Promoting sociology in Australia
Facilitating sociology teaching and research
Enhancing the professional development of TASA members
Promoting sociology in Australia
Facilitating sociology teaching and research
Enhancing the professional development of TASA members
The TASA Executive introduced Thematic Groups in 2005. They are designed to facilitate communication and collaboration between TASA members working in similar areas. They are also intended to provide a vehicle for the organisation of the annual conferences. Since 2005 twenty Thematic Groups for TASA have been established. TASA Executive have allocated $10, 000 for the support of thematic group activities in 2012. The Executive have also allocated $500 in support of minor expenses. Funding criteria and submission details are located at the bottom of this page.
More information about the Executive’s original discussion and design of TGs can be found in Nexus March 2005 (Vol. 17, No. 1.)
Associate Professor Julie Matthews
Associate Professor Julie Matthews (julie jmatthew@usc.edu.au ) has a background in sociology, anthropology, education, and cultural studies. Her research addresses issues of sustainability and education; cultural diversity; the education of minority, refugee and international students; diaspora, globalisation and transnationalism; critical pedagogy and postcolonial, Foucaldian and feminist theory. She is involved in the South East Queensland Climate Adaptation Research Initiative (SEQ CARI) and ARC-funded projects include studies of Indigenous governance, refugee education, and reconciliation and education. She is currently Director of Research in the Faculty of Social Sciences, and teaches honours and masters research methods. She is also Associate Director of the Sustainability Research Centre. Prior to entering the university sector she was a high school teacher of Sociology, Integrated Humanities, English as a Second Language and World Studies
To access information about current Thematic Groups, please click on the 'Established Groups' tab at the top of this page. Alternatively, click here.
You can join up to 3 thematic groups via TASA's membership application form. Your selections can be ammended at anytime throughout the year by logging in to your TASA membership profile. Instructions for joining a thematic group are available in Word (25kb) and Pdf (988kb)
The role of thematic group coordinators is to facilitate communications within the group and between the group and the TASA Executive. Coordinators also arrange for group members to referee relevant papers and organise session schedules for the TASA conference. Prior to the TASA conference each year, thematic group conveners will receive a list of refereed paper submissions. Conveners are responsible for organising blind referring submissions. Blind referring involves a) forwarding submissions to two referees with appropriate experience and expertise, b) sending 'Guidelines for Referees' and 'Referee's Feedback Form' to referees and c) forwarding referees reports to conference organisers.
Coodinators can facilitate group communications by:
TASA members are invited to submit proposals for the Thematic Groups. Proposals must:
Media (2005 - early 2011) Details from the Media TASAweb page are available in Word (16.2kb) and Pdf (29.4kb) (The Media Thematic Group was revived in mid 2011)Science, Technology and Knowledge ( 2008 - June 2010) Details from the Science, Technology and Knowledge TASAweb page are available in Word (113kb) and Pdf (87.8kb) Mobilities (2007 - September 2010) Details from the Mobilities TASAweb page are available in Word (14kb ) and Pdf (25kb ). A 2008 Mobilities annual report can also be viewed.
Submissions will be considered at Executive Committee meetings. They can be sent to the TASA Office:
The Australian Sociological Association (TASA) Swinburne Institute for Socal Research Swinburne University of TechnologyPO Box 218, Mailbag H98 Hawthorn VIC 3122 Ph: +61 3 9214 5283 Email to: admin@tasa.org.auThe TASA executive make decisions regarding Thematic Group formation at their quarterly meetings. For consideration in first-round decisions for 2012, please have your application submitted by the 28 February. The 2012 deadlines for the remaining three rounds are 27th June, 28th September and 23rd November.
Thematic Group Support Scheme The Major Support Scheme allows for groups to apply for up to $2,000 for activities that support their thematic area. There will be two submission rounds in 2011; February 28th (for events between January 1st and June 30th, 2012); and May 31st (for events between July 1st 2012 and June 30th 2013). An additional $1,000 is available to provide assistance to groups for minor administrative costs, up to a maximum of $100 per group. Submissions for minor administrative costs can be forwarded to the TASA Office as required. Please note: Applications including a catering component need to include an attendee fee to cover the catering.
Applications should be between 3-5 A4 pages. They should include: 1. Name of the thematic group 2. Name of convener(s) 3. Track record of the thematic group 4. Proposed activity 5. Evidence of member support and/or involvement 6. Expected outcomes 7. Budget and justification8. Timeline Note that it is NOT necessary to provide a literature review in support of the proposed topic Submissions Applications should be submitted as an email attachment to admin@tasa.org.au. First round proposals for events scheduled between January 1st and June 30th, 2011 should be submitted by 28th February 2012 for consideration at the March Executive meeting. Second round submissions for events between July 1 2012 and June 30th 2013 need to be submitted by May 31st 2011. The executive retains the right to deal with applications at other times if the applicants can convince the Executive of the need for this. CriteriaFunds will be allocated on a competitive basis, as judged by the TASA Executive. The Executive will disburse funds according to the merit of the applications. It reserves the right to make no disbursement of funds if the applications are not of sufficient merit. Criteria will be as follows: 1. Track record of thematic group 2. Viability of proposed activity 3. Contribution to the vitality of the thematic group 4. Potential for most members of the group to participate and/or benefit from the activity 5. Contribution to sociological research and teaching 6. Generations of outcomes suitable for publication in Journal of Sociology or Health Sociology Review.7. Extent of previous support Conditions The following conditions will apply:1. Grants will be made available in the form of payments on invoices from suppliers, or reimbursements of monies spent. Groups who are funded under the Support Scheme are strongly advised to discuss payment matters with the TASA Treasurer or Executive Officer to ensure that all statutory and taxation obligations are met. 2. The support of TASA must be recognised on materials related to the activity (eg. advertising, brochures, programs etc.). 3. Permission must be sought from TASA for the use of the TASA logo and other registered material. 4. Events must meet requirements for disability access and participation. 5. Participants must be charged a fee to cover costs if catering is provided and funding is not available from other sources. This condition may be waived by the Executive for activities where students are the principal participants. 6. A report (1000 words) must be provided to the TASA Executive Officer within four weeks of the completion of the activity. This should be suitable for publication in Nexus.7. If the proposed activity generates output in print, electronic or other forms, the copyright of such material remains with the authors/creators. 8. All funds should be used within 12 months of notification.
Groups may apply for funds up to $100 to cover ongoing administrative costs, for example registration of web names. Funds will be made available in the form of payments on invoices from suppliers, or reimbursements of monies spent. Groups are strongly advised to discuss payment matters with the TASA Treasurer or Executive Officer to ensure that all statutory and taxation obligations are met. Groups should send documents to the TASA Executive Officer with a brief note outlining how the expenditure contributes to the activity or viability of the group.
