 | Dear ~~first_name~~,
Welcome to this week's TASA newsletter.
If you're considering nominating for the Executive, this is your final reminder that nominations for the Vice-President and Secretary positions close today at midday AEST. Voting remains open for the Public Sociology and Postgraduate portfolios, with ballots closing next Wednesday 12 August at midday AEST.
We warmly welcome two new members to TASA, highlight recent publications by members, and share a range of opportunities to connect, learn and engage.
Next week's TASA Thursdays event, Exposure and Embodiment in the Anthropocene, will bring together a panel of researchers to share insights from a TASA-funded workshop. Members can also take advantage of a free Leadership and Communications Workshop, join the Social Theory Thematic Group event on Wednesday, explore a new PhD scholarship opportunity, and browse the latest event listings.
As always, thank you for being part of TASA's community. We hope you find something in this week's newsletter that informs, inspires or encourages you to get involved.
TASA Team
| TASA Key Dates at a glance
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- TODAY 6 August - midday (AEST) - nominations for the Vice President and Secretary portfolios
- TODAY 6 August - EoI for the Digital Publications Editor
- NEXT WEDNESDAY 12 August - midday (AEST) - votes for the Public Sociology and Postgraduate portfolios
- 12 August - Social Theory Thematic Group event - After Globalization: The Rise of Localism.
- 13 August - update on 2026 TASA Executive Election
- 13 August - TASA Thursdays: Exposure and Embodiment in the Anthropocene
- 18 August - Postgraduates 'Sociology of What' event
- 20/21 August - TASA Executive Meeting
- 28 August - Social Stratification one-day symposium: Perceptions and Indicators of Social Class in Australia
- 31 August - Sociology of Youth 'Catch up and Write' session
- 28 September - Sociology of Youth 'Catch up and Write' session
- 12 October - Sociology of Youth 'Engaging with Young People' symposium
- 16 October - Housing & Urban Sociology symposium 'Ready or Not?: Improving adoptability of regional, rural & remote preparedness research'
- 22 October - Families & Relationships 'Transition to Parenthood' event
- 23 October - Sociology of Religion symposium 'Leaving Religion and the Politics of Nonreligion'
- 26 October - Sociology of Youth 'Catch up and Write' session
- 23 November - Migration, Ethnicity and Multiculturalism symposium 'Theorising migration, settlement and diversity in unsettled times'
- 23 -27 November - TASA 2026
| TASA 2026 Executive Election
|
Votes required
As a reminder, more than one nomination was received for the Public Sociology and Postgraduate Portfolios. Your participation in this voting process is crucial, as it helps shape the future direction of our association. If you haven't voted already, please do so, via the orange link below, before midday (AEST) next Wednesday August 12th, 2026. We extend our thanks to you, if you have already voted.
CLICK HERE TO VOTE
Nominations re-opened
Nominations for the Vice-President and Secretary portfolios close at midday TODAY Thursday 6th August, 2026 (AEST). If you are interested in nominating for either role, and you would like more information, we encourage you to contact Naomi Smith, the current holder of the Vice-President Portfolio, and Kay Cook who is the current Secretary. You can also reach out to Kim Humphery, TASA President and/or Sally Daly in TASA Admin about both positions. To nominate, please ensure your Candidate and Nominator forms are submitted to TASA Admin by midday, TODAY Thursday 6th August, 2026.
Note, as we didn't receive expressions of interest for our Digital Publications Editor(s) position, we are also extending that call. The position description can be viewed here. Please email your expression of interest to Sally in TASA Admin by Thursday 6th August, 2026.
Position descriptions for each portfolio are available below. If you are interested in a particular Executive position, and you would like more information, we encourage you to contact the member currently in that role for a confidential chat. The current Executive are listed on TASAweb here.
We encourage all members to consider standing for the Vice President and Secretary Executive positions. To assist your thinking about this opportunity, please access a copy of TASA’s 2025/26 Executive Organisational Chart here and the Executive Committee position descriptions.
| Welcome to new members Yu Huang and Hui Liu, and thank you to our renewing members, it's good to have you with us.
TASA membership can be especially important for postgraduate students who have recently submitted, or are close to submitting, their thesis, providing opportunities to build connections across the discipline and across sectors. If you know someone at this stage of their studies who is not yet a TASA member, please encourage them to get in touch at membership@tasa.org.au to learn more about the benefits of joining TASA.
If you've had a renewal notice, and are having difficulty logging in to renew, or you need to let us know there'll be a delay with your payment, please do email Ali on membership@tasa.org.au so we can make sure we don't lose touch.
| | New Possibilities Collective (2026), Future Right NOW: Young People, Climate Action and a Vibrant Democracy, ARE Media Books, Sydney. ISBN 978-1761222498 | | This book is an outcome of the New Possibilities Collective which brings together over forty contributors aged 5 - 77. The book was written as a part of an ARC discovery project new possibilities: young people and democratic renewal with fellow member Philippa Collin as one of the research team members.
The book features nine interviews conducted by young people, with researchers working across social, political and intersectional contexts. Through their writing, each young author reflects on the New Possibilities project research findings whilst sharing distinct stories, experiences and understandings of what it means to care for people, place, and the future in a time of climate crisis. Read on...
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Journals
Natalier, K., Deller, M., Douglas, K., Whitley, C., & Bastin, G. (2026). What is a Bachelor of Arts? An analysis of Australian university representations. Arts and Humanities in Higher Education, 0(0). https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14740222261470193 [open access].
Zhao, Y., Stahl, G., & Irving, R. (2026). Migrant men on OnlyFans: masculinity, precarity, and erotic entrepreneurship in the digital gig economy. Porn Studies, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/23268743.2026.2692430 [open access].
Young, J., Stahl, G., & Adams, B. (2026). Radicalisation as redemption: right-wing male extremists attempting to reclaim masculinity in Australia. International Review of Sociology, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/03906701.2026.2698531 [open access].
Op-ed / Commentary
| Call for Special Issue Proposals for 2028
Each year the Journal of Sociology editors invite expressions of interest from the international community of sociological scholars to guest edit a Special Issue (SI) of the journal. This year they particularly welcome proposals that bring a new spark to the core themes of sociology and advance conversations of discipline-wide relevance.
For the full details of the call, please visit TASAweb here.
Proposals deadline: September 14th, 2026.
| Journal of Sociology, 62 (2)
Issue 62:2 includes a Special Issue on 'Platform Labour in the Global South and Global North', curated by guest editors Lutfun Nahar Lata, Andrew Copolov, and Aditya Ray. This issue includes an Introduction article, six research articles and three book reviews, all centred on digital platform work as this has developed across different geographical locations. In addition to the Special Issue articles, this issue also features four standard articles that all focus on migrants and migration. As usual, in this newsletter you find the abstracts for all articles and a link to each article.
All articles are available here.
| | TASA Thursdays: Exposure and Embodiment in the Anthropocene | 13th August | 12:30pm AEST
Join us for the August TASA Thursdays, Exposure and Embodiment in the Anthropocene, exploring how pollution, forever chemicals and climate change shape health, illness and care.
This interdisciplinary panel will share insights from TASA's Gary Bouma Memorial Workshop Program, examining environmental justice, health equity and the limits of individualised approaches to risk. Hear from leading scholars as they reflect on key conversations and future research directions.
| | | Leadership & Communication Workshop | TASA members are invited to attend a workshop on Leadership & Communication with Debra Burlington from Risk Strategies.
Debra will be known to some TASA members as the Facilitator of TASA's Mentorship Program's popular online sessions, a key ingredient in the success of the program. This session will focus on strategies for effective and constructive communication for people in a leadership role. Leadership & Communication is offered to all participants in TASA's Mentorship Program, and this year we are extending that invitation to all members who may wish to attend as a member of TASA's Career Stage Groups.
