2021 Australia-China Joint Action Program winners announced
Social scientists from Australia and China will receive additional funding to progress collaborative research projects as part of a long-standing funding program from the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS).
The eight researchers (four from China, four from Australia – each paired on a collaborative research project) were awarded the funding after participating in a competitive selection process. The four Australian scholars each received $7000 AUD, while the Chinese scholars each received ¥25,000 RMB.
The Australia-China Joint Action Program has been running for 10 years, although cooperation between the two organisations dates back to the 1980s. The program provides Australian and Chinese researchers the opportunity to collaborate in areas of shared interest, as well as creating opportunities for early career researcher involvement and international collaboration outside each partnership.
The Academy congratulates all successful grant recipients.
This year’s four successful projects are:
Patterns of Digital Platform Employment and Regulatory Implications: A Comparative Analysis of China and Australia
Professor Fang Lee Cooke (Monash University); Dr Tianyu Wang (CASS)
Despite significant growth in digital economy and platform employment and the increasing inadequacy of the existing labour laws in keeping up with regulating these environments, neither Australia nor China has developed a new legal framework to regulate and protect those working in this way or being on the receiving end of their services. This comparative legal studies research project aims to extend legal understanding of digital platform employment in two countries with different legal origins. Findings will inform policy decisions that may be relevant to other national contexts.
Coproducing social support for migrants in the digital era: Online migrant peer support groups in Australia and China
Dr Qian Fang (UNSW Sydney); Professor Chunguang Wang (CASS)
How could online peer support groups run for and by migrants be more effective? By examining online migrant peer support groups in Australia and China, this project will provide much-needed empirical evidence to inform better models of social support to migrants in the digital era. Answers could help reduce social support disparities for disadvantaged and vulnerable groups in both countries.
Australia-China Security Cooperation Against Cross-Border Crime: Examining the Past, Looking to the Future
Dr Enshen Li (The University of Queensland); Dr Xupeng Jiao (CASS)
Cross border crime is a serious issue. This project aims to explore the current status of Australia-China security cooperation against a common set of cross-border crime issues, including transnational, serious and organised crime (TSOC). Researchers expect to reveal and address the legal, political and procedural factors that impede the effective law enforcement collaboration between Australia and China and identify the vital components of prospective reform proposals. Results will help the Australian government greatly enhance its capacity to play a leading role in guaranteeing security in the Asia-Pacific region.
Research on the supply of market-oriented elderly care services with involvements of financial institutions
Associate Professor Peter Shi (Macquarie University); Dr Deyong Zhang (CASS)
The elderly care service market in China is developing fast in recent years and accelerates the ageing process. However, there are apparent contradictions between accelerated ageing progress and inadequate provision of elderly services. The Chinese government has already established the pension industry guidance funds to use government funds and private flow through specialized fund management companies based in each province. This research will conduct several studies about how helpful these guidance funds are to develop the market-oriented elderly care industry. Also, the problems in-between will be found, based on which the political advice will be made.