Overview
Background
Mark Western is Research Director, The Queensland Commitment, UQ, and Professor of Sociology in the Centre for Policy Futures in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and the Queensland Academy of the Arts and Sciences. From 2009 to March 2022 he was Founding Director of the Institute for Social Science Research, UQ's university research institute for the social sciences. He has previously worked at the Australian National University and the University of Tasmania, and held visiting appointments at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the University of Manchester, and the Institute of Education, London.
Mark is an International Fellow of the Centre for the Study of Poverty and Inequality at Stanford University, and a former Chief Investigator on the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families Over the Life course and the ARC Centre of Excellence in Policing and Security.
He has been a member of the Boards of the Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research at the University of Manchester, the Leeds Social Sciences Institute, and the Stretton Institute at the University of Adelaide. In recent years Mark Western's external appointments include:
- 2023-2024 Member, National Research Infrastructure Advisory Group, providing long term and strategic advice to the Federal Government on National Research Infrastructure
- 2023- Chair, Group of Eight Equity Working Group, advising the Group of Eight on student equity in higher education.
- 2022- Member, Steering Committee, Academy of Social Sciences in Australia Research Infrastructure Decadal Plan
- 2021-2022 Chair, Expert Working Group reviewing the ERA Rating Scale and Benchmarking for the ARC
- 2020-2021 Chair, Steering Committee for the State of the Social Sciences Report 2021 for the Academy of Social Sciences
- 2019 Member, Advisory Group to the Academy of Humanities Project, Mapping International Research Infrastructures for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
- 2014-2015 Deputy Chair, Review of the Australian Research Training System, Australian Council of Learned Academies.
Mark has also served as Chair and Deputy Chair of ARC ERA and Engagement and Impact Evaluation Committees, and on the ARC College of Experts and various ARC Selection Advisory Committees for other ARC Research Funding schemes.
He has edited and authored 7 books, and over 100 book chapters, journal articles and commissioned reports and held research grants and contracts worth approximately $120 million.
Availability
- Professor Mark Western is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
Research interests
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Social and economic inequality
How do we expand educational opportunities through school, VET and higher education for students experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage? Why do different countries have different population profiles of socieconomic advantage and disadvantage (for example wealth, income, health, quality of life, econonomic and social wellbeing more broadly), and why within countries do profiles change over time or remain stable? How do "non-economic" processes, like culture, social capital, and system and institutional design contribute to different kinds of inequality profiles within countries. I am interested in these questions and also have a particular interest in how they contribute to social and economic mobility across generations and over the life course.
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Solution-oriented social science
How can we strengthen connections between social science research and "real-world" problems to develop better solutions, enhance the relevance of university research, improve research quality and lead to new scientific discoveries? How do we build stronger partnerships between university researchers, government, industry, not-for-profits and civil society organisations for the public good? How do we train researchers, build the research infrastructure and strengthen the research and innovation system to support and encourage these activities? I am interested in examining these questions and working with non-university partners on real-world problems in social policy and public policy that exemplify this approach.
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What is the point of universities?
In Australia, and internationally, trust and public confidence in universities and what they do - teaching and learning, discovering new knowledge and supporting innovation, engaging with communities - seems to be declining. Expertise, science and truth-seeking are also being questioned. At the same time, many universities are discovering or rediscovering a central purpose - to serve the public interest and the common good. I am interested in how to align university missions across teaching and learning, research and engagement to serve the public interest, the role of universities in creating an educated and engaged citizenry and their broader role in strengthening and supporting democracy.
Research impacts
Mark has led or contributed to projects which have had direct impacts on policy and practice. In 2001 he led the team which produced one of the first national studies of General Practitioners' use of information technology for the Australian Department of Health. In 2005- 2006 he led a team which produced estimates of international students' non-tuition fee expenditure which were used in the Australian National Accounts to help quantify the export value of Australian education. He also led the first national study of the employment outcomes of graduates of Australian PhD training programs. More recently, he has also worked on major evaluations of government policies and programs, such as the national Paid Parental Leave Scheme, and developed evaluation frameworks for major policy initiatives such as the Health and Hospitals Fund, which supported national health infrastructure, and the Queensland Government's 10 year Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy. Mark also sits on a number of Advisory and Expert Reference Groups for non-government organisations, and State and Federal Government Departments. Mark particularly enjoys working with partners in government, industry and the not-for-profit sector on problems that matter to them and have real-world relevance and impact.
Works
Search Professor Mark Western’s works on UQ eSpace
2004
Conference Publication
Sustaining and Exhausting Grand Narratives: the Consequences of Connectedness to Modern and Postmodern Identity Markers
Phillips, Tim and Western, Mark (2004). Sustaining and Exhausting Grand Narratives: the Consequences of Connectedness to Modern and Postmodern Identity Markers. TASA Conference 2004, La Trobe University, Beechworth, 8-11 December, 2004.
