Drawing of people sitting in a restaurant

Assessing the Viability of an Applied Research Project

Today I reflect on an important meeting for one of our projects. We’ve had a lot of setbacks because we don’t have useful data sources or infrastructure to enable us to run a proper randomised control trial. I discuss one example of how we assess the viability of our projects, and what this activity looks like in the context of a typical day as an applied researcher.

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A racially diverse group of people have their hand up during a meeting

Presenting Information for Policy Audiences

Over the next couple of weeks, I’m going to be sharing my work journals, so you get another insight into the working life of applied social scientists! Today is typical day. I had to put together two different presentations: one about our research methods and the other one is about results from our field work.

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Close up of a Brown woman's hands as she types on her laptop

Research Reporting

I worked from home. My team is great that way. I get a lot of flexibility to work remotely. I spent most of the day writing two chapters for our annual report, which are based on my projects.

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Close up of a child's hands holding up a protest sign. It says: Smash the patriarchy

Academic Work

Getting ready to give the first of two academic papers for this year! My paper is on using intersectionality in equity and diversity work. It is a reflection on my career as a woman of colour working to improve institutional equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion.

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A Black woman shows a Black man how to do something on his computer

How Action Research Can Strengthen Community Services

Action research is a methodology where researchers consult with communities in a more inclusive way, by listening to their concerns directly, rather than simply relying on government and agency directives. Action research also involves community members and stakeholders in all steps of the research process, from the types of questions asked and the way in which the issues are investigated.

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Research on Accessibility in Recruitment

The past couple of months, my work life has been dominated by our project to improve retention and promotion of people work disability.

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International Day of People With Disability

For International Day of People With Disability, I presented on our fieldwork to improve career outcomes for people with disability.

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Building in Sydney lit up for Vivid, in bright lights, at night

Reflections

It’s close to a three and a half years since I moved to Sydney for work. Here is a reflection on my research to date.

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Interview on My Sociological Practice

I’ve been interviewed for the Lady Science podcast. I talk about what sociology is, my career as an applied sociologist, and how Indigenous and other minority sociologists continue to challenge Western and colonial methods and ideas in sociology and in social policy.

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Outside of the Pullman Hotel, Sydney

Planning Day

Our team had our offsite planning day. I reflect over the discussions of the day and an example of behavioural science research in action.

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