TASA has a Student Career Stage Group for undergraduate and postgraduate members, an Early Career Stage Group for members in their first five to eight years working as a sociologist, a Mid Career Stage Group for people in that next busy phase of a sociology career (perhaps eight to fifteen years working as a sociologist), a Senior Career Stage Group for very experienced sociologists, and a Retired Career Stage Group for Retired or semi-Retired sociologists.
The workshop, 'Leadership & Communication with Debra Burlington' will be held online at 12 noon Tuesday 25 August 2026.
Please RSVP to membership@tasa.org.au to receive a zoom link for the session. If you can't attend the session, but would like to join a career stage group, please do email membership@tasa.org.au to be added to the appropriate Career Stage Group.
| | POSTGRAD EVENTS | THE SOCIOLOGY OF WHAT | 18TH AUGUST
Join the next TASA Postgraduates Sociology of What? interactive online masterclass on Tuesday 18 August, led by fellow member Amanda Wise. Focusing on the sociology of migration, ethnicity and multiculturalism, this participatory session gives postgraduate members the opportunity to apply theory to their own research in small-group discussions.
Places are strictly limited to maintain an interactive format, so register early. A short research outline is required as part of the registration process.
REGISTER HERE | | | Social Theory Thematic Group Webinar Series | 12th August | 4pm
Join us online next Wednesday 12 August for the third instalment of the Social Theory Thematic Group Webinar Series: “After Globalization: The Rise of Localism. Internationally recognised sociologist Victor Roudometof will examine claims that globalisation is ending and considers whether we are entering an era of de-globalisation, post-globalisation or a new phase of global connection. Discover why localism matters, how it relates to national populism, and why sociologists should take the local seriously.
| | | 2026 Monthly ‘Catch Up & Write’ Sessions
Hosted by the Sociology of Youth Thematic Group
The Sociology of Youth thematic group are excited to continue hosting virtual ‘Catch Up & Write’ sessions on the last Monday of every month from 1:00pm to 3:30pm to ensure you all have a dedicated space to write and connect.
If you are interested in joining them, please refer to the below 2026 schedule to register for the sessions you would like to attend. While the writing group is hosted by the Sociology of Youth thematic group, they welcome other TASA members whose research engages with youth in interesting ways. The more the merrier!
2026 SCHEDULE: ‘CATCH UP & WRITE’ SESSIONS
Register to receive Zoom links + save the dates in your calendar!
ONLINE 1:00PM TO 3:30PM AEST
MONDAY 31 AUGUST | REGISTER HERE*
MONDAY 28 SEPTEMBER | REGISTER HERE*
MONDAY 26 OCTOBER | REGISTER HERE*
* Please note each month’s ‘Catch Up and Write’ session requires a separate registration as each session has a different Zoom link *
The Sociology of Youth team look forward to seeing you at an upcoming session!
If possible, please give the new TASA Sociology of Youth LinkedIn page a follow and share amongst your networks.
| | Transitions to Parenthood
Monash University and online
Friday, 23 October, 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Abstract submission deadline: 10 August.
| | | | Engaging with Young People: Constructing, Conducting, and Translating Meaningful Research
Monday, 12 October 2026 from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM (AEDT)
University of Sydney + Online
Free event (limited tickets available)
Some travel bursaries available
This workshop, co-hosted by the Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies and TASA's Sociology of Youth Thematic Group, will be a semi-structured space for researchers (HDR, early career, and established), industry practitioners, and young people to engage in critical conversations about the promise and complexities of youth-focused research. The workshop will also examine how youth research can be practiced in ethical and considered ways, and explore how to navigate its emotive and caring dimensions.
| | | Ready or Not?: Improving adoptability of regional, rural & remote preparedness research | 16 October 2026 | 9:30am - 1:30pm
Join the Remote, Regional & Rural Sociology thematic group, along with academics, professionals, students and community members for Ready or Not?: Improving adoptability of regional, rural & remote preparedness research, a half-day hybrid event exploring how research can better support regional, rural and remote Australia through challenging and disruptive futures. Hear from leading voices, take part in thoughtful discussions and build valuable connections across sectors. Attend online for free or In person
REGISTER HERE
| | | Join the Social Stratification Thematic Group in Melbourne, on 28 August, for a free one-day symposium exploring perceptions and indicators of social class in Australia.
