New Research

Trends in Afghan-Australia relations

23 May 2012As a major troop-contributing nation to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan, Australia’s relations with Afghanistan have rapidly taken on new dimensions since troops were first deployed in Uruzgan Province.

As one: APS disability employment strategy

23 May 2012Despite good intentions and a succession of initiatives over several years, people with disability remain significantly under-represented in the Australian Public Service (APS) workforce.

Building collaborations to eliminate family violence: facilitators, barriers and good practice

23 May 2012Zero tolerance for family violence requires agencies and government departments in New Zealand to work cooperatively and with close involvement from whanau, hapu and iwi communities.

Sexual violence and gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, intersex, and queer communities

22 May 2012This paper examines the limited research available on sexual violence within and against gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans, intersex, and queer communities.

Gender pay gap statistics

21 May 2012Australia's working women earn 17.4% less than their male colleagues, based on new ABS data.

What does the research evidence tell us about what Australians think about the legal status of drugs?

21 May 2012This bulletin summarises data from a nationally representative survey of Australians on the legal status of drugs.

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Crime

Penalty notices

21 May 2012The NSW Law Reform Commission Report 132 Penalty Notices reviews and makes recommendations in relation to the penalty notice system in NSW. Penalty notices are imposed most often for minor offences, but the topic is nevertheless an important one.

Rights

Commentary

Troves of personal data, forbidden to researchers

24 May 2012When scientists publish their research, they also make the underlying data available so the results can be verified by other scientists writes John Markoff for the New York Times.

A leadership code for Australia?

22 May 2012Events in Canberra suggest that it's time for Australia to follow the example of some of our neighbours, writes John T. D. Wood

Learning from Myanmar

11 May 2012On the eve of Aung Sang Suu Kyi’s transition from house arrest to parliamentary contention, a major Chinese dam project was suspended, writes David Kelly from China Policy.

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Topic Guides

ACCAN Guide to consumer rights and protection in the communications industry

09 November 2010This Guide highlights current consumer rights and protections in place in the communications industry in Australia and the debate around them.

Mechanisms for advancing women's human rights:

  • Australian Human Rights Commission

22 August 2011Aiming to assist women who have experienced human rights violations, and been failed by processes in Australia, this guide can be used to seek redress from international complaint mechanisms.

CC & Government Guide Using Creative Commons 3.0 Australia Licences on Government Copyright Materials

  • Anne Fitzgerald, Neale Hooper, Cheryl Foong

06 December 2010This Guide deals with the licensing of government copyright materials for distribution and reuse under Creative Commons (CC) 3.0 Australia licences.

Audio

Dr Rhonda Galbally, disability advocate

Listen to audio
30 April 2012Dr Rhonda Galbally is a key adviser to the federal government on the new National Disability Insurance Scheme. A scheme that, Galbally says, will radically improve the lives of the disabled and their families.

Social Media changing the nature of activism?

Listen to audio
12 April 2012Websites and social media can garner the support of hundreds of thousands for a particular cause. They can even bring issues to light that might otherwise have been overlooked by mainstream media. Host Michel Martin speaks with Shelby Blakely of the Tea Party Patriots, and Rashad Robinson of ColorOfChange.org.

Law

Hormone treatment of gender identity disorder in a cohort of children and adolescents

21 May 2012The latest research by the Medical Journal of Australia illustrates a rise in individuals with gender identity disorder (GID), sufferers have a persistent and profound discomfort with their biological sex and a strong identification with the gender of the opposite sex.

Video

Mental health in Australia

Listen to audio
03 May 2012The first National Report Card on mental health and suicide prevention is due to be released at the end of 2012. What will it say about Australia's mental health services now - and what more needs to be done?

Review calls for scrapping of media regulator

Listen to audio
03 May 2012Professor Terry Flew discusses the independent review of Australia's media and communications sector, which has called for the existing regulator to be scrapped in favour of a new statutory body.

Justice system

Administration of applications for financial assistance under the Victims of Crime (Financial Assistance Act) 1983

17 May 2012This report finds that excessive and unreasonable delays are likely to occur for victims of crime seeking financial assistance, especially for applicants who have no legal representation.

Guardianship: final report

14 May 2012In order to promote and protect the rights of people with an impaired decision making capacity, this review investigates whether guardianship law in Victoria is sufficient.

Websites

All Aboard

23 May 2012The All Aboard campaign is raising concerns about the level of access provided by Victoria’s public transport system and calling on the government and transport authorities to start spending to fix our transport problems.

The easy guide to socialising online

13 February 2012The Australian Government's Easy Guide to Socialising Online provides information on how internet users can protect themselves and their information when using social networking sites, search engines and online games.

Development Policy Blog

03 January 2012Providing a platform for the best in aid and development analysis, The Development Policy blog focuses on Australia, the Pacific and Asia.

Most viewed: This week

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Web and Information Coordinator - Australian Policy Online (Position number: 29499)
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As one: APS disability employment strategy
3
Can nations measure well-being?
4
Gender pay gap statistics
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All Aboard

Books

Speechwriting for government in Australia

Speechwriting for government in Australia

  • James Groves
  • James Groves & Associates
"...an indispensible book...excellent practical guide to the art of effective oral communication" from the Foreword by Malcolm Hazell CVO AM, former Official Secretary to the Governor-General
Indifferent Inclusion Aboriginal people and the Australian Nation

Indifferent Inclusion Aboriginal people and the Australian Nation

  • Russell McGregor
  • Aboriginal Studies Press
“Russell McGregor is one of the foremost scholars in the field of Aboriginal history. The very title of the book breaks new ground because of the questions implicit in its approach…his perspective is genuinely fresh and insightful.” — Historian Mark McKenna

Noticeboard

Australian Community Sector Survey
03 May 2012

Strengthen our voice - take part in the Australian Community Sector Survey

There's just under two weeks to go for Victoria's community sector organisations to help us provide an authentic snapshot of the state of demand for services in the state.

Review of Australian Contract Law
22 March 2012

The Attorney-General's Department has launched a new inquiry to explore the scope for reforming Australian contract law. There will be a three-month consultation period.

Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (the ACNC) starting in July 2012
07 March 2012

In May 2011 the Federal Government announced that the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) would commence operations from 1 July 2012 and that it would initially be responsible for determining the legal status of groups seeking charitable, public benevolent institution, and other not-for-profit (NFP) benefits on behalf of all Commonwealth agencies. 

Topic Guides

ACCAN Guide to consumer rights and protection in the communications industry

09 November 2010This Guide highlights current consumer rights and protections in place in the communications industry in Australia and the debate around them.

Topics

APO