8-14 September 2025

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Disinformation in the City

Seminar Rooms 2 & 3, Monash Conference Centre, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Seminar Rooms 2 & 3, Monash Conference Centre, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000

Disinformation is nothing new in cities globally, with a long history of concerted fabrications that are deliberately misleading from anti-Semitic campaigns to 9/11 conspiracies. During the past decade disinformation has exploded in both prevalence and impact. In the city realm, those responsible for urban governance – both elected representatives and city officials – are increasingly faced with the consequences of concerted disinformation campaigns. These erode city capacity to address collective challenges including climate change, public health, and social cohesion. This panel will present differing perspectives and experiences of disinformation as a far-reaching issue facing cities across Australia, and across the globe.

Co-design or consultation? Exploring barriers and enablers to true collaboration in the disability sector

Virtual

Co-design and co-production are commonly used terms in the social sciences. The concept of involving people with lived experience as equal collaborators in identifying issues that impact on their lives and designing solutions is a powerful one. However, for some people with lived experience of disability, there is a sense that consultation is sometimes mislabelled as co-design. This panel discussion will explore perceptions of what true co-design is, and examine the enablers and barriers to co-design in the disability sector. Our panel will include Zane McKenzie, Client Partnership Lead and Disability Workstream Lead from Scope Aust. Ltd., Dr Paul Ramcharan, senior researcher in disability inclusion from the University of Melbourne School of Social and Political Sciences and Rusty Benson, a Social Design specialist. The panel discussion will be facilitated by Professor Keith McVilly, Professor of Disability and Inclusion at the University of Melbourne.

Free

Voice to Parliament

Virtual

The movement for constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders has grown larger since the National First Nations Constitutional Convention at Uluru in 2017, where Indigenous delegates drafted and signed the ‘Uluru Statement From the Heart’. The Statement called for Voice, Treaty and Truth, which was endorsed by the Referendum Council. Australians will vote at a referendum this year to decide whether to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples a Voice to Parliament. In Australia’s history, 44 changes to the Constitution have been proposed, with 8 changes being agreed to by the public. In 1967, the question to change the Constitution to count Indigenous people in the national population and to allow the Commonwealth to make laws for them had bipartisan support and was met with a 90.77% yes vote. But today, parties are split on the issue of voice and are running opposing campaigns. If the referendum is successful, a new constitutionally enshrined body will be established to represent Indigenous Australians’ views on policy and legislation at the federal level. This webinar, hosted by the Australian Political Studies Association, will feature three prominent scholars to help us understand the implications this referendum has for democracy, governance, and Indigenous-settler relations […]

Free

UOW Luminaries: Unlocking the power of digital literacy to empower children

Virtual

Digital literacy for children is complex; even for our youngest children. The ability to use a range of digital technologies, to critically engage with those technologies, and the texts they offer is important. But so too is developing children’s capacities to react and respond to the digital culture within which they operate. Consider the scenarios; While playing an online game, a child is invited to network with an unfamiliar person. While researching for a school project, a child comes across inaccurate information. A photo is shared via social media; the child has not consented for it to be shared and becomes annoyed when they see it. Drawing from interdisciplinary perspectives the panel will consider the scenarios as they work to embrace the fluidity of the digital age as children use technology in ways that are developmentally and contextually appropriate, literacy rich, and safe. When: Thursday, 7 September, 4-5 pm AEST Where: Online via Zoom - Zoom link to join the webinar will be emailed after registration Panellists: Professor Lisa Kervin is Professor of Education in the Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities at the University of Wollongong (UOW), where she is also Director of Early Start Research. Associate Professor Jessica Mantei is Deputy Head […]

Free

Responding to crisis and marginalisation: young people, hope, resistance and agency

Hybrid

Conversations around young people and crisis tend to focus on their vulnerability to social crises, or their culpability for them. For example, young people experience hardships like escalating mental health problems, housing instability, and job precarity. At the same time, they’re deemed responsible for ‘anti-social’ problems and crises like street crime, substance use, and discipline issues in schools. But young people don’t all respond the same way to crisis, and often what’s left out of these conversations are their practices of hope and resistance. How do young people respond to crisis, and what can their response tell us about resilience and agency? In this symposium for Social Science Week 2023, four of UNSW’s best early career academics will explore how young people narrate and practice hope, resistance and agency in differing conditions of crisis and marginalisation Chair: A/Prof Joanne Bryant, School of Social Sciences UNSW Speakers: Dr Sujith Kumar Prankumar, The Kirby Institute UNSW ‘Citizenship, belonging and flourishing’ Dr Ash Watson, Centre for Social Research in Health UNSW ‘Youth resistance in punk, rave and queer music zines’ Dr Naama Carlin, School of Social Sciences UNSW TBA Dr Gabe Caluzzi, UNSW and La Trobe University ‘Hope for young people in residential […]

MESF & AIIA Panel Discussion: Australia’s Relations with the Middle East

Deakin Downtown (727 Collins Street, Docklands) and via Zoom. 727 Collins Street, Docklands, Melbourne

