Professor Paul Henman
Professor

Paul Henman

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+61 7 336 52383

Background

Paul is Professor of Digital Sociology and Social Policy. He is a Chief Investigator of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision Making and Society (ADM+S), and Lead of the Social Services Focus Area in the Centre. Having degrees in sociology/social policy and computer science, and having worked in the public service, Paul has a unique insight into the intersection of digital technologies and their social implications.

For over 20 years, Paul's research has focused in the development, design, deployment and evaluation of digital technology, automated decision making and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in government and social services. Taking a multi-disciplinaray perspective, he explores the implications of automation and AI on policy, service delivery, service users and citizenship, governance and practices of power. His work considers the ethical, legal, social and pratical considerations of AI and automation.

Paul's research is regarded as influential in the development of Digital Welfare State and Digital Social Policy literatures. Past publications include Governing Electronically (Palgrave 2010), Performing the State (Routledge 2018), and Adminstering Welfare Reform (Policy, 2006). He is currently finalising Digital Government in an Age of Disruption with Professor John Halligan, which takes an international comparative, institutionalist approach.

His current research focus is on using critical social science to inform the development of practical digital and AI tools to advance pro-social outcomes,

  • Data navigation for lawyers. Working with Economic Justice Australia and welfare rights community legal centres, Paul is working with colleagues to co-design and produce a data extraction and navigation tool. This tool will assist lawyers to better provide legal advice and support to clients who are contesting decisions by the Australian government's Services Australia and Centrelink.
  • Trauma Informed Algorithmic Assessment Toolkit. Working with human service delivery agenies, this project is piloting a practical, online Toolkit to enable organisations to design and deploy AI and algorithmic enable services that is safe, responsible and avoids causing harm.

Availability

Professor Paul Henman is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Education policy, sociology and philosophy Health policy Human Society Policy and administration Public administration Public policy Social theory Sociology Sociology and social studies of science and technology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Education, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Digital government

    Governments have been using digital technologies for decades, with implications for the operation and power of the state, and its relationship with and governance of citizens. Increasingly algorithmic government and AI is heightening concerns with government accountability and transparency, and reproduction of bias, discrimination and inequalities. Charting these dynamics and developing policy and governance frameworks is an urgent research agenda.

Search Professor Paul Henman’s works on UQ eSpace

126 works between 1995 and 2025
All (126) Journal Article (58) Book Chapter (20) Conference Publication (18) Book (3) Other Outputs (25) Edited Outputs (2)

61 - 80 of 126 works

2012

Other Outputs

ARC Linkage Lifetime Care Research Report: A study of financing and management of lifetime care and support for adults with acquired disability and high care needs in Queensland

Foster, M., Henman, P., Fleming, J., Tilse, C., Allen, S. and Harrington, R. (2012). ARC Linkage Lifetime Care Research Report: A study of financing and management of lifetime care and support for adults with acquired disability and high care needs in Queensland. UQ Social Policy Unit Research Paper No. 3 St Lucia QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland, School of Social Work and Human Services Social Policy Unit.

ARC Linkage Lifetime Care Research Report: A study of financing and management of lifetime care and support for adults with acquired disability and high care needs in Queensland

2012

Journal Article

'Talk to us like we're people, not an X-ray': the experience of receiving care for chronic pain

Nielsen, Mandy, Foster, Michele, Henman, Paul and Strong, Jenny (2012). 'Talk to us like we're people, not an X-ray': the experience of receiving care for chronic pain. Australian Journal of Primary Health, 19 (2), 138-143. doi: 10.1071/PY11154

'Talk to us like we're people, not an X-ray': the experience of receiving care for chronic pain

2012

Journal Article

The power of e-government: technical, discursive, human

Henman, Paul (2012). The power of e-government: technical, discursive, human. Politik, 15 (3), 5-13.

The power of e-government: technical, discursive, human

2012

Journal Article

Exploring the use of residual measures of housing affordability in Australia: Methodologies and concepts

Henman, Paul and Jones, Andrew (2012). Exploring the use of residual measures of housing affordability in Australia: Methodologies and concepts. AHURI Final Report (180), i-35.

Exploring the use of residual measures of housing affordability in Australia: Methodologies and concepts

2012

Conference Publication

Towards a qualitative approach to evaluating access to information legislation

Breit, Rhonda, Henman, Paul and Snell, Rick (2012). Towards a qualitative approach to evaluating access to information legislation. CPRafrica 2012/CPRsouth7 Conference, Port Louis, Mauritius, 5 - 7 September 2012. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Communications Policy Research South (CPRsouth).

Towards a qualitative approach to evaluating access to information legislation

2011

Other Outputs

Models of governance in long-term disability care and support: A framework for assessing and reforming social policy

Henman, Paul and Foster, Michele (2011). Models of governance in long-term disability care and support: A framework for assessing and reforming social policy. UQ Social Policy Unit Research Paper No. 2 St Lucia QLD, Australia: The University of Queensland, School of Social Work and Human Services Social, Policy Unit.

Models of governance in long-term disability care and support: A framework for assessing and reforming social policy

2011

Journal Article

Conditional citizenship? Electronic networks and the new conditionality in public policy

Henman, Paul (2011). Conditional citizenship? Electronic networks and the new conditionality in public policy. Policy and Internet, 3 (3), 1-18. doi: 10.2202/1944-2866.1103

Conditional citizenship? Electronic networks and the new conditionality in public policy

2011

Book Chapter

Biopower

Henman, Paul (2011). Biopower. Encyclopedia of power. (pp. 73-73) edited by Keith Dowding. Thousand Oaks, CA, United States: Sage Publications. doi: 10.4135/9781412994088.n39

Biopower

2011

Book Chapter

Governmentality

Henman, Paul (2011). Governmentality. Encyclopedia of power. (pp. 289-291) edited by Keith Dowding. Thousand Oaks, CA, United States: Sage Publications. doi: 10.4135/9781412994088.n159

Governmentality

2010

Other Outputs

Financing and delivery of services for adults with acquired disability and high care needs in Queensland: Results from an on-line survey

Henman, Paul, Foster, Michele, Fleming, Jennifer, Tilse, Cheryl, Harrington, Ros and Thornton, Stephen (2010). Financing and delivery of services for adults with acquired disability and high care needs in Queensland: Results from an on-line survey. UQ Social Policy Unit Research Paper No. 1 Brisbane Australia: The University of Queensland, School of Social Work and Human Services.

Financing and delivery of services for adults with acquired disability and high care needs in Queensland: Results from an on-line survey

2010

Journal Article

The distributional and financial impacts of the new Australian Child Support Scheme: A 'before and day-after reform' comparison of assessed liability

Smyth, Bruce and Henman, Paul (2010). The distributional and financial impacts of the new Australian Child Support Scheme: A 'before and day-after reform' comparison of assessed liability. Journal of Family Studies, 16 (1), 5-32. doi: 10.5172/jfs.16.1.5

The distributional and financial impacts of the new Australian Child Support Scheme: A 'before and day-after reform' comparison of assessed liability

2010

Book Chapter

Social policy and information communication technologies

Henman, Paul (2010). Social policy and information communication technologies. Information communication technologies for human services education and delivery: Concepts and cases. (pp. 215-229) edited by Jennifer Martin and Linette Hawkins. Hershey, PA, U.S.A.: Information Science Reference. doi: 10.4018/978-1-60566-735-5.ch014

Social policy and information communication technologies

2010

Conference Publication

The dynamics of financial hardship and housing need: A longitudinal analysis using budget standards

Waite, Greg, Henman, Paul, Banks, Chris and Curtis, Chris (2010). The dynamics of financial hardship and housing need: A longitudinal analysis using budget standards. 4th Australasian Housing Researchers Conference (AHRC 2009), Sydney, Australia, 5 - 7 August 2009. Sydney, Australia: University of New South Wales.

The dynamics of financial hardship and housing need: A longitudinal analysis using budget standards

2010

Book Chapter

E-government and the production of standardized individuality

Henman, Paul and Dean, Mitchell (2010). E-government and the production of standardized individuality. Calculating the social: Standards and the reconfiguration of governing. (pp. 77-93) edited by Vaughan Higgins and Wendy Larner. Basingstoke, U.K.: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1057/9780230289673

E-government and the production of standardized individuality

2010

Book

Governing electronically: E-government and the reconfiguration of public administration, policy, and power

Henman, Paul (2010). Governing electronically: E-government and the reconfiguration of public administration, policy, and power. Basingstoke, U.K. ; New York, U.S.: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1057/9780230248496

Governing electronically: E-government and the reconfiguration of public administration, policy, and power

2009

Conference Publication

The contribution of e-government to the "new conditionality" in social policy

Henman, Paul (2009). The contribution of e-government to the "new conditionality" in social policy. 9th European Conference on e-Government, London, England, 29-30 June, 2009. Reading UK: Academic Publishing Limited.

The contribution of e-government to the "new conditionality" in social policy

2008

Journal Article

Equivalent salaries in five Australian capital cities

Henman, Paul (2008). Equivalent salaries in five Australian capital cities. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 43 (4), 615-630. doi: 10.1002/j.1839-4655.2008.tb00122.x

Equivalent salaries in five Australian capital cities

2008

Conference Publication

The constitution and governance of time through e-government

Henman, Paul (2008). The constitution and governance of time through e-government. The 4th international conference on e-government, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia, 23-24 October 2008. Reading, UK: Academic Conferences International.

The constitution and governance of time through e-government

2008

Journal Article

The social division of welfare surveillance

Henman, Paul and Marston, Greg (2008). The social division of welfare surveillance. Journal of Social Policy, 37 (2), 187-205. doi: 10.1017/S0047279407001705

The social division of welfare surveillance

2008

Book Chapter

Justice beyond the courts: The implications of computerisation for procedural justice in social security

Adler, Michael and Henman, Paul (2008). Justice beyond the courts: The implications of computerisation for procedural justice in social security. E-justice: Using Information Communication in the Court System. (pp. 65-86) edited by Agusti Cerrillo and Pere Fabra. Hershey, PA, USA: IGI Global. doi: 10.4018/978-1-59904-998-4.ch005

Justice beyond the courts: The implications of computerisation for procedural justice in social security

Current funding

  • 2020 - 2027
    ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ARC Centre of Excellence administered by RMIT University)
    RMIT University
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023 - 2024
    Mapping automated decision-making tools used in administrative decision making (NSW Ombudsman tender led by University of Sydney)
    University of Sydney
    Open grant
  • 2023
    Trauma-informed AI: developing and testing a practical AI audit framework for use in social services
    Notre Dame-IBM Technology Ethics Lab
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2020
    Making complex interfaces work for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (ARC Discovery Project administered by Griffith University)
    Griffith University
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2022
    Government Web Portals as New Government Actors
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Go8 European Fellowship - Dr Milena Krumova
    Group of Eight European Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2015
    The cost of raising a child in the case of out of home care
    Western Australia Department of Child Protection and Family Support
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Technologies of Performance, Technologies of Governance: The bane, benefits, ethics and future of performance measurement in government
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    The institutional structure of e-government: a cross-policy, cross-country comparison
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Exploring the use of residual measures of housing affordability as an alternative to the ratio approach
    Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2011
    Financing and management of lifetime care for adults with acquired disabilities and high care needs
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    The Impact of Impairment: differentiating the financial and social implications of raising a child with a disability
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2007
    Equivalent Costs of Living Research Project (2006-7)
    Department of Employment and Industrial Relations
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2007
    Assesing the Impact of the Commonwealth Welfare to Work Policy Framework in Queensland
    Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet
    Open grant
  • 2006
    Equivalent costs of living research
    Department Industrial Relations
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    E-government: Reconfigurations in Public Administration, Policy and Power
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2006
    Special Needs Cost: Estimating The Additional Expenditure In Raising Children With Disabilities
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 2005
    Updating costs of children using Australian Budget Standards
    Department of Family and Community Services
    Open grant
  • 2005
    RDG_Enabling Grant_Strategic
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2005
    Estimating the cost of raising children with disabilities
    UQ New Staff Research Start-Up Fund
    Open grant
  • 2004
    International comparison of e-government in social security
    IBM Centre for the Business of Government
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Paul Henman is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Master Philosophy

    A Happy Medium? Exploring the use of a mindfully designed digital tool for welfare advocates

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    THE USE OF DIGITAL GOVERNMENT AMONG REGULATORY AGENCIES IN AUSTRALIA

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Pedro Fidelman

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Designing Indonesia Pension System Reform

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Adil Khan

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Acceptance of digital mental health interventions: Sociodemographic aspects of user engagement with digital psychological interventions

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Rebecca Olson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Acceptance of digital mental health interventions: Sociodemographic aspects of user engagement with digital psychological interventions

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Rebecca Olson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Dream and Reality of a Digital State: The Case of Bangladesh with the Lens of Social Constructionism

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Acceptance of digital mental health interventions: Sociodemographic aspects of user engagement with digital psychological interventions

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Rebecca Olson

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Leapfrogging women who are refugees and migrants (WRAMs) into STEM skills through Makerspaces

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Dhaval Vyas

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Paul Henman directly for media enquiries about:

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Automated Decision Making
  • Centrelink
  • Children - cost of
  • Cost of raising children
  • digital society
  • E-government
  • Electronic government
  • Electronic service delivery - computers, internet and society
  • Ethical AI
  • Government performance
  • Living standards
  • Poverty
  • Public administration
  • Social media - impact
  • Social policy and welfare
  • Welfare

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