Migration, Mixed Marriage and Integration in Australia. This project aims to investigate the prevalence, experience and variations of ethnic and religious mixed marriage in Australia, which will guide policies that facilitate social integration and cohesion. The implications of a lack of integration have been demonstrated by recent events in Europe and US, which reflect strong anti-immigration tendencies. This project expects to generate new sociological knowledge of ethnic/religious mixed-marri ....Migration, Mixed Marriage and Integration in Australia. This project aims to investigate the prevalence, experience and variations of ethnic and religious mixed marriage in Australia, which will guide policies that facilitate social integration and cohesion. The implications of a lack of integration have been demonstrated by recent events in Europe and US, which reflect strong anti-immigration tendencies. This project expects to generate new sociological knowledge of ethnic/religious mixed-marriage, new understanding in social integration and enhanced research capacity in the area of migration and integration. This research should provide significant benefits, such as enhanced cultural understanding and appropriate policies that foster social integration of cultural groups.Read moreRead less
Comparative Border Studies. While borders are of increasing interest to Australian scholars and policy-makers, much existing research in Australia is focused on issues of border security or border integrity. There is an urgent need to supplement this work with theoretical and empirical insights drawn from the field of border studies. North America is a key site for international research in this field. Collaboration with North American scholars is thus an important step in developing and expandi ....Comparative Border Studies. While borders are of increasing interest to Australian scholars and policy-makers, much existing research in Australia is focused on issues of border security or border integrity. There is an urgent need to supplement this work with theoretical and empirical insights drawn from the field of border studies. North America is a key site for international research in this field. Collaboration with North American scholars is thus an important step in developing and expanding Australian expertise in border studies. This project will provide the intellectual environment and collaborative networks necessary to establish the first dedicated Centre for Border Studies in Australia.Read moreRead less
Transition to adulthood in greater Jakarta: A longitudinal perspective. Interviewing 3,000 young adult Indonesians at two points in time, this project examines whether their economic and social outcomes change across time or whether early experience determines longer-term outcomes. What are the factors involved in transition to adulthood among young people in a rapidly developing metropolis of a developing country?
Australian diasporas and brain gain: exploring current and potential transnational linkages. The research will investigate current and potential future roles of diasporas in both Australia and overseas in facilitating trade and investment. The study will examine their political, cultural and kinship ties with homelands and map the geography of seven diasporas in Australia. This will provide new data that describes the character, motivations and movements of diasporas in Australia. Data analysis ....Australian diasporas and brain gain: exploring current and potential transnational linkages. The research will investigate current and potential future roles of diasporas in both Australia and overseas in facilitating trade and investment. The study will examine their political, cultural and kinship ties with homelands and map the geography of seven diasporas in Australia. This will provide new data that describes the character, motivations and movements of diasporas in Australia. Data analysis will determine the current and potential role diaspora play in adding value to Australian society through 'brain gain' and 'circulation' versus 'brain drain'. Findings will inform migration and social policy aimed at maximising benefits of migration.Read moreRead less
A Place to Call Home: expediting repatriation and ending the practice of warehousing refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Half of the world's 12 million refugees and 25 million IDPs have been living in camps for five to ten years (and longer). The proposed model for refugee and IDP repatriation and reintegration will: significantly increase their human security; alleviate the economic burden on host countries; contribute to the development goals of the countries of origin; facilitat ....A Place to Call Home: expediting repatriation and ending the practice of warehousing refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Half of the world's 12 million refugees and 25 million IDPs have been living in camps for five to ten years (and longer). The proposed model for refugee and IDP repatriation and reintegration will: significantly increase their human security; alleviate the economic burden on host countries; contribute to the development goals of the countries of origin; facilitate the targeting of humanitarian assistance for resolving protracted refugee and IDP situations; and reduce the threats to regional stability. The research will also enhance both Australia's reputation in this humanitarian sector and its institutional capacity to successfully repatriate and reintegrate refugees and IDPs.Read moreRead less
