NATSEM will be hosting a workshop entitled “Wellbeing and Quality of Life in Australia” on Friday 23rd March 2012 from 9am – 4pm.

A number of speakers from economic, social, psychological and public health backgrounds in Australia with expertise on Subjective Wellbeing at individual and community level will be participating in this workshop. They will be discussing issues relating to measuring and conceptualising subjective wellbeing and issues concerning individual and community wellbeing in Australia, from family life and relationships to employment and lifestyle. There will also be a keynote presentation by Professor Robert Cummins, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia, between 11AM-12PM, as part of NATSEM 2012 Seminar Series.

Professor Robert A. Cummins has held a Personal Chair in Psychology at Deakin University since 1997. He has published widely on the topic of Quality of Life and is regarded as an international authority in this area. His research concerns quality of life theory and how such understanding can be used to improve the life experience of people who are disadvantaged. He is regarded as an international authority in this field. Professor Cummins is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society and of the International Society for Quality of Life Studies. In 2005 he was designated ‘Expert of International Standing in Quality of Life Research’ by the Australian Research Council College of Experts. Professor Cummins has published over 200 books, book chapters, papers and reports. He is on the editorial board of eight Journals and is Editor-in -chief of the Journal of Happiness Studies. Current research activities and other responsibilities also include: Chief Researcher on the Australian Unity Wellbeing Project; President, International Society for Quality of Life Studies; External Academic Advisor, Master of Social Science, City University of Hong Kong; and Research Grant Assessor for the National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia and New Zealand) and the Research Council (Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan).

To register your attendance, please send an email with your name, institution and email address to seminars@natsem.canberra.edu.au

The workshop will be held at the Ann Harding Conference Centre, Building 24, University of Canberra with parking available at various locations across the University.

If you require any further information about our workshop, please contact Dr Itismita Mohanty at NATSEM on (02) 6201 2762 or itismita.mohanty@natsem.canberra.edu.au or NATSEM reception on (02) 6201 2780.

We look forward to meeting you at this interesting event that we are delighted to be hosting.

The Water Governance Research Initiative is a theme of the NCCARF Water Resources and Freshwater Biodiversity Adaptation Research Network (www.nccarf.edu.au/water/node/5). Our objectives are to create a community of conversation about water governance in Australia, build collaborative research links, create opportunities for co-researching and information sharing, and provide opportunities for early-career researchers to participate in a national network of researchers and research-users.

Registration is now open for the Water Governance Research Initiative 2011 National Workshop. This FREE event, to be held at the ANU Crawford School in Canberra, will run for 2 days (21-22 November), each with related but distinct objectives.  

DAY ONE: REFLECTIONS ON AUSTRALIAN WATER REFORM

This day is set against the backdrop of the National Water Commission's Third Biennial Assessment Report  (www.nwc.gov.au). The overall theme of the day is: On-going water governance reform - what directions? The day will feature presentations and conversations around key themes of the report.

·  Report on key findings of the NWC's Third Biennial Assessment

·  Summary of the main findings from the National Water Governance Research Network

·  An international perspective on water reform with Canadian guest speaker Professor Rob de Loe (via video-link)

·  Discussion of water reforms from a number of thematic perspectives (presented by leading researchers)

·  Conversation mapping sessions

·  Closing panel and plenary discussion

·  Launch of Water Resources Management special issue on water governance

DAY TWO: SECURING A FUTURE FOR WATER GOVERNANCE RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA

This day is aimed at reframing water governance and developing a policy brief based on recommendations into the NWC report and review. The day will feature panel presentations and discussions by network members. It will be structured around four panels on the themes of:

·  Governing connectivity

·  Learning from international experience

·  Preparing and supporting early career researchers

·  Securing a water governance research future.

See the Full Program or Register for the Workshop

In September Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining in partnership with SMI Knowledge Transfer will be offering a four day Masterclass in Community Research methods for the Resources Sector. It will be held in Brisbane from 26th to the 29th September, and successful completion of associated assessment can be used as credit towards our Graduate Diploma in Community Relations. The program will feature interactive sessions focussing on developing research methodologies, quantitative and qualitative approached to social research, and presentation of data. It will use examples and case studies from resources projects, and will include expert speakers from UQ and industry.

The final program and application form has now been posted on the SMIKT website. Alternatively, please contact csrm@uq.edu.au for further information or to speak directly with one of our course administrators.