SSSHARC Research Impact Accelerator

Access to abortion care in Australia is constrained by limited provision, shortfalls in information, and cost and distance. Access All Areas is a community-focused project that aims to improve access to abortion care services ensuring that every individual, regardless of their location or citizenship status, has the right to informed, safe and timely abortion care.

The activity supported by the Accelerator is a podcast pilot produced by Lea Redfern (Media and Communications), an internationally recognised audio documentary maker.

The team includes social policy expert Professor Sue Goodwin (Education and Social Work), Dr Anna Noonan (Public Health) who has just completed a doctorate on reproductive (in)justice in rural communities in NSW, and Honours research students in Social Work, Domina Augustine and Isabella Compton, who are picking up podcasting and research translation skills through the project.

The Access All Areas podcast will give voice to marginalised and affected communities, and ultimately build public momentum for policy change.

The early childhood education and care (ECEC) system in Australia no longer serves the public good, as revealed in recent research into economic productivity and workplace participation. A Flourishing Childhood project, led by Associate Professor Luara Ferracioli (Political Philosophy), will focus on the fundamental values that are often overlooked in existing policy debates.

Through the development and dissemination of a white paper, it will broaden the focus of the debate beyond considerations of productivity, workplace participation, and gender equality, to include the present and future interests of children, as well as equity of opportunity and social equality.

The project team includes Dr Ryan Cox (Political Philosophy) an expert in educational justice, as well as Jess Scully, the Former Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney. Professor Elizabeth Hill (Political Economy) will mentor the team in the development of policy proposals grounded in non-ideal theory. Recent Honours graduate, Annika Rees (Public Policy) will assist with the drafting of the white paper.

Led by Associate Professor Catherine Burgess (Aboriginal Education & Aboriginal Studies), Dr Claire Golledge (Education), and Professor Valerie Harwood (Sociology and Anthropology of Education), this project will enhance frontline service personnel's understanding of the complex challenges faced by Aboriginal communities.

Initial pilot work will involve nursing students participating in Learning from Country, a program developed initially to challenge and broaden education students’ understanding of Aboriginal peoples and cultures and build their confidence and skills when working in Aboriginal communities or with Aboriginal students.

This initiative builds on Cathie Burgess’s extensive collaboration with the Aboriginal community, and her role as an advocate for community-led approaches in teacher education. The recruitment of nursing students, feedback surveys and follow-up focus groups will be conducted by Belinda Clough (Clinical Education Specialist) and Reakeeta Smallwood (Indigenous and Population Health) both from the School of Nursing and Midwifery in the Faculty of Medicine and Health.

The data analysis will be led by Dr Golledge and Professor Amanda Howard (Social Work) and it is hoped that the resulting report will help secure future funding and the potential expansion of the Learning from Country module to other contexts. Angela Baxter (Commerce and Marketing), a PhD student at the Sydney Business School and Professor Howard will provide unique insights into future funding opportunities.

Access to early intervention and therapy for developmentally vulnerable children is a national priority, however, there are existing barriers to service provision for young children with developmental delay, differences, and disability and their families in rural communities.

Led by Dr Amanda Niland (Early Childhood Education) and Dr Olivia Karaolis (Special and Inclusive Education), this project partners with Monaro Family Support Services (MFSS) to co-design possibilities for more sustainable provision of early childhood support in the Monaro community.

The project includes Dr Kim Bulkeley (Health Sciences) from the Faculty of Medicine and Health, Dr Edward Johnson (Social Entrepreneurship) from the Sydney Business School, and PhD student Nelson Lo (Special and Inclusive Education). The team will work with MFSS to ensure that young children and their families living in rural and remote areas are supported to live their best lives through accessible, place-based support services.

Outside of clinical settings, there is little support for young autistic people to develop the skills and knowledge required for successful romantic relationships. The Romance Spectrum project will develop a user-informed romantic relationships resource through a comprehensive co-design process with autistic youth, and their parents and teachers.

The project is led by Dr Jessica Zanuttini (Special and Inclusive Education) who has expertise in autistic student voice. The team also draws upon the academic expertise of Associate Professor Cathy Little (Special and Inclusive Education) and PhD student Khalifah Aldughaysh (Education-Autism Spectrum Disorders), as well as teacher Aidan McKeegan.

A lived experience perspective is built into all aspects of the project, from initial conception through to co-design and implementation.

Away from Base (AFB) programs, also known as Block programs, have long been in place to allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to participate in teacher training while staying in community. A recent evaluation of this method of teaching delivery and learning shows clear positives in terms of student retention and well-being.

Led by Professor Lynette Riley (Aboriginal Education & Indigenous Studies) this project invites AFB graduates from the University of Sydney teacher education programs to provide feedback on their experience of the program and its impact on their subsequent careers. Findings from a thematic analysis of in-depth interviews with former graduates will contribute to future developments in Aboriginal Education and the training of Aboriginal teachers.

The research team includes Associate Professor Christine Evans (Aboriginal Education & Indigenous Social Policy), Dr Lorraine Towers (Aboriginal Education & Indigenous Studies), Dr Susan Poetsch (Aboriginal Education & Indigenous Studies) and Mirritya Ebsworth (Indigenous Languages Education) who is currently a PhD student at Western Sydney University and the 2022 Charles Perkins Memorial Prize winner.