International Consortium for Research on Employment and Work (iCREW)

This international consortium is a network. It builds on a long tradition of research and education research excellence in the fields of human resources (HR), industrial relations (IR), labour economics, labour law and related fields at Monash University, that began in the University’s early years in the 1960s, when these fields were led by the late Hon Emeritus Professor Joe Isaac, AO.

This tradition also includes a legacy from the former National Key Centre in Industrial Relations, which the Australian Research Council (ARC) funded at Monash from the late 1980s through the 1990s. The Key Centre was led initially by Professor Allan Fels AO, FASSA, then by Emeritus Professor Malcolm Rimmer, FASSA. Subsequent directors were the late Emeritus Professor Gerry Griffin and Professor Julian Teicher.

After the maximum term of the ARC Key Centre funding had ended, the University approved the establishment of the Australian Centre for Research on Employment and Work (ACREW). As a research centre, it was based primarily in the Department of Management, Faculty of Business and Economics, though people from other Monash elements also participated in it. ACREW was led initially Professor Helen De Cieri. Subsequent directors were Professor Fang Lee Cooke and Professor Amrik Sohal.

After Professor Greg Bamber and the late Dr Sandra Cockfield became Co-Directors, following consultation with stakeholders ACREW was re-launched as the International Consortium for Research on Employment and Work (iCREW). The current co-directors are Professor Greg Bamber, Associate Professor Brian Cooper and Dr Jin Huang.

Over the years, ACREW’s/iCREW’s leadership has also involved several others including Professor Anne Bardoel, Professor Peter Holland, Dr Marjorie Jerrard and Associate Professor Tui McKeown.

As part of the Department of Management, iCREW continues to promote research and scholarship in the broad fields of HR, IR, employment, workplace relations, and the future of labour, work, organisational and technological change. Monash University's research in HR,  organisations and related fields has been ranked at the top among Australian universities in successive years. Members of iCREW have contributed to this achievement.

Aims

iCREW members aim to produce research that contributes insights to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the International Labour Organization’s Decent Work agenda. Its research and engagement are consistent with the University’s strategy of addressing the challenges of the age for the betterment of our communities, locally and globally. Our communities embrace unions and employers, including small and medium enterprises.

iCREW aims to foster interdisciplinary and collaborative research in such areas, drawing on a range of disciplines including accounting, economics, finance, history, law, management, marketing, organisational studies, politics, psychology, sociology and strategy. iCREW members, then, contribute to Monash Business School’s purpose and vision. iCREW is (largely) externally-facing and has a primary goal of promoting research engagement through:

• Contributing to research-focused and public-policy debates in our fields through seminars, symposia, webinars and other events.
• Fostering links between Monash and other researchers and research institutions, as well as with practitioners and professional associations, locally and globally.
• Facilitating high-quality research, involving impact, engagement and publications.

iCREW members work collaboratively on research projects, some of which are interdisciplinary. They welcome visitors, research students, and other forms of engagement. iCREW members are at the cutting edge of conceptual and phenomenon-based research, engaging with policy makers and facilitating the formulation and dissemination of theories and practices.

Thank you to the interesting people and other entities in our networks, and those who support our events. We also much appreciate support from the Department of Management’s HR and IR Research Interest Group, as well as from the Department’s and Monash Business School’s excellent academic and professional staff.

iCREW acknowledges and pays respects to the Elders and Traditional Owners of the Australian land. It is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion.