Religion and Society Research Cluster

Emeritus Professor

Qualifications

BA (Hons) in Anthropology, University of Sydney, Bachelor of Divinity (Hons)  in Theology, Melbourne College of Divinity, PhD (Sociology), University of New England

Current Appointments

2010-present: Adjunct Fellow, Centre for the Study of Contemporary Muslim Societies, University of Western Sydney.

2004-present: Emeritus Professor of Sociology, Edith Cowan University

Previous Professorial Appointment

1996-2003: Foundation Professor of Sociology, Edith Cowan University. Also foundation Director of the Edith Cowan University Centre for Social Research.

Research Grants (Selected)

2005: $150 100 from the Commonwealth Department of Family and Community Services for an evaluative study of the Family and Community Networks Initiative, 2002-2006 (with F. Ainsworth and P. Hughes).

2002-2004: $66 000 from the Australian Research Council (Linkages grant) for a study titled ‘Country practices: a sociological analysis of factors affecting the wellbeing of general practitioners and their families in rural and remote Western Australia’ (with J. Duff and A. Larsen). Industry Partner, the Great Southern Division of General Practice, contributed a further $18 000 in cash and $12 000 in kind.

2000-2002: $171 000 from the Australian Research Council (SPIRT) for a study on ‘The impact of various forms of insecurity on personal well-being’ (with R. Cummins). Industry Partners, Anglicare NSW and NCLS Research, contributed a further $202 000 in cash or kind.

Publications

Books
Spirit Matters: How Making Sense of Life Affects Wellbeing. Preston, Vic: Mosaic Press, (2010). 166 pp. (Written jointly with P. Kaldor and P. Hughes.)

Building Stronger Communities. Sydney: University of New South Wales Press, (2007). 241 pp. (Written jointly with P. Hughes, P. Kaldor, J. Bellamy and K. Castle.)

Costs and Benefits of Diversification: Whole Farm Case Studies. Canberra: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, (2002). 126 pp. (Written jointly with C. Campbell.)

Report of the Evaluation of the Family and Community Networks Initiative. Canberra: Department of Family and Community Services, (2002), 100 pp., plus appendices. (Written jointly with F. Ainsworth, P. Hughes and L. Wilson.)

Why People Don’t Go to Church. Adelaide: Openbook Publishers, (2002), 158 pp. (Written jointly with J. Bellamy, K.Castle, P.Hughes and P. Kaldor.)

The Identification and Analysis of Indicators of Community Strength and Outcomes. Canberra: Department of Family and Community Services, (2001). 155 pp. (Written jointly with P. Hughes.)

Creating Better Educational and Employment Opportunities for Rural Young People. Hobart: National Clearinghouse for Youth Studies, (2001). 94 pp. (Written jointly with P. Kenyon, H. Sercombe and D. Lheude.)

Small Town Renewal. Canberra: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, (2001). 2 vols. 210 pp. (Written jointly with P. Kenyon et al.)

Socio-Economic Impacts of Farm Forestry. Canberra: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, (2001). 74 pp. (Written jointly with M. Tonts and C. Campbell.)

Rural Communities and Rural Social Issues: Priorities for Research. Canberra: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, (2000). 134 pp. (Written jointly with J. Duff, S. Saggers and P. Baines.)

Extension and Advisory Strategies for Agroforestry. Canberra: Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation, (2000). 120 pp. (Written jointly with K. Forge and F. Frost.)

Articles in Scholarly Journals: Sole Author
“Pillars, Bottom Lines, Capitals and Sustainability: A Critical Review of the Discourses” International Journal of Environmental, Cultural, Economic and Social Sustainability, Vol. 2, No.5, (2007), pp. 107-117.

“The Quest for Sustainable, Healthy Communities”, Australian Journal of Environmental Education, Vol. 20, No. 1, (2004), pp. 33-44.

“Extension Theory and Practice”, Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, Vol. 40, No. 4, (2000), pp. 493-502.

Journal Articles:  Joint Author

"How Australian people make sense of life and assess its ultimate significance - and the difference it might make", in Beyond Well-Being: Spirituality and Human Flourishing, (2012), pp. 89-108. (Written jointly with M. Miner, M. Dowson, and S Devenish).

“Too Much or Too Little Choice? Insecurity of Choice among Australian Adults”, International Journal of the Humanities, Vol. 2, No. 1, (2005), pp. 579-588 (Written jointly with J.Bellamy and P. Hughes.)

“Identity and Religion in Contemporary Australia”, Australian Religion Studies Review, Vol. 17, No. 1, (2004), pp. 53-68. (Written jointly with P. Hughes, J. Bellamy and P. Kaldor.)

“Esplorando la spiritualitaÌ in Australia”, Quaderni di sociologia, Vol. 48, No. 2, (2004), pp 141-151, (Written jointly with P. Kaldor, P. Hughes and J. Bellamy.) 

“The Social and Economic Implications of Farm Plantation Forestry: A Review of Some Key Issues”, Rural Society, Vol. 13, No. 2, (2003), pp. 174-192. (Written jointly with M. Tonts.)

“The Impact of Various Personal and Social Characteristics on Volunteering”, Australian Journal on Volunteering, Vol. 7, No. 2, (2002), pp. 59-69. (Written jointly with P. Hughes.)

“Changing Farm Business Structures and the Sustainability of Rural Communities and Regions: Issues for Research”, Sustaining Regions, Vol. 1, No. 2, (2002), pp. 17-23. (Written jointly with M. Tonts.)

“Responses to the Multiplicity of Faiths in Australia”, South Pacific Journal of Mission Studies, No. 23, (2000), pp.14-19. (Written jointly with P. Hughes and P. Kaldor.)

Contact Details:
a.black@y7mail.com