The role of the front line in welfare to work. This project aims to examine the front-line in Australia's primary site of welfare reform - the Job Network. Developed within the genre of street-level policy research, the project intends to examine that point of the policy process where actual outcomes are generated - a site which is largely overlooked in policy research, but which is integral to a comprehensive understanding of how policy works. From the perspective of the long-term unemployed, t ....The role of the front line in welfare to work. This project aims to examine the front-line in Australia's primary site of welfare reform - the Job Network. Developed within the genre of street-level policy research, the project intends to examine that point of the policy process where actual outcomes are generated - a site which is largely overlooked in policy research, but which is integral to a comprehensive understanding of how policy works. From the perspective of the long-term unemployed, the research will explore what works in the relationship between clients and their case managers. It will also explore the experiences of engagement and re-engagement with employment as a consequence of Job Network assistance.Read moreRead less
Understanding low skilled men's access to jobs: An occupational case-study approach. The withdrawal of low skilled men from the labour force has been substantial over recent decades. As many as 40% of men without post-school qualifications do not have full-time jobs. This development has many negative social consequences. It damages the affected men's wellbeing, and that of their families. It reduces labour supply at a time of labour shortages. It increases dependency on the welfare system. ....Understanding low skilled men's access to jobs: An occupational case-study approach. The withdrawal of low skilled men from the labour force has been substantial over recent decades. As many as 40% of men without post-school qualifications do not have full-time jobs. This development has many negative social consequences. It damages the affected men's wellbeing, and that of their families. It reduces labour supply at a time of labour shortages. It increases dependency on the welfare system. This project will develop new understandings of the barriers low skill men face when they seek jobs in areas of rising employment, such as the service sector. It will provide an assessment of the possibilities of overcoming these barriers, and develop ideas about how best to enhance low skilled men's access to good jobs. Read moreRead less
Creating effective employment solutions for youth with psychosis. Young people with severe mental illness face the general difficulty of finding paid work, and the specific difficulty of finding employment which can accommodate their health needs. Without early intervention, and access to supported employment, health and rehabilitation services, these young Australians face long-term welfare dependency. This Project will identify leading international models that provide supported employment for ....Creating effective employment solutions for youth with psychosis. Young people with severe mental illness face the general difficulty of finding paid work, and the specific difficulty of finding employment which can accommodate their health needs. Without early intervention, and access to supported employment, health and rehabilitation services, these young Australians face long-term welfare dependency. This Project will identify leading international models that provide supported employment for young people with psychosis and examine why such effective and integrated support models have not been implemented domestically. The Project will then develop a detailed policy and funding framework to facilitate the adoption or adaptation of international best practice in Australia.Read moreRead less
Balancing trust and control in the provision of employment services: comparing outcomes for disability employment service users. The Australian government is committed to assisting marginalised job seekers and increasing employment participation as part of its Social Inclusion Agenda. This research will assist the government achieve its social inclusion goals by analysing key elements of the new generation of employment services and generating comparative information about the relative effective ....Balancing trust and control in the provision of employment services: comparing outcomes for disability employment service users. The Australian government is committed to assisting marginalised job seekers and increasing employment participation as part of its Social Inclusion Agenda. This research will assist the government achieve its social inclusion goals by analysing key elements of the new generation of employment services and generating comparative information about the relative effectiveness of different service delivery models currently operating in the Job Network and the Disability Employment Network. Read moreRead less
Public Policy and Immigrant Settlement in Australia. The proposed research will assess the relative importance of labour market conditions, income-support policy, and immigrant selection criteria in facilitating the settlement of recent immigrants in Australia. The project will be the first major academic study to make use of the complete data from the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia to compare two cohorts of recent immigrants who arrived under different policy settings and econom ....Public Policy and Immigrant Settlement in Australia. The proposed research will assess the relative importance of labour market conditions, income-support policy, and immigrant selection criteria in facilitating the settlement of recent immigrants in Australia. The project will be the first major academic study to make use of the complete data from the Longitudinal Survey of Immigrants to Australia to compare two cohorts of recent immigrants who arrived under different policy settings and economic conditions and whose initial settlement outcomes varied dramatically. The results will advance our understanding of how immigrants adjust to Australia and will be useful for future policy development.
