HADRI Projects

Current and Completed Research Projects

Safe Spaces (2024-present)

Increasing war, civil conflicts and the global climate crisis are leading to forced mass displacement of people, pushing populations into extreme poverty, hunger and malnutrition. These events have plateaued the progress of global development initiatives, with many countries unable to achieve their Sustainable Development Goal targets. Current humanitarian responses have collectively failed to meet the needs of displaced people. Within this context, it is increasingly important to explore the humanitarian-development-peace nexus, with a view toward providing conditions that support sustainability, mobility, and human security for people experiencing protracted displacement. This research project critiques and evaluates existing humanitarian-development nexus theories with the aim of contributing to reimagining and redefining ‘What is a safe space?’ for displaced persons through theoretical, policy, and practical contributions.

For more information contact: Dr Nidhi Wali at N.Wali@westernsydney.edu.au

Family farming, Lifestyle and Health (FALAH) (2023 to present)

FALAH focuses on Pacific islands societies, linking food systems to public health outcomes. It explores the relationship between family farming in adaptation to climate change, nutrition and health and places a strong focus on research translation and capacity building. This project is in partnership with colleagues in Pacific Islands, Europe and Australia through the EC Horizon 2020-Resarch Innovation and Staff Exchange (RISE) program, and involves five researchers from HADRI. More details on FALAH can be found here.

For more information contact: Professor Nichole Georgeou at N.Georgeou@westernsydney.edu.au

Development Communication, Media and Peace in Protracted Displacement (2022-present)

In contexts of protracted displacement such as refugee camps, cultural, religious differences, and the influence of violent groups create an unstable environment for young people. There is a lack of research on the use of development communication interventions aimed at promoting peace in these contexts. This is a case study analysis of media projects in three refugee camps located in different geographical areas. The intended outcome is to generate evidence on a development communication approach that addresses humanitarian needs while simultaneously triggering mechanisms that initiate longer-term community and social development. The focus is on media use by displaced young people living in protracted situations of encampment.

For more information contact: Dr Valentina Baú at V.Bau@westernsydney.edu.au

Linking Relief Rehabilitation & Development (LRRD) (2021-2025)

The concept of linking relief, rehabilitation and development (LRRD) emerged in the 1980s when practitioners identified a funding gap between humanitarian assistance, relief, and development activities. This research operates at the intersection between disaster management and development programming, and the potential to define operational best practice regarding integration and transition of these functions. The project involves the establishment of a study database (1980 – 2025), supported by student researchers and a systematic review of this literature. It includes development of an evaluative framework that can be utilised by researchers, policy makers and practitioners to analyse the operational effectiveness of LRRD programs. The research team has published a Systematic Review protocol and its final publication provides summative data regarding operational LRRD practice and a practical evaluative framework for programme planning and evaluation.

For more information contact: Associate Professor Garry Stevens at G.Stevens@westernsydney.edu.au

Positive Peace and Cultural Wellbeing and Agency Initiative, exploring peaceful solutions to living well in diverse communities (2021-2024)

This project was a collaboration between the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP) and Western Sydney University (WSU), funded by a Multicultural NSW (MNSW) Compact Grant, which sought to enhance social cohesion and youth agency in five communities across New South Wales. Using the IEP’s Positive Peace framework (PPF), the initiative aimed to adapt the framework to local contexts, fostering cultural well-being and supporting community-led projects to build resilience and agency. The project directly addressed social challenges such as fear, hate, racism, and discord by promoting culturally inclusive practices. For example, Georgeou collaborated with Matavai Pacific Cultural Arts, which designed and implemented their Positive Peace project, creating a documentary film exploring Pacific Island cultural heritage and diversity. This approach contributes to broader efforts in social harmony and empowerment. For more details refer to Positive Peace Case Studies p.8.

For more information contact: Professor Nichole Georgeou at N.Georgeou@westernsydney.edu.au

The Consequences and Outcomes of Cultural Stigma from COVID-19 Ordinances (2021)

This research project studies the social impact of, and social response to, stigma emerging from the COVID-19 outbreak. Specifically, it focuses on the manifestation of stigma both in real space and through social media in Nova Scotia, New Zealand and Australia, jurisdictions with differing approaches to the COVID-19 outbreak. This project sets out to investigate how some members of society may be blamed for the origin and spread of the COVID-19 virus. Cases are reported of persons who look “Asian” being publicly shamed and blamed for COVID-19. Now with ordinances in place to flatten the curve, essential service workers, persons from low income, and those in unique personal circumstances may also face stigma.

