This theme provides a platform for a wide range of research projects where the main focus is enhancing the well-being and livelihoods of rural and regional communities. Many past and current projects include a strong social component. Past, current and emerging topics include safe domestic water, shark sentiment studies, entrepreneurship, rural social services, human non-human coexistence, food security, NRM governance, social justice, rural development, human health, mental health, eco health, and biocultural and Indigenous research.
Activating financial markets to reward soil stewardship. Pawsey, N., Oczkowski, E., Lynch, J., Frost, M., Coghlan, I., Allan, C., Nayeem, T. (2020-2023) CRC for High Performance Soils, $355,000 Project details
CRC for High Performance Soils - Consumer demand, the value chain, and communication strategies for promoting soil stewardship. Morrison, M., Saliba, A., Oczkowski, E., Godfrey, S., Nayeem, T., Small, F., and Hatton MacDonald, D., Grimmer, L., & Tinch, D. (UTAS) (2018-2021) CRC for High Performance Soils, $372,584 (CSU) and $86,200 (UTAS). Project details
Co-operative inquiry: Documenting student’s and supervisor’s experiences of COVID-19 (Phase 2 Funding). Short, M. (2021) University of Sydney, $20,000
Determining the potential of certification, verification and related concepts for rewarding soil stewardship. Morrison, M., Small, F., Nayeem, T., Pawsey, N., Frost, M. (2021-2024) Soil CRC, $403,957 Project details
Equally Well, Roberts, R. (2019-2021) National Mental Health Commission, $114,854 plus Contract Variation (2020), $115,019. Total value $229,709 Project details
Evaluation of the Integrated Chronic Care Programs in North West Melbourne funded by NWMPHN. Roberts, R (2020-2021), Neami National, project led by RMIT. Total value $95,000, ILWS sub-contract $26,000
HealthTalk - Equally Well. Roberts, R., (2020-2022) National Mental Health Commission, $120,000 Project details
Indigo Shire Liveability Atlas Pilot Project: Walkability. Horta, A. & Whitsed, R. (2019-2021) North East CMA, $5000 & $5000 (CSU) Project details
Indigo Shire Liveability Atlas Pilot Project: Social Dimensions. Black, R. (2019-2021) Indigo Shire Council, $10,000 Project details
Leading for Better Mental Health Program Evaluation. Jenkins, S., Esler, J., Neher, A., Bhanugopan, R., Bamberry, L., Dwivedi, A., Frost, M., Ceric, A. (2021) Emergency Services Foundation, $44,602
Society and science: a new approach to wildlife disease surveillance. Peters, A., Masterman-Smith, H., Rafferty, J. (2020-2023) NSW Environment Trust, $200,000 Project details
Society and science: A new Approach to Wildlife Disease Surveillance. Peters, A., Masterman-Smith, H., Rafferty, J.(2021- 2024) DAWE -Environmental Biosecurity project Fund $231,772 (PhD scholarship)
Supporting isolated women in New South Wales via an eHealth CBT program. De Haan, K. (Murrumbidgee LHD), Bernoth, M., Hunt, C. (Western NSW LHD), Milgrom, J (Parent Infant Research Institute), Gemmil, A. (Parent Infant Research Institute ), Carlisle, J. & Carey, A.(2018-2022) NSW Ministry of Health Translational Research Grant Scheme $176,790 Project details
The future of farming and biodiversity in agricultural landscapes: the Muttama Creek catchment area. Mitchell, M. (2021) Leuphana University of Lüneburg, $6,488
A Community Engagement Series: Regional Facilitator in the Albury LGA, Masterman-Smith, H., Rafferty, J., and Sheahan, M., (2016) NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, $32,000 Project details
A study of influences on preferences, tolerances and thresholds of acceptability for shark management options in NSW. Simmons, P. & Mehmet, M. (2018-2019) NSW Primary Industries – NSW Shark Management Strategy, $50,000 Project details
Activating markets to create incentives for improved soil management: Literature scoping study. Morrison, M. (2017-2018) High Performance Soils CRC, $49,254 Project details Project Fact Sheet
Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare Project. Masterman-Smith, H. (2019) $7000
Assessing and developing a walkability index targeted to older Australians in regional cities. Whitsed, R., Horta, A. (2018-2019) Family & Community Services – Liveable Communities Grants, $30,000 Project details
Assessment of the attitudes of beach and ocean end-users to shark mitigation since trials of SMART Drumlines in NSW. Simmons, P., Mehmet, M. (2018) NSW DPI, $55,012 Project details
Better Parks for People, Whitsed, R., Black, R., & Harvey, R. (2016-2017) FACS NSW Liveable Communities, $62,727 Project details
Community attitudes towards SMART drumlines as a shark mitigation tool. Simmons, P. & Mehmet, M. (2019) NSW Department of Primary Industries, $58,691
Community driven economic change in small rural community local economic zones. Morrison, M. (2017-2018) Federation Council, $50,000 Project details Economic Development Study Final Report 2mb Murray Region Operational Plan
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Compact cities or sprawling suburbs? Optimal design of growing cities to conserve biodiversity, Nimmo, D., Retra, K., Bambrick, D. (2017-2020) Australian Academy of Science-WH Gladstones Population & Environment Fund, $24,000 Project details
Conservation management plan for Turks Head building, Albury. Spennemann, D. (2017-18) Albury City Council, $14,847
CRC for High Performance Soils: I.2.003 Collaborative approaches to Innovation. Pawsey, N., Allan, C., Frost, M., Lynch, J., Wong, A. (2019-2020), Soil CRC Project details
Data sharing: Illuminating the drivers of rural business failure. Horta, A. (2018-2020) Collaborative project with Latrobe University.
