Projects
As applied social scientists, we work closely with our research partners to maximise engagement and impact in real-world contexts.
Our social science expertise in qualitative and quantitative research and analysis includes:
- Co-design and facilitation of participatory and action research
- Design and facilitation of focus groups and workshops
- Case study approaches
- Design, delivery and statistical analysis of surveys.
Our research engages with the social, cultural and institutional dimensions of change; assists community, industry and government stakeholders in building adaptive capacity and resilience to a range of challenges; and promotes socio-economic equity for Australian and international communities.
Collectively, we also bring diverse disciplinary backgrounds and prior knowledge, which informs our collaborations with research partners. This includes agricultural extension, farming and livestock production systems, natural resource management, disaster risk management, cultural geography, environmental sociology, veterinary science, agricultural engineering, forestry and community engagement processes.
Current projects
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Securing the next generation in farming and food careers
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Planning for biodiversity and economic development on the Tiwi Islands
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Improving smallholder dairy and beef profitability by enhancing farm production and value chain management in Pakistan
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NEXUS project: exploring profitable, sustainable livestock businesses in an increasingly variable climate
Completed projects
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Thresholds for resilience in regional cotton communities
It drew on community-based perspectives to develop and pilot a resilience assessment workbook to build regional adaptive capacity, and in making recommendations for potential cotton industry contributions to improving regional community resilience.
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Engaged research: Understanding workforce development needs in the Goulburn Murray Horticulture Industry
Researchers from RIRG and DEDJTR’s Social Research Group worked with industry stakeholders including Fruit Growers Victoria, Apple and Pear Australia Limited, Summerfruit Australia and employers to understand changing skilled workforce needs and how collaborative action can assist the industry to attract, retain and develop the workforce it needs.
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Enhancing the profitability and productivity of livestock farming through virtual herding technology
The project will evaluate the on-farm application of virtual fencing and herding technology, demonstrate its implementation across different production systems and examine the responses of different livestock (dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep) to various cues and stimuli to improve productivity and profitability in the livestock industry.
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Regional Water Productivity Blueprint (2013)
The Regional Water Productivity project was part of the University of Melbourne’s engaged research initiative, Carlton Connect. It engaged over 1000 stakeholders in the water sector in Australia to investigate challenges and opportunities for improving regional water productivity to ensure sustainable outcomes from water use for agricultural development, regional industries, communities and the environment.
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Engaged research to map the extension capability of the Goulburn Valley fresh pear sector, 2016-2017
The Innovation Seed Fund for Horticulture Development was a joint initiative between the University of Melbourne and the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, transport and Resources. It involved collaboration between social researchers from RIRG and DEDJTR (based at Tatura). This project was funded in the first round of ISFD funding and ran for 18 months.
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Managing change in dairy regions – resilience
This collaborative project with the dairy industry (Dairy Australia and Murray Dairy) explored the challenges and opportunities of managing regional transformation (as represented by water policy change and irrigation modernisation in the Murray Darling Basin and the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District respectively) and co-developed a practical tool (Workbook for Assessing Change Challenges in Dairy Regions) for supporting adaptive governance responses to such transformation.