Dear ~~first_name~~,
Hopefully you received our email earlier this week regarding TASA's biennial membership survey. In case you didn't, though, to help with the direction of TASA, we'd be very grateful if you could complete the survey (if you haven't already). You can access it via the below orange link:
Also, if you had a book published in 2022 or 2023 (as per the front matter of the book), we encourage you to nominate for the Stephen Crook Memorial Prize (A biennial prize for the best authored book in Australian Sociology) or the Raewyn Connell Prize (a biennial prize for the best first book by an author in Australian Sociology). The nomination deadline for both book awards is March 3rd.
| | Thematic Group Conveners - Thank you
| TASA's Executive introduced Thematic Groups in 2005. The groups are designed to facilitate communication and collaboration between TASA members working in similar areas. Thematic Groups are the nucleus of the association and the conveners work hard to support their group members by overseeing their group's social media platforms, web pages, forum, blog, newsletter, conference submissions/program as well as organising events and an annual meeting.
Conveners change over every two years with the most recent change occurring late last year. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of the wonderful conveners who managed their groups during the 2022/2023 period. Some of the conveners listed below have completed two terms (four years) and others have agreed to do a second term. TASA is a member organisation run by members for members and sociology. Thank you conveners for helping to keep TASA's heart (60 last year!), and that of sociology, beating.
- Zoe Alderton
- Nita Alexander
- Sharon Aris
- Naomi Berman
- Josephine Browne
- Jodie Bruning
- Sarah Burrage Faulkner
- Rachel Busbridge
- Alice Campbell
- Fabian Cannizzo
- Clarissa Carden
- Adrian Farrugia
- Kazi Fattah
- Renae Fomiatti
- Marika Franklin
- Johanna Garnett
- Vivian Gerrand
- Andrew Gilbert
- Rys Gower
- Sheree Gregory
- Jenna Harb
- Catherine Hastings
- Ashleigh Haw
- Sophie Hickey
- Alexander Hill
- Nicholas Hill
- Christina Ho
- Ann Lawless
- Graham Lee
- Quentin Maire
- Linda Marsden
- Catherine Martin
- Maree Martinussen
- John McGuire
- Lutfun Nahar Lata
- Nick Osbaldiston
- Adele Pavlidis
- Diana Piantedosa
- Elenie Poulos
- Simon Prideaux
- Natalie R Maystorovich Chulio
- David Radford
- David Reynolds
- Megan Rose
- Gianluigi Rotondo
- Joann Schmider
- Barrie Shannon
- Megan Sharp
- Rosie Shorter
- Maddison Sideris
- Geraldine Smith
- Ramon Spaaj
- Ricki Spencer
- Catriona Stevens
- Zoei Sutton
- Dorinda 't Hart
- Ryan Thornycroft
- Cris Townley
- Ivy Vuong
- Matt Wade
- Yan Wang
- Enqi Weng
- Rebecca Williamson
- Yinghua Yu
| | Thematic Group Conveners - New
| Over the coming weeks, we will be introducing you to the Thematic Group Conveners for the 2024/2025 term. This week we are introducing you to the new conveners for the Health Sociology Thematic Group; Laetitia Coles, Zhaoxi Zheng & Miriam Dillon:
|  | Dr Laetitia Coles is a Research Fellow at the Queensland Brain Institute. As a mixed-methods applied sociologist, she leads the Workforces component of the Thriving Queensland Kids Brain Builders Initiative, and the project entitled Families in Focus: Amplifying the voices of children with disability and their families in collaboration with Queensland Children’s Hospital. She is committed to undertaking research that helps improve understandings of children’s care, educational, and clinical environments, with a specific focus on supporting those who care for and educate children. Dr Coles’ experience in multi-disciplinary research and in industry engagement underpins her strong track record in knowledge and research translation in both traditional and non-traditional research outputs.
Dr Coles completed her PhD in Sociology in 2020, looking at long work hours and fathers' engagement with children and caregiving – particularly focusing on the factors that facilitate participation in caregiving. | | |  | | Zhaoxi Zheng is a sociologist, thanatologist, and award-winning higher education educator. He is currently a PhD candidate at School of Social Science and co-director at SocioHealthLab at the University of Queensland. Zhaoxi’s expertise includes the sociologies of childhood, death and dying, and higher education. In his current doctoral research, Zhaoxi uses child-led, art-based, and object-oriented post-qualitative methodologies to explore young children’s everyday realistic-and-imaginary encounters with death and dying. Zhaoxi’s contribution to sociological scholarship centres around his empirical, methodological, and philosophical innovations at the intersection of young children and death and dying. Seeking to queer knowledge production, Zhaoxi’s works are written, published, and performed in poetic, playful, and creative non-traditional academic styles.