Evaluation of New Access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Burmeister, O., Russell, R. & Steve Stanton (a Gamilaraay man from North West NSW) (2018-2019) Primary Health Network – Central and Eastern Sydney, $66,000 Project Details
Environmental Monitoring and Training for Aboriginal Communities. Wassens, S., Allan, C., Whitsed, R. & Bond, J. (2017-2018) NSW OEH, $20,000 Project details
Equally well implementation committee. Roberts, R., Hyde, S., Banks, S., Cobb, L., Burmeister, O., Nayeem, T., Mehmet, M. & Maylea, C. (2017-2019) National Mental Health Commission, $154,160 plus Contract variations (2018) $85,000 and (2019) $97,582. Total value $252,582. Project Details
Evaluation of the effectiveness of the Lake Cowal Foundation. Allan, C. (2017) Lake Cowal Foundation Ltd. $25,000
Group Capacity snapshot project. Allan, C. (2017-2018) Murray LLS, $10,000
Headspace NewAccess Program Evaluation. Burmeister, O. M, Fox, R., Nic Giolla Easpaig, B., Roberts, R. (2017-2018) Murrumbidgee Primary Health District, $75,000 Project details
Hedonic Pricing of On-farm Soil Management – Phase 1. Morrison, M., Oczkowski, E. (2018) CRC High Performance Soils, $60,000 Project details
Humanitarian immigrant entrepreneurs in private and social enterprises. Collins, J. (UTS) Krivokapic-Skoko, B. (2015-2018) ARC Discovery grant, $200,124 Project details
Hume Region Workforce Development Plan Refresh. Hicks, J., Morrison, M., and Forbes, P. (2019 2020) The State of
Victoria, Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, $49,500 plus $49,500 (CSU)
Landcare Report Card 2. Mitchell, M. & Allan, C. (2019) Landcare NSW, $20,000 Project details
Long term prediction of PFAS profile in the soil and its possible pathway into groundwater (a case study). Mahinroosta, R., Li, M & Senevirathna, L. (2020) Bathurst Regional Council, $16,500
Our Place-Corowa. Masterman-Smith, H., Sheahan, M. & Rafferty, J. (2015-2017) NSW Office of Environment & Heritage, $29,500 Project details
PIRCCO Evaluation, Burmeister, O. & Roberts, R. (2017-2018) Marathon Health, $50,000 (Program Evaluation Contract research) Project details
Powering Down: an energy efficiency education project. Masterman-Smith, H., Rafferty, J. & Sheahan, M. and Albury City Council. (2017) NSW Environment Trust, $100,000 Project details
Reconnaissance and recommendations on mistletoe management in macadamia orchards. Watson, D. & Watson, J. (2018-2019) Horticulture Innovation Australia Ltd, $18,000
Review of the Murray Landcare Collective and Murray Regional Landcare Facilitator project 2014-2018. Allan, C., and Earl, G. (Murray LLS) (2018) Holbrook Land Care Network, $5000
Riverina Skills Audit, Burmeister, O. (2020) collaborator Regional Development Australia- Riverina NSW. CSU, $25,000 AGRIPARK – Collaborative Research Agreement.
