Social Inclusion and Social Policy Research Unit (SISPRU)

The Social Inclusion and Social Policy Research Unit (SISPRU) is a long-standing research group within the Monash University Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. The Group Director is Professor Philip Mendes in the Department of Social Work, School of Primary and Allied Health Care (SPAHC), at Caulfield Campus.

SISPRU undertakes high quality social research from a social work/social welfare perspective. The Unit has a depth of experience and interest across a range of social policy concerns such as young people transitioning from out-of-home care, the history and politics of the Australian welfare state including particularly forms of welfare conditionality such as compulsory income management, medically supervised injecting rooms, Jewish community responses to institutional child sexual abuse (CSA), policy responses to poverty and disadvantage, and social work involvement in policy practice and advocacy. Many of the findings from current and completed research studies are summarized in the recently published book From Resistance to Reform: Case studies of long-term social justice advocacy in Australia.

Additional areas identified for future research projects include the over-representation of First Nations children and youth in the child protection and out-of-home care systems, the adequacy of social security payments (i.e. Job Seeker Allowance) for the unemployed, and the merits of proposals for the Registration of the Social Work profession in Australia

SISPRU builds on its solid record of evidence-based research to participate in education and community debate. It promotes knowledge and understanding in ways that enrich and improve public policy and related practice. With a strong academic foundation, it undertakes both independent and collaborative social policy research. Key research objectives include the development of fairer and more effective policies and programs for responding to social disadvantage, and an examination of the relative influence of structural and individual factors on social exclusion.

SISPRU provides meaningful opportunities for post-graduate training in inter-disciplinary policy research and partnerships with government and non-government community service providers and other policy bodies and advocates. It also offers effective and impartial program evaluations, facilitation, education and training as well as media comment, conference, keynote and panel contributions.

Current and planned activities

SISPRU brings together multiple research studies in which Philip Mendes plays a major role. They currently include:

  • Young people transitioning from out-of-home care: Recent funding grants in this area include an Australian Research Council Linkage Grant, a National Centre for Healthy Ageing grant, and an Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia Workshop grant. Further grant applications are actioned to examine the social and economic impact of the new extended care programs across Australia. Additionally, four PhD students are currently enrolled, three domestic and one international student from Indonesia. Discrete research areas covered include First Nations care leavers, the role of social capital, early parenting, exits from residential care, the experiences of culturally and linguistically diverse care leavers, and access to education, employment and housing. Philip Mendes currently co-chairs the Australian regional chapter of INTRAC which provides opportunities for scholars across Australia to share their research findings. INTRAC Australia recently hosted a two day national research workshop which brought together researchers, policy advocates, First Nations community representatives, and adults with lived experience of out-of-home care from across Australia.
  • Poverty policy unit: Headed by Dr Simon Leadley and Philip Mendes, this multi-disciplinary unit seeks to advance research, policy analysis, and advocacy aimed at reducing poverty in Australia.

Enquiries

Enquiries about the work of the group, individual studies, and interest from prospective Masters and PhD students, in the first instance please contact philip.mendes@monash.edu