News
How much sport will you be able to watch for free under proposed new Australian broadcast rules?
12 Apr 2024
Watching sport on television and other screens is integral to the cultural lives of many Australians.This is why, in 1995, the anti-siphoning scheme was introduced to ensure sport “events of national importance and cultural significance” would not be captured exclusively by pay TV at the expense of free-to-air coverage.....Read more.
‘I’m home’: how co-operative housing could take pressure off Australia’s housing crisis
15 Mar 2024
At a time when everything from abolishing negative gearing to capping rents are being suggested as ways to reduce Australia’s housing crisis, little attention has been given to housing co-operatives.A housing co-op consists of a group....Read more.
First national study reveals housing co-operatives could be part of the solution to Australia’s rental crisis
15 Mar 2024
New research by Western Sydney University has revealed that housing co-operatives may form part of Australia’s answer to affordable and stable housing choices amidst a growing housing and rental crisis.....Read more.
International Women’s Day Future-Makers issue spotlights ICS researchers
14 Mar 2024
We're thrilled to announce the launch of the newest special issue of Future-Makers! This edition focuses on the theme of International Women's Day 2024, "Inspire Inclusion," and highlights the outstanding women researchers who work at the Institute and across Western.....Read more.
Sydney Biennale invites us to celebrate our collective resistance in dark times
12 Mar 2024
The 24th edition of the Biennale of Sydney, titled Ten Thousand Suns, is an explosion of joy and creative energy across seven venues, including the sails of the Opera House and White Bay Power Station.This iteration, led by co-artistic directors....Read more.
Should you be checking your kid’s phone? How to know when your child is ready for ‘phone privacy’
05 Mar 2024
Smartphone ownership among younger children is increasing rapidly. Many primary school children now own smartphones and they have become the norm in high school. Parents of younger children may occasionally (or routinely) look at their child’s phone to check it’s....Read more.
When homes already hit 40°C inside, it’s better to draw on residents’ local know-how than plan for climate change from above
05 Mar 2024
Weather extremes driven by climate change hit low-income communities harder. The reasons include poor housing and lack of access to safe and comfortable public spaces. This makes “climate readiness” a pressing issue for governments, city planners....Read more.
Investigating Innovative Waste Economies: redrawing the circular economy
13 Feb 2024
Our planet is facing an increasingly severe problem of waste. Governments and businesses are promoting a solution called the circular economy (CE), which seeks to reuse and recycle resources. However, this approach does not tackle the intricate economic and cultural factors that contribute to the generation of waste.....Read more.
A Fool in Love is delightfully ridiculous and sharp-witted: social satire at its finest
12 Feb 2024
Van Badham’s A Fool in Love at the Sydney Theatre Company lampoons the modern Sydney vibe: a city obsessed with wealth, status and, of course, love.Designer Isabel Hudson’s candy-coloured set, lolly-pop-esque orange trees and sherbet-coloured tinsel attire seem to vibrate the essence of the city as we move juggernaut-like towards the festivities of Valentine’s day and Mardi Gras.....Read more.
Renewable projects are getting built faster – but there’s even more need for speed
31 Jan 2024
How long does it take to build a solar or wind farm? It’s a simple question with wide implications. To reach our ambitious 82% renewable energy target by 2030, we have to build many new projects – and start them soon.In 2022, renewables hit a new high of 36% of Australia’s total electricity production, double that of 2017. That’s good – but there’s a long way to go....Read more.
When the heat hits, inland waters look inviting. Here’s how we can help people swim safely at natural swimming spots
08 Jan 2024
People love to hang out around water, especially on hot summer days. And, for those who aren’t near the ocean, Australia is blessed with beautiful inland waterways....Read more.
Half-watched TV and part-heard radio: summer Test cricket is steeped in nostalgia, but these ‘traditions’ have short histories
05 Jan 2024
As the old year passes and a new one arrives, three notable sport events occupy the languid vacation hours. Melbourne’s Boxing Day and Sydney’s New Year’s Test matches are spliced by the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race....Read more.
Perth’s Optus Stadium has drawn more consumer anger after the outage. Another case of the ‘stadium curse’?
10 Nov 2023
Looming over the Swan River in Perth, a shiny sporting structure boldly declares “OPTUS STADIUM Yes”. After the disastrously prolonged communication outage this week, many will have shouted “No”, or other words requiring asterisks in respectable media.Sport stadium naming rights are controversial at the best of times – so why do corporates pay so much for them? And what are the risks?....Read more.
Young Australians increasingly get news from social media, but many don’t understand algorithms
24 Oct 2023
Adults might assume young people are not engaged in current affairs.But our survey reveals most Australian children and teenagers have a significant interest in the news. There has, however, been a drop in interest from our 2020 survey, done at the start of COVID.....Read more.
Water Justice In Australia and The Pacific Symposium
13 Oct 2023
Western Sydney University and Minority Rights Group International (MRG) hosted the Water Justice in Australia and The Pacific Symposium on Friday, 13 October at the Parramatta City campus.
The event launched the Focus on Water - Minority and Indigenous Trends 2023 Report by MRG, which features global case studies and contributions from Indigenous knowledge keepers and minority group activists as well as the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on Water.....Read more.
The Inaugural Social Sciences Week Great Debate: Does Sport Unite or Divide Us?
20 Sep 2023
This debate was organised by the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, with support from Synergy Group, as part of Social Sciences Week 2023. It was held at the National Library of Australia, Canberra on 5 September 2023, during its Grit & Gold: Tales from a Sporting Nation Exhibition (9 June 2023–28 January 2024).The debaters were....Read more.
How TikTok’s dating story time trend offers a glimpse into the sometimes weird world of modern romance
15 Sep 2023
In the ever-evolving realm of social media, TikTok has emerged as a dynamic platform that has reshaped how we engage with content and share our personal romantic stories. Within this vibrant ecosystem, one phenomenon has caught romance raconteurs’ attention: dating story time.The #DatingStoryTime hashtag has transformed into a virtual stage where users narrate their dating experiences, weaving a....Read more.
How hate speech during the Voice campaign can harm personal wellbeing, as well as democracy
06 Sep 2023
Last week, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia will vote in the Voice referendum on October 14. When the proposal for a Voice to Parliament was first put forward in the Uluru Statement from the Heart, it was mostly welcomed as an invitation to Australians to come together. The subsequent announcement of a referendum brought hope and....Read more.
Western design students lead the climate conversation at Powerhouse Late
18 Aug 2023
Young people are not only leading the fight against climate change but also finding innovative forms of knowledge exchange and empowering their peers, educators, and the public towards positive climate futures. On July 27, works by Western Sydney University Design students and research by ICS scholars were showcased at POWERHOUSE LATE: CLIMATE, which featured work by....Read more.
ICS Researchers Feature in Future-Makers
19 Jul 2023
We are delighted to present you the Gender Equality Edition of Future-Makers. This special issue concentrates on the latest research happening at WSU addressing the UN Social Development Goal 5: Gender Equality & Women's Empowerment.In this issue, five articles showcase the work led by the ICS researchers. These pieces cover a broad range of topics....Read more.
Penalties, passes, and a touch of politics: the Women’s World Cup is about to kick off
19 Jul 2023
The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off this Thursday night, the first football world cup hosted by Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand opens the tournament by taking on Norway in Auckland, while Australia’s Matildas will play Ireland in front of an anticipated 80,000 fans at a sold out Stadium Australia in Sydney. Despite the persistent....Read more.
Why is it so hard for Local Aboriginal Land Councils to develop land when the public needs are huge?
19 Jul 2023
Some of the largest landowners across New South Wales are Local Aboriginal Land Councils. Given the acute need for housing and infrastructure, it’s time the state government enabled these land councils to play a greater role in development. According to the Greater Cities Commission’s....Read more.
How Saudi Arabia came to be at the centre of a global golf merger
19 Jul 2023
Professional golf – and increasingly world sport – is caught in a sand trap. Not the familiar hazard between fairway and green, but the Middle Eastern desert producing enormous quantities of fossil fuels.The resulting riches are being diverted into sport, disrupting its traditional Western dominance.The latest example is....Read more.
From being mildly late to sucking on people’s tears – what is a ‘beige flag’ on TikTok?
19 Jul 2023
TikTok is one of the most prevalent social media platforms for trend-setting and trend-spotting – particularly within the relationship space. From trends and concepts like #DatingStoryTime to numbering the five stages of a relationship, TikTok is at the forefront of determining what’s hot and what’s not in the relationship world.The newest trend to hit TikTok from a relationship trend perspective: beige flags.....Read more.
Where have all the Luddites gone? Exploring what makes us human – and whether modern technology threatens to destroy it
24 May 2023
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School phone bans seem obvious but could make it harder for kids to use tech in healthy ways
28 Apr 2023
School phone bans may seem like the answer to reeling in young people’s technology use. But if we ban phones and bury this issue under the sand, when and how do our kids learn to have a healthy relationship with technology in a world becoming more tech-focused by the day?....Read more.
ICS Researchers Feature in Future-Makers
28 Mar 2023
Western Sydney University has been recognised as number one worldwide in the 2022 Times Higher Education University Impact Rankings. The Times Higher Education Impact Rankings assess universities against the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across four areas: research; stewardship; outreach; and teaching. This special issue of Future-Makers Special Issue (opens in a new window) on the UN Sustainable Development Goals focuses on the impactful work of WSU researchers across several SDGs. It features six articles on the research taking place at ICS.....Read more.
Why peace negotiations haven’t gained any traction in the Ukraine war – and how the stalemate could be broken
23 Mar 2023
A year after Russia’s invasion, Ukraine is in ruins. At least 8,000 civilians have died, with millions displaced. Generations of infrastructure have been destroyed. Large tracts of the environment and agricultural land have been devastated. A world food shortage has been created. The global economy is in crisis mode. The world has drawn closer to the unspeakable catastrophe of a nuclear war.....Read more.
As Western Sydney residents grapple with climate change, they want political action
08 Mar 2023
Western Sydney is being developed rapidly, increasing its already high vulnerability to climate change. One day in January 2020, Penrith was the hottest place on Earth. Residents who have endured searing heat, bushfires, heavy rain, floods and huge damage bills in recent years are now a political force.....Read more.
Are you living in a food desert? These maps suggest it can make a big difference to your health
17 Jan 2023
Public concerns about high food prices highlight how meeting basic human needs can’t be taken for granted, even in a country like Australia. Food prices are but one part of the equation that determines access to food – and healthy eating more generally. Just as poverty for some can be hidden within a relatively wealthy community, lack of access to fresh....Read more.
