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About the Australian Institute for Social Research

The Australian Institute of Social Research (AISR) is based at the University of Adelaide and brings together:

• The Centre for Labour Research
• The Don Dunstan Foundation
• The National Centre for Social Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GISCA)
• The Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU)
• The Social Health Unit

The AISR is one of Australia's largest social science research organisations with around 35 staff and PhD students from a range of disciplinary backgrounds including geography, economics, sociology, labour studies, history, politics and gender studies. Professor Graeme Hugo, Australian Research Council Federation Fellow is the AISR Research Director. The Executive Director of the Institute is Associate Professor John Spoehr.

The AISR is a leader in spatial information, demographic, economic, labour market and social health research and analysis and community planning for international and national federal, state and local government authorities and the private sector. It specialises in research designed to provide an evidence base for policy development and planning and a capacity to assess whether policy objectives are being achieved.

• Areas of expertise
• Outstanding staff
• Outstanding local, national and international linkages
• Australian Institute for Social Research Capability Statement (pdf 193kB)

Areas of expertise

The AISR has a strong track record in pure and applied research providing support to clients in the following areas:

• labour market and workforce analysis and planning

• social and economic impact analysis

• policy development and strategic planning

• policy and program evaluation

• development of social well-being and social health indicators

• design and analysis of surveys

• design of internet based social/economic/demographic data collation systems to support policy development and planning

• disaggregated local, regional and community analysis

• socio-economic and environmental applications of GIS

• social data collection, analysis, storage, interpretation and presentation

• design of user-friendly computer based Management Information Systems for Health and Social Welfare agencies

• research training at all levels through short courses, Masters and PhD programs

Outstanding staff

Staff associated the Institute have played a leading role in research within the University of Adelaide, as well as nationally and internationally.

• Staff associated with the Institute have an outstanding record when it comes to National Competitive Grants having won 22 of the 30 current Australian Research Council (ARC) Competitive grants in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.

• Professor Graeme Hugo is the Faculty's only ever Federation Fellow and Chief Investigator (CI) on six ARC Linkage projects and one NHMRC project. At an international level, Professor Hugo has extensive involvement in population and immigration forums.

• Associate Professor John Spoehr is a CI on six ARC Linkage projects and a DHS Human Services Research and Innovation Program grant. Associate Professor John Spoehr Chaired and was Principal Reviewer for the South Australian Review of Employment Programs advising on the future of employment policy and programs in South Australia.

• Led by Mr John Glover the Public Health Information Development Unit (PHIDU) is nationally recognised for its work on the Social Health Atlases of Australia as well as the development of the first Social Health Atlas of Young South Australians and quality of life indicators for the State Government's Social Inclusion Unit.

• Dr Ray Broomhill is a CI 2 ARC Linkages and a partner in a six year international project involving 19 senior academics and four countries. The project is funded by the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

Outstanding local, national and international linkages

AISR researchers have a strong local, national and international profile and linkages. We have provided research services to an extensive and diverse range of organisations including: