Living with border closures

 

This online panel and community forum aims to bring together community members and leaders from government, advocacy, media and academia to discuss the impacts of border closures on Western Sydney’s migrant communities. Along with hearing from a panel of sector leaders, we will be listening to the stories of Western Sydney residents about what the border closure means for their lives, their families and their communities.

News

Climate change hits low-income earners harder – and poor housing in hotter cities is a disastrous combination
Cost of living is a major focus in this election campaign, and yet political leaders have been unacceptably silent on the disproportionate impact of climate change on Australians with low incomes. This is particularly true for Western Sydney, home to around 2.5 million people. Over the last half century, the balance of Sydney’s social housing has
‘It’s not work-life balance, it’s work-work balance’ Politicians tell us what it’s like to be an MP
We are currently watching candidates battle night and day to win a spot in federal parliament. Many put their lives on hold trying to become an MP. What is it like when they get there? In recent years, Australian politicians have been under immense pressure, responding to COVID-19, floods, fires and international war. Yet, research repeatedly shows Australians’ trust of political leaders is at an all-time low.
Now we know the flaws of carbon offsets, it’s time to get real about climate change
Last month former carbon market watchdog Andrew MacIntosh blew the whistle on Australia’s carbon offset market. He described the scheme as a “rort” with up to 80% of carbon offsets “markedly low in integrity”.While these allegations reignited debate over carbon offsets, the issues are not new. Integrity issues have plagued carbon trading
‘I always have trouble with forms’: homeless people on how poor literacy affects them – and what would help
Homelessness remains a huge problem in Australia and an important contributing factor is low literacy levels. We interviewed 23 people who were homeless or had experienced homelessness to find out how they viewed literacy and participation in literacy classes. We wanted to know what would help or hinder them in attending literacy classes. Our report found low literacy levels

Highlights

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10 Year Anniversary of ICS
The Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) was launched in 2012 as one of five university-wide research Institutes at Western Sydney University, which grew out of the Centre for Cultural Research.
Audience at the Mapping the Humanities event.
ICS Seminar Series
The ICS Seminar Series presents an exciting breadth of social and cultural research from the Institute’s renowned staff and doctoral candidates as well as a range of national and international visiting scholars.
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FutureMakers
The work of the ICS researchers is featured in the latest issue of the University’s FutureMakers magazine. Read about their research successes, impact and partnerships.
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Issues journal
Issues is a journal of short essays, housed at the Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University. We encourage each author to write in English and one other language.