Papers for the first edition of “Working Notes” are due on the 1st of February. Working Notes is our free online publication dedicated to sharing the research and activities of non-academic sociologists with the world.

For information on how to prepare and submit your papers, please see our Instructions for Authors.

The Institute for Social Research has recently published a report by Australian sociologists Lauren Tolsma and Zuleyka Zevallos. The working paper is titled: Enhancing Community Development in Adelaide by Building on the Social Capital of South Australian Muslims. The report provides a sociological analysis of the settlement and support services available to Muslim migrants living in South Australia.

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Sociology At Work will be hosting a new online international publication entitled “Working Notes”. We are now accepting submissions for the first issue due to be published in April 2010. Submissions for this edition close on the 1st of February 2010.

Authors may submit papers in two formats: brief, general interest articles and reflections from sociologists doing work outside academia (up to 3,000 words), as well as short peer review papers (up to 5,000 words). We are also accepting papers from academics, but strictly for work that is being carried out for an external (non-academic) client or group.

More information on how to submit, see: https://sociologyatwork.org/2009111334/blog/instructions-for-contributors.html

Ms Anna Burke, Deputy-Speaker, and Australian Labor Party Representative for Chisholm congratulates the work of Sociology at Work member, Dr Christine Walker, and her research and advocacy network on epilepsy.

26 November 2009: In a great example of sociology at work, Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) said: ‘I would like to express my thanks to the Parliamentary Friends of Epilepsy. I know many of my constituents have expressed their thanks also’. For the speech in context, see: http://www.openaustralia.org/debate/?id=2009-11-26.126.7

The Australian Sociological Association is offering several scholarships for non-academic sociologists to attend their annual conferece, which is being held in Canberra, Australia, 1-4 December 2009. The theme of this year’s conference is The Future of Sociology. Given the cutting-edge and practical focus of their work, the participation of applied sociologists would truly enhance the discussions at the conference. Applications close over the next few days, on the 27th of July 2009.

The TASA Scholarship for Sociologists Outside Academe seeks to encourage the participation of sociologists working outside universities (in areas such as private industry, government and non-government organisations, and private contract and consultancy work) with The Australian Sociological Association (TASA). The TASA Executive would like to encourage non-academic members who have conducted applied research or written sociological papers on their work to apply for the scholarship.
Prize

    * Registration for the annual conference
    * A certificate for receipt of scholarship

Eligibility Criteria

Those eligible for consideration of the scholarship will meet the following criteria:

    * Current or recent employment or self-employment in an area such as private industry, government organisation, non-government organisation,       private contract work, or consultancy work
    * Applicants working in universities, academic research centres or joint industry-university centres are not eligible
    * Acceptance of a sole authored paper as part of the refereed proceedings of TASA Conference. The paper must be focused on research conducted as part of your work outside of academe
    * Not previously a recipient of the award
    * Current financial TASA members

Application Procedure

    * Nominations must be made on this official nomination form (also available from TASA web or TASA office)
    * Papers must be submitted to the refereed proceedings by the deadlines set by the Conference Local Organising Committee (LOC). Please make sure you double check this date on the TASA Conference website in case the deadline is brought forward.
    * Applications will be reviewed by TASA Executive sub-committee and decision will be made taking into consideration the ranking provided by the LOC
    * Up to three scholarships may be awarded each year
    * Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by early October. This will allow enough time for those nominees who were not successful to still register for the conference at the ‘Early Bird’ rate.
    * The decision of the review panel is final and no further discussions will be entered into.
    * Successful applicants will have the payment of their conference and workshop registrations made by the TASA Office.

Selection Panel

    * Selection panel will normally consist of the Vice President (convenor), General Executive member, and Conference Convenor.

Click here for a link to the TASA scholarship info and scroll to the bottom of the page for the application form: http://www.tasa.org.au/awards/conference.php

For futher information about the TASA conference, visit: http://www.tasaconference2009.com/

Check out the latest articles on applied sociology posted in our “Documents” section, under the Resources tab. The articles discuss the issues faced by non-academic sociologists from Australia, as well as the synergy between applied and academic sociological practices.

The first article introduces the themes and issues of interest to the Applied Sociology Thematic Group, which is a research network within The Australian Sociological Association. Download the article from the Applied Sociology Documents section.

The second article briefly engages the idea that applied sociology is the “other” of academic sociology, before making the argument that there are actually many important intersections between academic and applied sociological practices. The author illustrates this argument with an example from her research on national security issues. Download the article from the Applied Sociology Documents section.

The Sociology At Work website is a not-for-profit group run by volunteers – and we can definitely use more help.  If you are interested in becoming involved in running the website, or if you have any material that you think might be useful, please get in contact with us.  We require resources, forum moderators, newsletter editors and reviewers. Read More