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Recent Research

Workforce planning in the dairy farming industry
The WRC has been working with Dairy Australia to trial a methodology for regional workforce planning.  People capability is a burgeoning issue for the dairy farming industry, as farm size is increasing at the same time that farmers are struggling to retain family members on-farm.  Using the West Gippsland area in Victoria as a pilot, the project team developed recommendations that the local industry can now use to support funding applications and future business development.  The research involved three stages: mapping the local labour market, surveying farmers to determine the characteristics of current and future demand, and mapping possible links between the local dairy industry and employment services institutions and training providers.  One aim of the project was to equip the dairy industry to replicate the research in other regions.  To support this, the WRC developed a customised data warehouse of labour supply data and a one-page survey of labour demand that has already generated considerable interest from other groups.

The Governance and Performance of Occupational Superannuation Funds in Australia
The purpose of the research project is to analyse the relationship between governance and performance in the Australian superannuation industry.
The Australian superannuation industry has developed rapidly in size and scope in the last two decades, especially with the advent of compulsory superannuation. The industry has developed around a range of differing fund governance arrangements. A clear differentiation here is the development of different fund types, including corporate, public sector, industry and retail master trusts.  One way of understanding these fund-type characteristics is in terms of a dichotomy between 'for profit' (retail master trust) and 'not for profit' (public sector, industry and corporate) type funds.  The research has already produced a review of fund governance research and we are about to release results of research on the relationship between governance and fund performance.
The main motivation for the research is to test whether differential fund performance can be detected between fund-types. Subsequent research will use different governance attributes that cut across fund types to test for performance effects.
The research is being funded by the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees
 
Accident Make-up Pay provisions in awards covering Victorian workers
With an official review of the The Accident Compensation Act 1985  underway, the review Secretariat of WorkSafe Victoria commissioned WRC to provide data to assist in the identification, development and refinement of issues that could be addressed in the review.  Part of the government’s aim was to provide some scope to examine the benefits available to injured workers, while recognising the need to protect the long-term financial viability of the scheme. The WRC study closely examined the provision of 'make-up' of workers compensation for Victorian employees covered by awards.  The study explored all arrangements and payments associated with 'make-up' pay, using a selection of 'key awards'.   The study found that make up pay was available in all but 1 award, with the most common period of payment being 39 weeks, mostly paid at the base award rate (with a significant number providing the over-award rate).  Employer superannuation contributions were guaranteed in over half the awards, with most stipulating that the contributions would continue for the entire period that an employee is on make-up pay.

Industrial agreements and economic renewal: Where next for the Australian Automotive Industry? A commentary and analysis of the industry’s enterprise agreements
This paper analyses the potential for industrial agreements to help with the renewal of the Australian automotive industry and looked at Enterprise Bargaining Agreements from the Australian automotive sector (both assemblers and components suppliers) that were registered since the WRC's last study in 2002.  The task was to assess their content and determine whether the agreements are 'unique', part of a 'pattern' or rather represent a blend of both being in the form of 'a variation around themes'.  As the later scenario prevailed in the data, the paper then commented on how the nature of 'coordinated flexibility' identified in the last study of agreements evolved over the last half decade.  The study also drew on the wider lessons from this experience for the potential benefits of a 'coordinated approach' to flexibility in future rounds of wage bargaining.

When do we stop? Achieving maximum weekly working hours in Australia. Brigid van Wanrooy discusses full-time employees work an average of 44 hours per week, well above the traditional standard 38-hour week. Despite Australia's reputation for the land of the long weekend, we have some of the longest working hours among developed countries......click here to read more.


Working Conditions of Doctors and Nurses in NSW Public Hospitals Survey for Submission to the Garling Inquiry. John Buchanan and Damian Oliver's recent research has shown that almost two thirds of all public hospital medical staff and nurses have seriously considered leaving the NSW public health system in the last 12 months.....click here to read more.


Labour market efficiency and fairness:
agreements and the independent resolution of difference. It is now settled that we need to get beyond Work Choices by Moving Forward with Fairness.  But what does this mean?  In particular, what does it mean if we are interested in improving efficiency, effectiveness and equity in the Australian labour market? WRC Director John Buchanan discusses ...click here to read more.
 
Below is a list the projects WRC researchers have completed in the last year.
More detail about each project will be added to the website soon. For projects completed before 2007 please see 'Archived Projects'.
  • Lowering the Standards: From Awards to Work Choices in Retail and Hospitality Collective Agreements (Qld, NSW, Vic Governments)
  • Survey of Workload and Working Conditions in Victorian Nursing (ANF Victoria)
  • A Private Dispute Resolution System for Transport and logistics - Options Paper (TALC)
  • Survey of NSW Emergency Physicians and Registrars (ASMOF)
  • A Safety Net for Victoria: Award Standards for the Unincorporated Workforce (IR Victoria)
  • Workplace Industrial Relations Survey in Queensland, NSW and Victoria (Qld, NSW, Vic Governments)
  • Academic Workload Management Practices in the Faculty of Economics and Business (University of Sydney)
  • The Queensland Civil Infrastructure Industry – measuring the scale and nature of the current workforce (CTQ)
  • From labour to work: Evaluation and options for Victoria’s Prison Industries (Corrections Victoria)
  • Developing a standard for excessive hours in Theatre, Film and Television (MEAA)
  • Security Guards and Fatigue (CRUSE)