What is the Workshops Program?

“Their purpose is not to educate the public or general body of Fellows but to bring together small groups of expert and highly motivated scholars to consider and foster the development of research in a particular area of great importance to society.”

Professor Peter Karmel AC, Academy President 1987 – 90

The Academy Workshops Program offers Australian social scientists financial assistance to host multidisciplinary workshops which aim to advance research and policy agendas on nationally important issues. The Academy supports up to eight workshops each year with funding to a maximum of $9,000 (excl GST).

Its purpose is to be a catalyst for innovative ideas in social science research and social policy, to build capability amongst young researchers and to foster networks across social science disciplines and with practitioners from government, the private sector, and the community sector on issues of common concern.

Over the past 30 years, the Academy is pleased to have been the catalyst for over 200 workshops involving thousands of leading experts across Australia.

Workshops Program 2022 | Computational Social Siences in Australia
Workshop: Computational Social Science in Australia: Approaches, Capabilities and Opportunities | The University of Sydney, 27-28 June 2022 | Dr Olga Boichak, Prof. Nick Enfield & Prof. Simon Jackman

Applications to the Workshops Program 2025 are currently open.

How to apply

Steps

  1. Review the Workshops Program Application Guidelines
  2. Provide the details of your convening team using this form: Convening Team Details
  3. Download the Workshop Proposal form (Word format), then complete and submit it via email to workshops@socialsciences.org.au before 11pm on the closing date.

 

Key dates

  • Applications open: Friday, 24 May 2024
  • Applications close: Friday, 9 August 2024
  • Successful applicants notified: Monday, 30 September 2024
  • Workshops held: January – December 2025.

For more information contact us via: workshops@socialsciences.org.au

Advice for prospective applicants

  • 00’00”  Welcome
  • 00’05”  Acknowledgement of Country
  • 02’40”  Overview for prospective applicants
  • 16’07”   Past winner: Dr Sophie Chao, University of Sydney
  • 21’45”   Past winner: A/Prof Gary Chan, UQ
  • 29’07”  Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions

Determining eligibility

I was told about the Academy’s Workshops Program by a colleague who works at another university. Their research centre received an invitation to apply, but we didn’t. Can we still apply?

Yes. The Workshops Program is open to all social science researchers across Australia, and you are welcome and encouraged to apply. Indeed, if you register your interest in the Workshops Program with us, we’ll make sure you get a personal invitation next time.

The Academy Fellow who is willing to act as co-convenor used to serve as a judge for the Workshops Program. Does that impact our eligibility?

No. All Fellows are eligible to apply as co-convenors for the Workshops Program.

Is it possible to be included in two proposals? (e.g., leading one, listed as a participant on another?)

Yes. Being listed in multiple applications does not impact on your eligibility, nor your chances of success (whether you are a Fellow or non-Fellow applicant). Ultimately, the decision to participate or not in multiple applications should come down to each researcher’s interest in the workshops’ topics and their availability to contribute.

I don’t know any Academy Fellows. Can I still apply?

Yes. We highly encourage applying teams to invite Academy Fellows as co-convenors, as one of the objectives of the Workshops Program is to promote dialogue among researchers in different career stages. Search our Fellow Directory to identify potential collaborators, and either contact them directly or reach out to the Workshops Program team to facilitate an introduction (via email to: workshops@socialsciences.org.au).

If you are unable to secure a suitable Fellow as co-convenor, you are still able to apply. Use the ‘Convenors’ section of the application form to explain your situation, and whether you remain open to collaborating with an Academy Fellow in the future (should your workshop be successful).

Can I apply to the Academy’s Workshops Program if the proposed workshop will physically take place overseas?

No. The Workshops Program is specifically targeted to benefit Australian researchers and universities. International collaborators are welcome to attend, though, either in-person or online.

Designing your budget

My workshop will be virtual. Instead of travel and accommodation, can I allocate budget towards things like a research assistant and website development?

Yes. Past workshop winners have allocated budget in many creative ways, such as hiring a note-taking or scribe (so everyone can concentrate on the conversation), hiring a specialist science-writer or editor, or flying a couple of representatives to present their ideas at Parliament. Having said that, many do still appreciate the opportunity to use the funding largely for travel, accommodation or a welcome dinner. Particularly for workshops where participants have no pre-existing relationships or collaborations, in-person events create the most opportunities to build those bonds.

We would like to allocate some of the budget to pay travel and accommodation for some of our interstate participants. Is that OK?

Yes. In fact, travel and accommodation expenses have traditionally comprised a significant portion of the budget in many applications (until recently, as COVID has led many teams to opt for hybrid or virtual workshop formats).