|  | Miriam Dillon is in the final stages of her doctoral research at the School of Social Sciences, University of Queensland. Her research is positioned at the intersection of health sociology, sociology of emotions and physiotherapy, and explores distress in the care for people with chronic low back pain. Miriam is also an experienced physiotherapist, and is passionate about advocating for more integration of sociology perspectives into healthcare practice and research.
| | |
| Thematic Groups - Call for New Conveners
| We have several thematic groups without conveners for the 2024/2025 term. If you have an interest in any of the areas below and you would like to find out more about convening one of the groups, please contact Tom Barnes and/or Sally in TASA Admin.
- Ageing Sociology
- Applied Sociology
- Crime & Governance
- Critical Indigenous Studies
- Cultural Sociology
- Risk Societies
- Rural Sociology
- Sociology of Education (one member has expressed an interest)
- Social Theory
- Sociology & Animals
| | Memorial Service for Emeritus Professor Lois Bryson
| 5th Oct 1937 – 7th January 2024
Emeritus Professor Lois Bryson's life will be celebrated at Drummond Place, 500 Drummond St Carlton (lower ground floor) at 2pm on Tuesday 23rd January 2024. RSVPs appreciated to franbryson@hotmail.com
| | Save the date!
TASA Tea Time has evolved and will now be a Book Club. Our very first TASA Book Club shall be taking place online on Thursday February 29th, 2024 at 6pm (AEDT). We are happy to invite you to join us, and welcome book nominations that you believe fellow TASA members would enjoy exploring. We shall focus upon works that have some form of societal reflective element that could be a work of fiction, non-fiction, or something in between. Please send your suggestions to Aisling Bailey aabailey@swin.edu.au, our Equity & Inclusion Portfolio Leader, and we will announce the first book to be discussed in a January newsletter. We look forward to seeing you on February 29th.
| | TASA 2023 Colloquium Recordings
| | Thank you to everyone who supported this year's TASA 2023 Colloquium at the University of Sydney.
For those of you who would like to catch up or re-watch some of the great presentations delivered throughout the event, you can now access some of the recordings via our TASA 2023 Website.
Please note: Not all sessions were recorded. | | | Craig Browne, Social Theory and the Political Imaginary: Practice, Critique, and History, London: Routledge, 2024.
|  | | Social Theory and the Political Imaginary: Practice, Critique, and History is an innovative work of synthesis, critique and analysis. It presages a social theory perspective that recognizes the constitutive significance of the political imaginary in modernity. Social theory’s current dilemmas are explored through a series of interlinked assessments of recent substantial strands, specifically, Luc Boltanski’s pragmatism and the wider ‘practical turn,’ the perspectives of multiple modernities and global modernity, the outlook of social and political imaginaries and critical social theory. The political imaginary’s reconfigurations are evident in the tensions of global modernity, and original social theory interpretations are advanced of landmark instances of twenty-first-century social contestation: the Hong Kong protests conditioned by threats to civil freedoms and a lack of self-determination, the radical democratic practices of anti-austerity movements contesting capitalist globalization’s injustices and the inverted cosmopolitanism of the 2005 French Riots challenging the oppression and inequalities experienced by immigrant communities and marginalized youth. Read on... | | | Martin, J., Arunachalam, D. and Forbes-Mewett, H. (2023) Identity and Belonging Among Chinese Australians: Phenotype, Ethnic Language and Cultural Values. Springer Nov 2023
| This book describes the ethnic identity construction involved in 'being', 'feeling' and 'doing' Chinese for multi-generation Australian-born Chinese, who were born and raised in a different social environment. It demonstrates how Chineseness is manifested in a multitude of ways and totally debunks any notion that being Chinese is a simple identity marker. The book shows that while there are commonalities with the American-born, the experiences of Australia-born Chinese are distinct in many ways.