Please join us on Thursday 7 September, as part of Social Sciences Week, for a co-hosted MESF and AIIA panel discussion on Australia’s Relations with the Middle East. Social Sciences Week is an annual event that celebrates and showcases the diverse range of social sciences disciplines and research in Australia. The social sciences are key to understanding humanity, society and the institutions which govern our daily lives. Middle East Studies Forum (MESF) at Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation (ADI) and the Australian Institute of International Affairs -Vic (AIIA) are delighted to host this discussion panel. ABSTRACT Australia has viewed the Middle East as a region of great cultural, economic, and geopolitical importance. With the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan in 2021, Australia concluded two decades of military operations in the Middle East. Yet the region remains important for global peace and security. Concerted efforts by China and Russia to enhance their presence and influence in the Middle East only points to the continued geo-political importance of the region in years to come. Furthermore, increased migration from the region has enriched the social and cultural tapestry of Australian society. Arabic is the third most spoken language in Australia. Trade with the region, particularly with the Gulf […]

Free

Lost in diagnosis: Navigating the communication challenge of misdiagnosis in women

The Street The Street Theatre, 15 Childers Street, Canberra

Each year in Australia, approximately 140,000 diagnostic errors occur, resulting in estimated 21,000 serious injuries and between 2,000 to 4,000 deaths. Communication is a contributing factor in up to 80% of diagnostic errors. Misdiagnosis is potentially worse for women, who often feel unheard or dismissed in the clinical setting. Lost in Diagnosis brings together patients, doctors, and health communication experts for an immersive and interactive discussion on the challenges women face when seeking diagnosis and the importance of communication in the diagnostic encounter. Combining personal experience with medical insight and health advocacy, our diverse panel will delve into these diagnostic difficulties, including dismissed pelvic pain and undetected heart disease. Panel discussion Moderated by Dr Amy Coopes, Canberra-based doctor, writer and editor at Croakey Health Media Darlene Cox, Executive Director of Health Care Consumers Association Inc. Jen Morris, Patient Safety Advocate Dr Marisa Magiros, General Practitioner and medical educator, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Dr Arnagretta Hunter, cardiologist and Human Futures Fellow, College of Health and Medicine, Australian National University Dr Mary Dahm, ARC DECRA Fellow and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Communication in Health Care (ICH) at the Australian National University Wellspring: Enquiry and Exchange Bringing campus to […]

Free

Voice: Making a Postcolonial Multicultural Nation

UTS Green Theatre, Vicki Sara Building (Blg 7) UTS Building 7, level 2, room 025, 67 Thomas Street, Broadway

What might a postcolonial nation look like in Australia, and what is the place of the Voice Referendum in that process? What is the role of multicultural communities in the Referendum? What is at stake for multicultural communities in building a postcolonial future free of racism? Just over half of Australians were born overseas or have one migrant parent, and nearly a quarter speak a language other than English at home. Multicultural communities will be crucial to the Referendum. This event takes up the question of both diverse communities and support for the Voice Referendum, as well as the longer-term efforts around treaty and reconciliation. Light snacks from 6pm, for a 6.30pm start. This is the 2023 UTS Andrew Jakubowicz Annual Lecture SPEAKERS Professor Heidi Norman Associate Dean Indigenous, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Technology Sydney. Heidi is a scholar of Aboriginal politics and history, and Gomeroi descendant. Michelle Deshong Managing Director, Deshong Consulting. Michelle has worked in fields of gender equity, leadership, governance and political science. She is Co-Chair of Supply Nation and member of the AIATSIS Council. Michelle draws connection to the Kuku Yulanji Nation. Craig Foster AM Member of the Australian Multicultural Council and […]

Free

Class Inequality in Australia, in Academia and Beyond

Virtual

Part one (35 mins talk; 15 mins Q&A): Presentation: Class in Australia, by Associate Professor Steven Threadgold, University of Newcastle and Associate Professor Jessica Gerrard, University of Melbourne. Part two (approx 30 mins): Panel Q&A: Intersectional perspectives on being (working) classed and in the Australian Academy Panel members: Associate Professor Emma Gavin, Faculty of Education, Monash University Dr Shannon Kilmartin-Lynch, School of Engineering, RMIT University Dr Sherene Idriss, Alfred Deakin Institute, Deakin University Dr Sarah Attfield, School of Communication, University of Technology Sydney Dr Gene Flenady, Department of Philosophy, Monash University

Featured Featured

Social Sciences After Dark: Disturbing Technology

The Capitol 113 Swanston Street, Melbourne

RMIT Culture co-presents Social Sciences After Dark: Disturbing Technology, which explores humanity’s deepest anxieties through a horror double bill. This event is the first in the Social Sciences After Dark series, a celebration of the power of film as a window on human society.   First, a story by RMIT alum James Wan: in M3GAN (2022) we meet a grief-stricken girl and the remarkably disturbing doll who becomes her friend. Next, we mark the 40th anniversary of David Cronenberg's classic VIDEODROME (1983), where the disturbing technology is the television signal.   Engage with a panel of diverse social scientists between films for a rousing discussion about our deepest fears of technological change, and the implications for society.    Social Sciences After Dark is a highlight of RMIT’s events marking national Social Sciences Week, convened by the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia.  It is a RMIT Engaging for Impact event and is supported by the RMIT Enabling Impact Platforms, College of Design and Social Context, College of Business and Law, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, and RMIT Culture.   Moderator: Dr Jessica Balanzategui (Media and Communication, RMIT University) Panellists: Assoc/Prof Jordy Kaufman (Psychology, Swinburne University of Technology) Dr Alexia Kannas (Media […]

$10