Sociology at Work

Dr Martin Luther King: “Public Sociologist Par Excellence”

Dr Martin Luther King is a Black man with a moustache and buzz cut black hair. He smiles broadly

“We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character-that is the goal of true education.” – Dr Martin Luther King Jr is described as “a public sociologist par excellence.” We look at how sociology students can model his use of sociology to transform society, through civil rights principles.

Applied Sociology Roles, Skills and Methods – New Series

People walk in a crowded place with a train station in the background

What are the roles that applied sociologists take on? What skills and methods do they apply in order to carry out their work? What workplace issues do they face? How do they manage their professional challenges and celebrate their triumphs?

Social Acts

Close up of an elderly man's ear. He has grey hair and we see the side of his glasses. He points to his hearing aid, which is a thin cord that wraps from the inside of his ear around his ear

Anthony Hogan looks back over his career across academia and applied research roles in social policy.

Sociology as Other: Sociological Thinking Applied to Mental Health Clinical Practice

A Black man and woman sit outdoors on a park bench. Both wear face masks. They are talkng and smiling

Joy Adams-Jackson reflects on her clinical work. She describes how she uses sociological theory in managing risk assessments in health settings. By Joy Adams-Jackson In this piece I write about my clinical observations and experiences from the perspective of a sociological ‘other’. While I work primarily as a registered nurse in a rural community mentalContinueContinue reading “Sociology as Other: Sociological Thinking Applied to Mental Health Clinical Practice”

Youth Unemployment in the Illawarra: An Investigation into the Problems facing Young Job Seekers in our Region

Aerial view of two young people sitting on a bench outdoors. Both wear caps and they have a backpack beside them

Scott Burrows discusses his social policy work on youth unemployment. He explores how sociology can be used as a framework to understand citizenship. He ends by reflecting on his transition from university to a private organisation.

Doing Sociology Beyond Academia: Making Applied Sociology “Work”

A student wears a graduation cap that says: 'I'm a social worker! What's your superpower?'

This article provides an overview of applied sociological practice, the origins of The Applied Sociology Thematic Group of The Australian Sociological Association, and a summary of this special edition on ‘Doing Sociology Beyond Academia’ By Zuleyka Zevallos This special edition of Nexus focuses on the applied work of sociologists. There are multiple interpretations of what this mightContinueContinue reading “Doing Sociology Beyond Academia: Making Applied Sociology “Work””

Opportunities for Teaching Sociology Within Enabling Courses

A Latina in a green graduation cap looks up, smiling

Anna Bennett discusses her experiences teaching sociology outside a university as part of an enabling course for youth aged 17 to 20 years who hope to qualify for tertiary study. By Anna Bennett Sociology not only offers us the tools to analyse and assess the society around us but, in addition, it allows us to considerContinueContinue reading “Opportunities for Teaching Sociology Within Enabling Courses”

The Utility of Participant Observation in Applied Sociological Research

Hundreds of Muslim men bow down in prayer, with their heads on mats in the middle of a street

Jan Ali describes how he used participant observation to study the religious practices of the Tablighi Jama’at. He considers how this metholodogy is an example of applied sociological practice. By Jan Ali Participant observation has long been an important social inquiry tool in sociological investigation of the social world and in applied sociology. It isContinueContinue reading “The Utility of Participant Observation in Applied Sociological Research”

I Can Feel Like a Ship Without a Rudder

Susan Pitt offers an introspection on the importance of peer support and networks for non-academics, and how this shapes her identity as a sociologist. Her paper also provides an example of one career path available to sociology students, within one of the various public service graduate programs. By Susan Pitt I have finally come to theContinueContinue reading “I Can Feel Like a Ship Without a Rudder”

Exploring the Entrepreneurial Option for Sociologists

A white woman wearing a ring is looking through golden binoculars and smiling

Karina Butera covers her PhD journey and how she built a business. She provides advice for other postgraduate students considering entrepreneurship. By Karina Butera Throughout my postgraduate experience I have operated within both the worlds of academia and commercial enterprise. I am perhaps a strange hybrid because I have entwined my ‘sociological imagination’ with my interest ContinueContinue reading “Exploring the Entrepreneurial Option for Sociologists”