Last chance to join a SESU project

There's only a few days left to apply to join community-based research projects tackling social issues via the Stakeholder Engaged Scholarship Unit (SESU), before applications close at 5pm on Friday 17 May.

About the SESU

The SESU invites non-profit community and social service agencies to grow their research capacity alongside ACU by proposing research projects to support communities facing disadvantage or marginalisation. Each year, the SESU pairs a select number of community organisations with researchers from across the university, after researchers self-nominate to join the project teams. Together the researchers and the community partners collaborate on applied research; producing both practical and impactful outputs that the SESU’s partners can implement as part of their community development work.

Who can apply?

Academic staff, as well as professional staff with relevant research experience, from all areas of the university. You will need to seek the approval of your supervisor and member of the executive to join.

Why should I apply?

You will have the opportunity to work closely with a partner organisation on a project for about 18 months, likely longer for the international project below. It’s a unique chance to share expertise, co-design the research together and work collaboratively to deliver a project that will have a direct impact for the community it serves.

Don’t just take our word for it! Hear from two of the academics who have worked with us about their experience with the SESU in the video below:

You will be compensated for your work through an adequate workload allocation (for academic staff). Your organisational unit receives funds for buy-out of some of your time to the SESU project. Which projects can I apply for? This year there are three projects you can nominate yourself for – each with a different research focus.

One project explores youth development in Timor Leste, another the improvement of health outcomes for people in social housing in Melbourne, and the final seeks to reduce social isolation in aged care facilities through a robust evaluation of a program fostering independence in aged care residential facilities in Queensland.

Find out more about this year’s projects

How do I apply?

Keen to know more?