Research in the news

A new report ranking housing affordability has placed Sydney second worst in the world, with prices 13.8 times the average income. Professor Bill Randolph from the City Futures Research Centre unpacks the economic implications of this reality when "capital isn’t available to spend on other things."

A novel concept school with an emphasis on "intentional experience learning" is set to open its doors in 2025. Reflecting on the local interest this had garnered, Professor Scott Eacott from the School of Education explains how "there is definitely an appetite from parents looking for something different in schooling."

While residential tenancy agreements are not all the same, they are largely standardised across states and territories. Dr Chris Martin from the City Futures Research Centre shares some standard lease terms and their implications to tenant rights and landlord responsibilities.

New research has revealed that house prices and tenancy rates in Queensland have outpaced the rest of Australia. According to report lead Professor Hal Pawson from the City Futures Research Centre "it is renters and recent first home buyers who are going to be at the sharp end" of this hostile market. 

A new study has found that less than 10% of government investment into illicit drug countermeasures went towards strategies aimed at preventing use. Report lead Professor Alison Ritter from the Social Policy Research Centre discusses the origins of this allocation of budget and its implications to harm reduction [segment starting 1:51:00]. 

When our health, aged care and disability workforce is already stretched thin, how do people suffer permanent physical impairments access support? Emeritus Professor Catherine Bridge from the School of Built Environment unpacks some of the greatest challenges and gaps in the system [segment starting 2:28:00]. 

According to Adjunct Associate Professor Catherine Fitzpatrick from the School of Social Sciences, any business that offers joint accounts or services online is “ripe for financial abuse”. She explains how the respectandprotect initiative is addressing this "epidemic" and emphasises the importance of listening to victim-survivors. 

The federal government has committed $3.4 billion towards a national plan aimed at ending domestic and family violence across 10 years. However, Professor Michael Alan Salter from the School of Social Sciences is among the many voices calling for more short and medium-term strategies to tackle the drivers of domestic violence.

A new campaign has seen Australian businesses update their terms and conditions to protect their customers against financial abuse. Adjunct Associate Professor Catherine Fitzpatrick from the School of Social Sciences explains how this move will help prevent their services from being "weaponised as a tactic of coercive control and manipulation." 

A new study has revealed that at least 30% of community and social services workers are being underpaid. Lead author Associate Professor Natasha Cortis from the Social Policy Research Centre unpacks the report findings and recommendations to address the sector's "systemic" pay violations.

New data has shown that share housing is on the rise as Australian rental markets continue to tighten. Dr Chris Martin from the City Futures Research Centre suggests a shift away from current landlord and tenant relationships, which represent "both a legal and structural problem", in favour of growing the community and social housing sector.