An integrated model for the assessment of urban sustainability. The redevelopment and improvement of outdated urban infrastructure and the establishment of new infrastructure to meet needs of a growing population and increased services is a challenge faced by urban planners and developers in most Australian cities. This research will develop a systems-based framework within which combinations of models and tools will be evaluated for inclusion in an integrated assessment tool. The tool will ena ....An integrated model for the assessment of urban sustainability. The redevelopment and improvement of outdated urban infrastructure and the establishment of new infrastructure to meet needs of a growing population and increased services is a challenge faced by urban planners and developers in most Australian cities. This research will develop a systems-based framework within which combinations of models and tools will be evaluated for inclusion in an integrated assessment tool. The tool will enable us to address urban growth and its inter-relationship with infrastructure systems and services, including transport, energy, water, affordable housing, education and other land-use issues in relation to a case study of urban development. Read moreRead less
The Work, Housing, Services and Community Project. Australian cities are bursting at their seams. Major new housing developments are being undertaken to meet housing demand. These new developments sit alongside existing developments and raise issues about socio-spatial integration. New developments attempt to meet changing work, housing, services and community needs. This project examines how they are succeeding, how workers and residents see the relationship between work, home, services, and th ....The Work, Housing, Services and Community Project. Australian cities are bursting at their seams. Major new housing developments are being undertaken to meet housing demand. These new developments sit alongside existing developments and raise issues about socio-spatial integration. New developments attempt to meet changing work, housing, services and community needs. This project examines how they are succeeding, how workers and residents see the relationship between work, home, services, and the community they want to live amidst, and what kinds of spatial alignments they seek. The project will assist urban planners, workplaces, service providers and the developer community, potentially improving the well being of men, women and children.Read moreRead less
Work/Life Balance, Well-Being and Health: Theory, Practice and Policy. This project links to the national research priority of promoting and maintaining good health in two ways. It establishes a new annual national measure of work/life balance, a critical element of good health and well-being, assisting understanding about work/life conflict and informing workplace and government policy responses to it, strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric. Deep study of work/life issues in the h ....Work/Life Balance, Well-Being and Health: Theory, Practice and Policy. This project links to the national research priority of promoting and maintaining good health in two ways. It establishes a new annual national measure of work/life balance, a critical element of good health and well-being, assisting understanding about work/life conflict and informing workplace and government policy responses to it, strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric. Deep study of work/life issues in the health sector will also inform recruitment, retention and well-being in the health workforce, with flow-on to the health system more broadly. The project includes analysis of 'pre-retirement' work/life issues, also linking to the 'ageing well, ageing productively' priority. Read moreRead less
Young people's understandings of the relation between work, the labour market and education: Their origins and effects. Young people's pathways between school and work have become much more diverse and complex than in the past. Yet the impact of family background on their education and employment outcomes has hardly changed. This project focuses on young people's perceptions of the relation between work, education and the labour market and the pathways open to them. Taking account of recent m ....Young people's understandings of the relation between work, the labour market and education: Their origins and effects. Young people's pathways between school and work have become much more diverse and complex than in the past. Yet the impact of family background on their education and employment outcomes has hardly changed. This project focuses on young people's perceptions of the relation between work, education and the labour market and the pathways open to them. Taking account of recent major changes in the youth labour market, the research aims to understand the role of these perceptions in shaping young people's choices and pathways, how these vary according to social background and experience, and how they affect employment outcomes.Read moreRead less
Social sustainability of emerging environmentally sensitive industries: a case study of oyster aquaculture on the South Australian Eyre Peninsula. The Eyre Peninsula oyster aquaculture industry has grown rapidly over the last 15 years and an assessment of the factors affecting its long-term sustainability is urgently required. The project will consider aquaculture in relation to social, natural and economic systems, extending the Capitals Framework of assessing rural sustainability developed by ....Social sustainability of emerging environmentally sensitive industries: a case study of oyster aquaculture on the South Australian Eyre Peninsula. The Eyre Peninsula oyster aquaculture industry has grown rapidly over the last 15 years and an assessment of the factors affecting its long-term sustainability is urgently required. The project will consider aquaculture in relation to social, natural and economic systems, extending the Capitals Framework of assessing rural sustainability developed by the Association of Social Science in Australia. The study combines quantitative and qualitative data in order to assess changes in the stocks of community capital as oyster aquaculture develops. A key aim of the research is to inform the development of policies and governance structures in Australian aquaculture management.Read moreRead less