Hear from leading speakers Mark Western, Steven Threadgold and Andrew Leigh, and engage with discussions about inequality, family background, housing, education and healthcare.
The event also offers graduate and early career researchers a supportive space to share work, receive feedback and build collaborations.
REGISTER HERE | | | Leaving Religion and the Politics of Nonreligion
This symposium, hosted by the Sociology of Religion thematic group & held alongside the 50th anniversary of Religious Studies at the University of Sydney, invites researchers to explore nonreligion as a subject in its own right. Papers are invited on themes including deconversion, religious trauma and recovery, ex-member communities, post-religious life, the politics of nonreligion, the “Mark No Religion” campaign, and the complexities of measuring nonreligion.
University of Sydney, Friday 23 October, hybrid.
| | | | Theorising migration, settlement and diversity in unsettled times
Symposium Keynote: fellow member Amanda Wise
TASA’s Migration, Ethnicity and Multiculturalism and Social Theory Thematic Groups invite submissions for a half-day symposium exploring the theoretical foundations, current developments and future directions of migration, ethnicity and multiculturalism research.
23 November, University of the Sunshine Coast.
| | | Call for proposals for Special Issue by Guest Editors: Issue 1, 2028
The Editors of Health Sociology Review encourage sociologists to submit proposals to develop and edit special issues exploring new ideas and the cutting edge of their field of expertise. they particularly welcome proposals for special issues with a focus on novel empirical domains, theoretical frameworks and/or methodologies in the sociology of health and illness (for example, the intersection of health sociology and climate change and/or artificial intelligence).
Please submit expressions of interest to guest edit the February 2028 Special Issue to Associate Professor Katherine Kenny, Editor in Chief, by 31 August 2026 to hsr@tasa.org.au.
You can access the full call for proposals here.
| Health Sociology Review, Volume 35, Number 2 (July, 2026).
All articles in the latest issue are available here.
| PhD Scholarship Opportunities
| New: Border Security: Managing a Shared Responsibility Approach to Biosecurity at the Frontline
School of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Tasmania
This PhD project will investigate how those working in border biosecurity – at ports and airports – interpret their roles, responsibilities, and everyday practices. This includes investigating how border biosecurity personnel understand their role as part of a shared responsibility approach, the ways in which they work with and collaborate with others, the forms of expertise, skill, and judgement used in making decisions, the challenges they face as part of their role, and how they navigate, work with or work around these to reach outcomes that are judged to be legitimate and credible.
Working with fellow member Professor Vaughan Higgins.
Empowering households as active agents of change in resource-efficient sustainability transitions
RMIT
This doctoral scholarship is part of a multidisciplinary research project funded by the Australian Research Council’s Discovery Project “Empowering households as active agents of change in resource-efficient sustainability transitions “. The project is a collaboration between RMIT University, Monash University and the University of Manchester.
With fellow member Bhavna Middha.
Cultures of the Cryosphere: Infrastructures, Politics and Futures of Artificial Cooling
Australian National University
Two PhD Scholarships available
The project investigates the cultural preconditions and consequences of the use of artificial cooling and freezing technologies in nutrition, health and reproduction, air conditioning, data processing, laboratory research and other everyday practices. This interdisciplinary research project aims to investigate the far-reaching socio-ecological effects of this energy-intensive planetary "cryosphere" and aims to identify possible alternatives for a more sustainable future of dealing with artificial cold.
Application deadline: TOMORROW 7 August. Read on...
Beyond Participation: Operationalising Theory of Change for Valid & Sustainable Impact Measurement in Community Sport for Development
This PhD looks at how community organisations can turn their Theory of Change (a map of how their work leads to specific outcomes) into a practical, trustworthy way of measuring impact that they can keep using over time.
Supervisors: Professor Camilla Brockett, and fellow member Professor Ramon Spaaij
Media Representation & Public Perception of RNA Vaccines and Therapeutics in Australia
PhD Scholarship
University of Newcastle
Working with fellow member Caragh Brosnan
Creating Safer Sport Communities from Rural to Urban Australia
This is part of an ARC Discovery project Creating Safer Sport Communities from Rural to Urban Australia
The PhD will be housed within Griffith University’s Centre for Social and Cultural Research, Arts, Education and Law group and the Department of Tourism and Marketing, Griffith Business School.
| Research Fellow
UNSW Kensington Campus
Part-time
As a Research Fellow (Level B), you will undertake independent and collaborative research within a funded research program focused on LGBTIQA+ health and/or women’s health. Working as part of a collaborative research team, you will contribute to high-quality research, research translation and community engagement that advances knowledge and delivers meaningful impact.
Reporting to fellow member Kerryn Drysdale.
| Other Events, News & Opportunities
| Distinctive Work in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
$2000
This prize is for a distinctive work with public impact in any Humanities, Arts or Social Sciences field. Examples of entries might include, but are not limited to: an exhibition, performance, podcast, digital project, documentary, policy report, public program or educational resource.
Future Leaders Writing Prize
Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences & Future Leaders
$2000
This prize is awarded to a future leader for a piece of written work (e.g., essay, scholarly article, media article, book chapter) from the perspective of the Humanities, Arts or Social Sciences.
People Places Prize
Future Leaders
Prize $10,000
The People Places Prize 2026 is about creative and innovative ideas for living places. The Prize is open to Australian citizens and residents aged 18 and over. The winner will receive $10,000 and their ideas featured on www.peopleplaces.org.au.
Creative and innovative ideas for the Prize can be in any (or combination) of four areas.
– The Arts
– Green spaces
– Building design
– Disability access
Entry deadline: 1 November. Read on... |  | Award for Excellence in Research
The ISA Award for Excellence in Research and Practice is granted by the International Sociological Association to a sociologist whose outstanding contributions advance and promote sociological knowledge and practice, while strengthening the discipline, the profession, and the ISA.
| | In Their Own Words: Self-Determination as Seen by Young People With Intellectual Disability as They Transition into Adulthood,
This UNSW Sydney PhD project, by fellow member Sierra Bromwich, is exploring how young people with intellectual disability experience growing up, making choices and decisions, and becoming adults. Sierra is currently recruiting young people with intellectual disability aged 12–28 years living in Australia.
We invite you to share the study details among your networks.
The full study details, and Sierra's contact information are available here.
| | | | Exploring the health impacts of the purity culture movement on cisgender women.
Two sets of interviews will be conducted:
- interviews with cisgender women above the age of 18, exploring their embodied and health experiences of purity culture
- interviews with support providers who have experience supporting those healing from purity culture, may include: sexologists, psychologists, pelvic pain specialists, coaches, counsellors, MFTs, therapists, somatic body workers etc.
For more information, please scan the QR code in the image on the left or email the research directly, fellow member Noelle Simpson at s225141315@deakin.edu.au
| | | | The Poverty and Inequality Partnership, led by ACOSS and UNSW, is running a research project called ‘Always, usually, sometimes: Poverty over time in Australia’. The study aims to understand the day-to-day and long-term impacts of poverty in Australia, and how experiences of poverty might change over time. The researchers are looking for people who have experienced poverty within the past 5 years to take part in paid research activities for several years (until 2031).
