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This is my last Dean’s message of 2024, and as we close the year, we have quite a lot to celebrate.

We received news that, along with their teams, ten FASS colleagues from across our disciplines will be leading ARC DP 25 projects. Congratulations to all successful colleagues and to our research team who have skilfully advised, supported, and assisted colleagues in navigating the new two-step process. You can find out more about the successful projects and teams here.

Additionally, we’ve heard that, in recognition of significant and sustained contributions to their disciplines, two of our colleagues – Professor Monika Bednarek and Professor Vrasidas Karalis – have been elected as Fellows of the Australian Academy of the Humanities. You can read more here. Please join me in congratulating Monika and Vrasidas.

As we look back across our achievements in 2024, you will recall that an important initiative of the FASS strategy was led by SSSHARC, through the Research Impact Accelerator (RIA). The RIA is a novel program providing researchers with tailored tools and support to plan and execute knowledge translation activities. Across 2024 the RIA has supported internationally significant projects on Abortion Access, locally relevant projects on Early Childhood Care and the Impact of Block Programs, and multidisciplinary projects on Co-designing Resources for Neurodivergent Youth and Rural Community-based Organisations providing Family Support Services. I’d like to thank the six participating teams and SSSHARC for making the 2024 Research Impact Accelerator a success. SSSHARC will run the RIA again in 2025 with applications opening on 3 February 2025. I invite you to attend the SSSAHRC Information Session on Friday, 13 December 2025 for more information on the scheme and guidelines. 

I wish you all a restful break and summer period. I hope to see many of you at our end of year celebration on Thursday 19th December at the TAG Family Foundation Grandstand.

Regards,
Lisa

Congratulations to Dr Claire Golledge from the Sydney School of Education and Social Work, who won the Early Career Teacher of the Year award, and to Professor Jim Tognolini from the Sydney School of Education and Social Work, who won the HDR Supervisor of the Year award.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Awards is our whole-of-University, peer-nominated rewards program that recognises and honours our colleagues’ outstanding contributions to research, education, and the University community.