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Media Release

June 8, 2005

UniSA’s new research institute helps build sustainable societies



In an age when companies talk about the triple bottom line and economic indicators are as much a part of news bulletins as the weather, sometimes it can seem that the human aspects of life are not on the agenda.

But the way our societies are evolving – how education impacts on life success, what constitutes modern families and their well being, how we structure our workplaces, how we manage important environmental resources and generational issues such as youth employment or a greying Australia – will be the key focus for UniSA’s new Hawke Research Institute for Sustainable Societies.

The new social sciences research institute will be launched on Friday 10 June in the presence of its namesake and former Prime Minister Bob Hawke and other representatives of government, business and academia.

Director of the Institute, Professor Alison Mackinnon says the Hawke Research Institute will aim to set a new standard in global debate about sustainability.

“When we talk about sustainability nationally and internationally the focus tends to be on the environment and the economy but what we are saying is that the development of sustainable societies is at the heart of things,” Prof Mackinnon said.

“The social fabric of society is as important as the economic and all sensible progress is founded on balancing these factors.

“Our researchers are tackling crucial social problems, including inequality within and between schools, school curriculum reform, youth unemployment, workplace discrimination, family breakdown, domestic violence, water use and our ageing society.”

Professor Mackinnon said a key strength of the Institute was its relationships which stretched across national and international borders and traditional academic boundaries.

“When we are looking at complex social problems it is vital to have the collaborative relationships in place that give perspective,” she said. “We have the networks that help us to look at a problem in the round, taking into account international expert research or different perspectives from other research fields.

Professor Mackinnon said researchers at the Hawke Research Institute had already been at the forefront of social change working and advising in areas such as the 2004 inquiry into the Anglican Church’s handling of claims of sexual abuse, and through their vanguard research into bullying at school and disadvantaged students.

Bob Hawke will attend the launch as the chair of the new Hawke Research Institute Advisory Board.

The launch will be held at UniSA's City West Campus in the Hetzel Room, Level 2, 160 Currie Street from 4.30 pm.
 

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