Research in the news

New research has revealed the extent of rental increases across the nation post-pandemic. Dr Chris Martin from the City Futures Research Centre highlights the damaging impacts of rental stress on households, including skipping meals and forgoing essential medical appointments, while advocating for urgent housing reforms.

Dr Vassilis Adrahtas from the School of Humanities & Languages discusses the rising popularity of language subjects within the Program of Greek Studies, describing it as "the outcome of dedicated and inspired teamwork" between the Foundation for Hellenic Studies and the Hellenic Society at UNSW.

Professor John McGhee from the School of Art & Design addresses the ethical and legal concerns surrounding a popular trend involving OpenAI's new image-generation tool. He highlights the potentially harmful effects on artist authorship and brand integrity, as well as the risks of copyright and intellectual property infringement.

Recent research has highlighted the complex challenges of post-disaster housing recovery in Australia. Professor David Sanderson from the School of Built Environment notes that the frequent occurrence of natural disasters adds significant stress to recovery efforts, and advocates for state intervention to rethink and improve insurance coverage.

Associate Professor David MacKenzie from the Gonski Institute for Education discusses the success of his new model to prevent youth homelessness. He emphasises the importance of identifying at-risk youths early and providing community-based support in collaboration with schools, local services and families.

Is misogyny and gender-based violence perpetrated by teenage boys on the rise? According to Professor Michael Salter from the School of Social Sciences, social media has become a convenient scapegoat, preventing further examination of "our underlying assumptions that really need challenging."

The NSW government has faced criticism for ruling out three inner-city Sydney sites for social housing. Addressing the issue of housing affordability, Professor Hal Pawson from the City Futures Research Centre suggests implementing a special levy on all new developments, highlighting their effectiveness in other contexts.

How will the Budget 2025 impact first home buyers? Professor Hal Pawson from the City Futures Research Centre breaks down the details of the federal government's plan, describing it as a “tweak to an existing program” that reflects the changing housing and economic landscape.

Emeritus Scientia Professor Louise Edwards from the School of Humanities & Languages reflects on the evolution of Australia's national character and its relationships with the region, particularly across Asia, as posited in Donald Horne's influential 1964 book, The Lucky Country.

How important is play for children in learning environments? Dr Fatemeh Aminpour from the City Futures Research Centre examines how rising enrolment numbers are reshaping the size, nature, and function of school playgrounds, and considers the implications for children's development. [Timestamp 06:05].

Professor Philip Thalis from the School of Built Environment discusses the growing scrutiny facing Australian developers for misrepresenting green spaces in new projects. He explains that artist renderings often fail to accurately depict the final product, citing a recent example in Box Hill.

According to Professor Michael Salter from the School of Social Sciences, "we have a younger generation engaging in more sexual violence than previous generations." He explains how the increasing prevalence of pornography has contributed to this phenomenon and its escalating effects.

Professor Jill Bennett from the Big Anxiety Research Centre explores how AI companion bots can improve the lives of ageing Australians and those with dementia. She addresses common concerns about AI replacing human interaction, emphasising the potential for these technologies to combat loneliness and provide "quality interactions".

Why is the notion of 'vibe' so difficult to describe or articulate? According to Dr Ash Watson from the Centre for Social Research in Health, while there's certainly "something emotional and sensory about it," deriving an exact or universal meaning remains challenging. [Timestamp 10:30].

Recent research has revealed that two-thirds of retired households renting privately are living in poverty. Professor Hal Pawson from the City Futures Research Centre advocates for increasing Commonwealth Rent Assistance and reimaging its one-size-fits-all approach.