E-Government: prospects for public administration, citizenship and social theory. This project examines how electronic technologies effect modes of governing and citizenship in liberal democracies. It focuses on electronic client records and electronic communications in social security, taxation and primary health care. It uniquely adopts and extends a theoretical framework (of 'governmentality') and applies an innovative research design to the study of e-government. Attention is given to how e- ....E-Government: prospects for public administration, citizenship and social theory. This project examines how electronic technologies effect modes of governing and citizenship in liberal democracies. It focuses on electronic client records and electronic communications in social security, taxation and primary health care. It uniquely adopts and extends a theoretical framework (of 'governmentality') and applies an innovative research design to the study of e-government. Attention is given to how e-government differently affects rural, urban, young, old, rich and poor persons. Outcomes include theoretical developments in studies of technology, government and citizenship, and the identification of practical ways to realise governmental objectives such as active citizenship, individualised service delivery, access and equity.Read moreRead less
Enabling Disability? Autonomous Technologies & CaLD persons with disability. Over 1 million disabled Australians are from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities, the majority of whom are ineligible for disability and multicultural services. CaLD persons with disability significantly rely on digital information systems, devices and platforms to secure their economic, social and cultural inclusion. Evidence to date documents the continual exclusionary impact of artificial intelli ....Enabling Disability? Autonomous Technologies & CaLD persons with disability. Over 1 million disabled Australians are from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities, the majority of whom are ineligible for disability and multicultural services. CaLD persons with disability significantly rely on digital information systems, devices and platforms to secure their economic, social and cultural inclusion. Evidence to date documents the continual exclusionary impact of artificial intelligence (AI) behind such technologies in addition to its inaccessibility to complex end-users. Yet, AI is now central to socio-economic well being and inclusion. In partnership with community and industry, this project will inform future AI developments and policy increasing its adaptability, accessibility and affordability.
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Living and Learning in a Knowledge Society: The implications of young adults' knowledge-creating practices for higher education. As society moves into a new era, knowledge creation has become vital to Australia's participation in global society. Knowledge creation fuels innovation and economic prosperity, and fosters social cohesion through new forms of community engagement. Young adults play an important role in our society as the next generation of knowledge workers, with many already active k ....Living and Learning in a Knowledge Society: The implications of young adults' knowledge-creating practices for higher education. As society moves into a new era, knowledge creation has become vital to Australia's participation in global society. Knowledge creation fuels innovation and economic prosperity, and fosters social cohesion through new forms of community engagement. Young adults play an important role in our society as the next generation of knowledge workers, with many already active knowledge creators in their everyday and academic lives. By investigating how young adults create knowledge across these diverse contexts, this research will provide important practical insights for educators and policy-makers who are trying to determine the role of higher education in a knowledge society.Read moreRead less
Addressing hepatitis C-related discrimination in a post-cure world. This project aims to address the legal and policy dimensions of hepatitis C discrimination. Hepatitis C is a major public health challenge linked to profound discrimination, including in law and policy. Treatments introduced in 2016 improved cure rates; optimism about disease elimination is high, but questions remain about discrimination faced by those who are cured. This interdisciplinary project’s goal is to generate new knowl ....Addressing hepatitis C-related discrimination in a post-cure world. This project aims to address the legal and policy dimensions of hepatitis C discrimination. Hepatitis C is a major public health challenge linked to profound discrimination, including in law and policy. Treatments introduced in 2016 improved cure rates; optimism about disease elimination is high, but questions remain about discrimination faced by those who are cured. This interdisciplinary project’s goal is to generate new knowledge about hepatitis C discrimination in a post-cure context, and identify opportunities for legal and policy reform. Expected outcomes of the project include better legal, social and policy outcomes for Australians cured of hepatitis C, significantly benefiting these individuals directly and society more broadly.Read moreRead less
A comparative sociocultural and bioethical study of uterus transplants . This socio-cultural study aims to undertake a comparative study of the new Australian Uterine Transplant (UTx) trial with established and emerging UTx programs in the US and India. Expected outcomes of this project include: enhanced understandings of the experiences and meanings of uterine transplant for women donors, recipients and staff involved in UTx trials; an exploration of the ethical issues raised by this technolog ....A comparative sociocultural and bioethical study of uterus transplants . This socio-cultural study aims to undertake a comparative study of the new Australian Uterine Transplant (UTx) trial with established and emerging UTx programs in the US and India. Expected outcomes of this project include: enhanced understandings of the experiences and meanings of uterine transplant for women donors, recipients and staff involved in UTx trials; an exploration of the ethical issues raised by this technology; and a comparison of social responses to uterine transplants across different societies.This study is anticipated to provide theoretical insights on the social and ethical impacts of this technology for improved public policy responses. Read moreRead less
Understanding the Australian public's expectations of personalised genomics. This multi-disciplinary project aims to be the first to explore the Australian public's awareness of new developments in genetic science that allow healthy individuals to access their own genetic makeup. Called 'personal genomics', this broad group of genetic tests can be used for a variety of purposes that include ancestry, paternity, sporting ability and health. These tests are developing at a rapid rate yet little is ....Understanding the Australian public's expectations of personalised genomics. This multi-disciplinary project aims to be the first to explore the Australian public's awareness of new developments in genetic science that allow healthy individuals to access their own genetic makeup. Called 'personal genomics', this broad group of genetic tests can be used for a variety of purposes that include ancestry, paternity, sporting ability and health. These tests are developing at a rapid rate yet little is known about why, how and where they are used by the public. This project will employ a mixed methods approach to examine how the public might engage with this new technology. The research aims to help define educational strategies and supports and thereby to inform national policy for personal genomics.Read moreRead less
Realising big data’s potential to address social and health inequities. The rapid uptake of big data is transforming disease prevention research, policy and practice. These changes could undermine work on health and social inequities, or they could enhance it. Informed by science and technology studies and social theory, this project will: investigate the current practices of Australian public health actors to realise big data’s potential to tackle health and social inequities; and interrogate t ....Realising big data’s potential to address social and health inequities. The rapid uptake of big data is transforming disease prevention research, policy and practice. These changes could undermine work on health and social inequities, or they could enhance it. Informed by science and technology studies and social theory, this project will: investigate the current practices of Australian public health actors to realise big data’s potential to tackle health and social inequities; and interrogate the factors that enable and constrain their practices. The research aims to identify how transformations in contemporary population regulation can be shaped to address social and health inequities; and to inform current work to develop Australian big health data expertise, infrastructure, and socially just regulation.Read moreRead less
Lived experiences of treatment for hepatitis C in Australia. This project aims to support uptake of new hepatitis C treatments. With the introduction of new treatments in 2016, the Australian Government adopted the WHO’s goal of eliminating the disease by 2030. While early treatment rates were high, they have since plateaued, with stigma and poor information considered key obstacles. This project will generate new knowledge on treatment decisions and experiences, using a proven qualitative metho ....Lived experiences of treatment for hepatitis C in Australia. This project aims to support uptake of new hepatitis C treatments. With the introduction of new treatments in 2016, the Australian Government adopted the WHO’s goal of eliminating the disease by 2030. While early treatment rates were high, they have since plateaued, with stigma and poor information considered key obstacles. This project will generate new knowledge on treatment decisions and experiences, using a proven qualitative methodology. In doing so, it will produce a website covering personal experiences of treatment, issues in treatment decision-making, and advice on enhancing life on treatment and after. It will tackle hepatitis C-related stigma, and inform and benefit potential treatment users, families and relevant professionals.
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Understanding the role of trauma in alcohol and other drug-related problems. This project aims to investigate the relationship between trauma and alcohol and other drug (AOD)-related problems. Using a robust set of qualitative and ethnographic methods, the project expects to advance international knowledge on how experiences of trauma influence AOD consumption, and the diverse factors that shape variation in experience and outcomes for individuals. Expected outcomes include targeted recommendati ....Understanding the role of trauma in alcohol and other drug-related problems. This project aims to investigate the relationship between trauma and alcohol and other drug (AOD)-related problems. Using a robust set of qualitative and ethnographic methods, the project expects to advance international knowledge on how experiences of trauma influence AOD consumption, and the diverse factors that shape variation in experience and outcomes for individuals. Expected outcomes include targeted recommendations to improve AOD responses, policy and trauma-informed AOD care, and increased capacity of the Australian health workforce to respond to trauma and AOD-related problems. This should provide significant benefit by reducing the harms, and economic and social costs associated with AOD consumption.Read moreRead less
Technologies of performance, technologies of governance: the bane, benefits, ethics and future of performance measurement in government. This study examines governments' increasing use of performance management and the complex ways this is transforming schools, universities, health and welfare services. It aims to improve service performance by identifying problems areas and engaging wider public perspectives.