Research Strengths of the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences
Ian McGinn
I am currently undertaking a PhD entitled 'Outcomes of Commonwealth Aboriginal Policy in the Northern Territory: 1911 - 1939'. I am researching what the outcomes of Commonwealth Aboriginal policy were for Aboriginal Territorians between 1911 and 1939, specifically focusing on the areas of non-Indigenous and Indigenous relations, Aboriginal child welfare and Aboriginal employment.
For more information please see my student profile.
My PhD supervisors are Dr Andrew Gunstone and Professor Jenny Hocking.
The School of Humanities Communications and Social Sciences (HUMCASS), based at the Gippsland campus, boasts a diverse range of academic disciplines and study areas enabling students to choose a topic to suit their interests, needs or career goals. Study areas include:
- Australian studies
- Australian Indigenous studies
- Communications, English and writing
- Community studies
- Community welfare and counselling
- Criminal justice
- History-politics
- Journalism
- Psychological studies
- Psychology
- Public relations
- Sociology
Benefits of studying with HUMCASS
- HUMCASS offers its research students a postgraduate allowance which supports expenses relating to conference attendance or presentations and other study related costs
- Students are encouraged to participate in the School's research forums and in its annual colloquium day
- Staff are available to assist students who are interested in publishing their work
- The School has long-standing expertise in distance education and has successfully managed supervisory arrangements for students who are located at some distance from the campus
- Many supervisors within the School covering diverse areas
The School hosts two research centres:
Examples of research funded by successful competitive grants include:
Sustainable farming in Australia: Market investments for improved land management - Dr Vaughan Higgins (Chief Investigator)
Sustainable farming has become a national priority. As climate change and global economic pressures increase the problems facing rural areas, Australian governments have attempted to combine more sustainable land management with a competitive agricultural sector. Several policy instruments using market incentives have been proposed to market the competing demands of farm visibility and environmental sustainability. This project will examine the responses of beef, dairy and grain farmers to these initiatives and their potential for addressing pressing environmental issues. The research will make a vital contribution to the design of policies for the future of farming resilient rural communities and an environmentally sustainable Australia.
"Everything affects everything else": Power, perception and hidden forms of restricted practice in shared supported accommodation - Dr Karen Crinall (Chief Investigator)
This research aims to improve the quality of life and dignity of people living in shared supported accommodation, who are currently subject to restrictive practices due to disability. While abuse of power through seclusion and constraint is more readily identifiable, the focus of this research is subtle, less obvious forms of restrictive practice, for example household rules and dietary regimes. The project utilises a participatory action research approach for redressing covert forms of restrictive practice by engaging staff in defining, identifying and developing strategies for challenging the inappropriate use of power at impersonal and systemic levels.
More information about the research focus and strengths in the School of Humanities, Communications and Social Science.
