organizational efficiency with employee needs to balance work, personal and family life. Current research indicates that the adoption of standard ?family-friendly? policies is hindered by traditional, gendered work processes, organizational norms and structures. A new approach called the ?dual agenda? for change is advocated to resolve this problem. This p ....Work-Life Integration: Developing the 'Dual Agenda' in Theory and Practice. This project addresses the important and urgent need to reconcile organizational efficiency with employee needs to balance work, personal and family life. Current research indicates that the adoption of standard ?family-friendly? policies is hindered by traditional, gendered work processes, organizational norms and structures. A new approach called the ?dual agenda? for change is advocated to resolve this problem. This project tests the application of the ?dual agenda? in two large Australian organisations. The data produced will identify policies and processes which meet the ?dual agenda? of gender equitable, improved work-life outcomes for employees and improved business outcomes for organizations.Read moreRead less
Working late and the spectre of uselessness: Sustaining labour supply in a globalising economy. A buoyant economy and strong employment growth resulting in unfilled vacancies is frustrating business. Population ageing may exacerbate this, reducing labour supply and consequently industrial output. To assist, the Government is recommending increased employment among older workers. As yet, the evidence base for informing actions is inadequate but points to complex scenarios where older workers may ....Working late and the spectre of uselessness: Sustaining labour supply in a globalising economy. A buoyant economy and strong employment growth resulting in unfilled vacancies is frustrating business. Population ageing may exacerbate this, reducing labour supply and consequently industrial output. To assist, the Government is recommending increased employment among older workers. As yet, the evidence base for informing actions is inadequate but points to complex scenarios where older workers may not necessarily fair well. Better understanding the determinants of their employment and of employer actions would help clarify the role of public policy. Also, understanding how other nations are responding is of strategic importance as this will directly influence the Australian labour market.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