Evaluating the community governance of crime prevention and community safety. In partnership with the Victorian Department of Justice this research aims to evaluate the Safer Cities and Shires program using both in-depth data analysis and focus groups. It questions the theoretical assumptions underlying the program; identifies effective and cost-effective community governance structures and factors that enhance or inhibit a community's capacity to participate in and respond to community safety i ....Evaluating the community governance of crime prevention and community safety. In partnership with the Victorian Department of Justice this research aims to evaluate the Safer Cities and Shires program using both in-depth data analysis and focus groups. It questions the theoretical assumptions underlying the program; identifies effective and cost-effective community governance structures and factors that enhance or inhibit a community's capacity to participate in and respond to community safety initiatives; and evaluates the impact of the program on the incidence of crime and perceptions of safety and security. The outcomes will advance knowledge in community psychology and inform future policy and allocation of resources to community based crime prevention programs.Read moreRead less
Exploring the experience of security in the Australian Vietnamese community: practical implications for policing. Effective policing in Victoria depends upon sensitive relations with complex communities, but police experience persistent difficulties in implementing community policing strategies with the Australian Vietnamese community. Vietnamese residents call for police action and protection from drug and gambling-related crime. However, police find it difficult to build effective communicati ....Exploring the experience of security in the Australian Vietnamese community: practical implications for policing. Effective policing in Victoria depends upon sensitive relations with complex communities, but police experience persistent difficulties in implementing community policing strategies with the Australian Vietnamese community. Vietnamese residents call for police action and protection from drug and gambling-related crime. However, police find it difficult to build effective communication and co-operation with a community that seems reticent and lacking in trust. This project explores solutions to these problems, drawing on qualitative research on attitudes, experience of security and insecurity, institutional culture and cultural understandings amongst both police and community members. Read moreRead less
Solar solutions to improve energy affordability for low-income renters. This Project aims to develop solutions for low-income renters to access solar energy. Low-income households spend higher proportions of income on electricity costs. Solar energy is a key way to reduce electricity costs and thus improve energy affordability. Renters are largely excluded from this opportunity. Intended Project outcomes are solutions to access solar energy suitable for widespread application to low-income priva ....Solar solutions to improve energy affordability for low-income renters. This Project aims to develop solutions for low-income renters to access solar energy. Low-income households spend higher proportions of income on electricity costs. Solar energy is a key way to reduce electricity costs and thus improve energy affordability. Renters are largely excluded from this opportunity. Intended Project outcomes are solutions to access solar energy suitable for widespread application to low-income private, public and community rental housing. Adoption of the Project’s outcomes are expected to benefit low-income renters, assist electricity retailers to maintain and extend their customer base, and provide commercial incentives for the many stakeholders providing rental housing and residential solar and battery systems.Read moreRead less
Indigenous nationhood in the absence of recognition: Self-governance insights and strategies from three Aboriginal communities. Based on evidence that effective governance is a necessary precursor to Indigenous communities’ economic, social and cultural outcomes, this project aims to strengthen Australian Indigenous communities by learning and sharing lessons about sustainable and effective Indigenous governance. In collaboration with three Aboriginal communities in Victoria, South Australia and ....Indigenous nationhood in the absence of recognition: Self-governance insights and strategies from three Aboriginal communities. Based on evidence that effective governance is a necessary precursor to Indigenous communities’ economic, social and cultural outcomes, this project aims to strengthen Australian Indigenous communities by learning and sharing lessons about sustainable and effective Indigenous governance. In collaboration with three Aboriginal communities in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales that are differentially engaged in Indigenous governance processes, the project aims to identify innovation in community governance, test the usefulness of Australian governance assessment tools, and foster an Indigenous Australian and global network to share successful strategies. In doing so, the project contributes to an emerging theory of Indigenous nation building.Read moreRead less
Improving Spiritual Health Care for LGBT Australians. Research has demonstrated that attempts to change the sexual and gender orientation of LGBT people do not work, but little is known about their impacts or the extent of their practice in Australia. This project aims to investigate the history, scale and nature of LGBT conversion therapy in Australia. Robust data on Australian conversion practices will be collected through a national survey, life history interviews and focus groups with spirit ....Improving Spiritual Health Care for LGBT Australians. Research has demonstrated that attempts to change the sexual and gender orientation of LGBT people do not work, but little is known about their impacts or the extent of their practice in Australia. This project aims to investigate the history, scale and nature of LGBT conversion therapy in Australia. Robust data on Australian conversion practices will be collected through a national survey, life history interviews and focus groups with spiritual and mental health care providers. These data will be used to establish the impacts of conversion practices and develop resources to support improved spiritual care of LGBT people. The findings will benefit society, supporting social cohesion in the fraught area of religious and LGBT rights.