This book is a timely and critically examination of the inescapability of Chineseness particularly when social and economic stability is threatened and those in power are looking for a scapegoat. Read on... | | | |
Newton, G., Drysdale, K., Zappavigna, M., and Newman, C.E. (2024). “Embodied sociotechnical imaginaries: Tracing donor-conceived people’s imaginings of family, identity and responsible donor conception”, Frontiers in Global Women's Health. 4:1221913 [online 11 January 2024]. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2023.1221913/full [FULL ACCESS]
Akifeva, R., Baldassar, L., & Fozdar, F. (2024). Enacting Migrant Community: Struggles and Unbelonging in the Field of Russian-Speaking Cultural Production. Sociology. https://doi.org/10.1177/00380385231219105 [FULL ACCESS]
Drysdale K, Bates S, Ritter A, de Leeuw E, Smyth C and Katz I (2023). “Is there a role for hybrid service design and delivery in place-based initiatives within the human services sector? Findings from an Australian exploratory study”, Australian Journal of Public Administration. Online 19 December 2023, https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8500.12621 [FULL ACCESS]
| Drysdale, Kerryn and Lupton, Deborah, (2023). Assessments of Public Health and Community Organisation Responses to COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases by LGBTIQA People and Those Living With Blood-borne Viruses (December 11, 2023). Vitalities Lab, UNSW Centre for Social Research in Health , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4660103 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4660103
Sheree Gregory, Fabian Cannizzo & Yinghua Yu (2024) Equity in the Creative Industries: A Work, Labour & Economy Thematic Group Symposium, Western Sydney University, 27th November 2023: Event Report. Nexus, January 18th.
| This Health Sociology Review special issue puts sociology in conversation with burgeoning palliative care scholarship addressing questions of wellbeing. Biomedical approaches continue to dominate approaches to care and caregiving within palliative and end-of-life contexts. Although palliative care is broadly acknowledged to call for human-centred forms of practice and care, relationality and social aspects are often lowlighted with conversations dominated by questions of its modelling, measuring, and funding. This special issue poses sociological challenges and alternative approaches to practice in public health systems.
Abstract submission deadline: 13th February. Read on...
| Stephen Crook Memorial Prize was established to honour the memory of Professor Stephen Crook in recognition of his significant contribution to Australian sociology. The Prize is awarded biennially, at TASA's Conference, to the best authored monograph within the discipline of Sociology published in the previous two years.
Raewyn Connell Prize is to honour the work of Professor Raewyn Connell in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Australian Sociology. In particular, it honours her contribution to sociological theory and research, and her support and encouragement of sociologists at the beginning of their careers.
Honours/Masters Student Award is given annually to the best Honours/Masters student in Sociology in each Australian university. Each winner receives a one-year student membership to TASA, making the student eligible for conference discounts, membership of Thematic Groups, the weekly members’ newsletter, online access to sociology journals (full text) and self-promotion opportunities in Nexus. For the full details, and to nominate your top Honours/Masters student in Sociology, read on... | Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Social Research
University of Tasmania
Application deadline: Friday 2 February 2024, 11.55pm. Read on....
Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, International Politics and Policy
James Cook University
Full Time - Continuing
The position will only remain open until filled.
Lecturer, Anthropology
James Cook University
Full Time - Continuing
The position will only remain open until filled.
Postdoctoral Research Fellow or Research Fellow in Sociology
University of Sydney
Application deadline: 1st February, 2024. Read on...
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in epidemiology/quantitative social science/demography
University of Sydney
Full time, Camperdown campus
Please note that the University shutdown period is from Friday 22nd December 2023 to Monday 8th January 2024. Applications and queries will be reviewed once they return from leave. Read on...
| The Jobs Board enables you to view current employment opportunities. As a member, you can post opportunities to the Jobs Board directly from within your membership profile screen.
| | | An exciting PhD stipend opportunity has arisen for a student to join the team at the ECU Social Ageing (SAGE) Futures Lab in beautiful Perth, Western Australia.
The PhD research project will align with fellow member Catriona Steven's ongoing program of research with possible topic areas including:
- Migration trajectories and career aspirations of aged care sector care-workers and clinicians
- Education and training of care-workers, including those from culturally diverse backgrounds
- Cross-cultural communication and relationships between staff, clients and families in aged care services
- Social class and migration, particularly intra-ethnic class relationships and intersectional classed positions
- Abuse of older people occurring in ethnically-diverse families and family-like relationships
Candidates should have completed Honours or Masters research in Sociology, Anthropology or a related discipline.
Please pass on this information to suitably qualified, excellent students, and share this email in your networks.
HDR Scholarship - Community based mental health and wellbeing primary prevention strategies
Deakin University is offering a unique PhD scholarship opportunity focusing on community participation in mental health and wellbeing primary prevention strategies. The research will explore a range of factors impacting mental health and wellbeing outcomes of families facing adversity, including their participation in prevention initiatives.
