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 including particularly 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), and social workers and policy practice and activism. 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 causes of and policy responses to poverty in Australia and beyond, the over-representation of First Nations children and youth in the out-of-home care system, the adequacy of social security payments (i.e. Job Seeker Allowance) for the unemployed, and the merits of current proposals  by the Australian Association of Social Workers 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: this area includes 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 planned 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, access to education 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.

  • Jewish community responses to Institutional Child Sexual Abuse (CSA): A current PhD student is enrolled in this area.

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