Networks in Flux: Examining how sector relationships adapt to rapid change. This study aims to investigate why, when and how inter-organisational networks adapt or remain resistant to change. Responding to complex social problems and technological change requires inter-organisational networks to be adaptable. Through a combination of longitudinal network analysis, survey research and qualitative interviews, this project plans to study the Victorian HIV and hepatitis C sector as it responds to ma ....Networks in Flux: Examining how sector relationships adapt to rapid change. This study aims to investigate why, when and how inter-organisational networks adapt or remain resistant to change. Responding to complex social problems and technological change requires inter-organisational networks to be adaptable. Through a combination of longitudinal network analysis, survey research and qualitative interviews, this project plans to study the Victorian HIV and hepatitis C sector as it responds to major advances in prevention and treatment, requiring community, health, policy and research organisations to adapt their roles and relationships. This timely and novel study aims to improve our knowledge of how to enable inter-organisational networks to adapt and improve organisational responsiveness to complex issues.Read moreRead less
Involving children in social research: balancing the risks and benefits. There is a growing consensus that children's involvement in social research is important, but considerable uncertainty remains around children's inclusion in research on 'sensitive' issues, reflecting concerns about how to balance children's protection with their participation. Key to this are deeply embedded assumptions and beliefs about children and childhood, especially concerning notions of capacity, agency, vulnerabili ....Involving children in social research: balancing the risks and benefits. There is a growing consensus that children's involvement in social research is important, but considerable uncertainty remains around children's inclusion in research on 'sensitive' issues, reflecting concerns about how to balance children's protection with their participation. Key to this are deeply embedded assumptions and beliefs about children and childhood, especially concerning notions of capacity, agency, vulnerability, dependency and the like. This project aims to better understand and address the tensions between the protection of children and their participation in research, and to explore how ethics committees, parents, other gatekeepers and children themselves manage and navigate these tensions.Read moreRead less
Youth services in remote communities. This project aims to improve outcomes for high-risk youth in remote communities in Australia and Canada. It will establish a transdisciplinary research network comprising researchers and services experienced in delivering programmes to high-risk youth; develop a universal intervention definition, and a useful, scientifically rigorous evaluation framework; and integrate the intervention and evaluation framework into participating services’ routine service del ....Youth services in remote communities. This project aims to improve outcomes for high-risk youth in remote communities in Australia and Canada. It will establish a transdisciplinary research network comprising researchers and services experienced in delivering programmes to high-risk youth; develop a universal intervention definition, and a useful, scientifically rigorous evaluation framework; and integrate the intervention and evaluation framework into participating services’ routine service delivery. This project expects to increase the number and quality of services available for high-risk youth, improve their social, health and economic outcomes, and generate positive economic benefit for their communities.Read moreRead less
Developing the capacity to model the impact of interventions that target high-risk drinking among young Australians. Alcohol use is a major contributing factor to social and health problems among young Australians. The project will inform the development of effective policy by providing multidisciplinary research evidence and the capacity to model how various interventions impact on the prevalence of alcohol-related problems.