From Migrant to Worker: New Transnational Responses to Temporary Labour Migration in East and Southeast Asia. This project compares the nature and impact of civil society initiatives concerning temporary labour migration in Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It provides a model for understanding NGO-union cooperation on migrant labour issues, useful not only in East and Southeast Asia, where foreign workers - and foreign workers' rights - are already matters of serious concern, bu ....From Migrant to Worker: New Transnational Responses to Temporary Labour Migration in East and Southeast Asia. This project compares the nature and impact of civil society initiatives concerning temporary labour migration in Hong Kong, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. It provides a model for understanding NGO-union cooperation on migrant labour issues, useful not only in East and Southeast Asia, where foreign workers - and foreign workers' rights - are already matters of serious concern, but in countries like Australia, where skills shortages and ageing populations are increasing pressure on governments to allow large-scale temporary foreign labour. The project's findings will assist government agencies and local and transnational civil society groups to respond more effectively to temporary labour migration.Read moreRead less
Affinities in Multicultural Australia. Concern has grown in Australia and other advanced societies about perceived threats to social cohesion and national identity through diversity. But are people’s values really so different, and are they directly related to ethnicity? This project will provide the first systematic analysis of the affinities (similarities in values and practices) that link diverse groups and individuals in multicultural Australia. It will examine whether such affinities can ou ....Affinities in Multicultural Australia. Concern has grown in Australia and other advanced societies about perceived threats to social cohesion and national identity through diversity. But are people’s values really so different, and are they directly related to ethnicity? This project will provide the first systematic analysis of the affinities (similarities in values and practices) that link diverse groups and individuals in multicultural Australia. It will examine whether such affinities can outweigh differences and provide the basis for local belonging in multi-ethnic neighbourhoods. The Affinities Project turns the current emphasis on difference on its head. It will provide a new knowledge base, crucial to social scientific analysis as well as to policy formation.Read moreRead less
Diaspora Humanitarians: How Australia-based migrants help in crises abroad. This project aims to map the extensive humanitarian activities and contributions of Australia-based migrants to crises abroad. Australia is home to large diasporas who are connected to communities in many humanitarian crisis hotspots, including the project's focus areas: Afghanistan, Syria, South Sudan, Myanmar, Indonesia, Nepal, and the Pacific Islands. By generating much-needed knowledge on how and why migrants engage ....Diaspora Humanitarians: How Australia-based migrants help in crises abroad. This project aims to map the extensive humanitarian activities and contributions of Australia-based migrants to crises abroad. Australia is home to large diasporas who are connected to communities in many humanitarian crisis hotspots, including the project's focus areas: Afghanistan, Syria, South Sudan, Myanmar, Indonesia, Nepal, and the Pacific Islands. By generating much-needed knowledge on how and why migrants engage in humanitarian responses, the project expects to support and improve the work of diasporas themselves, the Australian Civil-Military Centre and other humanitarian organisations, who are partners in the project. This will benefit Australia by highlighting our innovative leadership role in humanitarian and migration issues.Read moreRead less
The Residential Segregation/Desegregation Behaviour of Immigrant Minority Groups in Sydney, Australia's Largest Ethnicity. There is in western nations a developing crisis with multiculturalism as the continual build up of ethnic groups in segregated areas to levels not originally contemplated occurs, exacerbated by the continued decline in birth rates in the host communities. This has been compounded by their relatively disadvantaged situation within growing segregated areas. As a result governm ....The Residential Segregation/Desegregation Behaviour of Immigrant Minority Groups in Sydney, Australia's Largest Ethnicity. There is in western nations a developing crisis with multiculturalism as the continual build up of ethnic groups in segregated areas to levels not originally contemplated occurs, exacerbated by the continued decline in birth rates in the host communities. This has been compounded by their relatively disadvantaged situation within growing segregated areas. As a result governments are struggling to develop new integration policies. Our goal is to portray and assess the Australian situation relative to that in comparative countries and in doing so to place this crisis and proposed responses into context within the Australian scene.Read moreRead less
Contemporary Chinese transnationalism from an international perspective: Australia and France compared. The recent focus on terrorism and security has heightened concerns that migrant transnational linkages affect social and political security. The project will help understanding of the transnational ties of Chinese and other migrants through comparison of their international social, economic, and faith-based practices and relationships. One aim is to assess whether common negative perceptions ....Contemporary Chinese transnationalism from an international perspective: Australia and France compared. The recent focus on terrorism and security has heightened concerns that migrant transnational linkages affect social and political security. The project will help understanding of the transnational ties of Chinese and other migrants through comparison of their international social, economic, and faith-based practices and relationships. One aim is to assess whether common negative perceptions about transnationalism are accurate. Also examined is the capacity for such stereotypes to cause resistance among migrants and the strategies available to policy makers to overcome such responses with their potentially destabilising impact on the host societies and their security;Read moreRead less