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)

101 - 120 of 126 works

2005

Conference Publication

e-Government, public policy and the growth of conditionality

Henman, P. W. (2005). e-Government, public policy and the growth of conditionality. 5th European Conference on e-Government, Antwerp, Belgium, 16-17 June, 2005. Reading, UK: Academic Conferences.

e-Government, public policy and the growth of conditionality

2005

Other Outputs

Computerisation and e-government in social security: A comparative international study

Adler, M. and Henman, P. W. (2005). Computerisation and e-government in social security: A comparative international study. Washington DC: IBM Centre for the Business of Government.

Computerisation and e-government in social security: A comparative international study

2004

Journal Article

Governing society today: Editors' introduction

Dean, M and Henman, P (2004). Governing society today: Editors' introduction. Alternatives : Global, Local, Political, 29 (5), 483-494. doi: 10.1177/030437540402900501

Governing society today: Editors' introduction

2004

Journal Article

Targeted! Population segmentation, electronic surveillance and governing the unemployed in Australia

Henman, Paul (2004). Targeted! Population segmentation, electronic surveillance and governing the unemployed in Australia. International Sociology, 19 (2), 173-191. doi: 10.1177/0268580904042899

Targeted! Population segmentation, electronic surveillance and governing the unemployed in Australia

2004

Journal Article

Book review: Inequality in Australia

Henman, Paul (2004). Book review: Inequality in Australia. Journal of Social Policy, 33 (2), 321-322. doi: 10.1017/S0047279403217712

Book review: Inequality in Australia

2004

Conference Publication

The governmental powers of welfare e-administration

Henman, Paul and Dean, Mitchell (2004). The governmental powers of welfare e-administration. Australian Electronic Governance Conference 2004, Centre for Public Policy, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 14-15 April 2004. Melbourne, Australia: Centre for Public Policy, University of Melbourne,.

The governmental powers of welfare e-administration

2004

Edited Outputs

Alternatives : global, local, political

Alternatives : global, local, political. (2004). 29 (5)

Alternatives : global, local, political

2004

Conference Publication

E-government and the electronic transformation of modes of rule: The case of partnerships

Henman, Paul (2004). E-government and the electronic transformation of modes of rule: The case of partnerships. 2nd International Conference on Politics and Information Systems, Orlando, Florida, July 21 - 25, 2004. Orlando, FL, USA: International Institute of Informatics and Systemics.

E-government and the electronic transformation of modes of rule: The case of partnerships

2004

Conference Publication

E-health: Transforming doctor-patient relationships with a dose of technology

Gaby, Sharon and Henman, Paul (2004). E-health: Transforming doctor-patient relationships with a dose of technology. The Australian Electronic Governance Conference 2004, Centre for Public Policy, University of Melbourne, Victoria, 14-15 April 2004.

E-health: Transforming doctor-patient relationships with a dose of technology

2004

Journal Article

E-government and the electronic transformation of modes of rule: The Case of partnerships

Henman, Paul (2004). E-government and the electronic transformation of modes of rule: The Case of partnerships. Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, 2 (2), 19-24.

E-government and the electronic transformation of modes of rule: The Case of partnerships

2003

Journal Article

Information technology and the governance of social security

Henman, Paul and Adler, Michael (2003). Information technology and the governance of social security. Critical Social Policy, 23 (2), 139-164. doi: 10.1177/0261018303023002002

Information technology and the governance of social security

2002

Journal Article

E-government: Transformations in modes of rule?

Henman, Paul and Dean, Mitchell (2002). E-government: Transformations in modes of rule?. Innovation: Management, Policy and Practice, 4 (1-3), 5-11. doi: 10.5172/impp.2001.4.1-3.5

E-government: Transformations in modes of rule?

2002

Journal Article

Welfare dependency? A critical analysis of changes in welfare recipient numbers

Henman, Paul and Perry, Julia (2002). Welfare dependency? A critical analysis of changes in welfare recipient numbers. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 37 (3), 315-334.

Welfare dependency? A critical analysis of changes in welfare recipient numbers

2002

Journal Article

Computer modeling and the politics of greenhouse gas policy in Australia

Henman, Paul (2002). Computer modeling and the politics of greenhouse gas policy in Australia. Social Science Computer Review, 20 (2), 161-173. doi: 10.1177/089443930202000206

Computer modeling and the politics of greenhouse gas policy in Australia

2002

Journal Article

Myths of welfare reform

Henman, Paul W. (2002). Myths of welfare reform. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 37 (1), 71-84. doi: 10.1002/j.1839-4655.2002.tb01111.x

Myths of welfare reform

2002

Journal Article

Welfare dependency? A critical analysis of changes in welfare recipient numbers

Henman, P and Perry, J (2002). Welfare dependency? A critical analysis of changes in welfare recipient numbers. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 37 (3), 315-335.

Welfare dependency? A critical analysis of changes in welfare recipient numbers

2002

Journal Article

Deconstructing welfare dependency: The case of Australian welfare reform

Henman, Paul (2002). Deconstructing welfare dependency: The case of Australian welfare reform. Radical Statistics, 79/80, 7-17.

Deconstructing welfare dependency: The case of Australian welfare reform

2002

Conference Publication

The poverty of welfare reform discourse

Henman, Paul (2002). The poverty of welfare reform discourse. National Social Policy Conference 2001, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, 4-6 July 2001. Kensington, N.S.W., Australia: Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales..

The poverty of welfare reform discourse

2001

Journal Article

e-Justice: A Comparative Study of Computerization and Procedural Justice in Social Security

Adler, Michael and Henman, Paul (2001). e-Justice: A Comparative Study of Computerization and Procedural Justice in Social Security. International Review of Law, Computers & Technology, 15 (2), 195-212. doi: 10.1080/13600860120070510

e-Justice: A Comparative Study of Computerization and Procedural Justice in Social Security

2001

Journal Article

Estimating the cost of contact for non-resident parents: A budget standards approach

Henman, P and Mitchell, K (2001). Estimating the cost of contact for non-resident parents: A budget standards approach. Journal of Social Policy, 30 (03), 495-520. doi: 10.1017/s0047279401006341

Estimating the cost of contact for non-resident parents: A budget standards approach

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

  • 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

  • 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

    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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