Communities and visual ethnography

Research in this group has a focus on enhancing community well-being across multiple dimensions. The researchers draw upon and contribute to a variety of approaches and their work recognises the significance of aspects of everyday life. Examples of current research activity include:

Community identity auditing

This project spans multiple sites including small rural communities, a large recreational park in a provincial city, and educational facilities. In its first stage it is using visual research methods to capture representational aspects of community identity. In subsequent stages, community interest groups will be drawn into consideration of the implications of what is found and development of action plans. The work has begun in Australia and is being readied for international application.
Jon Austin and Andrew Hickey

GraniteNet

The GraniteNet project is being conducted in the Granite Belt region around Stanthorpe and aims to develop 'a sustainable community designed, owned and managed portal that will support Stanthorpe's development as a learning community.'
Catherine Arden

Barriers to tertiary studies

This project has grown out of previous cross-cultural work and is exploring social, cultural and linguistic barriers to tertiary studies among Year 12 students from refugee backgrounds.
Shirley O'Neill and Aniko Hatoss

Communities of practice at USQ

Several communities of practice (CoPs) have been established to foster teaching and learning quality at USQ. CoPs provide contextualised professional development opportunities and support the sharing of academic practices.