Graycar to head up Australian Social Policy Association

Professor Adam Graycar, Director of the Australian National University’s Research School of Social Sciences (RSSS), has been appointed President of the Australian Social Policy Association (ASPA).

ASPA is a non-profit organisation and professional association of social policy researchers, educators, practitioners and policy-makers. It promotes debate and increased understanding of social policy in Australia and productive collaborations between those working and researching in social policy in Australia, in the Asia-Pacific region and elsewhere overseas.

On commencing his term of office, Professor Graycar said he is pleased that ANU is showing leadership in the social policy arena.

“In RSSS there are many scholars whose research contributes to the better analysis of Australian social policy,” says Graycar.

“This important area of policy is at the forefront of the challenges, both financial and societally, that government is facing. Those of us in RSSS look forward to working closely with colleagues in other parts of the ANU who work innovatively on social policy issues.”

Professor Matthew Gray from the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR) is also an Executive member of the Association. ASPA produces the Australian Journal of Social Issues, which has been published continually since 1961, and which is now being edited in RSSS. Editors of the Journal are Dr Boyd Hunter, Senior Fellow, CAEPR and Dr Julie Lahn, Research Fellow, CAEPR.

The Journal provides an inter-disciplinary forum for debate on significant and controversial social policy issues. Articles discuss particular social issues, review conceptual problems, present empirical studies and debate policy alternatives.