Centre for Resilient and Inclusive Societies

We are an independent think-tank involving university and civil society partners, led by the Alfred Deakin Institute for Citizenship and Globalisation (ADI) hosted by Deakin University. We do research on some of the trickiest challenges that our society is facing – racism, societal division, systemic bias and disadvantage, economic inequities, extremism and discrimination.

At the heart of our approach is a genuinely inclusive and collaborative practice. We partner with organisations working on the ground and work with communities at all stages of the research process, from design to dissemination.

Our latest research

News

Fantastic new resource for researchers working with young people as co-researchers

Youth-led video containing tips and advice for online job seeking

New resource on anti-racism practices and findings from research into racism during the pandemic

Youth Co-Research Masterclasses

New Resource Delivered for Working with Men and Boys

New Article Published in International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society

CRIS Director Appointed Member of the Order of Australia

Rest in Peace Azraf Ezaz

CRIS is saddened by the recent passing of Azraf Ezaz.

National Anti-Racism Framework Scoping Report

The Australian Human Rights Commission has published its scoping report for a new National Anti-Racism Framework.

NEW RESOURCE: Working with Men and Boys for Social Justice Assessment Tool

CRIS’s Masculinities and Social Cohesion project team have created The Working with Men and Boys for Social Justice Assessment Tool. The Tool provides leaders, designers and facilitators of programs for men and boys the opportunity to review, reflect on and strengthen principles of gender and social justice in their work.

ARC DP Funding Success for CRIS Researchers

Multiple CRIS researchers have been awarded Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project funding announced in late November for 2023.

Prof Anita Harris elected as fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia

Congratulations to Professor Anita Harris who has been named a fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.

Dr Matteo Vergani discusses online hate at Australian Human Rights Commission panel

Dr Matteo Vergani spoke at a panel discussion following the AHRC’s Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture. The panel spoke about online hate and the need for legislative reform, and Matteo was joined by Rita Jabri Markwell and Professor Sandy O’Sullivan.

NEW RESEARCH: Defining and identifying hate motives: bias indicators for the Australian context

This report presents bias indicators for the Australian context and discusses their concept, uses, benefits and risks. The bias indicators we present are the result of extensive consultations with local experts including academics and practitioners working in law enforcement agencies, government and non-government organisations and community organisations.

NEW RESEARCH: Australians’ Well-being and Resilience during COVID-19

This report presents findings of a national survey of over 1300 Australians conducted in November 2020 examining well-being and resilience within the COVID-19 pandemic context. The research project looked at the factors that promoted or hindered well-being and resilience during the pandemic, and what we can learn for future crises.

CRIS 'strongly contributing to positive changes in discourse and policy'

Lirata Consulting undertook an independent interim evaluation of CRIS’s impact and value during our 4th year of operation.

CRIS at the GREASE Conference: Preventing religiously inspired violent radicalisation in western Europe and Australia: What works and what does not work

Vivian Gerrand presented at the GREASE Final Conference on behalf of Michele Grossman (Deakin University) and Thomas Sealy (University of Bristol). The conference ‘Radicalisation, secularism and the governance of religion: bring together diverse perspectives was held in Brussels on 22-23 September, and marked the end of the four year project.

Win a $30 voucher by telling us what got you through lockdown

‘Objects for Everyday Resilience’ aims to fill gaps in our understanding of resilience by studying what helped people through the pandemic. This will enable the development of resources to build resilience during recovery from COVID-19 and beyond.

CRIS Submission to the Inquiry into Extremism in Victoria

This CRIS commentary reports on issues we raised in response to the Inquiry into extremism in Victoria. You can read the Inquiry’s full committee report here, the full CRIS submission here, and other submissions on the Committee website.

Funding Success: Local CVE capacity addressing far-right extremism in Australian rural and regional communities: Protections, vulnerabilities, needs and resources

Professor Michele Grossman, Dr Mario Peucker and Professor Hass Dellal AO have been awarded $217,647 for a CRIS project titled: “Local CVE capacity addressing far-right extremism in Australian rural and regional communities: Protections, vulnerabilities, needs and resources” by the Department of Home Affairs.

NEW RESEACH: Mainstream media use in far-right online ecosystems

CRIS 'Dynamics of Violent Extremism' researchers Dr Mario Peucker, Thomas J Fisher and Jacob Davey have released a new report on ways that far-right social media users use mainstream media outlets for their ideological messages.