The below orange button links to a set of recruitment materials that the researchers, including TASA member Yuvisthi Naidoo, would appreciate TASA members sharing.
| | | In Conversation
New: Dr Mariam Tokhi in conversation with Louise Chappell and fellow member Na'ama Carlin about Being Patient: Close Encounters in Cancer World
Wednesday 12 August 6:30pm
Readings State Library, Melbourne
Talks
New: Hemmed In: School Uniforms, Gender Performance, and the Illusion of Choice
Hybrid, Sydney
Wednesday 26 August, 1-2pm (AEST)
Presented by fellow member Jennifer Cheng
Panels
New: Education in an Age of AI and Ecological Crisis
20 August, 6pm (AEST)
St George's Performing Arts Centre, Melbourne
The panel will feature leading voices exploring how education must respond to the defining challenges of this generation.
Summits
Australian Social Cohesion
5-6 November, Melbourne
The summit will explore the forces shaping Australia’s social fabric through the theme: Understanding Australia’s Social Fabric: Diversity, Connections, and the Future of Social Cohesion.
Seminars
ANU School of Sociology Seminar Series
The program for the ANU School of Sociology Seminar Series is now online. All seminars are hybrid, with options to join via Zoom. Please visit the School’s Humanitix page, here, to view and register for upcoming seminars.
Newcastle Youth Studies Centre (NYSC) 2026 Online Seminar Series
The full 2026 program for the Newcastle Youth Studies Centre’s online seminar series is now out (see below), you can check out each seminar, and register for them, at the NYSC Eventbrite page here.
Note, you can watch the full 2025 recordings at the NYSC's YouTube playlist here
|  | Conferences
Global Sociology in Turbulent Times
International Sociological Association
XXI ISA World Congress of Sociology
4 to 10 July 2027, Gwangju, Korea
The deadline for Integrative Sessions is 28 September. Integrative Sessions are semi-plenaries that engage a debate on the Congress theme. Read on...
Schooling and Sexualities 4: 30 Years On
Australian Association for Research in Education
It will be primarily an in-person conference with some options for online attendance.
This event is being organised by fellow member Barrie Shannon.
30 Sep - 1 Oct
Adelaide University
Temporalities
The Sixth Annual Critical Femininities Conference
Friday, August 7-Monday, August 10 • 10 PM-1:59 PM AEST
Online
This 3-day virtual conference will bring together scholars, activists, and artists exploring femininities through critical lenses.
Freedom and Hope in the Current Global Context
British Sociological Association
31 March-2 April 2027
University of Manchester, UK
Abstract submission deadline: 11 September. Read on...
| Call for the next Editor of International Sociology Reviews
The International Sociological Association currently has open a call for the next editor of International Sociology Reviews, one of ISA publications. Please consider the call yourself and share it, using link below, among your networks, and if you know people who would be good at the role, do encourage them to apply. It would be terrific to have a TASA member as the editor!
Expression of interest deadline: 10 September. Read on...
Call for Submissions
Social Conditions, Clinical Logics: Rethinking Young People’s Engagement with Drug Treatment
International Journal of Drug Policy
This special issue invites submissions that explore or examine how the social conditions of young people’s substance use shape their engagement in drug treatment. Editors are looking for papers that critically explore, among other things, biomedical and psychologised approaches to AOD care, how contexts of crisis and social inequity shape treatment experience, and how treatment might be experienced differently by First Nations, LGBTQ+, refugee, migrant and racialized youth.
| For membership information, processes, and frequently used resources, visit the Members' Navigator. To contact a member of the team directly, see our TASA Staff page.
| Admin (Sally): admin@tasa.org.au
Events (Penny): events@tasa.org.au
Membership (Ali): membership@tasa.org.au
Indigenous (Morgan): indigenoussociology@tasa.org.au
Digital Publications Editor (Roger): digitalpe@tasa.org.au
Thematic Groups (Molly): thematicgroups@tasa.org.au
Postgraduates (Brooklyn): postgraduates@tasa.org.au | |