Measuring and managing the intellectual capital of the ageing workforce. Many employees are retiring prematurely, placing increasing strains on the social security system. Moreover, their accumulated competencies, expertise, and organisational corporate wisdom (intellectual capital) may be lost. There is a growing recognition that much of the wealth of organisations resides in their intellectual capital. This project will develop a methodology to measure intellectual capital and will increase un ....Measuring and managing the intellectual capital of the ageing workforce. Many employees are retiring prematurely, placing increasing strains on the social security system. Moreover, their accumulated competencies, expertise, and organisational corporate wisdom (intellectual capital) may be lost. There is a growing recognition that much of the wealth of organisations resides in their intellectual capital. This project will develop a methodology to measure intellectual capital and will increase understanding of how companies can retain it. Potential long-term benefits include more efficient management of intellectual capital and enhanced retention of mature workers, with consequent savings in social security. The project will be benchmarked against similar developments in other countries.Read moreRead less
Problem gambling: development and application of a new conceptual framework for aetiology and treatment. Around 470,000 Australians (3.3% of the adult population) are estimated to have 'significant' or 'severe' gambling problems. This project responds to the call for a new framework for theorising and researching problem gambling (Productivity Commission, 1999). Currently, the research literature is characterised by disagreement about definition, causes, and treatment. At the community level, di ....Problem gambling: development and application of a new conceptual framework for aetiology and treatment. Around 470,000 Australians (3.3% of the adult population) are estimated to have 'significant' or 'severe' gambling problems. This project responds to the call for a new framework for theorising and researching problem gambling (Productivity Commission, 1999). Currently, the research literature is characterised by disagreement about definition, causes, and treatment. At the community level, different stakeholder constructions of problem gambling have deadlocked debate. There is a clear need to re-think existing approaches. This project applies an innovative, social-scientific methodology specifically designed to analyse complex, real-world social problems in order to develop a new conceptual framework for understanding and treating problem gambling.Read moreRead less
Engineering diversity: An investigation of gender, workplace culture and change. Workplaces are changing rapidly in restructuring economies, but equity and diversity remain elusive. The engineering profession continues to experience difficulty attracting and retaining women. Gender equity programs that focus on women's training, socialisation and non-traditional 'choices' overlook the centrality of workplace cultures. This study reframes the issue, problematising the work context, rather than wo ....Engineering diversity: An investigation of gender, workplace culture and change. Workplaces are changing rapidly in restructuring economies, but equity and diversity remain elusive. The engineering profession continues to experience difficulty attracting and retaining women. Gender equity programs that focus on women's training, socialisation and non-traditional 'choices' overlook the centrality of workplace cultures. This study reframes the issue, problematising the work context, rather than women themselves. A qualitative investigation of discourses and practices at a range of engineering sites will be conducted. As the first major study of the work place culture in Australian engineering the findings will provide a basis for change in engineering industry, policy, and education settings.Read moreRead less
Safeguarding human rights in China: A study of the role of legal aid policy. While China is a well-known Australia n trading partner its efforts to safeguard human rights are not well known. China's legal aid, the focus of this study, promotes human rights in China by assisting women, children, the elderly and disabled with legal advice and education, and representation in court cases. This project describes the innovative Chinese policy, assesses its role in promoting human rights, and propose ....Safeguarding human rights in China: A study of the role of legal aid policy. While China is a well-known Australia n trading partner its efforts to safeguard human rights are not well known. China's legal aid, the focus of this study, promotes human rights in China by assisting women, children, the elderly and disabled with legal advice and education, and representation in court cases. This project describes the innovative Chinese policy, assesses its role in promoting human rights, and proposes practical reforms to further improve legal aid. By improving human rights and the legal system it will also promote the stable conditions in China needed for Sino/Australian trade.Read moreRead less
A model to investigate the relationships between social capital, social inclusion and industrial development. This study will develop a new model for investigating the relationships between social capital, social inclusion and industry development in a designated area under the Commonwealth Government Initiative in Regional Australia. The project will address whether high levels of social capital reduce social exclusion and the likely impacts of the ?dark side? of social capital upon communiti ....A model to investigate the relationships between social capital, social inclusion and industrial development. This study will develop a new model for investigating the relationships between social capital, social inclusion and industry development in a designated area under the Commonwealth Government Initiative in Regional Australia. The project will address whether high levels of social capital reduce social exclusion and the likely impacts of the ?dark side? of social capital upon communities. The study will draw on relevant contemporary theory, survey analysis, interviews and discussion forums to develop new explanations that will help build community capacities and inform the development of social policy, employment and industrial development.Read moreRead less