Masculinities, change and conflict in global society. The rapid development of research on masculinities has enormously increased our understanding of men and gender. This has opended new perspectives for preventing violence at individual, community and international levels. To realize this potential in today's changing conditions requires field research to explore emerging patterns of masculinity in Australia and internationally, fresh theoretical work linking gender with change and conflict in ....Masculinities, change and conflict in global society. The rapid development of research on masculinities has enormously increased our understanding of men and gender. This has opended new perspectives for preventing violence at individual, community and international levels. To realize this potential in today's changing conditions requires field research to explore emerging patterns of masculinity in Australia and internationally, fresh theoretical work linking gender with change and conflict in world society, and specific case studies of how masculinities are mobilized in conflict situations and lead towards violence. This knowledge will be used to develop new practical models of violence prevention and peace-making.Read moreRead less
Constituencies for welfare: Public responses to Australia's 'new welfare state'. The main national and community benefits fall within Research Priority 2: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health, and particularly 'Strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric'. Australia's welfare state helps maintain the social fabric, but its performance depends on citizens' confidence in the purposes and outcomes of welfare. This project investigates how well Australians understand recent welfare changes ....Constituencies for welfare: Public responses to Australia's 'new welfare state'. The main national and community benefits fall within Research Priority 2: Promoting and Maintaining Good Health, and particularly 'Strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric'. Australia's welfare state helps maintain the social fabric, but its performance depends on citizens' confidence in the purposes and outcomes of welfare. This project investigates how well Australians understand recent welfare changes, and measures their confidence in policy directions. The project will produce fresh research into the public's response to the Australian government's largest area of fiscal responsibility, provide new analytical and data tools for policymakers, and strengthen Australia's international profile in research into welfare reform.Read moreRead less
Selling The Punt: An interdisciplinary analysis of the extent and impact of sports wagering marketing strategies in Australia. Sports wagering is the fastest growing segment of the gambling market in Australia. Despite widespread concern about the impact of marketing strategies on the risky consumption of wagering products by young men and adolescents, research and policy has failed to keep up with this rapidly growing industry. This study will provide: detailed information about the range of ma ....Selling The Punt: An interdisciplinary analysis of the extent and impact of sports wagering marketing strategies in Australia. Sports wagering is the fastest growing segment of the gambling market in Australia. Despite widespread concern about the impact of marketing strategies on the risky consumption of wagering products by young men and adolescents, research and policy has failed to keep up with this rapidly growing industry. This study will provide: detailed information about the range of marketing strategies used to sell sports wagering in Australia; important qualitative insights into the impact of these marketing strategies on gambling behaviours; and, recommendations for a comprehensive public health approach to help counter the potential long and short term risks associated with sports wagering marketing.Read moreRead less
The big gamble: an interdisciplinary study of the normalisation of gambling. This project aims to explore industry and socio-cultural factors that contribute to the normalisation of gambling. Gambling is recognised as an urgent public health issue in Australia, posing a health threat to individuals and communities. However, there is limited empirical evidence about the processes that may contribute to the normalisation of different forms of gambling. This project aims to explore the interplay be ....The big gamble: an interdisciplinary study of the normalisation of gambling. This project aims to explore industry and socio-cultural factors that contribute to the normalisation of gambling. Gambling is recognised as an urgent public health issue in Australia, posing a health threat to individuals and communities. However, there is limited empirical evidence about the processes that may contribute to the normalisation of different forms of gambling. This project aims to explore the interplay between the sophisticated promotional tactics used by the gambling industry, and the socio-cultural mechanisms which may interact with these promotional tactics to normalise gambling beliefs in youth, women, and older adults. This project expects to help local governments and related stakeholders develop a comprehensive range of public health strategies aimed at preventing the risks and harms posed by the normalisation of gambling.Read moreRead less
Weight stigma in the preconception, pregnancy and postpartum periods. The overall aim of this project is to develop guidance for the translation of weight stigma evidence into preconception, pregnancy and postpartum obesity-related policy. It focuses on the socio-ecological factors that perpetuate weight stigma in women across the reproductive life phase, that is, in women planning a pregnancy, in women who are pregnant and in mothers who have given birth within a 24-month period.
Emotion Regulation in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can affect 7-12% of Australians in their lifetime. It is a chronic disorder with enormous personal, social and economic costs. In the current climate of increasing mass violence and natural disaster, the health burden of PTSD is expected to rise. This project will help us identify core processes and mechanisms involved in PTSD, and help us to develop more effective and specialized treatments. It will al ....Emotion Regulation in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can affect 7-12% of Australians in their lifetime. It is a chronic disorder with enormous personal, social and economic costs. In the current climate of increasing mass violence and natural disaster, the health burden of PTSD is expected to rise. This project will help us identify core processes and mechanisms involved in PTSD, and help us to develop more effective and specialized treatments. It will also extend our understanding of how the brain inhibits emotion, which has wider relevance for many anxiety disorders in terms of their development and prevention.Read moreRead less