We work at the frontline of development assistance, understanding what works or doesn’t work in development.

ISSR’s development effectiveness research contributes to international policies and improving social and economic development outcomes in practice, with a focus on complex, fragile and conflicted social settings. Using qualitative and quantitative methods, our researchers works closely with frontline development workers to ensure our research impacts their practice and systemic institutional change. All projects are concerned with building evidence for improved social policies, including the effects of the public finance systems upon local development practice.

This area of research also has a strong focus on developing training and educational products to augment and disseminate research findings.

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ISSR group leaders, Professor Mark Moran and Professor Paul Memmott, contributed to 2017 Brisbane Writers Festival panel discussions, which were delivered to public audiences in early September.

Prof Moran spoke to the ongoing struggle for legal and moral recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander claim to land and waterways in Land Rights. UQ Associate Professor at Law, Margaret Stephenson, chaired the panel including Prof Moran alongside Charlie Ward, writer and historian, and Sam Watson, political activist and author. 

Prof Memmott shared his expertise on Aboriginal Australian approaches to the built environment in Aboriginal Architecture. The panel was moderated by Michael Aird, acclaimed curator and producer of photographic art of Aboriginal history and culture; and included alongside Prof Memmott, Carroll Go-Sam, research fellow within UQ's Indigenous Design Place, and Timmah Ball, recognised writer and urban researcher.

Australian civilian, police and military female personnel in multilateral peace and security operations (the Deployed Women Project)

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.... Read more

ARC DP16 Assessing the impact of public finances on the PNG-Australia borderland

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 Australian and PNG governments and the Australian Aid program, exploring new policy solutions, and assessing the impact.... Read more

Aboriginal lifeworlds, conditionality, and housing outcomes

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.... Read more

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