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The psychological contract: Bridging human resource management practices and organisational effectiveness. Many managers believe that recent changes in management practice are responsible for Australia's high labour productivity but very little is known about the mechanisms through which such effects are transmitted. Will HRM enable Australian organisations to generate and maintain a competitive advantage in the global context? In this project we draw on theoretical frameworks established in ....The psychological contract: Bridging human resource management practices and organisational effectiveness. Many managers believe that recent changes in management practice are responsible for Australia's high labour productivity but very little is known about the mechanisms through which such effects are transmitted. Will HRM enable Australian organisations to generate and maintain a competitive advantage in the global context? In this project we draw on theoretical frameworks established in the behavioural sciences to understand how HRM practices influence employee reactions and impact organisational effectiveness, such as labour productivity. The results will be of direct benefit to Australian organisations designing, evaluating, or reconfiguring their HRM practices in line with their competitive strategy.Read moreRead less
Employment systems and organisational outcomes: Managing employee expectations through HRM practice. This project contributes to our understanding of the factors that influence organisational effectiveness. Australian employers are facing competitive business conditions and changing demographics. In this challenging environment, employers and employees must develop a clear understanding of what they can expect from one another. Unfulfilled expectations can lead to workplace cynicism and have ....Employment systems and organisational outcomes: Managing employee expectations through HRM practice. This project contributes to our understanding of the factors that influence organisational effectiveness. Australian employers are facing competitive business conditions and changing demographics. In this challenging environment, employers and employees must develop a clear understanding of what they can expect from one another. Unfulfilled expectations can lead to workplace cynicism and have a negative effect on organisational performance. The project findings will help organisations become more competitive in the global marketplace by designing HRM practice configurations that are best fit to the needs of their employees and that establish converging expectations about the employment relationship.Read moreRead less
Managing Diversity: Diversity Practice Configurations and Organisational Effectiveness. Organisations expend a lot of momey on their diversity efforts but often fail to implement the most effective diversity management practices. Left unmanaged, workforce diversity can create internal conflict and lower organisational performance. These challenges are especially difficult for the small organisations characteristic of Australian business. This project is designed to identify the most effective ....Managing Diversity: Diversity Practice Configurations and Organisational Effectiveness. Organisations expend a lot of momey on their diversity efforts but often fail to implement the most effective diversity management practices. Left unmanaged, workforce diversity can create internal conflict and lower organisational performance. These challenges are especially difficult for the small organisations characteristic of Australian business. This project is designed to identify the most effective diversity management practices for small and large organisations and provide recommendations for their use. The project benefits employers and employees alike by identifying diversity management practices that maximise organisational effectiveness and create positive working environments in the Australian context.Read moreRead less
New Regionalism and the Dynamics of Local Economies. The economic development of Australia's regions is of ongoing concern and importance to governments, communities and businesses. This research will provide new insights into the factors underpinning local economic growth, and the extent to which these are supported or otherwise by emerging approaches in regional policy and practice. This is especially important given the need to ensure the effectiveness regional and local development strategie ....New Regionalism and the Dynamics of Local Economies. The economic development of Australia's regions is of ongoing concern and importance to governments, communities and businesses. This research will provide new insights into the factors underpinning local economic growth, and the extent to which these are supported or otherwise by emerging approaches in regional policy and practice. This is especially important given the need to ensure the effectiveness regional and local development strategies. By analysing the dynamics of local economies in their policy context, the research will offer development strategies that will underpin economically sustainable businesses, localities and regions. This has the potential to lead to more productive and prosperous regional and local economies.Read moreRead less
Working against type: Stereotype threat effects on mature age workers. Demographic challenges are creating a new urgency around the management and retention of mature age workers in Australia. The proportion of mature age workers in the population is increasing but labour participation rates are low in the older age categories. This project examines how the demographic composition of workplaces and the content of recruitment advertising evoke negative age stereotypes and lead to the disengagem ....Working against type: Stereotype threat effects on mature age workers. Demographic challenges are creating a new urgency around the management and retention of mature age workers in Australia. The proportion of mature age workers in the population is increasing but labour participation rates are low in the older age categories. This project examines how the demographic composition of workplaces and the content of recruitment advertising evoke negative age stereotypes and lead to the disengagement of mature age workers. The project benefits mature age workers and their employers by identifying organisational policies and practices that counteract these effects by signalling an organisation's commitment to creating an age-friendly environment. Read moreRead less