Development

Torres Strait Islanders and Papua New Guinea nationals living in the PNG–Australia borderland have relatively unrestricted access across the border for traditional activities under the legal framework of the Torres Strait Treaty. This makes this borderland region unique and yet prior research has typically focused on one side of the border only.

In this research, we are examining the policies in place in the PNG-Australia Borderland region and how these affect the lives of people living there. We are undertaking policy reviews of both Australian and PNG governments and the Australian Aid program and exploring new policy solutions and international innovations that are enhancing development in other borderlands.

We are also assessing the impact of funding frameworks on the wellbeing and mobility of the borderland population. There is an influence of both public and private finance expenditure in this region, particularly from the different levels of government in Australia. This, in turn, profoundly affects the wellbeing and mobility of the borderland population. Working closely with government and other organisations on both sides of the border, we are engaging stakeholders in important and complex discussions.

ISSR was commissioned by the Australian Civil-Military Centre to deliver evidence-based research on the experiences, contributions and impact of Australian civilian, police and military female personnel who have deployed to United Nations, NATO and regional peace and security operations. The research documents the lessons, skills, and practices identified and learned by deployed women during their deployments to facilitate engagement with the local population and other deployed personnel. The project will contribute to wider, ongoing discussions about the unique benefits associated with deployed female personnel in peace and security operations.

This study addresses the issues of obtaining an optimum balance between conditionality (especially tenancy rules and duties) and preserving Indigenous social capital, so as to enable an effective ‘recognition space’ between tenants’ life values and housing managers’ rule structures, to achieve positive housing outcomes within current Australian policy constraints.