Would it be acceptable to charge facilitators or participants a registration fee? Fee-paying participants would give us much-needed additional funds to scale our event

This may be considered in exceptional circumstances, but the Workshops Program is intended to bring together a broad and diverse group of social science researchers and practitioners based on their interest and expertise rather than their capacity to pay. We would encourage convenors to seek external funds from other sources first (university departments or other not for profits), or potentially request participants attending in person to fund all or part of their travel and accommodation expenses to allow funds to stretch further.

Note also that co-investment (cash or in-kind) is not a requirement for applications but is well regarded by assessors and has been successfully implemented by winners in the past.

Putting together your workshop participant list

We are having difficulties getting all prospective workshop participants to confirm attendance before the closing deadline. Can you advise how flexible you are in this regard?

Very flexible. In drafting the Participants section of your application, your goal should be to give assessors a clear idea about the spread of disciplines, research career stages, and types of stakeholders you plan on bringing together. Having a few critical participants confirmed will give assessors reassurance you are well positioned in your planning, but a well-designed participant mix should be your main objective. To this end, it is ok to list unconfirmed attendees, or even placeholders with descriptors of the participants you plan on bringing in (e.g., Senior Policy Officer from Treasury; Director of an Advocacy Organisation in the nutrition space). A well-balanced participant mix is a key indicator of potential success for your workshop.

Submitting your application

I’m having trouble with the online application form! Who can I contact for help?

Get in touch with our Workshops Program team via workshops@socialsciences.org.au.

On application closing day, what’s the latest time we can submit?

Close of business or 5pm EDST. If you have difficulties submitting (e.g., technical), please get in touch and we will do our best to help you resolve the issue (email us to workshops@socialsciences.org.au).

