The Social Impact Grants enable research at UTS that creates real impact for people, providing investment for both academics and practitioners at UTS to work on social justice initiatives that would not otherwise receive resources or funding.
The grants are run by the Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion to inspire and support research aligning with the specific domains of focus of the Social Impact Framework.
We are proud to share the recipients of the 2019 grand funding:
Grace Wong & Frances Simmons, Anti-Slavery Australia, located in the Faculty of Law
Forced Marriage Survivor Advisory Group: understanding perspectives of forced marriage
The Australian Government is considering introducing a Federal regime of forced marriage protection orders, for people who want to avoid or leave a forced marriage. They will be consulting about this over the next 12 months. Working in partnership with an advisory group of forced marriage survivors, this project will share their insights into how Australia can improve access to justice and legal remedies for survivors of forced marriage.
Alice McAuliffe (UTS ART), Associate Professor Deborah Edwards & Associate Professor Carmel Foley (UTS Business School)
UTS ART Live evaluation and research paper in collaboration with RNA, Athena Swan and LGBTQI+ community at UTS
Evaluating three arts projects that explore using artistic expertise and creativity to address specific program outcomes. The three programs targeted aim to: increase understanding of consent (Respect.Now.Always); increase awareness of gender equality (Athena SWAN); and give voice to the LGBTQIA+ community at UTS ('Queer tour of UTS').
Emily Booth, PhD Candidate, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Investigating the publication of Australian picture books by and about people from diverse communities in 2018
Picture books play a crucial introductory role in showing children the diverse range of human communities, cultures, identities, and experiences in the world. But these books under-represent diverse communities, and authors and illustrators from these communities are rarely given the agency and access to the publishing industry and have their voices heard. This project will gather needed data to evaluate this problem.
Dr Thomas Lee, Dr Alexandra Crosby, Dr Kate Scardifield, Clare Cooper & Dr Jesse Adams Stein, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building
Repair Design: Shared Knowledge & Practice
This project aims to open up informed, realistic and meaningful public discourse about the relationship between design and repair practices in an Australian context. Ultimately aiming to trigger widespread public engagement to spur action, generate further participation, and engender deeper material awareness, ultimately aiming to shift mindsets with regards to repair and reuse.
Dr Lucy Mercer-Mapstone, Faculty of Science
Developing Inclusive Science Curricula: Co-creating an inclusive culture in science with students as partners
The Developing Inclusive Science Curricula project aims to develop, implement, and evaluate targeted initiatives to enhance curricula and culture in the Faculty of Science to be inclusive and representative of diverse people, resources, approaches, and knowledges.
Kirsten Thorpe, Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research
Right of Reply - Indigenous Rights in Data & Collections Symposium
The right of reply is becoming increasingly important for collecting institutions that hold Indigenous cultural materials and records. To engage with the right of reply is to recognise the issues and inherent biases associated with colonial collecting paradigms. This grant funds a one-day symposium to look at Indigenous rights in data and collections, and the importance of the Right of Reply in relation to Indigenous self-determination and national truth-telling efforts.
Dr Nicole Sutton & Raechel Wight, UTS Business School
Do the most good: enabling student agency through classroom Giving Games
The Altruistic Accounting project is an innovative approach to teaching decision-making concepts that creates an inspiring, reflective learning experience. The 'Giving Game' engages students in collectively deciding how to allocate a pool of real money between charitable causes on behalf of real donors to ‘do the most good’. This project aims to make classroom Giving Games sustainable through long-term donor support, and become a scalable teaching practice.
Sophie Ritchie, Faculty of Engineering and IT
Leveraging UTS’s 3D-printing, engineering and social justice capabilities to 3D-print recycled plastics for those in need of pro-bono prosthesis
Optimising the 3D-printing process for creating prosthetic limbs from a common waste plastic - a project that the 3D printing community has not yet managed to crack. This will be put into practice through printing prosthetic arms for people unable to afford them. A large part of the project will be invested in driving R&D forward in the science of 3D-printing prosthesis from waste plastic.
Lucy Klippan & Giti Datt, Design Innovation and research Centre, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building
Co-designing the Service Intake Model for Nelly's Healing Centre
Support for the Nelly’s Healing Centre team in developing their service model, based on their core values and vision for the service. The project will provide a mechanism through which to explore new decolonised models of partnership between UTS and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partners, with the DIRC team playing a supporting role to the Nelly’s team, using their expertise but being guided by the team’s collective wisdom, experience and values.
Carolyn Liaw, Anti-Slavery Australia, located in the Faculty of Law
Equipping migration agents with the tools to support victims or people at risk of modern slavery
Migration agents are required to undertake ten units of continuing professional development (CPD) annually. But they are not required to undertake compulsory training in respect of modern slavery issues. To address this gap, this project will develop and pilot a tailored education package on modern slavery for migration agents. Educating migration agents will increase the likelihood that people at risk and victims of modern slavery will be identified and offered (further) advice and support.