Inequality

Academics lament that policy-makers ignore their research, while policy decision-makers argue that academic research is largely irrelevant to their needs. This project aims to reconcile these two positions by investigating social science research utilisation within public sector agencies.

The Learning Catalysts project investigates factors associated with educational success based on a study of 34,000 disadvantaged young people and their families. The project aims to examine the circumstances of disadvantaged young people and their families, identify factors contributing to improved educational outcomes and address the objectives of the partner organisation, the Smith Family (TSF), to support educational outcomes.

This project explores the links between place of living, social participation and wellbeing at older age using data from large-scale panel surveys covering Australia and a range of other countries.

Social science and social policy increasingly recognise that people’s family, friendship and other networks matter for their health and well-being. This research contributes to the social scientific understanding of networks and their effects in developed and developing societies and will also inform policy and program design to delivery in areas relating to individual and community well-being.