Secure Safe Domestic Water (SSDW) in the Central Darling Region: Regional stakeholder engagement action events. Finlayson, M. (2017) MDBA, $4546
Securing adequate safe domestic water for regional Australia. Waterman, P., Finlayson, M., Kitzelmann, M. (2016-2017) (Etheridge Shire Council), Charters, K. (SEGRA) CSU, $50,000 Project details
Shark management stakeholder submissions evaluation report. Lewis, C. (2021) NSW DPI. Project led by University of Wollongong. Total amount $102,000. ILWS sub-contract, $9772
Shark deterrents and detection: Community perceptions, sentiment and preferences for shark management strategies. Simmons, P., Mehmet, M. & Clarke, R. (UOW) (2017) A collaborative project between CSU (ILWS), UOW and NSW DPI with funding from the NSW Shark Management Strategy (SMS) Competitive Annual Grants Program. Project details
Shark Sentiment Study. Simmons, P., Mehmet, M. (2017-2020), NSW Department of Primary Industries, $91,000
Spark a connection art and dementia program evaluation. Burmeister, O. (2019) NSW Family & Community Services Liveable Communities Grant Program administered by Orange City Council, $8000 Project details
Succession and estate planning in Australia, Steen, A. & D'Alessandro, S. (2016-2017) Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, $25,700
Supporting Aged Care in the Community. Bernoth, M., Green, E., & Esler, J. (2021) Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN), $30,000 Project details
Surfer attitudes to shark management. Simmons, P., Lewis, C. (2020) NSW DPI, $66,481
Virtuous Practitioners: Empowering Social Workers. Pawar, M., Hugman, R. (UNSW), Alexandra, A. & Anscombe, A. (2014-2019) ARC Discovery grant, $220,130 Project details
Workforce Wellbeing in Family and Community Services. Roberts, R., Bamberry, L., Ceric, A., Hodgins, G., Cumming, T. (2018-2019) FACS, $204,394 Project Details
Jose Abalo (DSW): Transitions issues experienced by early school leavers: Implications for social work policy and practice. Principal supervisor Professor Manohar Pawar
Kakoli Bhowmik: Modelling the early development of Australian children using the AEDC data from 2009 - 2021. Principal supervisor Associate Professor Azizur Rahman
Kane Callaghan: Social media citizensourcing for policy-making: The case of sharks in NSW. Principal supervisor Associate Professor Peter Simmons (Thesis submitted 2021)
Ryan Cole: Exploring the application of a Quality Management Framework to Urban Planning practice in a NSW Local Government organisational environment. Principal supervisor Associate Professor Larissa Bamberry
Gael Evans-Barr: The post volunteering impact among retirees; Organisational and individual predictors. Principal supervisor Associate Professor Maree Bernoth
Thiloka Kariyawasam: Bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminated soils. Principal supervisor Dr Greg Doran, ILWS Supervisor Vale Dr Julia Howitt
Juana Katzer: Social Workers Decision Making with Children with Problem Sexualised Behaviours. Principal supervisor Professor Manohar Pawar
Sean Mack (Masters): The role of leadership in building, facilitating and sustaining a person-centred approach to working with residents, in the residential aged care environment. Principal supervisor Associate Professor Maree Bernoth
Scott McManus: Assessment of uncertainty in the creation of spatial domains from portable X-ray fluorescence multi-element data using a Bayesian method. Principal supervisor Dr Ana Horta
George Rafael (DSW): A social work approach to enabling young people at their work. Principal supervisor Professor Manohar Pawar
Carla Simos (DSW): Stepmothers' life stories and self-identity. Principal supervisor Professor Manohar Pawar
Melissa Wales: Social norms and soil conservation practices. Principal supervisor Associate Professor Catherine Allan
Qudus Wazirzada: Sustainable Mobility for Road Users Using Intelligent Transport Systems: The Australian Paradigm. Principal supervisor Professor John Hicks
Linda Wirf: Beyond adoption: gendered knowledge in agriculture innovation in Australia. Principal supervisor Associate Professor Catherine Allan
Graduates
2021
Georgia Tziros: An exploration of Greek migrant experiences and later life emotional well being: A qualitative study. Principal supervisor Associate Professor Maree Bernoth
2020
Dr Daniel Lander: Historical arguments and the narrative mode in vaccination objection communication: A critical discourse analysis of Facebook comments. Principal supervisor Dr Angela Ragusa
Dr Lucia Wuersch: Transactional Analysis in Organisations: A Case Study with a Focus on Internal Communication.
ILWS Co- supervisor Associate Professor Peter Simmons
Dr Bharat Poudel: Criteria for sustainable operation of renewable energy-based mini-grid services Principal supervisor Professor Kevin Parton
Dr Sumedha Weerasekara: The impact of entrepreneurial ecosystem factors on financial performance of small and medium-sized enterprises in Australia. Principal supervisor Associate Professor Branka Krivokapic-Skoko, Co supervisor Professor Mark Morrison
2019
Dr Jillda Wright (DSW): An exploratory study of the management of Dissociative Identity Disorder in Australia. Principal supervisor Professor Manohar Pawar
As well undertaking externally funded research projects, a considerable number of ILWS members (including Adjuncts) whose research interests are aligned with this theme are engaged in research activities/projects that have either received internal funding from ILWS and/or CSU; are not managed by ILWS; or are non-funded.
The topics of these various research activities reflect the broadness of this theme.
Examples include: