ARC Linkage Projects

Administered by the University of Melbourne, unless otherwise indicated.

  • Catherine Mills, Michelle Taylor-Sands, Lisa Hui, Julian Savulescu, Martin Delatycki, Mark Pertile, Peter Coleman (administered by Monash University)

    Project Title

    Ethical, social and regulatory issues in advanced prenatal testing

    Project Summary

    This project aims to investigate the social, ethical and regulatory issues arising with the rapid advancement and increased use of genomic non-invasive prenatal testing in early pregnancy in Australia. It expects to generate new insight into key issues such as consumer information before and after testing, consent, and equitable access to genomic health technologies in human reproduction. Expected outcomes include recommendations for addressing these issues, supported by ground-breaking social research and ethical and regulatory analysis. The project is expected to have major benefits, addressing the gap between policy and practice that has emerged in prenatal testing in Australia and shaping the ethics and regulation of pregnancy care.

    Administering Organisation

    Monash University

    Partner Organisations

    Victorian Clinical Genetics Services Limited
    Illumina Australia Pty Ltd

    Commencement Year

    2020

    Funding

    $475,000

    Investigators

    Professor Catherine Mills (Monash University)
    Dr Michelle Taylor-Sands
    Associate Professor Lisa Hui (The University of Melbourne)
    Professor Julian Savelescu (University of Oxford)
    Professor Martin Delatycki (Victorian Clinical Genetics Services)
    Dr Mark Pertile (Victorian Clinical Genetics Services)
    Mr Peter Coleman (Illumina Australia)

  • Paul Ali, Ian Ramsay, Kathy Landvogt, Gerard Brody, Fiona Guthrie, Denis Nelthorpe, Lisa-Maree Stevens

    Project Title

    Harmful financial products: analysis of their impact and regulation

    Project Summary

    This project will investigate financial products that have the potential to harm disadvantaged and vulnerable consumers. Working in partnership with five leading non-profit organisations, and adopting empirical research techniques (including surveys, interviews and focus groups), it will explore the extent to which these products perpetuate financial hardship, poor health and social disadvantage. In doing so, it will make a significant, original contribution to consumer law scholarship and studies of financial exclusion, while also providing practical assistance to policymakers, regulators and the partner organisations. The project will assess the need for law reform, and, if appropriate, will make detailed law reform recommendations.

    Partner Organisations

    Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand
    Consumer Action Law Centre
    Financial Counselling Australia
    Western Community Legal Centre
    Mallee Family Care

    Commencement Year

    2016

    Funding

    $620,000

    Investigators

    Associate Professor Paul Ali
    Professor Ian Ramsay
    Dr Kathy Landvogt (Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand)
    Mr Gerard Brody (Consumer Action Law Centre)
    Ms Fiona Guthrie (Financial Counselling Australia)
    Mr Denis Nelthorpe (Western Community Legal Centre)
    Mrs Lisa-Maree Stevens (Mallee Family Care)

  • Larissa Behrendt, Miriam Jorgensen, Stephen Cornell, Daryle Rigney, Steve Hemming, Mark McMillan, Yoko Akama, Asmi Wood, Raymond Orr, Damien Bell and Timothy Hartman (administered by University of Technology, Sydney)

    Project Title

    Indigenous Nationhood in the Absence of Recognition: Self-governance Insights and Strategies from three Aboriginal Communities

    Project Summary

    Based on evidence that effective governance is a necessary precursor to Indigenous communities' economic, social and cultural outcomes, this project aims to strengthen Australian Indigenous communities by learning and sharing lessons about sustainable and effective Indigenous governance. In collaboration with three Aboriginal communities in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales that are differentially engaged in Indigenous governance processes, the project aims to identify innovation in community governance, test the usefulness of Australian governance assessment tools, and foster an Indigenous Australian and global network to share successful strategies. In doing so, the project contributes to an emerging theory of Indigenous nation building.