2004
Conference Publication
Question ordering effects in Inglehart's postmaterial index
Tranter, B. K. and Western, M. C. (2004). Question ordering effects in Inglehart's postmaterial index. Australasian Political Studies Assoc Conference, Adelaide University, 29 Sept-1 Oct., 2004. SA: Adelaide Univ.
2004
Conference Publication
Health impacts of marriage dissolution on older Australians: The role of social and economic resources
Hewitt, B., Turrell, G., Baxter, J. H. and Western, M. C. (2004). Health impacts of marriage dissolution on older Australians: The role of social and economic resources. Academy of Social Sciences in Australia Workshop, Brisbane, Australia, 1-2 July 2004. Canberra, Australia: Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.
2003
Journal Article
Computerisation in Australian general practice
Western, M. C., Dwan, K. M., Western, J. S., Makkai, T. and Del Mar, C. B. (2003). Computerisation in Australian general practice. Australian Family Physician, 32 (3), 2-7.
2003
Other Outputs
The state of engagement: Findings about community and government engagement from three Queensland household surveys (2000-2002): Report to Queensland Government Community Engagement Division, Department of Premier and Cabinet
Bush, R., Dwyer, J., Boreham, P. and Western, M. (2003). The state of engagement: Findings about community and government engagement from three Queensland household surveys (2000-2002): Report to Queensland Government Community Engagement Division, Department of Premier and Cabinet. St. Lucia, Qld, Australia: The University of Queensland Social Research Centre.
2003
Conference Publication
Who are the new two earner households?
Western, M. C. and Baxter, J. H. (2003). Who are the new two earner households?. Australian Social Policy Conference 2003, Sydney, Australia, 9-11 July 2003. Kensington, NSW, Australia: Social Policy Research Centre.
2003
Conference Publication
Who gets divorced in Australia? A gender comparison of socioeconomic and life course determinants of marital dissolution
Hewitt, Belinda, Baxter, Janeen and Western, Mark (2003). Who gets divorced in Australia? A gender comparison of socioeconomic and life course determinants of marital dissolution. TASA 2003 Conference: New Times, New Worlds, New Ideas: Sociology Today and Tomorrow, Armidale, NSW, Australia, 4-6 December, 2003. Armidale, N.S,W.: The Australian Sociological Association.
2003
Journal Article
Postmaterial values and age: The case of Australia
Tranter, B. and Western, M. C. (2003). Postmaterial values and age: The case of Australia. Australian Journal of Political Science, 38 (2), 239-257. doi: 10.1080/1036114032000092701
2003
Other Outputs
Report of the Bowen Basin Communities Residents' Survey: Report to Queensland Government, Department of Premier and Cabinet
Western, M. C., Laffan, W. S., Van Gellecum, Y. R., Haynes, M. A., Cheshire, L. A., Western, J. S., Boreham, P. R. and Brereton, D. J. (2003). Report of the Bowen Basin Communities Residents' Survey: Report to Queensland Government, Department of Premier and Cabinet. St Lucia, Qld, Australia: University of Queensland Social Research Centre.
2003
Conference Publication
Earnings, enterprises and the Australian labour market
Western, M. C. (2003). Earnings, enterprises and the Australian labour market. Improving Compensation System in Chinese Enterprises, Beijing, 3-4 November, 2003. Chinese Ministry of Labour and Social Security.
2003
Conference Publication
Postmaterial value shift: Generational replacement or question order effect?
Tranter, B. K. and Western, M. C. (2003). Postmaterial value shift: Generational replacement or question order effect?. Australian Political Studies Assoc Conference 2003, School of Government, Univ of Tasmania, 29 Sept - 1 Oct., 2003. Hobart: School of Government, Univ Tasmania.
2003
Conference Publication
Future Pathways and New Social Identities
Skrbis, Z. and Western, M. (2003). Future Pathways and New Social Identities. New Times, New Worlds, New Ideas: Sociology Today and Tomorrow, University of New England, Armidale, 4-6 December, 2003. Hawthorn VIC: The Australian Sociological Association and The University of New England.
2002
Conference Publication
The Structure of Values
Weakliem, D. L. and Western, M. C. (2002). The Structure of Values. XV World Congress of Sociology, Brisbane, Australia, 7 - 13 July, 2002.
2002
Conference Publication
Marriage and Money: The Impact of Marriage on Men's and Women's Earnings
Hewitt, B., Western, M. and Baxter, J. (2002). Marriage and Money: The Impact of Marriage on Men's and Women's Earnings. The Australian Sociological Association Conference 2002, Brisbane, QUT, July, 2002.
