Addressing disadvantage through rigorous life course research and practice.
What we do
A life course approach recognises that the outcomes for individuals, families, and groups experiencing disadvantage are best explained by taking account of previous life experiences and pathways, and understanding the broader social, historical, and political contexts that shape decisions, opportunities, and circumstances. At ISSR, we leverage longitudinal survey data and advanced qualitative and quantitative methods to track and understand the experiences of Australians facing disadvantage in their daily lives, and to improve policy and programs to advance their wellbeing, social cohesion, and foster improved outcomes.
Facilitated through the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course, we undertake evidence-based research that examines the critical factors at key life stages that influence disadvantage to provide new knowledge and life-changing solutions for policy, service providers, and communities to break the cycle and improve outcomes for all Australians.
Objectives
- Bring together multidisciplinary perspectives to address disadvantage.
- Identify life course variations and the factors that influences these variations for individuals, families and communities.
- Identify and analyse appropriate evidence that enables a life course perspective to be applied.
- Identify evidenced-based solutions that enable early intervention to support new opportunities for individuals, families, and communities.
Project examples
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course
Australian Research Council