Previous grant recipients

DateWorkshop TitleConvenors and InstitutionKeywordsWorkshop RoundDisciplineInstitution
2024Turning Youth Mental Health Research into Real-World Action: Making the Most of Australia’s Largest Nation-Wide Survey of Young People (Mission Australia's Youth Survey)Dr Alyssa Milton with Professor Janeen Baxter FASSA, Dr Kate Filia and Rachel Christie | The University of Sydney Youth, mental health2024
2024Contextualising the Climate Crisis: Climate change and the beginning of the crisis decadesAssociate Professor Ruth Morgan with Professor Katie Holmes FASSA, Dr Robert Naylor and Dr Elliot Honeybun-Arnolda | Australian National University Climate change, crisis2024
2024A Critical Lens on Mass Deportation of Non-citizens: Law, Crimes and TechnologyDr Sanzhuan (Sandra) Guo with Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor Margaret Davies FASSA FAAL and Associate Professor Marinella Marmo | Flinders University Justice, deportation, law2024
2024Planet of Weeds: Invasive Plant Species, Coloniality, and Planetary HealthDr Mardi Reardon-Smith with Professor Lesley Head FASSA FAHA | Deakin University Environmental sustainability, planetary health, invasive plant species2024
2024Critical Minerals for a Just and Sustainable TransitionProfessor Susan Park with Professor David Schlosberg FASSA | The University of Sydney Critical minerals, sustainability, transitions, justice2024
2024Revitalising Indigenous-State Relations: Knowledge Exchange to Support Transformations in Indigenous GovernanceProfessor Ian Anderson AO FASSA FAHMS with Professor Sarah Maddison and Professor Morgan Brigg | The University of Tasmania Indigenous, governance2024
2024Owning the public interest: the impact on health and equity of privatisation and outsourcing of public services functionsFran Baum AO PhD with Julia Anaf PhD | The University of Adelaide Privatisation, equity, government, public services2024
2024Decolonisation in Australia and our region in the 20th century and todayProfessor Angela Woollacott FASSA FRHS FAHA with Professor Heather Goodall FASSA, Professor David Lowe FASSA and Dr Jon Piccini | Australian National University Indigenous, decolonisation2024
2023How can we minimise the adolescent uptake of vaping and related social and health harm?
Policy submission
Associate Professor Gary Chan, with Dr Janni Leung and Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall | The University of Queensland Public health, youth, vaping2023The University of Queensland
2023Strategic Public Interest Litigation for Transparency and Accountability of Harmful Digital Marketing: A Researcher-Regulator-Community Dialogue
Findings, Program
Associate Professor Paula O'Brien, with Professor Christine Parker FASSA, Professor Jeannie Paterson, and Professor Kim Weatherall | The University of Melbourne, The University of Sydney Digital marketing, marketing, harmful marketing2023The University of Melbourne | The University of Sydney
2023Successful strategies for improving access to justice for women who kill their abusersAssociate Professor Danielle Tyson, with Professor Bronwyn Naylor OAM, and Professor Heather Douglas AM FASSA | Deakin University, RMIT University, The University of MelbourneGender violence, abuse, justice, women2023Deakin University | RMIT University | The University of Melbourne
2023The digital governance of welfare-to-work and employment services
Findings
Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor of Political Science Mark Considine FASSA, with Associate Professor Siobhan O’Sullivan, Dr Michael McGann, and Dr Phuc Nguyen | The University of Melbourne; La Trobe University; University of New South WalesWelfare, digital, employment2023The University of Melbourne | La Trobe University | University of New South Wales
2023Education and Anthropocene
Findings
Alfred Deakin Professor Jill Blackmore AM FASSA, with Professor Julie McLeod FASSA,
Professor Terri Seddon FASSA and
Alfred Deakin Professor Russell Tytler FASSA | The University of Melbourne, Deakin University, La Trobe University
Education2023The University of Melbourne | Deakin University | La Trobe University
2023Australian Urban Robotic Futures: Potentials, Limits and OptionsProfessor Robyn Dowling FASSA, with Professor Simon Marvin, and Professor Martin Tomitsch | The University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney Robotics2023The University of Sydney | University of Technology Sydney
2023Teachers in early education (TEE): An innovative approach to assessing and supporting early childhood teaching quality
Findings
Associate Professor Marianne Fenech, with Professor Sandie Wong, and Laureate Professor Marilyn Fleer FASSA | The University of Sydney, Macquarie University, Monash UniversityEarly years, education, teaching quality2023The University of Sydney | Macquarie University | Monash University
2023Due process or due proceeds? The future of confiscation and related AML laws in Australia
Findings
Dr Radha Ivory, with Dr Gregory Dale, and Emeritus Professor Arie Freiberg AM FASSA | The University of Queensland; Monash UniversityMoney-laundering, wealth, laws2023The University of Queensland | Monash University
2022Global Orders: Past and Present
Findings
George Lawson with Iain MacGillivray and Christian Reus-Smit | Australian National UniversityEast/West global order2022Australian National University
2022Building the recovery: Creating decent working futures in AustraliaAriadne Vromen with Rae Cooper, Brendan Churchill, and Josh Healy | Australian National UniversityFuture of work, Workplace, Pandemics2022Australian National University
2022Building Education Systems for Equity and Inclusion
Findings
Other resources: Building Education Systems for Equity and Inclusion (slides) | Education for Inclusion (slides) | Building Alternative Indicators for Schooling (slides) | Excellence in Teaching (slides) | Research in First Nations Education (slides) | Excellence for All Students (slides)
Scott Eacott with Eileen Baldry | UNSW SydneySchool education, Equity, Educational outcomes2022UNSW Sydney
2022Co-creating a policy pathway to assist Australia in meeting its commitment of halving food waste by 2030Gamithri Karunasena with David Pearson, Sarah Wheeler, and Francesca Goodman-Smith | Central Queensland UniversityFood futures, Food waste, Policy2022Central Queensland University
2022Computational social science in Australia: Approaches, capabilities, and opportunitiesOlga Boichak with Nick Enfield and Simon Jackman | The University of SydneySocial sciences, Research capabilities, Digital futures2022The University of Sydney
2022From Theory to Practice: Leveraging Feminist Approaches to Care at a Time of Crisis
Findings
Megan Warin with Chris Beasley and Sophie Chao | The University of AdelaideCrises, Gender, Women, Care, Pandemic2022The University of Adelaide
2022Post Pandemic Positions: Australian NGOs and education in a century of internationalism - students, experts and friends
Findings
David Lowe with Kate Darian-Smith, Jon Piccini, and Melanie Oppenheimer | Deakin UniversityInternational students, Education exports, Australia, Pandemics2022Deakin University
2022Age Friendly Universities and Age-Aware Curriculum Developmentin the Decade of Healthy AgeingNancy A Pachana with Alphia Possamai-Inesedy, Stephen Birch, and Peta Cook | The University of QueenslandUniversity education, Ageing, Age-friendly2022The University of Queensland
2022Tackling Gender Inequality through the Law: Improving Accountability for Gender-Responsive Laws at the Domestic Level
Findings | Policy proposal
Prof Diane Kirkby FAHA FASSA, with Dr Ramona Vijeyarasa | University of Technology Sydney (UTS)Law and gender, women, domestic law, migration, gender-based violence, international women's rights, reproductive control, politics, gender legislative index2020University of Technology Sydney
2021Global food supply chains in a world
on the edge
Findings
Dr Victoria Stead, with Professor Jon Altman and A/Professor Melinda Hinkson | Deakin UniversityFood systems, supply chains, global market, food crises, food shocks, consumer ethics, resilience2021Deakin University