Our impact

Research in action

Our approach is unique: drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives, we connect seemingly disparate areas in new ways and translate the findings into practical, sustainable solutions. This research delivers a lasting impact in the world beyond academia, transforming industry practice and government policy that paves the way towards increased individual mobility, social diversity and economic equality. 

Investigating domestic violence, improving women’s lives

Based at UTS Business School, Professor Anne Summers’ research focuses on the pervasive impact of domestic and family violence in Australia. 

Anne's ground-breaking report, The Choice: Violence or Poverty, revealed the stark choice facing many Australian women who have experienced domestic violence at the hands of their partner: do they stay and risk the violence continuing or even escalating, or leave and face the high probability of a life of ‘policy-induced poverty’.

Launched in July 2022, with research supported by a Paul Ramsay Foundation Fellowship, and based on never-before-published customised data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the report signals the need for urgent policy changes to ensure that women who want to leave violent relationships can do so without being forced into poverty. The report was used by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as the basis for raising the single parenting allowance in the May 2023 federal budget.

 

Improving equitable outcomes in the finance sector

The Australian Sustainable Finance Roadmap project brought together UTS researchers with other financial system participants in an unprecedented coalition to map out a transformation of the country’s financial system to better meet 21st-century challenges.

The project was developed with assistance from the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures and UTS Business School Finance Department, along with input from more than 80 industry organisations. 

The Roadmap Report (PDF) outlines 37 recommendations that can enable the financial services sector to deliver a sustainable and resilient economy that prioritises wellbeing and social equity, protection of the environment and a transition to net zero emissions.

 

Advising the NSW Government during the COVID pandemic

Our Centre for Business Intelligence and Data Analytics (BIDA) supported the NSW Government as it sought to develop effective measures to address the physical, psychological, and economic challenges of the pandemic.

In April 2020, not long after the World Health Organisation’s official declaration of a pandemic, the BIDA team measured the feelings and fears of more than 2000 people across all states and territories. The data revealed COVID-19 was perceived as a threat (scoring 8 out of 10), though about 13 per cent of people in NSW reported a low level of concern and rated the virus ‘no worse than the flu’. 

BIDA researchers provided insights to the NSW Government into the public’s understanding and perceptions of – as well as compliance with – COVID-19 restrictions, into perceptions of government management of the pandemic, and into likely vaccine uptake.

 

Helping everyday Australians combat the climate crisis

Research ranking the effectiveness of various actions individuals can take to reduce their carbon footprint found that switching your superannuation over to an ethical or responsible fund was the third most effective way to reduce emissions, an option most consumers were unaware of. 

UTS Business School‘s research was included in a new whitepaper published by Australian Ethical Investment.