Our Services

Interactions Social Research carries out applied research to serve the needs of social sector clients. We offer analysis of social issues and policy; literature reviews; and concise data derived from robust mixed methods. We support community, private sector and government-agency responses to our common world concerns.

We provide independent consultancy-evaluation reviews. Evaluations allow clients to assess a) the relevance and fit of proposed new initiatives and programs and b) the effectiveness, impacts and value of long-term existing programs. We also offer training and support for your staff to develop evaluation priorities, identify the most relevant evaluation tools, and implement evaluation protocols and strategies to equip your organisations with crucial data.

We have a special research focus on young people’s participation and wellbeing. We support in-depth analysis and social shifts towards greater involvement of children and young people as concerned participants in communities and institutions of which they are members. Innovative participatory research with young people is at the heart of this approach. We support organisations and institutions to assess and improve diverse young people’s inclusion in the design, delivery and evaluation of community services that impact them. We support young people in their improved social inclusion. This is particularly relevant for organisations in which young people are key stakeholders. Our interactional-relational approach explores adult-child relations, children’s-peer relations, and child-environment relations.

ISR specialises in qualitative education research. Our aim is to advance innovative conceptual and methodological approaches to changing learning  environments, needs, media and modes. We are interested in how educational initiatives affect the experiences of diverse socio-economic segments.

Interactions Social Research has a research focus on the processes at play in First Nations and settler state relations. This includes better understanding First Nations priorities in

• education
• health and mental wellbeing —including cultural healing  
• relationships with country
• economics
• language and culture

Working with First Nations researchers, we explore the effects of social and policy initiatives of the State and/or First Nations bodies such as ‘Reconciliation’ and ‘Closing the Gap’ programs.

Our learning communities take a number of forms

• Online courses and workshops for adults who are educators or working in fields of care with children and young people
• Professional development training modules and workshops for organisations and their stakeholders
• Workshops in schools and community organisations
• Play-based and story-based workshops with children and young people
• Participation and research action workshops and training with young people
• One-on-one consultancies for organisations and individuals
• Futures foresight workshops with young people and adults