Indigenous solutions to global challenges in the Pacific Islands. The global COVID 19 pandemic represents a unique opportunity to understand the nature and potential of Indigenous sustainable development in Pacific Island communities, where Indigenous practices have been central in responses to closed borders and industry downturns. This project proposes to analyse the efficacy and cultural value of new, pandemic-era Indigenous sustainable development initiatives in sustaining island communities ....Indigenous solutions to global challenges in the Pacific Islands. The global COVID 19 pandemic represents a unique opportunity to understand the nature and potential of Indigenous sustainable development in Pacific Island communities, where Indigenous practices have been central in responses to closed borders and industry downturns. This project proposes to analyse the efficacy and cultural value of new, pandemic-era Indigenous sustainable development initiatives in sustaining island communities. It aims to culminate in a novel geographic theory of Indigenous sustainable development, and to identify new opportunities to support the expansion of Indigenous sustainable development. This should better enable the Pacific Islands region to respond to climate change, pandemics and other global challenges.Read moreRead less
Settling well in regional Australia: Experiences of people from refugee backgrounds. Regional humanitarian settlement is a key priority across all levels of government in Australia. This study aims to provide the first longitudinal assessment of the impacts of regional settlement for humanitarian migrants and destination communities. Its innovative, mixed-method and multi-sited approach will generate new knowledge of the opportunities and challenges for sustainable regional settlement. Expected ....Settling well in regional Australia: Experiences of people from refugee backgrounds. Regional humanitarian settlement is a key priority across all levels of government in Australia. This study aims to provide the first longitudinal assessment of the impacts of regional settlement for humanitarian migrants and destination communities. Its innovative, mixed-method and multi-sited approach will generate new knowledge of the opportunities and challenges for sustainable regional settlement. Expected outcomes include enhanced community, organisational and government decision-making capacity. By guiding end-users’ current and future actions, the study has strong potential to support the wellbeing of humanitarian migrants and to contribute to healthy and resilient regional communities.Read moreRead less
Digital technologies and the private rental sector in Australia. This project aims to show how digital technologies are transforming the private rental sector in Australia. This project expects to generate new knowledge about the growing global reach of digital technologies aimed at private renters, landlords and property managers. The expected outcomes of this project include the production of social scientific knowledge about the potential of digital technologies to be both socially pernicious ....Digital technologies and the private rental sector in Australia. This project aims to show how digital technologies are transforming the private rental sector in Australia. This project expects to generate new knowledge about the growing global reach of digital technologies aimed at private renters, landlords and property managers. The expected outcomes of this project include the production of social scientific knowledge about the potential of digital technologies to be both socially pernicious and socially progressive. This project should provide significant benefits for Australian renters and our tenant advocacy partners who represent them, and to show how digital technologies can be used to create a better housing system.Read moreRead less
Transforming the outer suburbs through master planned estates: a governmental challenge. Master planned estates are becoming more common on the outer suburbs of capital cities and the developers of these estates are required to plan and manage a whole range of services. This project examines the role that private actors play in 'governing' suburban estates alongside traditional forms of government and the challenges that ensue.