NEW RESOURCE: Youth Co-Research Toolkit

The resources within this toolkit provide information, advice and tools for young people to build their confidence and skills as co-researchers to contribute to real-world impact.

NEW RESEARCH: Identifying and filling racism data gaps in Victoria: A stocktake review

Our latest research report is the first comprehensive stocktake of racism data in Australia, and recommends where and how to fill the gaps in our data collection.

NEW RESEARCH: Mapping young people’s social justice concerns: An exploration of voice and action

We listened to young people’s concerns about the ways their voices can be co-opted and silenced, or amplified and given a platform.

‘Mapping young people’s social justice concerns’ will be of interest to anyone passionate about working with and for young people, and listening to their voices - not just the ‘loud shiny’ ones, but the raw, the marginalised and the critical ones too.

Diversity & Belonging: This Australian Life Podcast

Diversity & Belonging: This Australian Life dives deep into diverse stories of people grappling with the concept of belonging, and more importantly, how we can get there. Host, Dr Susan Sisko, is an academic, a psychologist and a member of Stream 1, Challenging Racisms and Enhancing Social Belonging. She has devoted much of her professional career to advocating for cultural sensitivity and responsiveness in the fields of counselling and psychology.

NEW RESEARCH: Recommendations to curb harmful far-right online activity

CRIS ‘Dynamics of Violent Extremism’ researchers published their final summary report of the ‘Symbiotic Radicalisation’ project after two years of analysis on how the far-right and far-left use three social media platforms for online political activity. Dr Mario Peucker (Victoria University), Jacob Davey (Institute for Strategic Dialogue), and Cécile Simmons (Institute for Strategic Dialogue), summarise their analysis of over 400,000 tweets and 70,000 posts from political fringe groups in Australia and recommend new approaches for policymakers, practitioners, and law enforcement to respond to far-right online mobilisation.

CRIS 2021 Annual Report

We are pleased to release our 2021 Annual Report.

New prejudice motivated crime reporting resources

Victoria Police has launched new resources to help members of our diverse community understand how to report prejudice motivated crime (PMC).

Recent blog posts

How Sky News Australia turned watchdog’s rebuke over climate denial into an ‘exclusive’ story

This Guardian article features CRIS’ latest paper about media reporting on far-right extremism.

Deadly Queensland siege driven by fundamental Christian beliefs

Professor Michele Grossman spoke to ABC Radio about the threat of religion being weaponised in Australia.

Would a law banning the Nazi salute be effective - or enforceable?

Today, the salute is used to identify oneself as a white nationalist or “Nazi”. It’s also used in public spaces to intimidate and spread fear.

US LGBT nightclub shooting shows why Australia must reform hate crime laws

News of yet another deadly shooting at a United States LGBTIQ+ nightclub has again brought hate crime to the forefront of public conversation.

How could data help us combat racism?

Improved data management, monitoring and analysis could be critical to combatting racism – here’s a plan for how research and numbers can help us tackle one of Australia’s biggest social issues.

Australia is well-placed to make the long-overdue repatriation of Islamic State women and children work

National security is not a zero-sum game. If the past two decades have taught us anything about breaking the cycle of terrorist violence, it is that in the longer-run, treating people well – upholding justice and acting with compassion and humanity – keeps everyone safer.

CRIS Recommends

What we’re reading, watching, listening to and talking about

Letters to Australia: Reflections two years on: Three takeaways coronavirus leaves us with

Letters to Australia is an initiative from the Australian Multicultural Foundation (AMF) aimed at amplifying voices not always heard in the national conversation. This online collection of ‘letters’ elevates the voices of young advocates and thinkers so they may be heard by the wider Australian community. It also seeks to encourage curiosity and open mindedness about Australia’s future in the community more generally.

Letters to Australia: Leela Gray

Greater Asian urban enclaves expanding and concentrating in Australian cities

Awais Piracha asks, as Asian communities grow in our urban areas, what are the implications for race relations?

Be brave: how to Indigenise the curriculum

In this Reconciliation Week, non-Indigenous ally Alanna Kamp provides some insights on how to 'Indigenise' curriculum. Alanna says ‘I'm on a lifelong journey of learning and action so the reflections and tips I provide in the blog post are by no means prescriptive. Rather, I hope they inspire you to take action in informed, respectful, and meaningful ways.’