Events

All Day

Addressing sensitive issues in the classroom

Recorded session

Queensland University of Technology  Recorded session – available anytime  Teachers cannot ignore sensitive issues. They may be circulating in the community or be part of the curriculum. For example, issues related to consent education, the Voice referendum, wars in foreign lands, climate change, nuclear power, religious discrimination and exemptions for schools, marriage equality, migration, refugees and social media influencer content can all make their ways into the classroom.  How should teachers respond: Is it best to ignore issues raised if they are not part of the curriculum? Should teachers say where they stand on particular topics? Can shutting down some debates protect vulnerable students? Does the raising of issues provide important teachable moments about engaging in civil discourse? Are there some topics which should never be discussed in the classroom? How do we determine age-appropriateness for some topics?  These and other questions were discussed at a recent Q&A panel consisting of academics from QUT’s School of Teacher Education and Leadership and experienced educators working in and with schools.   In this recorded session our panel explores ways to respond to and engage students when sensitive issues are raised in the classroom.  

Ongoing

Making a Difference: How Does Social Change Happen?

Recorded session

Recorded session - available on demand Policymakers confront growing challenges in areas as diverse—and often interrelated—as climate change, social inequality, artificial intelligence, work, migration, declining biodiversity, and new threats to public health. Responses require changes or modifications to deeply entrenched social and economic structures. Consequently, reform attempts often generate conflict and resistance from those with a real or perceived interest in those structures. How can such conflict be managed to deliver urgently needed reforms? This question is central to social scientists, whose work is vital to both the implementation of effective policy, and to understanding the societal implications of policy choices. A panel of six leading social scientists analysed foundations and strategies of policy change in their areas of expertise—including some of the biggest, most difficult and pressing global and national challenges. This panel highlighted the breadth, diversity, and interrelationships within and between, social scientific and other disciplines, and their central importance to addressing these challenges. Each panellist addressed three thematic questions: What is the central conflict or problem inherent to their research topic? How can this be managed or overcome? What skills or insights enable social science to make a difference to public policy—and debate thereof—in their research field? […]

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Gender equality and women’s empowerment

Virtual

This event brings together academics from across a range of disciplines to engage in meaningful discussions and collaborative efforts towards a more just and secure society for women. Join RMIT academic experts as they share knowledge, best practices, and innovative solutions to help promote and protect the rights and wellbeing of women: Dr Leila Afshari (Management) Associate Professor Brianna Chesser (Criminology and Justice) Dr Bronwyn Coate (Economics) Dr Rojan Afrouz (Social Work) Moderated by Professor Lisa French. Tuesday 10 September Time: 10.30-11.30am Online via Teams

The role and purpose of Lived Experience Advisory Panels.

Virtual

This session will introduce participants to the important contribution Lived Experience Advisory Panels can make to research and how the decision to include a panel is grounded in a commitment to co-design and the increased expectation that experts by experience are involved in care economy research. We will discuss emerging practices including how to engage and work with a diversity of perspectives and address issues power sharing in research.

Free

Writing out from the Academy

Macquarie University 25 Wally's Walk, North Ryde

Presented by Macquarie University’s School of Social Sciences, in partnership with the Imagined Lives research collective, Sydney Review of Books, and the Centre for Applied History. Join us for a special event which brings together scholars, creative writers and publishers to discuss the practices, challenges and affordances of ‘writing out from the academy.’​ ​Program​ 1.30pm-2.30pm Session One​ ‘The ethics and aesthetics of social science research.’ ​ Panel discussion: Lisa Wynn, Kirsten Bell, Randa Abdel-Fattah, and Kate Rossmanith​ 2.30pm-3pm: Afternoon Tea​ 3pm-4pm: Session Two: ​ ‘The generalised essay’​ James Jiang (editor, Sydney Review of Books), with Christian Gelder and Kate Rossmanith Over the past several decades, more and more academic researchers are using different forms of writing as part of their scholarly practice. They are producing novels, short stories, nonfiction monographs, memoir, biography, literary journalism, essays and poetry. These writing innovations have been driven by the reflexive turn in the social sciences, the humanities’ interest in questions of subjectivity, artists and writers entering the academy and the acceptance of creative practice research, and, more recently, the expectation that scholars produce ‘approachable’ work that has ‘real world impact’​ Researchers working with such forms of writing are confronted by particular compositional and philosophical […]

Free

How organisations thrive in a fast-changing global society: Challenges and opportunities

