Research and Policy Centre
Like the Brotherhood’s services, our research program is largely structured around four life transitions: the early years, through school to work, the working years, and retirement and ageing.
Some research activities cut across these transitions: such projects include those relating to refugees and to neighbourhood change.
In addition we have a ‘critical issues’ research agenda, focusing on themes identified in strategic planning as significant for disadvantaged people and therefore requiring the Brotherhood to have a ‘national voice’. Current critical issues are social inclusion, climate change, taxation and financial inclusion.
Our research staff bring diverse academic disciplines and backgrounds to the team, and are supported by the staff and resources of the Brotherhood’s specialist library.
In 2009, the Brotherhood of St Laurence signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Melbourne. Through a partnership for social inclusion across the life course, we are working together to create evidence for policy and to improve decision makers’ understanding of social inclusion.
Read more in the Research and Policy Centre annual reports
Research publications
Research reports
Reports from our research include literature reviews, program evaluations, policy analysis and insights from people experiencing disadvantage.
Brotherhood Comment
Our research newsletter, published three times a year, provides an overview of current research projects and policy analysis.
Brotherhood Update
Our monthly enews provides links to recently published reports, working papers, submissions and information about research events, as well as general news from the Research and Policy Centre.
Social Policy Working Papers
This online series is a joint undertaking of the Brotherhood of St Laurence and the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Melbourne.
Social inclusion workshop program papers
The Brotherhood’s contribution to a distinctively Australia social inclusion agenda is underpinned by a wide-ranging social inclusion workshops program.
Journal articles
Brotherhood researchers contribute articles to journals in a variety of disciplines. Recent articles are listed here, with links to the relevant journal.
Contributions to books
Brotherhood research staff have been invited to write chapters for social policy books published in Australia and overseas. Recent titles are listed here.
Research publications database
An online list of Brotherhood reports since 2002 is searchable by author, title, subject and date.
Research events
The Research and Policy Centre fosters dialogue through research events including a lunchtime seminar series, conferences and workshops including the social inclusion workshops program commenced in 2008.
Research proposals and ethics approval
The Brotherhood is committed to undertaking research which is carefully planned and adheres to the best ethical principles. Read about our research proposals and ethics approval process.
Keep up to date
You can register to get updates of research events or new publications including Brotherhood Comment.
Contact us
Brotherhood of St Laurence
Research and Policy Centre
67 Brunswick Street
Fitzroy Vic. 3065
Phone: (03) 9483 1364
Email: research@nullbsl.org.au