Researching critical social issues
The Social Policy Research Centre makes a positive impact through independent and leading research that tackles critical social issues.
![SPRC logo portrait square white background small Logo of the ÌÇÐÄlogo Social Policy Research Centre](/content/dam/images/ada/sprc/logos/2022-08-sprclogo/2022-08-sprc-logo-square-whitebackground2.cropimg.width=700.crop=square.jpg)
Latest research
![Mother and child Uniting Families Report](/content/dam/images/ada/general/news/2024-05-ada-news/2024_08_22_pexels-dariaobymaha-1683975.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpg)
Uniting Families Report
Uniting NSW.ACT and the SPRC have embarked on a 10-year partnership to produce an annual Families Report. This research seeks to examine the reality of family life in Australia, foster a deeper understanding of the diversity within our communities (and how their experiences differ), and explore what it means to raise children and young people.
![Classroom Computer Work Evaluation of the Universal Screening and Support pilot](/content/dam/images/ada/sprc/research/2022-09-uploads/2024-03-AdobeStock-136959050.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpeg)
Evaluation of the Universal Screening and Support pilot
The NSW Department of Communities and Justice commissioned the SPRC to undertake a process, outcomes and economic evaluation of the Universal Screening and Support pilot (USS) over 2019-2022. USS is a prevention and early intervention program, screening all students in participating schools and delivering targeted wrap around supports to students and their families to reduce their risk of homelessness and school disengagement.
![Brunette woman with down syndrome working using laptop at business office Road to Employment evaluation](/content/dam/images/ada/sprc/research/2022-09-uploads/2024-03-AdobeStock-482629341.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpeg)
Road to Employment evaluation
Road to Employment is a 3-year NDIA funded project implemented by Purple Orange in South Australia that uses a lifecycle approach from childhood to adulthood to change work expectations about people with disability. A team of researchers at the SPRC and Flinders University in Adelaide are undertaking an action research approach to evaluate the impact of the Road to Employment project on stakeholders and the lessons from the project for future similar projects.Â
![homeless Commissioning homelessness services: review of possible approaches](/content/dam/images/ada/general/stock/2021-12-ada-pandemic-shock-insufficient-to-trigger-systemic-reform-in-housing-homelessness-policy/2021-12-ada-jon-tyson-6wOeGqQ-5f4-unsplash.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpg)
Commissioning homelessness services: review of possible approaches
This research seeks to inform and empower the homelessness sector to contribute to the design of the new NSW homelessness commissioning arrangements. The report explains the range of options and factors to be considered when commissioning services.Â
![Cost of living Budget Standards for Low-Paid Families](/content/dam/images/ada/general/news/2024-01-ada-news/2024_02_pexels-nicola-barts-7927581%20(1).cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpg)
Budget Standards for Low-Paid Families
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) Annual Wage Review 2019–20 decision referred to budget standards as one consideration when assessing the needs of the low paid, particularly a 2017 report on budget standards developed for low paid Australians by SPRC researchers. This current project has reviewed and revised the budget items in the 2017 report and expanded on the previous report by including feedback from a broader section of the community (both low-paid and middle-income households).Â
![Senior Engineer and Aboriginal Australian Apprentice Working Together On Solar Farm Installation Evaluation of the Educational Pathways Program](/content/dam/images/unsw-wide/general/stock/2023-11-getty-stock/GettyImages-1340816904.cropimg.width=335.crop=basic.jpg)
Evaluation of the Educational Pathways Program
The NSW Department of Education commissioned a research team from the SPRC and ÌÇÐÄlogo School of Education to undertake an outcomes evaluation of the Educational Pathways Program, designed to improve further education and career outcomes for young people.Â
Together, let’s pave the way for enduring change.
We're proud to launch our new game-changing short course, Understanding Poverty, Inequality and Social Disadvantage in Australia, exploring the causes and consequences of poverty and inequality from a unique Australian policy perspective. Â
Join a community of lived-experience experts, advocates, and researchers dedicated to finding actionable solutions for people facing social and economic disadvantage. Â
Our Acknowledgement of Country
ÌÇÐÄlogo Sydney’s Kensington campus is built on the land of the Aboriginal people. We pay our respects to the Bedegal people of the Eora nation who are the Custodians of this land.Â
We acknowledge the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the First Australians, whose lands, winds and waters we all now share, and pay respect to their unique values, and their continuing and enduring cultures which deepen and enrich the life of our nation and communities.