Centre for Work + Life research projects
As nationally and internationally recognised leaders in research, CWL
members have wide and varied research interests. Details of current and
recent projects by
staff at the Centre for Work + Life at the
University of South Australia are
provided below.
Current research
A study of flexibilities that
enable workforce participation and skill development and use, and their
implications for work-life outcomes in Australia. (2011-2015)
This Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage project
is examining how improved flexibility can assist the reconciliation of work
and caring responsibilities, higher levels of employment participation and
increasing skill development and utilisation and thus improve the well-being
of Australian workers and their families.
The meaning of work, well-being and the changing terms, times and spaces of service sector jobs (2011–2013)
This Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery project is investigating how work and its terms, timing, technologies and location are changing, and how these affect well-being. It will analyse the meaning that service sector workers draw from work, and how workers at the top (like professionals and consultants) compare with those at the lower end (like carers and cleaners).
From Margins to Mainstream: Gender Equality and Employment Regulation (2011–2015)
This ARC Discovery project critically examines regulatory strategies dealing with gender inequality in employment drawing on the decent work agenda first proposed by the International Labour Organisation. It will examine how gender inequality might be recast as a mainstream industrial issue and look at practical policy alternatives.
Sexual Harassment in Australia Causes, Outcomes and Prevention (2010–2012)
Sexual harassment remains a persistent workplace issue with significant social costs. This ARC Discovery project (being undertaken with QUT) will examine how to most effectively prevent sexual harassment and to reduce the impact of sexual harassment for individuals and organizations where it occurs.
AWALI (2007–)
The Australian Work and Life Index (AWALI) is a national survey of work–life outcomes amongst working Australians, which serves as a benchmarking tool to compare and contrast work–life outcomes across various groups defined by geographic location, employment characteristics and social demographics.
Work hours, fatigue and
work-family strain project
(2010)
The project Developing an Australian evidence-base for policies and interventions on work hours, fatigue and work-family strain commissioned by SafeWork SA will examine work hours, fatigue, work-related psychological distress/mental health and work-life balance.
Work, life and sustainable living project (2010–2013)
This ARC Linkage Project with several partners will examine how work, household and community life interact to affect environmental behaviours and outcomes. This study aims to analyse and improve the ways in which the domains of work, home and community, separately and together, construct environmental effects and citizens' positive adaptive capacity.
Lochiel Park (2009–2010)
The centre is a partner in the project 'The Intelligent Grid in a new housing development – Lochiel Park' led by the university's Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technology. The centre's role focuses on identifying the social and demographic factors that influence the behaviour of households in optimally utilising home-based technology designed to minimise energy and water consumption.
Low paid workers and VET: increasing VET participation amongst lower paid workers over the life cycle (2008–2010)
The Low-paid workers and VET project focuses on how changing conditions at work, at home and in the wider community affect the participation of lower educated and lower paid workers in Australia's vocational education and training (VET) sector.
Convergence and Particularity: International Comparisons of the Non-Profit Social Services (2010–2011)
This research funded by the Canadian Social Sciences & Humanities Research Council International Opportunities Fund is being carried out with McMaster University & Strathclyde University and will extend a highly successful Canadian study of the Non-Profit Social Services (NPSS) into the comparative international arena.
A Regional Perspective on Work & Family Balance and Changes in Employment Regulation (2008–2011)
Work/family balance is a focus of significant attention at the community, national and international level. This ARC Linkage Grant with Workforce Victoria and Regional Development Victoria is being undertaken with RMIT University and University of Sydney researchers. It will generate new knowledge about the ways in which employment regulation directly and indirectly impacts on employee work/family balance outcomes within different regional and industry contexts.
Children of the Recession: The social consequences of an economic downturn (2010–2012)
This ARC Linkage Learned Academies Special Project is being being led by Michael Bittman (UNE) in collaboration with a number of researchers from other universities. The project aims to exploit an opportunity provided by the Global Financial Crisis to assess impact of economic downturn on family income and employment, non-market production, family functioning and child well-being in Australia, the U.S. and the U.K,
Work/life Outcomes in SME Construction Companies (2010–2011)
Until recently, work-family research has taken place almost exclusively in stable organizational environments with repetitive processes and regular work patterns. Consequently little is known about work-family experiences in the type of project-based work that characterises work in construction. This project funded by Workforce Victoria and being carried out with RMIT University will focus on the experiences of construction industry employees.
Work–life balance, well-being and health: theory, practice and policy (2007–2010)
The Work–life balance, well-being and health project examines work–life issues in the Australian workforce as a whole, and also in the Western Australian health workforce and is an ARC-funded study in partnership with SafeWork SA and the WA Department of Health.
Libraries Project (2010)
This project is examining how libraries mediate the key institutions of work, home and community for young people. It has been funded by the University of South Australia and builds on previous work undertaken by the Centre for Work and Life that revealed that libraries provide adolescents with access to various developmentally appropriate activities including extra-curricular education, social interaction and independence.
Lower-level VET Qualifications and Further Study (2010)
The project Are Certificates a stepping stone to future study? For whom? An analysis using LSAY data will examine young people's participation in vocational education and training, focusing on which young people undertake further studies in VET. The project will use data from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY).