What is the Workshops Program?
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 190 workshops involving thousands of leading experts across Australia.
“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
Applications to the Workshops Program are currently closed. The next round will open in May 2024. Subscribe to be notified when the next round opens.
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).
For more information contact us via: workshops@socialsciences.org.au
Workshops Program – Recent winners
| Date | Workshop Title | Convenors and Institution | Keywords | Workshop Round | Discipline | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | How can we minimise the adolescent uptake of vaping and related social and health harm? Workshops Program 2023 | $9,000 | Associate Professor Gary Chan, with Dr Janni Leung and Emeritus Professor Wayne Hall | The University of Queensland | Public health, youth, vaping | 2023 | The University of Queensland | |
| 2023 | Strategic Public Interest Litigation for Transparency and Accountability of Harmful Digital Marketing: A Researcher-Regulator-Community Dialogue Workshops Program 2023 | $9,000 | 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 marketing | 2023 | The University of Melbourne | The University of Sydney | |
| 2023 | Successful strategies for improving access to justice for women who kill their abusers Workshops Program 2023 | $8,945 | Associate Professor Danielle Tyson, with Professor Bronwyn Naylor OAM, and Professor Heather Douglas AM FASSA | Deakin University, RMIT University, The University of Melbourne | Gender violence, abuse, justice, women | 2023 | Deakin University | RMIT University | The University of Melbourne | |
| 2023 | The digital governance of welfare-to-work and employment services Workshops Program 2023 | $8,095 | 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 Wales | Welfare, digital, employment | 2023 | The University of Melbourne | La Trobe University | University of New South Wales | |
| 2023 | Education and Anthropocene Workshops Program 2023 | $8,841 | 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 | Education | 2023 | The University of Melbourne | Deakin University | La Trobe University | |
| 2023 | Australian Urban Robotic Futures: Potentials, Limits and Options Workshops Program 2023 | $9,000 | Professor Robyn Dowling FASSA, with Professor Simon Marvin, and Professor Martin Tomitsch | The University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney | Robotics | 2023 | The University of Sydney | University of Technology Sydney | |
| 2023 | Teachers in early education (TEE): An innovative approach to assessing and supporting early childhood teaching quality Workshops Program 2023 | $9,000 | Associate Professor Marianne Fenech, with Professor Sandie Wong, and Laureate Professor Marilyn Fleer FASSA | The University of Sydney, Macquarie University, Monash University | Early years, education, teaching quality | 2023 | The University of Sydney | Macquarie University | Monash University | |
| 2023 | Due process or due proceeds? The future of confiscation and related AML laws in Australia Workshops Program 2023 | $8,600 | Dr Radha Ivory, with Dr Gregory Dale, and Emeritus Professor Arie Freiberg AM FASSA | The University of Queensland; Monash University | Money-laundering, wealth, laws | 2023 | The University of Queensland | Monash University | |
| 2022 | Global Orders: Past and Present Workshops Program 2022 | $9,000 Findings | George Lawson with Iain MacGillivray and Christian Reus-Smit | Australian National University | East/West global order | 2022 | Australian National University | |
| 2022 | Policy responses to the experience of refugee and asylum seeker women in Australia: A political values perspective Workshops Program 2022 | $7,770 | Bomikazi Zeka with Heba Batainah, Linda Botterill, and Michael Walsh | The University of Canberra | Refugees, Women, Policy | 2022 | The University of Canberra | |
| 2022 | Building the recovery: Creating decent working futures in Australia Workshops Program 2022 | $8,950 | Ariadne Vromen with Rae Cooper, Brendan Churchill, and Josh Healy | Australian National University | Future of work, Workplace, Pandemics | 2022 | Australian National University | |
| 2022 | Building Education Systems for Equity and Inclusion Findings report Building Education Systems for Equity and Inclusion Presentations (Slides) Building Education Systems for Equity and Inclusion" | Education for Inclusion | Building Alternative Indicators for Schooling | Excellence in Teaching | Research in First Nations Education | Excellence for All Students Workshops Program 2020 | $9,000 | Scott Eacott with Eileen Baldry | UNSW Sydney | School education, Equity, Educational outcomes | 2022 | UNSW Sydney | |
| 2022 | Co-creating a policy pathway to assist Australia in meeting its commitment of halving food waste by 2030 Workshops Program 2022 | $9,000 | Gamithri Karunasena with David Pearson, Sarah Wheeler, and Francesca Goodman-Smith | Central Queensland University | Food futures, Food waste, Policy | 2022 | Central Queensland University | |
| 2022 | Computational social science in Australia: Approaches, capabilities, and opportunities Workshops Program 2022 | $8,928 | Olga Boichak with Nick Enfield and Simon Jackman | The University of Sydney | Social sciences, Research capabilities, Digital futures | 2022 | The University of Sydney | |
| 2022 | From Theory to Practice: Leveraging Feminist Approaches to Care at a Time of Crisis Workshops Program 2022 | $9,000 | Megan Warin with Chris Beasley and Sophie Chao | The University of Adelaide | Crises, Gender, Women, Care, Pandemic | 2022 | The University of Adelaide | |
| 2022 | Post Pandemic Positions: Australian NGOs and education in a century of internationalism - students, experts and friends Workshops Program 2022 | $7,796 | David Lowe with Kate Darian-Smith, Jon Piccini, and Melanie Oppenheimer | Deakin University | International students, Education exports, Australia, Pandemics | 2022 | Deakin University | |
| 2022 | Age Friendly Universities and Age-Aware Curriculum Developmentin the Decade of Healthy Ageing Workshops Program 2022 | $2,382 | Nancy A Pachana with Alphia Possamai-Inesedy, Stephen Birch, and Peta Cook | The University of Queensland | University education, Ageing, Age-friendly | 2022 | The University of Queensland | |
| 2022 | Tackling Gender Inequality through the Law: Improving Accountability for Gender-Responsive Laws at the Domestic Level Findings | Policy proposal Workshops Program 2020 | $9,000 | 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 index | 2020 | University of Technology Sydney | |
| 2021 | Global food supply chains in a world on the edge Findings Workshops Program 2021 | $9,000 | Dr Victoria Stead, with Professor Jon Altman and A/Professor Melinda Hinkson | Deakin University | Food systems, supply chains, global market, food crises, food shocks, consumer ethics, resilience | 2021 | Deakin University |