Society and Community

IIBSoR has a strong track record in academic and applied research that helps government agencies, businesses and not-for-profit organisations strengthen their work with communities.

Key themes in our work include:

• Volunteering, activism and community engagement
• Support services for vulnerable groups, including foster care
• Delivery of community services and other public programs
• Research with vulnerable and hard-to-reach groups
• Evaluation of complex policies and programs.

Contacts

Current projects

Identifying, Attracting and Retaining Successful Foster Carers
ARC Linkage Project (industry partner: CareSouth).

This five year study aims to:

1. identify factors predictive of fostering success;
2. develop a test battery to support recruitment;
3. identify different segments of potential foster carers; and
4. identify effective communication channels to attract them.

Contact: Dr Melanie Randle

More Foster Carers for Children in Need: Understanding Heterogeneity among Australian Foster Carers to Increase Recruitment and Placement Success
ARC Discovery Project/DECRA Fellowship.

This three year research proposes a paradigm shift in the way the market of foster carers is viewed. It investigates foster carer heterogeneity on several dimensions and proposes customised marketing strategies to attract the types of carers most needed.

Contact: Dr Melanie Randle

Example publications

Randle M, Miller L, Dolnicar S and Ciarrochi J. (published online 09.05.2012) The Science of Attracting New Foster Carers. Child and Family Social Work.

Ciarrochi J, Randle M, Miller L and Dolnicar S (2012) Hope for the future: Identifying the individual difference characteristics of people who are interested in and intend to foster care. British Journal of Social Work, 42(1):7-25 (lead article).

Randle, M., Miller, L., Dolnicar, S., and Ciarrochi, J. (first published online 02.11.2011) Heterogeneity Among Potential Foster Carers: An Investigation of Reasons for Not Foster Caring. Australian Social Work (lead article).

Randle, M., and Dolnicar, S. (2009) Not Just Any Volunteers: Segmenting the Market to Attract the High-Contributors. Journal of Non-profit and Public Sector Marketing. 21(3), 271-282.

Example conference papers and presentations

Randle, M., Miller, L., Dolnicar, S. and Ciarrochi, J. (2010) Using Market Segmentation to Gain Insight into Reasons for Not Foster Caring. In: Yeatman, H.(ed) SInet Conference 2009 Published Papers. SInet Publications. Wollongong.

Randle, M., Grun, B. & Dolnicar, S. (2007) Segmenting the Volunteer Market: Learnings from an Australian Study. European Marketing Academy (EMAC) Conference CD Proceedings. Reykjavic, Iceland.

Example consultancy projects

Rintoul, D. (2011) The impact of built form in schools on student outcomes: A literature review. Prepared by IISBoR as a component of Urbis’s evaluation of the QLD Government ‘State Schools of Tomorrow’ program of school refurbishment and capital works. Unpublished.

Rintoul, D. (2011) Now I Can Move On: The impact of accumulated fine debt and the Work and Development Order (WDO) scheme on disadvantaged people in NSW. Prepared by IISBoR for NSW Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAG), published in DJAG’s report: ‘A fairer fine system’.

Braithwaite, B. (2011) Case studies of the Active After-school Communities program. Prepared by IIBSoR as a component of Newspoll’s evaluation of the AASC program for the Australian Sports Commission. Unpublished.

Rintoul, D. (2011) Youth Transitions and Mentoring: A Report from Two Surveys of Young People. Prepared by IIBSoR for Wesley Mission. To be published in late 2011.

Example Industry Reports

Randle, M. (2010) Retrospective Insights from Ex-Foster Children: Characteristics of Successful Foster Placements. IIBSoR, University of Wollongong.

Randle, M., Dolnicar, S., Ciarrochi, J. and Miller, L. (2010). The Market of “Potential” Foster Carers: Australian General Population Survey Summary of Findings. IIBSoR, University of Wollongong.

Formosa, P., Kavanagh, L., Dolnicar, D. and Randle, M. (2008). Attracting Volunteers to Wollongong Bushcare: Deriving Insights into the Volunteering Market through Market Structure Analysis. University of Wollongong

Example Higher Degree Research Student Projects

Meyer, P. (2008-current) Identifying Boycotting Consumers for Market Research. Doctor of Philosophy. 
Supervised by Professor Sara Dolnicar and Dr Melanie Randle.

Dabinett, M. (2010-current) Best Practice Marketing for Attracting Foster Carers. Masters by Research.
Supervised by Dr Melanie Randle and Professor Sara Dolnicar.

Kennedy, P. (2011-current) Engaging the community leaders of the future: Constructing meaningful consultation with young people. Masters by Research.
Supervised by Dr Melanie Randle and Professor Sara Dolnicar.

Media Coverage

2UE radio, Weekend Afternoons with Peter Burner, interview with Dr Randle in relation to trends in Australian volunteering. 21 Jul 2012 

Illawarra Mercury, "In the market for some volunteers" , Melanie Randle researcher profile in the IQ section. 18 Oct 2011

WIN Television News, interview on the prime time news bulletin regarding research results on public awareness and knowledge of the Aunties & Uncles program and the proportion of the population that would consider volunteering for the program in future. 29 October 2010
Click here to see media release

ABC Illawarra: live radio interview regarding Australians’ knowledge and perceptions of foster care and the marketing challenges associated with attracting more people to the role. 28 April 2010   
Click here to see media release

Illawarra Mercury: “UOW Solution to Carer Crisis”, newspaper article summarising findings of a nationwide study investigating knowledge and perceptions of foster care and reasons for not considering foster care. 28 April 2010