Melbourne Social Equity Institute’s Community Fellows Program aims to meet the research needs of community organisations to conduct small research-related projects in collaboration with university-based researchers.
The Melbourne Social Equity Institute’s Community Fellows Program aims to meet the research needs of community organisations to conduct small research-related projects in collaboration with university-based researchers.
Through the Community Fellows Program, we aim to support research that will lead to positive outcomes such as improved service delivery, the development of new services, improved ability to advocate effectively or the improved capacity to undertake future research projects.
Community Fellows are able to spend time at the University of Melbourne to develop research skills. Projects should be relevant to the work of community-based organisations and aim to promote social equity. Projects could involve conducting a scoping report, literature review, data analysis or a small research project.
The Community Fellows Program gives our small organisation an opportunity to do much-needed original research in our specialised field that would not have been otherwise possible. It gives me the space, time and resources to stop, think and investigate. Invaluable! 2017 Community Fellow
The initiative is targeted at small to medium-sized community-based organisations (up to 200 employees) that currently have very limited capacity to conduct research. Projects should be small, tightly focused and address an issue of relevance to the organisation. Key objectives for the Community Fellows Program are to meet community-based needs for research and to foster community–academic collaborations.
Each Community Fellow is assigned an Academic Mentor with relevant expertise. The Melbourne Social Equity Institute and the Academic Mentor will work with the Fellow to design a feasible project and the supervisor will meet with the fellow regularly over the course of the project. Additional support will also be provided by the Melbourne Social Equity Institute to assist the Community Fellows while they conduct and write up their research.
During their placement, Community Fellows will have opportunities to participate in a range of academic and professional development activities. Community Fellows will also be provided with desk space at the University, a computer to work on, a temporary email address and access to library and internet facilities.
Grants of up to $5000 are available to the community-based organisations to compensate them for the time that Community Fellows spend working at the University. A Collaboration Agreement will be created specifying project details, levels of financial support and expected outcomes.
Commenced in 2017
Jessica Tran, 100 Story Building
Development of participatory evaluation toolkit
Academic Mentor: Lisa Gibbs
Bridgid Junot, Athletics Australia
Assessing long-term outcomes of Raise the Bar Academy
Academic Mentors: John Quay and Bernadette Murphy
Supported by the Indigenous Research Initiative
Nick Cooper, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre
Measuring #RightTrack digital engagement and uptake
Academic Mentor: Colette Einfeld
André Dao and Michael Green, Behind the Wire
Behind the Wire: A case study of collaborative activism
Academic Mentor: Sara Wills
Jennifer Coburn, Deafness Foundation (Victoria)
Understanding the needs of people who are deaf or have hearing loss
Academic Mentors: Manjula Marella and Alex Robinson
Supported by the Disability Research Initiative
Denise Cauchi, Diaspora Action Australia
Understanding how South Sudanese and Sri Lankan communities in Australia contribute to peace-building in their countries of origin through community harmony and reconciliation initiatives
Academic Mentor: Jennifer Balint
Julian McDonald, Flemington & Kensington Community Legal Centre
Analysing police complaints data from community legal centres
Academic Mentor: Diana Johns
Emmanuel Musoni, Great Lakes Association for Peace and Development
Identifying major issues that affect the settlement and integration of migrants from the Great Lakes Region of Africa to Australia
Academic Mentors: Olivia Dun and Karen Block
Ruth Barson, Human Rights Law Centre
The use of solitary confinement in Australia’s youth justice facilities
Academic Mentor: Bernadette McSherry
Anna Dollard, Kids Own Publishing
South Sudanese Storytelling: Creative expression, cultural and intergenerational understandings
Academic Mentor: Mary Tomsic
Matt Addison, Not To Violence Incorporating Men's Referral Service
Better Lives: Applying Rehabilitative Principles to Family Violence Perpetrator Interventions
Academic Mentor: Kelsey Hegarty
Supported by Melbourne research Alliance to End Violence against women and their children (MAEVe)
Ajak Kwai, oArt – Optimistic Art Projects
Culture Shock - a Multi–artform Exploration
Academic Mentor: Tania Canas
Helen Greig, Oakwood School: Caulfield Park Community Campus
Equipping young men to avoid becoming perpetrators of family violence
Academic Mentors: Helen Cahill and Kylie Smith
Supported by Melbourne research Alliance to End Violence against women and their children (MAEVe)
Dominic Golding, RISE
Overcoming impairment: disabled refugees and their perceptions of accessing disability support
Academic Mentors: Cathy Vaughan and Karen Block
Jenny Chapman, Royal Women's Hospital
Older women’s experience of family violence
Academic Mentor: Kelsey Hegarty
Supported by Melbourne research Alliance to End Violence against women and their children (MAEVE)
Belinda Briggs, Shepparton Art Museum
Increasing the representation of Yorta Yorta and Southeast Indigenous art in the Shepparton Art Gallery
Academic Mentor: Genevieve Grieves
Sarah Diplock, The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency
An evaluation model for arts-based social enterprises
Academic Mentor: Winsome Roberts
Katrina Cornwell, Women's Circus
Evaluating the effectiveness of Women’s Circus’ programs
Academic Mentor: Katrina McFerran
Commenced in 2016
Bec Harris, Carlton Primary School
A Trauma Informed Approach to Education Organisation
Academic Mentor: Greg Donoghue
Catherine Hemingway, Western Community Legal Centre Community
Final Project Report on Research into Issues of Migrant Employment
Academic Mentor: Joo-Cheong Tham
Shawn Wilkey, Carlton Football Community Fund
Skills For Life Community Program Review
Academic Mentor: Karen Block
Kamarra Bell-Wykes, ILBIJERRI Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Theatre Company
Performing Arts Programs in Juvenile Justice in Victoria 2005–2015: Mapping Policy, Research and Programs
Academic Mentor: Sophie Rudolph
Susan Timmins, Women’s Health West
Identifying Employment Barriers for Tertiary-educated Muslim Australian Women
Academic Mentor: Richard Williams
Applications for the Community Fellows Program for 2018 are now open. A total of six Community Fellowships are expected to be offered in 2018.
* Please contact us if you require information in an alternative format
Applications close on Friday 15 June at 5pm. Late applications will not be accepted.
If you have any questions about the Community Fellows Program or the application process please contact:
Dr Richard Williams
williams.richard@unimelb.edu.au
+61 (3) 9035 8066
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