Please note - Swinburne University of Technology

Centre for Urban and Social
Research
Chair
J. Pidgeon
School of Information Systems, 214 8306,
Y 214 8825, Fax 819 5349
The Centre was established in 1976 as a vehicle to bring
5
r together Swinburne staff with a common interest in urban
issues. The original objective of the Centre was to run seminars
-. I and workshops for the general community. From the early
'o, 1980s, the focus has been on applied and pure research, with
7 a particular emphasis on housing research. In the 1990s, these
activities have been sustained and expanded but have been
complimented by initiatives in public sector training and
. education including the production of workplace training
2 modules.
The Centre emphasises the demographic, social and economic
dimensions of urban research, education and training and
policy development. As a result of the accumulated experience
of staff, a wide range of skills and techniques is offered by the
Centre including survey research, needs analysis, social impact
analysis, housing market analysis, community profiles,
population forecasting and projections, development of
training modules and multi-media teaching programs, and
policy evaluation.
Research themes of the Centre
Housing and urban issues, particularly the affordability of
housing, infrastructure provision and housing
finance have taken a new immediacy in the last two
years reflecting a renewed concern at all levels of
government with these issues. The Centre has close
contact with senior officials, and politicians at all levelsof
government.
The Centre reinforces the University's research
priorities in terms of an applied focus, close links with
industry, and the integration of socio-economic analyses
with the technological. There is no equivalent urban
and social research centre in any university in Victoria,and
few in Australia, with similar objectives,
competence or size.
The Centre is particularly concerned in translating its
considerable research knowledge into training and
educative materials for a wider audience hence the
emphasis on development of training modules.
Community relationships
Members of the Centre are involved in numerous external
committees and panels as well as making regular appearances
in the print and electronic media.
Centre for Women's Studies
Chair
T. Castleman
Division of Business, Humanities and Social
Science, 214 8466
The Centre for Women's Studies is composed of members
who have a wide range of expertise relevant to gender and
the status of women.
The activities of the Centre include:
presenting short courses on topics which'concern
women and gender issues (e.g., feminist theory, equal
opportunity Implementation, women and education).
Such courses are open to the general public
carrying out research projects which investigate aspectsof
the status of women and social policy relevant to the
special needs of women
compiling educational materials relating to women's
studies for use in teaching courses on sex and gender as
well as for inclusion in existing courses
preparation of occasional papers.