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Understanding identity, social change and emerging needs: Melbourne's Jewish community and Australian society. Understanding current developments within ethnic and religious groups is of vital national importance. The detailed profile of Australian ethno-religious groups to be produced will be of relevance to a range of planning issues, including: strategies to maximize the life potential of young Australians, preventative health care, appraisal of future needs of an ageing population and of the ....Understanding identity, social change and emerging needs: Melbourne's Jewish community and Australian society. Understanding current developments within ethnic and religious groups is of vital national importance. The detailed profile of Australian ethno-religious groups to be produced will be of relevance to a range of planning issues, including: strategies to maximize the life potential of young Australians, preventative health care, appraisal of future needs of an ageing population and of the capacity of voluntary agencies to maintain their existing levels of social welfare provision. Integral to the project is ongoing consultation with communal leaders, social workers and policy makers. It will provide for informed public discussion and promote a climate of consultation and dialogue. Read moreRead less
Developmental pathways to health, education and delinquency outcomes in Western Australia children: a holistic approach to inform early intervention strategies. This project will pioneer population-level data linkages between WA's population health databases and information held by the WA Departments of Education (numeracy and literacy), Justice (juvenile delinquency), Disabilities, and Community Development (child protection). The project will describe temporal, regional, socioeconomic and raci ....Developmental pathways to health, education and delinquency outcomes in Western Australia children: a holistic approach to inform early intervention strategies. This project will pioneer population-level data linkages between WA's population health databases and information held by the WA Departments of Education (numeracy and literacy), Justice (juvenile delinquency), Disabilities, and Community Development (child protection). The project will describe temporal, regional, socioeconomic and racial patterns of developmental outcomes, key risk and protective factors and identify pathways to health and wellbeing, education and juvenile delinquency outcomes among WA children and youth, including those who have had contact with the Child Protection System. Outcomes for specific groups identified as ät risk" will also be examined".Read moreRead less
Hopes and Aspirations of Australian Muslims. Promoting harmony and increasing security are critical national issues. This project will provide reliable information on the socio-political outlook of Australian Muslims - a growing community in Australia which has attracted extensive public scrutiny in recent years. By testing the hopes and aspirations of Australian Muslims, the findings of this project will (a) offer tangible guidelines for Commonwealth and state policy makers, (b) contribute to a ....Hopes and Aspirations of Australian Muslims. Promoting harmony and increasing security are critical national issues. This project will provide reliable information on the socio-political outlook of Australian Muslims - a growing community in Australia which has attracted extensive public scrutiny in recent years. By testing the hopes and aspirations of Australian Muslims, the findings of this project will (a) offer tangible guidelines for Commonwealth and state policy makers, (b) contribute to an informed public discourse on the place of Islam in Australia, and (c) enrich inter-faith and inter-cultural dialogue and social harmonyRead moreRead less
Community Policing and Refugee Settlement in Regional Australia - A Case Study of Tasmania. This project will describe, analyse and theorise police-refugee relations in regional Australia. It compares refugee settlement in three rural/regional areas in Tasmania through the lens of police-refugee relations. In particular, it will identify ways in which community policing can enhance settlement experiences and reduce crime among refugees in regional Australia. It is significant in that it examines ....Community Policing and Refugee Settlement in Regional Australia - A Case Study of Tasmania. This project will describe, analyse and theorise police-refugee relations in regional Australia. It compares refugee settlement in three rural/regional areas in Tasmania through the lens of police-refugee relations. In particular, it will identify ways in which community policing can enhance settlement experiences and reduce crime among refugees in regional Australia. It is significant in that it examines both positive and negative aspects of community policing in the context of refugee settlement in regional Australia in order to develop a best-practice model. Given the Government's recent policy of encouraging settlement in regional Australia, there is an urgent need to analyse these processes. Read moreRead less
The Political Sociology of the Australian Jewish Community. This project will examine the internal dynamics of the Australian Jewish community, its institutional structure, and responses to internal and external pressures, including terrorism. The study will analyse the interaction of the Jewish community with the broader Australian society, including relations between the internalised norms of the community and the demands made by participation in a pluralist society. Primarily sociological a ....The Political Sociology of the Australian Jewish Community. This project will examine the internal dynamics of the Australian Jewish community, its institutional structure, and responses to internal and external pressures, including terrorism. The study will analyse the interaction of the Jewish community with the broader Australian society, including relations between the internalised norms of the community and the demands made by participation in a pluralist society. Primarily sociological and political in approach, the study will also explore previously unexamined archives. The project will develop an improved model for Jewish community leadership which may also be useful for other communities.Read moreRead less