Our research

This $332,453 project funded as part of the RACE for 2030 Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) and co-funded by industry partners AusGrid, Schneider Electric, WA Government Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, and NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water aims to understand current EV and non-EV mobility behaviours, and likely barriers and enablers to EV adoption among Australian householders.

Australia is lagging in the transition to a clean transportation system, particularly in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, due to unclear policy direction over the past decade. However, recent targets for emissions reductions by 2030 and 2050 have prompted action. The Australian Government has responded by developing the National Electric Vehicle Strategy and new emissions standards to boost EV uptake, alongside initiatives like the Electric Car Discount and the Driving the Nation Fund, which aims to establish a national EV charging network.
Despite these efforts, it's unclear how residential consumers will engage with EVs regarding purchase, charging, maintenance, and energy management during the transition to net zero. Most existing research focuses on the US and Europe and tends to overlook social justice issues. There is a significant gap in understanding the lived experiences of Australian consumers and the psychological, socio-economic, cultural, and structural factors influencing their perceptions and behaviours toward EVs. As the Australian Government commits to EVs and net-zero energy futures, it's essential to gain insights into creating an equitable transition that considers diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. Moreover, there is a need for knowledge on effective policies, technologies, and behaviour change strategies to ensure a successful and inclusive shift to EVs in Australia.

This 18-month project focusing on undertaking research to help put Australian consumers at the heart of the EV transition, and consists of three iterative stages:

Stage 1: Narrative Interviews and visual ethnography with householders
Stage 2: Quantitative research: National consumer questionnaire survey
Stage 3: Co-design of recommendations to support Australian householders in a successful, equitable and inclusive transition to EVs.

Team

Professor Ross Gordon, UTS, Lead Chief Investigator
Professor Rebekah Russell-Bennett, University of Canberra, Chief Investigator
Dr Theresa Harada, UTS, Chief Investigator
Associate Professor Adrian Camilleri, UTS, Chief Investigator 
Nathan Moore, UTS, Research Assistant
Nodoka Nakamichi, Climate-KIC Australia @ UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures

This $80,000 project is funded by Our Watch with the aim of identifying and summarising the existing evidence of using social marketing for the prevention of violence against women and making recommendations for future research and practice. To foster and support delivery of campaigns to prevent violence against women across jurisdictions, Our Watch and its national expert group have identified the need for best practice guidance on social marketing. This literature review has been commissioned as a first step in developing that guidance. Our Watch’s framework, Change the Story, emphasises a comprehensive approach to addressing the drivers of violence. Relying solely on mass media campaigns alone is unlikely to be effective; instead, using mixed methods and collaborating across sectors and settings can better shift attitudes and behaviours. Evaluations show that multiple reinforcing campaigns launched simultaneously improve audience recognition. Research indicates that the public has significant gaps in understanding gender inequality and its connection to violence against women. Our Watch’s collaborations with State and Territory Governments reveal a strong interest in investing in preventive campaigns. To effectively address the drivers of violence, we must engage more people, more frequently and encourage action through evidence-based social marketing campaigns. Accordingly, Our Watch has commissioned the research team at UTS to undertake this evidence review.

The project will involve three stages consisting of:

Stage 1: Consultation on the Parameters of the review
Stage 2: Identification of evidence using systematic literature review methods
Stage 3: Consultation and development of recommendations and final report

Team 

Professor Ross Gordon, UTS, Lead Chief Investigator
Dr Theresa Harada, UTS, Chief Investigator
Dr Celina McEwen, UTS, Chief Investigator
Dr Foluké Badejo, UQ, Chief Investigator     

This project funded by an Energy Consumers Australia Influencer Grant ($187,456) focuses on understanding the energy practices and the issues and challenges experience in navigating energy choices that are faced by CALD international students living in private rental accommodation in Australia. CALD international students living in private rental properties are exposed to risks of energy hardship because rental properties are less energy-efficient than owner-occupied dwellings CALD international students have additional vulnerabilities, as newly arrived residents from diverse ethnic backgrounds, increasing the risk of energy poverty and disconnection. Yet, CALD international students make a significant economic contribution to Australian society - $37.6 billion in 2019. While student energy poverty has been highlighted as an issue in other jurisdictions there is limited research in Australia. This collaborative project working with the community organisation Better Renting aims to increases the capacity to support policy development of minimum energy efficiency standards, provide consumer information to assist CALD International students, and point to opportunities for ensuring a more inclusive energy transition through informing the National Energy Market. The project involves two stages:

Stage 1: Online survey of CALD international students’ energy use and housing related knowledge, attitudes, behaviours, and experiences with the energy market in Australia.

Stage 2a: Residential energy efficiency assessment - Working with a sample of 40 CALD international students residing across two different climate zones (Coastal Sydney and Illawarra: Climate Zone 5) and (Western Sydney: Climate Zone 6) household energy assessments will be conducted to record internal conditions during summer and winter periods by use of a temperature logger. 

Stage 2b: Household ethnographies: The same 40 CALD international student participants will be invited to participate in two narrative interviews about their energy practices, one during winter and one during summer to reflect on their experiences, issues and challenges with energy use. Visual ethnographies will also be conducted during allows participants to illustrate their everyday energy practices via photograph or video.

Team

Senior Professor Gordon Waitt, Wollongong, Lead Chief Investigator
Professor Ross Gordon, UTS, Chief Investigator
Dr Theresa Harada, UTS, Chief Investigator
Joel Dignam, Better Renting, Partner Investigator
Michael Tibbs, Wollongong, Research Fellow