Young male construction worker looks at his phone while holding a long pole. He wears a hardhat and hi-vis vest. A cement truck and mounds of dirt are in the background

Promoting Employment Services

Employment services often struggle to appeal to their intended clientele. Sending effective messages can increase sign-up. Messages should emphasise the ease, benefits, and comparative outcome of services.

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Law of the Journey

Taking a look back at Ai Weiwei’s exhibition at the Biennale of Sydney, 2018. The work is called, ‘Law of the Journey, 2017.’ It tackles Ai Weiwei’s ongoing critique of European nations denying basic human rights to refugees.

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A silhouetted people walk down a hill, following one person in the lead

How to Encourage Community Change

How can you use social science to encourage communities to change collective behaviours? We cover how to identify a behaviour that needs to change, how to target the key audience, how to encourage change, and the best mode of communication to reach the intended community. The provided check list will help you communicate effectively with local communities.

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How to Improve Record-Keeping

Organisations can improve their record-keeping by adopting a systematic approach, and using techniques developed through social science research. Discover tips for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations on how to document important decisions, understanding legal obligations, and keeping records safe.

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Social Justice and Dignity at Work

Sociologist Philomena Essed shows how everyday interactions feed into structural racism, such as during workplace interactions. Essed demonstrates how workplaces can proactively create an environment of justice and dignity. She advocates that leaders must do proactive reflection to better understand how culture impacts workplace relationships and respect.

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Encouraging Referrals

This post provides tips for improving public health communications. I show examples from studies that encouraged doctors to comply with health guidelines. I discuss a case study of a health organisation that sought to increase patient referrals to a free treatment program.

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A young Asian girl is reading a magazine

Reaching Your Audience

I reflect on how to tell a good story that takes into consideration different social groups, inequity, and power relations. I also provide tips about how to measure the impact of a good story.

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Two men stand on cracked land, one of them kneels touching the ground, the other stands looking to the distance

Emergency Disaster Support

How can you encourage your customers to take up free support services? We look at how to get employers and workers to complete a survey sent via SMS, and sign-up for emergency disaster relief.

Man wearing a hat stands in a middle of a barren field in New South Wales
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Workplace Compliance

Social science can be used to encourage employers to follow workplace regulations. This post covers how to increase compliance by appealing to social norms, providing practical examples of how to implement new requirements, and by sending timely messages that encourage change.

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People swinging mid-air in the 'Nitro,' a carnival ride at the Perth Royal Show

Safety Planning

Social science can encourage businesses to comply with safety regulations. This is a case study showing how to encourage community organisations to submit event safety planning information in a timely manner. We cover how to encourage early planning, showing the benefits of complying with safety information requests, targeting messages, and using trusted messengers.

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