    Administering Organisation

    University of Technology, Sydney

    Partner Organisations

    Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation
    Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority Inc

    Commencement Year

    2014

    Funding

    $600,000

    Investigators

    Professor Larissa Behrendt (University of Technology, Sydney)
    Dr Miriam Jorgensen (University of Arizona)
    Professor Stephen Cornell (University of Arizona)
    Professor Daryle Rigney (The Flinders University of South Australia)
    Associate Professor Steve Hemming (The Flinders University of South Australia)
    Dr Mark McMillan
    Dr Yoko Akama (RMIT University)
    Dr Asmi Wood (The Australian National University)
    Dr Raymond Orr (School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne)
    Dr Damien Bell (Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation)
    Mr Timothy Hartman (Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority Inc)

  • Paul Ali, Ian Ramsay, Kathy Landvogt, Gerard Brody and Fiona Guthrie

    Project Title

    Evaluating Australian Personal Insolvency Laws in the Context of Changing Demographics and Increasing Financial Stress

    Project Summary

    This project will study how Australians respond to financial stress within the context of Australian personal insolvency laws. A better understanding of the practical impact of these laws today will enable an evaluation of their effectiveness in meeting policy objectives.

    Partner Organisations

    Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service
    Consumer Action Law Centre
    Financial Counselling Australia Incorporated

    Commencement Year

    2013

    Funding

    $425,465

    Investigators

    Associate Professor Paul Ali
    Professor Ian Ramsay
    Dr Kathy Landvogt (Good Shepherd Youth & Family Service)
    Mr Gerard Brody (Consumer Action Law Centre)
    Ms Fiona Guthrie (Financial Counselling Australia Incorporated)

  • Tania Voon, Andrew Mitchell and Jonathan Liberman

    Project Title

    A Collaborative Approach to Designing Regulatory Measures on Tobacco, Alcohol and Unhealthy Diet: Public Health, International Trade and Investment Law

    Project Summary

    Non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes account for 60 per cent of global deaths. This project will clarify the implications of trade and investment law to assist in ensuring effective domestic and international public health regulation to combat the common risk factors of tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy diet.

    Partner Organisation

    Cancer Council Victoria

    Commencement Year

    2012

    Funding

    $120,000

    Investigators

    Associate Professor Tania Voon
    Professor Andrew Mitchell
    Mr Jonathan Liberman (Cancer Council Victoria)

  • Jacqueline Horan, Jane Goodman-Delahunty, Blake McKimmie and Ian Freckelton

    Project Title

    The Presentation of Expert Evidence in Australian Criminal Trials: The Role of Lawyers and Experts

    Project Summary

    This project will shed light on how courts, lawyers and experts can work effectively together to deliver expert evidence in the courtroom.  Improving the provision and effective use of expert evidence will benefit the Australian community by providing a better quality criminal justice system.

    Partner Organisations

    Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration
    Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency

    Commencement Year

    2012

    Funding

    $60,000

    Investigators

    Dr Jacqueline Horan
    Professor Jane Goodman-Delahunty (University of NSW)
    Dr Blake McKimmie (University of Queensland)
    Professor Ian Freckelton (Monash University)

  • Tim McCormack

    Project Title

    Optimising Access to the Law Reports Series of Australia's War Crimes Trials, 1945-51

    Project Summary

    The forthcoming Law Report Series on Australia's war crimes trials held in 1945-51 will be, in effect, the official history of the trials.  It is vital, therefore, that all users, particularly the Australian public, are provided with the necessary tools to optimally access the Series and thus obtain a comprehensive understanding of the trials.

    Partner Organisations

    Australian War Memorial
    Department of Defence

    Commencement Year

    2012

    Funding

    $85,000

    Investigator

    Professor Tim McCormack

  • Robert Burrell, Michael Humphreys, Kimberlee Weatherall, Sarah Kelly, Jennifer Burt and Megan Richardson (administered by University of Queensland)

    Project Title

    Testing Trade Mark Law's Image of the Consumer

    Project Summary

    An effective trade mark law is vital both to protect consumers and to allow businesses to build brand recognition. This project seeks to put Australian trade mark law on a firmer empirical footing by bringing together experts from psychology, law and marketing to test the law's assumptions against actual consumer responses.

