Social Justice Network

Background

In August - September 2021, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership hosted two meetings with staff across several areas that have a social justice focal point to see how the University could better connect and promote social justice activities. Attendees included staff from the Diversity and Human Rights Research Centre, Equity and Diversity, Humanitarian and Development Research Institute, Institute for Culture and Society, Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership, Office of Engagement and Advancement, School of Law, and the Whitlam Institute.

The group was unanimous in their support for the establishment of a Social Justice Network at Western to better connect and promote the important work undertaken in the social justice space. Along with the areas outlined above, the intention is to expand the network to also include staff from other areas, for example the Challenging Racism project, The James Martin Institute for Public Policy, the Sexualities and Genders Research Group, and the Young and Resilient Research Centre.

Professor Alphia Possamai-Inesedy is the inaugural Chair of the Social Justice Network. Professor Possamai-Inesedy will be working to establish a platform for staff, businesses, community, and government to connect on social justice matters, and to maximise the impact of social justice work across Western and the broader community.

Our Chair

Professor Alphia Possamai–Inesedy

Alphia Possamai-Inesedy is the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Engagement and Advancement), Chair of Academic Senate, Professor of Sociology and President of the Australian Sociological Association. She has worked as an Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor, Director of Sydney City Campus and was responsible for the co-creation of the Master of Research.

Alphia is the Springer co-editor for the series ‘Religion, Spirituality and Health: A Social Scientific approach’. She was the editor in chief of the Journal of Sociology (2013- end of 2016) as well as the co-creator of the Risk Societies Thematic Group within the Australian Sociological Association.

Her recent work includes: The Digital Social: Religion and Belief (2019); as well as an upcoming edited volume on Health sociology (Sage and Pearson).  Alphia is currently involved in ongoing research that focuses on higher education, risk society, religion, digital sociology, and methodologies.