The Geography of Australia's People in Places: Processes of Change and Policy Responses. A major book will be written on the changing geography of people and places across Australia's settlement system between 1976 to 2006. Globalisation, economic restructuring, the changing nature of work, population growth and decline, migration, changes in households and families, and policy reorientations combine to impact in many different ways on people-in-places, affecting their fortunes and well-being. H ....The Geography of Australia's People in Places: Processes of Change and Policy Responses. A major book will be written on the changing geography of people and places across Australia's settlement system between 1976 to 2006. Globalisation, economic restructuring, the changing nature of work, population growth and decline, migration, changes in households and families, and policy reorientations combine to impact in many different ways on people-in-places, affecting their fortunes and well-being. How to cope with change represents exciting opportunities for some people in some places, while other people and places are vulnerable. The challenges for public policy are enormous, requiring rethinking of approaches by governments at all levels.Read moreRead less
The globalisation of the resources sector(s) in Australian cities. This project aims to understand how and why resources-related service firms cluster in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. Maintaining Australia’s competitive position in global affairs depends on delivering innovative services in established national areas such as mining, energy and agriculture. This project will approach Australian cities’ economies from a ‘global’ perspective using social network analysis, to understand ho ....The globalisation of the resources sector(s) in Australian cities. This project aims to understand how and why resources-related service firms cluster in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. Maintaining Australia’s competitive position in global affairs depends on delivering innovative services in established national areas such as mining, energy and agriculture. This project will approach Australian cities’ economies from a ‘global’ perspective using social network analysis, to understand how local firm clusters are internationally networked through branch office and affiliate corporate linkages. This project seeks to better direct urban and economic policy by positioning these sectors to deal with the challenges of the 21st century.Read moreRead less
Enhanced agency response strategies through modelling geo-temporal characteristics of emergency services calls. Understanding the timing and geographic distribution of emergency calls to agencies such as Fire, Police and Ambulance, is critical to improving emergency response and developing effective preventive strategies. In turn, improved response and prevention strategies can help save lives and minimise economic costs. This project uses advanced geographic and statistical methods to analyse f ....Enhanced agency response strategies through modelling geo-temporal characteristics of emergency services calls. Understanding the timing and geographic distribution of emergency calls to agencies such as Fire, Police and Ambulance, is critical to improving emergency response and developing effective preventive strategies. In turn, improved response and prevention strategies can help save lives and minimise economic costs. This project uses advanced geographic and statistical methods to analyse fire incidents and develop the evidence base necessary to inform effective response and prevention strategies. The project will critically assist emergency fire response, but will also provide a case study that can be adapted for other kinds of emergency response.Read moreRead less
Regional Economic Development and Performance: Roles of Leadership and Institutional Factors in Endogenous Growth. Contemporary regional economic development theory emphasises endogenous factors as key determinants of difference in regional economic performance. Leadership and institutional issues require special attention for analysis and in strategy formulation and implementation of regional development plans. This project develops model frameworks for analysing the impact of those endogenous ....Regional Economic Development and Performance: Roles of Leadership and Institutional Factors in Endogenous Growth. Contemporary regional economic development theory emphasises endogenous factors as key determinants of difference in regional economic performance. Leadership and institutional issues require special attention for analysis and in strategy formulation and implementation of regional development plans. This project develops model frameworks for analysing the impact of those endogenous factors on regional economic performance and develops methodologies for their incorporation into regional development strategy, using illustrative case studies. A major book on this topic will result. The collaboration is between researchers at the University of Queensland and George Mason University.Read moreRead less
Physical activity in the construction of occupation for primary school aged children. Children become less physically active as they make the transition from childhood to adolescence. The physical, medical, social and concomitant psychological sequela of inactivity is of major concern to the community. The aim of this study is to map change in physical activity patterns in an identified group of 315 children currently aged between 6 and 7 years of age. Studies with children in their primary sc ....Physical activity in the construction of occupation for primary school aged children. Children become less physically active as they make the transition from childhood to adolescence. The physical, medical, social and concomitant psychological sequela of inactivity is of major concern to the community. The aim of this study is to map change in physical activity patterns in an identified group of 315 children currently aged between 6 and 7 years of age. Studies with children in their primary school years and of a longitudinal nature such as this one have not to date been undertaken. The study will utilize quantitative and qualitative methodolgies to: (a)describe change,(b) determine the primary socioeconomical, environmental, child and family level factors which explain a decrease in physical activity, and (c) try to understand at the level of child and family what has driven these changes. The outcomes of this study will enable researchers to move forward in developing targeted interventions appropriately at this important age group.Read moreRead less
An investigation into factors influencing coach retention and coaching career pathways. Organised sport is central to the social fabric and health of Australian communities and enhances national pride. The project will provide significant social and economic benefits for sport organisations which depend on coaches to build and sustain capacity. More coaches will enable more Australians to participate in sport which contributes to personal well being, social cohesion and success of Australian ath ....An investigation into factors influencing coach retention and coaching career pathways. Organised sport is central to the social fabric and health of Australian communities and enhances national pride. The project will provide significant social and economic benefits for sport organisations which depend on coaches to build and sustain capacity. More coaches will enable more Australians to participate in sport which contributes to personal well being, social cohesion and success of Australian athletes. The project will enhance the international reputation of Australian sport research sport and also has implications for volunteer retention in the nonprofit sector. This is critical given the policy emphasis on building social capital, making communities more resilient, and the social coalition approach to meeting community needs.Read moreRead less