Virtual

In an era marked by rapid technological advancements, evolving market dynamics, and unprecedented global interconnectedness, organisations are constantly navigating a landscape of both challenges and opportunities. This event will delve into the strategies and insights that enable organisations to not only survive but thrive in such a fast-changing global society. Join the following innovative academic thinkers as they explore the key factors that contribute to organisational success amidst volatility and complexity. Professor David Fan (Human Resource Management) Dr My Nguyen (Finance) Dr Marian Makkar (Marketing) Dr. June Tran (Management) Through an expert-led panel discussion, attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of embracing cultural diversity, sustainability and corporate responsibility and global market trends and opportunities. This event is a must-attend for executives, managers, and professionals who are keen on equipping their organisations with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Attendees will leave with actionable insights and practical strategies to drive their organisations forward, ensuring they remain competitive and resilient in the face of ongoing global challenges. Join us as we explore the multifaceted ways in which organisations can achieve lasting success in a fast-changing global society. Tuesday 10 September 2024 Time: 2-3pm Online via Teams

Fostering Social Cohesion: Intercultural Strategies for Strengthening Australian Multiculturalism

Virtual

Co-hosted with Swinburne University and iGen Foundation, this webinar will explore the role of intercultural strategies in fostering social cohesion and inclusion in Australia. Australia was one of the first countries, along with Canada, to adopt multiculturalism. Over four decades later, as threats to our social cohesion grow, local, state, and federal governments are exploring how intercultural strategies can strengthen our multicultural policy framework. Please join us to hear from our distinguished panel of speakers about their work in this field. Panel Mr. Hass Dellal, Panel Chair for the Commonwealth’s Multicultural Framework Review, will discuss the role of intercultural strategies in the recently released Multicultural Framework Review. Ms. Vesna Haracic Manager, Community Diversity & Inclusion, City of Salisbury, South Australia, will discuss the groundbreaking application of intercultural strategies in the City of Salisbury, Adelaide. The panel will be chaired by Dr. Glenda Ballantyne, Senior Lecturer, Swinburne, and Co-convenor, Intercultural Cities Australian National Network. Bios Dr Bulent (Hass) Dellal AO is the Executive Director of the Australian Multicultural Foundation, Chair of the Australian Multicultural Council, the former Chair of SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) and appointed Panel Chair for the Commonwealth’s Multicultural Framework Review, May 2023. He has over 30 years of experience […]

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The Teaching-Research Nexus in the Social Sciences: A Panel from The University of Sydney

Room 650, Social Sciences Building, University of Sydney Science Road, Camperdown +1 more

Social Sciences Week is a celebration of research, but researchers were once students. Social Scientists do not often reflect on their days as ‘trainees’ in educational settings. In the rush to know more about the state of our societies, political systems and economies, researchers can downplay the importance of teaching the next generation of professionals, scholars and other experts. This event features several academics from the University of Sydney’s School of Social and Political Sciences, all of whom are active researchers and passionately committed teachers who will reflect on the ‘teaching-research nexus’. How does their research influence their teaching, and how does their teaching influence their research? What do they love about each of the two spheres, and how do they achieve a symbiotic relationship between them? Are there ever points of friction between research and teaching, and if so, what strategies do these academics employ to manage the inconsistencies for the benefit of students? Chair: Professor Gaby Ramia (Chair), Deputy Head of School (Research) Panel Members: Associate Professor Susan Banki, Sociology and Criminology Dr Minglu Chen, Government and International Relations Professor Alex Lefebvre, Philosophy and Government and International Relations Dr Eyal Mayroz, Sociology and Criminology Professor Brendon O’Connor, US Studies and Government and International Relations […]

Free

The Right to Housing in Australia

Green Brain The Green Brain (Level 7), Building 16, RMIT University, 336/348 Swanston St, Melbourne

With so many Australian cities facing problems of housing affordability, how can we guarantee that all Australians have access to safe, secure housing? As property prices rise, dragging rents with them, we are rapidly losing the qualities that long made Australian cities some of the most liveable in the world.  Leaders and policy makers routinely propose solutions to Australia’s housing crisis, though few have led to significant change. Australian housing debates seems to be caught in stalemate at present. This session seeks new ideas by drawing together some of Australia’s leading authorities on housing policy to discuss options for the future of housing in Australian cities. Moderated by Professor Libby Porter (Director of RMIT University's Centre of Urban Research), the event will include: The Hon. Kevin Bell AO KC, Former Supreme Court Judge & Monash Adjunct Emma Dawson, Executive Director, Per Capita Jorden van den Berg, ShitRentals.com Emma Power, Western Sydney University Cameron Duff, RMIT University Learn more about the speakers.  How can we restore the principles of access, affordability and fairness to our housing markets? Can we have a right to housing in Australia? How can we develop more just, inclusive and affordable housing solutions for all Australians? Please note […]

Free