2002
Conference Publication
Postmaterialism and age: An Australian anomaly?
Tranter, B. and Western, M. C. (2002). Postmaterialism and age: An Australian anomaly?. Jubilee Conference of the Australasian Political Studies Assoc, Australian National University, Canberra, October, 2002. Canberra, Australia: Australian Political Studies Assoc.
2001
Journal Article
Postmaterialist and economic voting in Australia, 1990-98
Western, Mark and Tranter, Bruce (2001). Postmaterialist and economic voting in Australia, 1990-98. Australian Journal of Political Science, 36 (3), 439-458. doi: 10.1080/10361140120100659
2001
Other Outputs
Measuring IT use in Australian General Practice 2001
Western, M. C., Dwan, K., Makkai, T., Del Mar, C. B. and Western, J. S. (2001). Measuring IT use in Australian General Practice 2001. Brisbane: University of Queensland.
2001
Book Chapter
Introduction
Western, M. C. and Baxter, J. H. (2001). Introduction. Reconfigurations of Class and Gender. (pp. 1-13) edited by J Baxter; M Western. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
2001
Book Chapter
The links between paid and unpaid work: Australia and Sweden in the 1980s and 1990s
Baxter, J. H. and Western, M. C. (2001). The links between paid and unpaid work: Australia and Sweden in the 1980s and 1990s. Reconfigurations of Class and Gender. (pp. 81-104) edited by Baxter, J. and Western, M.. Stanford: Stanford University Press.
2000
Book Chapter
Competition education and class formation
Western, M. C. (2000). Competition education and class formation. Beyond nostalgia: Reshaping Australian education. (pp. 91-104) edited by Lawrence Angus and Terri Seddon. Melbourne: ACER Press.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Mark Western is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Completed supervision
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2021
Doctor Philosophy
Good jobs versus Bad jobs: An empirical analysis of job quality in Indonesia's informal economy
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Wojtek Tomaszewski
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Population Synthesis for Travel Demand Modelling in Australian Capital Cities
Principal Advisor
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Intergenerational economic mobility in contemporary Australia: Is Australia still the land of the 'fair go'?
Principal Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Health systems strengthening in global and national contexts
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Melissa Curley
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
A Longitudinal Approach to Measuring Income Mobility among Filipino Households
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Wojtek Tomaszewski
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
The influence of children on female wages: better or worse in Australia?
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Janeen Baxter, Emeritus Professor Gillian Whitehouse
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2005
Doctor Philosophy
BEYOND GENTRIFICATION: THE NEXT WAVE OF INNER CITY SETTLEMENT
Principal Advisor
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2004
Master Philosophy
DEMOGRAPHY OF PERCEPTION
Principal Advisor
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Beyond parental school choice: Understanding parental engagement in the context of school choice policies
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Wojtek Tomaszewski, Associate Professor Jenny Povey
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
Pasifika Well-Being and Trans-Tasman Migration: A Mixed Methods Analysis of Samoan and Tongan Well-Being Perspectives and Experiences in Auckland and Brisbane
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Kelly Greenop, Professor Paul Memmott
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Bridging the theory to evidence gap: a systematic review and analysis of individual × environment models of child development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Thorpe
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
The housing security afforded by the later life housing circumstances of ex-service households of Queensland: A life course perspective.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Cameron Parsell, Associate Professor Maree Petersen
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2014
Doctor Philosophy
Educational and Occupational Aspirations of Young Australians: Towards Understanding Socioeconomic Outcomes
Associate Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
Youth internet engagement and inequality in Australian society.
Associate Advisor
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2013
Doctor Philosophy
A Foucauldian and Quantitative Analysis of NAPLAN, the category 'Language Background Other Than English', and English as a Second Language Level.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Bob Lingard
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Cohabitation in Australia: Characteristics, Transitions and Outcomes
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Janeen Baxter
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Fraud against the Commonwealth: An analysis of serious and complex economic fraud investigated by the Australian Federal Police
Associate Advisor
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Environmental Determinants of Sibling Similarities and Differences in Problem Behaviour
Associate Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Household structure and housework hours: The effect of women's changing labour force participation on the domestic division of labour
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Janeen Baxter
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Urban quality of life: Linking objective dimensions and subjective evaluations of urban environments
Associate Advisor
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
THE DIFFUSION AND SOCIAL IMPACT OF ONLINE NEWS: STUDYING THE PAST AND PRESENT TO UNDERSTAND THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET AS A NEWS MEDIUM
Associate Advisor
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
MARRIAGE BREAKDOWN IN AUSTRALIA: SOCIAL CORRELATES, GENDER AND INITIATOR STATUS
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Janeen Baxter
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2003
Doctor Philosophy
GENDERED CODES OF PARLIAMENTARY CONDUCT
Associate Advisor
Media
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