News from the School of Social Sciences

The School of Social Sciences has now released its School of Social Sciences Strategic Plan (2022 – 2026), (PDF, 1117.05 KB).(opens in a new window)

This Strategy highlights a wide range of specific objectives, aligned with each of our portfolio areas – Engagement, Learning and Teaching, Research and International.

It is through these objectives that we will activate a plan of intentional, outward engagement, with a focus on:

• Developing sustainable student flows and enhancing student experience.
• Meaningful, research-led change in local, international, and diasporic communities.
• Deep, thoughtful, and reciprocal engagement with our peers, partners, students, and alumni.
• Cultivating an equitable, supportive, and collaborative environment that is conducive to individual and shared success and impact.

I am confident that our School of Social Sciences Strategic Plan (2022-2026) will harness our energies to continue to deliver high quality education for our students, world class research and publications, and meaningful social change in the Greater Western Sydney and Indo-Pacific regions.

Professor Brian Stout, Dean, School of Social Sciences

The School of Social Sciences was well-represented at the prestigious University Excellence Awards in 2021, with our staff taking out a range of prizes, including both of the University’s inaugural Indigenous Awards.

Our School award recipients in 2021 are:

• Dr Alanna Kamp - Excellence in Indigenous Learning and Teaching Award
• Dr Corrinne Sullivan – Excellence in Indigenous Research Award
• Dr Irena Veljanova – Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning
• Dr Susan Sisko – Excellence in Teaching Partnerships
• Dr Jenna Condie – Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence in Teaching – Teacher of the Year Award.

Congratulations to all award recipients and nominees on this significant achievement.

The Annual Report outlines the great progress that the School of Social Sciences has made great progress in its our Indigenous Strategy for 2020 – 2025 (PDF, 1543.5 KB),(opens in a new window) in the year since it was written and accepted.

2020 was a year of progress and achievement for the School - notably, the symposium ‘#IndigenousLivesMatter: Speaking back/ with Social Sciences’ invigorated the School into a response to the Black Lives Matter Campaign in research, teaching and engagement.

The School also worked with colleagues across the University to provide support to Indigenous students through the time of COVID-19.

The report, rightly, foregrounds the work of Indigenous colleagues but it is also important to acknowledge the strong support of the strategy from all colleagues across the school.

I thank all involved in their work in 2020 and look forward to further outstanding achievements in 2021 and beyond.

Professor Brian Stout, Dean, School of Social Sciences

The School is committed to fostering Indigenous Australian success across the School’s research, learning and teaching portfolios, staff and student bodies, as well as nurturing community engagement and international collaboration.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce the School of Social Sciences’ Indigenous Strategy for 2020 – 2025. Western Sydney University has always been located on Aboriginal land. We value and nurture our relationships with the Indigenous community as an anchor institution that serves Western Sydney. This commitment and pride underpins our core values and beliefs.

This Strategy engages with and supports the University’s Indigenous Strategy 2020- 2025, and is a demonstration of the School’s commitment to Indigenous Education and Research. The School has already made significant progress towards many of the objectives set out in the strategy, in particular in leadership, in employment and student numbers. It is important that the School sees this progress as a foundation for further achievement.

Many of the objectives set out are ambitious but they are deliberately so, as the School aspires to be a leader in Indigenous Education to the benefit of our colleagues, students and the community.

The Indigenous Strategy follows the University’s plan in focusing on strategic objectives in seven areas of Indigenous engagement: students; employment; research; learning and teaching; community engagement; leadership; and cultural viability and knowledge.

The School is deeply committed to the objectives set out within this strategic document and will ensure that achieving those objectives is the responsibility of all in the School.

Finally I commend all involved in devising this strategy and particularly thank Associate Dean Indigenous Education, Corrinne Sullivan, for her leadership in this area.

Professor Brian Stout, Dean, School of Social Sciences

Western Sydney University - School of Social Sciences has been awarded Affiliate Membership by the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) Council at the ACFID AGM.

As an ACFID Affiliate Member the School of Social Sciences is able to access a wide range of ACFID member benefits, including discounted training rates, participation in ACFID member activities and Communities of Practice.

More specifically, the school can access services and events below:

• Participate in ACFID's Communities of Practice – more information on ACFID's CoPs can be found on the ACFID website.
• Join us at our next Member Information Forum in February/March 2017 (date TBC), a fantastic free opportunity to learn the latest news from the sector and network with other ACFID members;
• Access the ACFID Member Bulletin and CEO updates with essential information on sector issues and development – you have been added to our mailing list and will receive information on a monthly basis, or when significant issues arise.
• Participate on the Research for Development Impact Network- more information is available on our website at Join the RDI Network (opens in new window)

If you would like any further information about how to access any of these benefits, please contact our Membership & Stakeholder Coordinator Sophie Green on sgreen@acfid.asn.au or 02 6281 9235.