    Administering Organisation

    University of Queensland

    Partner Organisations

    Federal Court of Australia
    Foster Group Ltd
    I P Australia

    Commencement Year

    2012

    Funding

    $250,000

    Investigators

    Professor Robert Burrell (University of Queensland)
    Professor Michael Humphreys (University of Queensland)
    Ms Kimberlee Weatherall (University of Queensland)
    Dr Sarah Kelly (University of Queensland)
    Associate Professor Jennifer Burt (University of Queensland)
    Professor Megan Richardson

  • Rick Krever, Christopher Evans, Ann O'Connell, Nolan Sharkey and Antony Ting (administered by Monash University)

    Project Title

    Mitigating Tax Barriers to Trade and Investment Relations between Australia and the People's Republic of China

    Project Summary

    China and Australia's conflicting tax rules and attitudes towards tax administration affect the level of trade, investment and labour mobility between the two countries.  This project will explore and propose methods of reform for both the Chinese and Australian tax systems to strengthen our economic relationship.

    Administering Organisation

    Monash University

    Partner Organisations

    Brilliant Development Pty Ltd
    Zhongnan University of Economics and Law

    Commencement Year

    2012

    Funding

    $130,000

    Investigators

    Professor Rick Krever (Monash University)
    Professor Christopher Evans (University of NSW)
    Associate Professor Ann O'Connell
    Dr Nolan Sharkey (University of NSW)
    Mr Antony Ting (University of Sydney)

  • Tim McCormack, Nicholas Crofts and Stuart Kaye

    Project Title

    Substance Use in Prisons and Other Closed Settings: Identifying Appropriate and Effective Legislative Frameworks for a Harm Reduction Approach

    Project Summary

    Influencing laws on drugs in closed settings to reflect public health approaches will directly benefit incarcerated individuals and wider communities in Cambodia and in Australia. The Australian Red Cross has a long-standing commitment to improving vulnerable peoples' lives as well as a deep-seated community identity; it will facilitate the implementation of its research findings through its prisons programs. Collaborations with AusAID-funded HIV prevention, substance abuse and criminal justice reform initiatives (including HIV/AIDS Asia Regional Program (HAARP) and Cambodia Criminal Justice Assistance Program (CCJAP)) will strengthen Australia's contribution to civil society and public health in Cambodia, and simultaneously reinforce Australia's reputation as a leader on substance use and harm reduction issues.

    Partner Organisation

    Australian Red Cross

    Commencement Year

    2010

    Funding

    $80,007

    Investigators

    Professor Tim McCormack
    Professor Nicholas Crofts (School of Population Health, University of Melbourne)
    Professor Stuart Kaye

  • David Studdert, Jane Pirkis and Graham Sewell

    Project Title

    Learning from Preventable Deaths: A Prospective Evaluation of Reforms to Coroners' Recommendation Powers in Victoria

    Project Summary

    Coroners in Australia investigate nearly 13,000 deaths each year and have a unique vantage point on health and safety risks. The public as a whole will benefit from information that helps translate those insights into system changes that work to prevent injuries and accidents from occurring. This project is designed to produce such information. It will also serve stakeholders at several other levels. By illuminating circumstances in which coroners recommendations produce positive change, project findings will help coroners shape and disseminate their prevention messages for maximum effect. Also, for states interested in modifying or boosting coroners' recommendation powers, our findings will help guide reforms.

    Partner Organisations

    Department of Justice
    Office of the State Coroner

    Commencement Year

    2010

    Funding

    $269,000

    Investigators

    Professor David Studdert
    Associate Professor Jane Pirkis (School of Population Health, University of Melbourne)
    Professor Graham Sewell (Faculty of Economics and Commerce, University of Melbourne)