Challenges for the social sciences and Australia is the eleventh research training strategy to be produced with support from the ARC Evalutation Program. It presents abundant evidence of the quality of social science research in Australia and its contribution to the nation. The review also questions whether Australia makes the best use of that research and provides appropriate encouragement to social science researchers. The challenges raised in the review extend broadly to groups involved in social science research, those in a position to promote and guide its development and those who stand to benefit from it.
It contains thirty-two recommendations directed to the research community and a range of organisations, including the Australian Research Council. I encourage all to whom these recommendations are addressed to consider them carefully and to commit themselves to implementing their responses.
