Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

Staffed by committed, caring and popular teachers, the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a rich variety of socially engaged and vocationally relevant courses. Areas of study are criminology, environmental sustainability, history, global studies, philosophy, politics and international relations, sociology, and Indigenous studies. Our active researchers generate new knowledge with impact on a range of pressing social questions.

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Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Learn how the world works through an understanding of arts and society.

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Our projects

- Social Affairs
Dreamtime at the 'G Reflections

Dr Andrew Peters, a proud Wurundjeri and Yorta Yorta man, shares his reflections on Dreamtime at the 'G and Sir Doug Nicholls Round.

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Wednesday 27 May 2020
- University
Three Swinburne scholars awarded Fulbright scholarships

The prestigious Fulbright Program in Australia has awarded scholarships to Anastassija (Stacey) Konash, Dr Karen Hughes and Dr Nina Papalia.

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Thursday 30 January 2020
- Social Affairs
The financial fallout of separation issues

Associate Professor Kay Cook is comparing child support programs around the world and how governments handle these complex financial arrangements.

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Wednesday 10 July 2019
- Design
Swinburne researcher contributes to the development of new 50 dollar note

Dr Karen Hughes has been the subject matter expert and leader researcher for the David Unaipon side of the new 50 dollar note.

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Thursday 18 October 2018

Professor Ruth Abbey

Chair, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

+61392143691

rabbey@swinburne.edu.au

Name	Position	Contact	Location
Associate Professor Christine Agius	Associate Professor, Politics and International Relations	+61 3 9214 8584 cagius@swinburne.edu.au	400B213
Dr Damon Alexander	Senior Lecturer, Politics and International Relations	+61 3 9214 5798 dtalexander@swinburne.edu.au	400B205
Dr Aisling Bailey	Lecturer, Sociology	aabailey@swinburne.edu.au	400B111
Dr Glenda Ballantyne	Senior Lecturer, Sociology	gballantyne@swinburne.edu.au	400B215
Dr Simone Battiston	Senior Lecturer	+61 3 9214 8051 sbattiston@swinburne.edu.au	400B203
Dr Peter Brace	Academic Tutor, Philosophy	pbrace@swinburne.edu.au	400B106
Dr Sal Clark	Lecturer, Sociology and Politics	sallyclark@swinburne.edu.au	400B213
Dr Matthew Jones	Senior Lecturer, Criminology	mjones1@swinburne.edu.au	400B107
Professor Kay Cook	Professor	+61 3 9214 4526 kcook@swinburne.edu.au	AGSE307
Associate Professor Arran Gare	Associate Professor, Philosophy	+61 3 9214 8539 agare@swinburne.edu.au	400B221
Dr Rob Hoffman	Academic Tutor, Politics	roberthoffman@swinburne.edu.au	400B106
Associate Professor Karen Hughes	Associate Professor, Indigenous Studies and History	karenhughes@swinburne.edu.au	400B108
Dr Julie Kimber	Senior Lecturer, History	+61 3 9214 8103 jkimber@swinburne.edu.au	400B214
Dr Andrew Kirkpatrick	Academic Tutor, Philosophy	akirkpatrick@swinburne.edu.au	400B106
Dr Jeffrey Klooger	Academic Tutor, Sociology	jklooger@swinburne.edu.au	400B106
Professor Michael Leach	Professor, Politics and International Relations	+61 3 9214 5357 mleach@swinburne.edu.au	400B216
Dr Caitlin Mahar	Academic Tutor, History	cmahar@swinburne.edu.au	400B106
Dr Joel McGregor	Lecturer, Criminology	joelmcgregor@swinburne.edu.au	400B203
Dr Glenn McLaren	Lecturer, Philosophy	+61 3 9214 3896 gmclaren@swinburne.edu.au	400B219
Dr Andrew Peters	Senior Lecturer, Indigenous Studies	+61 3 9214 5107 apeters@swinburne.edu.au	400B108
Dr Kerry Ryan	Lecturer, Politics and History	+61 3 9214 4418 kdryan@swinburne.edu.au	400B205
Dr Hadi Sohrabi	Lecturer, Sociology	+61 3 9214 8074 hsohrabi@swinburne.edu.au	400B219
Associate Professor Lorenzo Veracini	Associate Professor, History	+61 3 9214 8505 lveracini@swinburne.edu.au	400B204
Dr Kythera Watson-Bonnice	Academic Tutor, Sociology	kwatsonbonnice@swinburne.edu.au	400B106
Dr Farnaz Zirakbash	Academic Tutor, Sociology	fzirakbash@swinburne.edu.au	400B109
Jillian Marsh	Lecturer, Indigenous Studies	jkmarsh@swin.edu.au	400B111

Latest news

- Health
Using storytelling to reduce ageism in the community

A Swinburne-led project is using digital storytelling to prevent ageism, which can lead to elder abuse.

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Monday 24 February 2020
- Social Affairs
We must celebrate gender and sexual diversity in our schools

Commentaries about the Safe Schools Coalition are out of touch, writes Swinburne's Lucy Nicholas.

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Tuesday 16 February 2016
- University
Student Adobe Digital Coaches are using storytelling to improve digital literacy

Swinburne students are being employed as Adobe Digital Coaches to share their knowledge and experience of Adobe applications with students and staff

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Thursday 04 June 2020
- University
National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week explained

Swinburne’s Professor Andrew Gunstone, Ms Emma Gavin, and Dr Andrew Peters explain the history behind National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week.

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Friday 24 May 2019
- Law
‘Boundless opportunities’ put Swinburne law graduate on top

Swinburne Law School graduate has received a prestigious Supreme Court Prize 2020 for his oustanding academic achievements while studying at Swinburne.

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Thursday 14 May 2020