For more information contact: Professor Nichole Georgeou at N.Georgeou@westernsydney.edu.au

Better Elder Care: Culturally and linguistically appropriate care and service provision for older migrants 65+ in Greater Western Sydney (2021)

This project is undertaken in collaboration with SydWest Multicultural Services, and has been funded under the Western Sydney University Partnership Funding Scheme. The project aims to understand the needs of older migrant refugees (65 years and older), and to develop strategies to address their needs.

For more information contact: Professor Nichole Georgeou at N.Georgeou@westernsydney.edu.au

Mapping the wounded landscape of Swat Valley: From Taliban and iconoclasm to social growth and reconciliation (2019-2022)

This British Academy-funded project will map the ways in which Swat Valley communities are recovering from a recent history of violence and fear experienced during the Taliban insurgency.  It will articulate the spatial rearrangements enacted by the Taliban and the gendered memories and imaginaries of the conflict as interpreted through the optics of the damaged, blasted, and sometimes rehabilitated archaeological and living heritage spaces in the valley. Working with the University of Malakand and local NGOs in Pakistan, we will bring to the fore the traces of violence and destruction through community-based projects that also reclaim sense of place and reanimate the significance of the Taliban-damaged heritage within a peace building process in Swat.

For more information contact: Dr Helmut De Nardi  helmut@consortium.lgbt

Consultancies

MyWay Evaluation (Completed)

Evaluation of the MyWay program for Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre which supports first generation refugees, migrants and culturally linguistic and diverse communities in the Liverpool LGA and Campbelltown LGA who are at risk of entering the criminal justice system. Conducted in conjunction with Dr Rimple Mehta.

For more information contact: Dr Melissa Phillips at melissa.phillips@westernsydney.edu.au

The Parallel Lives of Women (Completed)

The Parallel Lives of Women (TPLW) is a Participatory Research Project that aims to investigate the health and wellbeing impacts of social welfare policies on vulnerable women from refugee backgrounds. TPLW proposes a two year creative arts therapeutic intervention and comparative study looking at health and wellbeing outcomes for Sri Lankan Tamil Women who arrived by boat 8 years ago, and Syrian women who have arrived in the last 3 years. The final report for this project is available here.

For more information contact: Professor Nichole Georgeou at N.Georgeou@westernsydney.edu.au

Enhancing Knowledge on Remittances and Diaspora Engagement in South Sudan (Completed)

This consultancy is part of a research project that seeks to analyse the remittance flows into South Sudan including formal and informal money transfer systems, diaspora organisations and networks, knowledge amongst diaspora of opportunities for engagement with South Sudan, and issues precluding diaspora investment in South Sudan. Estimates indicate that 4.7 million South Sudanese live outside of the country’s borders, with at least 2.5 million of those living as refugees.  A large proportion of the South Sudanese economy is being supported by those in both formal and informal employment, and there is an assumption that a sizeable percentage of their wealth is being channelled through remittance outflows from their countries of origin. Meanwhile, there are no formal mechanisms for remittances data collection, analysis and dissemination in the country with latest figures captured in 2013 and the Bank of South Sudan has not issued disaggregated data on overseas development assistance where remittances would be captured since 2013. A number of actors including from the Government are working with IOM South Sudan to conduct a study on remittance flows in and out of the country. HADRI inputs will then take this research to develop evidence-based policy proposals on remittances and diaspora engagement.

For more information contact: Dr Melissa Phillips at melissa.phillips@westernsydney.edu.au

Enhancing Research Impact in International Development (Completed)

HADRI won the contract from ACFID’s RDI Network to develop a practical guide to Enhancing Research Impact in International Development (ERIID).  The ERIID guide aims to assist Australian-based practitioners and researchers operating in the development sector to maximise the potential research impact of a project. It outlines approaches, tools and strategies to promote a research project’s outputs and outcomes, and to encourage research uptake and research use. The guide was launched at DSAA conference in Melbourne on 6 February 2020 and can be accessed here.

For more information contact: Professor Nichole Georgeou at N.Georgeou@westernsydney.edu.au