Rainbow Families PhD Top-Up Scholarship
University of New South Wales
Researching the experiences and needs of LGBTQ+ parents and their children, and developing skills in collaborative community-led research
| | The Scholarships Board enables you to view available scholarships that our members have posted. Like the Jobs Board, as a member, you can post scholarship opportunities directly from within your membership profile screen. | | | | In case you are not aware, you can add job and scholarship opportunities to our publicly searchable Jobs & Scholarships Board via your TASA membership profile, see image below: | | Other Events, News & Opportunities | New: Future of Work in the Global South and Global North
2-3 May, 2024, The University of Melbourne
Keynote speakers: Professor Niels van Doorn (University of Amsterdam), Associate Professor Cheryll Ruth R. Soriano (De La Salle University) and Dr Katie Wells (Georgetown University)
This two-day symposium aims to bring together researchers from across the social sciences–sociology, geography, work and organisational studies, industrial relations, cultural studies and beyond to discuss the variegated nature of digital labour platforms (Uber, Gojek, Didi, Deliveroo, Menulog, Hungry Panda, Mable, Hire Up etc.) and their operations in the Global South and Global North countries.
Abstract submission deadline: 10 March. Read on...
Taylor Swift Fanposium
Panellists include fellow member Catherine Strong
Sunday 11th February, 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm AEDT, Melbourne
The event is free
| Free, online, Graduate Research Program
| Interdisciplinary Graduate Research Program in Indigenous Settler Relations
Applications are now open for the 2024 Graduate Research Program. The Program is available to graduate researchers in any faculty at any university undertaking graduate research related to the emerging field of Indigenous settler relations in Australia and the world.
Find out more here. Apply here. Enquiries: aust-centre@unimelb.edu.au
Applications close: Monday 12 February | The Kohli Prize for Sociology
The Kohli Prize for Sociology honors exceptional achievement in and contributions to the field and profession of sociology. The Kohli Prize is rewarded with 50.000 EUR. It is awarded by an international Selection Committee composed of the Board of Directors, the Board of Trustees and two additional members from other world regions.
| World Conference for Religious Dialogue and Cooperation
Strumica, North Macedonia from June 19 to 22
Abstract submission deadline: April 15th. Read on...
| Special Issue - Call for Papers
| Blood Ties and Politics: The Influence of Political Polarization upon Family Life
Contemporary Perspectives in Family Research Special Issue
Over recent years, the nature of politics in nations around the globe has become increasingly heated and polarized, with much of this change being attributed to a variety of sources, including news outlets, online websites, social media, and various forms of communication technology. However, discussions about politics, along with debates and arguments, often occur with the familial context.
Deadline for initial submissions: April 15. Read on...
| Social Sciences Week 2024
9-15 September 2024
SSW2024 promises to be even more fun, insightful and intelligent than ever before. So mark your calendars, spread the word and get ready for a week of activities.
| Gift memberships, for any membership category, can now be accessed at anytime via your membership profile screen. If you would like to gift a membership, to someone new or to a current member, please follow the steps below:
STEP 1: Click here and log in
STEP 2: Click on the drop down menu to the right of your name in the purple bar (RH) at the top of the website (see 1st image below)
STEP 3: Click on Profile (see 1st image below)
STEP 4: Click on the Gift Memberships menu item and complete the details, see yellow highlights in 2nd image below. | | Submitting Newsletter Items | | We encourage you to support your colleagues by sharing details of your latest publications with them via this newsletter. No publication is too big or too small. Any mention of sociology is of value to our association, and to the discipline, so please do send through details of your latest publication (fully referenced & with a link, where possible) for the next newsletter, to TASA Admin. Usually, the newsletter is disseminated every Thursday morning. | | Updating your Member Profile | Personal pronoun preferences can be added to your profile. There are 9 combination options to choose from. Please let Sally in TASA Admin know if your preference/s is not on the list and we will have them added.
| | TASA Documents and Policies | In case you are not aware, you can access details of TASA's current Executive Committee 2023 - 2024, and their respective portfolios, as well as documents and policies, including the Constitution, Values Statement, Statement on Academic Freedom, Code of Conduct, Grievance Procedures, Safe & Inclusive Events, Sustainable Events and TASA History.
| | Accessing Online Materials & Resources | | TASA members have access to over 90 peer-reviewed Sage Sociology full-text collection online journals encompassing over 63,000 articles. The image on the left shows you where to access those journals, as well as the Sage Research Methods Collection & the Taylor and Francis Full Text Collection, when logged in to TASAweb. If needed, here is a short instructive video on how to access the journals. | | | TASA Admin (Sally): admin@tasa.org.au
TASA Events (Penny): events@tasa.org.au | |