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Develop a research proposal

Once you have established that you meet entry requirements for your preferred program, you need to clarify your chosen area of study and identify a research area and/or research question, clarify its importance and prepare a research proposal. Your research question will provide the key research focus for the full duration of your degree so it is important that you consult a wide variety of resources and select a topic you feel highly motivated to investigate. Depending on your area of study and research, you may be starting at the very beginning or you may already have a research topic or area of focus from an already established research team.

How to choose your research topic

Choosing a research topic and writing your research proposal can be difficult when you're faced with a lot of choice. Current Griffith PhD candidates and supervisors give some advice to help you create a winning research proposal.

How to develop a research proposal

Think carefully about your motivation to complete an HDR program—what are you passionate about, what topic or question or problem do you want to tackle? Remember you will be spending a lot of time on this topic so a keen interest is a must.

Find a connection with a Griffith school, department, research centre or institute to find a match for your research area and/or research question. Some research centres and institutes have proposed research projects and hot topics for prospective candidates.

Find out more

Narrow your focus to a single research topic. Once you have connected with your prospective supervisor, it is important that you seek their input and advice on your research proposal. Developing a research proposal is an iterative process, so expect to work on a number of drafts before you finalise your research proposal. You need to allow time to prepare multiple drafts and seek feedback along the way. Your potential supervisor is the best person to contact, so make sure you reach out to find one as soon as possible. Where applicable, this may also be an appropriate time to seek a connection with an industry partner or external organisation who could collaborate on your research. They will also provide input to your research proposal.

Your draft research proposal should include the following:

• Student name
• Dissertation/thesis title
• Summary of project (maximum 100 words)
• Rationale—brief review of relevant research in the field
• Statement of the principal focus of intended research
• Significance of the study
• Intended methodology and project feasibility
• (Where applicable) details of an industry partner or external organisation’s involvement in project
• Anticipated project costs (if required by your enrolling school or research centre)
• Any requirements for specialist equipment or resources.

Your proposal should be no longer than 2–3 pages.

Professors' advice

What you’re doing is something that nobody else has ever done before, so you’re going to come across problems that nobody has solved before.

Professor Robert Sang

In preparing a research proposal for your application, keep in mind the objective, which is to demonstrate that you have thought about the topic deeply, have some interesting ideas about the topic, and have considered possible methodologies of research and the project’s feasibility. It is advantageous to show why you think that your chosen topic is significant or interesting.

Professor Gerry Docherty

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Student topics

QUT offers a diverse range of student topics for Honours, Masters and PhD study. Search to find a topic that interests you or propose your own research topic to a prospective QUT supervisor. You may also ask a prospective supervisor to help you identify or refine a research topic.

Filter by faculty:

Found 638 matching student topics

Displaying 1–12 of 638 results

Leading diversity

Diversity is a buzz word in many organizations today. While having a diverse team promise potential for innovation and creativity, it can also create many challenges. Leading diversity will be an important capability for future leaders.

Keeping carbon – ensuring soil carbon gains through improved grazing management persist through drought in Australia's tropical and semi-arid grasslands

Drought is the biggest barrier to sequestering soil organic carbon (SOC) in soils over the long-term. While options are limited during dry periods, how we manage our pastures prior to drought can influence the resilience of SOC to losses and enhance recovery.

Scalable software solutions for improving the CRISPR gene editing system

The CRISPR-Cas9 technology allows the modification of virtually any gene in any organism of interest. It has generated a lot of interest, both in the research community and the general population.One of the crucial components of CRISPR experiments is the design of the 'guide RNAs' that will control where modifications occur. We have developed a software pipeline, named Crackling, to identify safe and effective guide RNAs across entire genomes.We are seeking to expand and improve various aspects of our current …

Simulation of turbulent fluid flow through a microfluidic device using CFD

Microfluidic devices (MFD) are extensively used in microbial studies. Bacterial cell attachment onto surfaces under flow conditions in laminar regime has been previously studied using a custom designed MFD.As an extension of this study, microbial attachment under turbulent flow is to be studied in a future project. The suitability of current MFD for microbial studies under turbulent flow must be evaluated to adopt / redesign the MFD.A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis is proposed to examine the fluid flow inside …

Videos of sport activities are widely available at large scales. AI and its sub-fields, especially computer vision and machine learning, have a great potential to analyse, understand and extract useful information from these videos.This project aims at using AI and its subfields in computer vision and machine learning to develop techniques for analysing sport videos to extract intelligence for players and coaches.

Transport big data analytics: Imputing missing data

The missing data problem is often unavoidable for real-world data collection systems because of a variety of factors, such as sensor malfunctioning, maintenance work, transmission errors, and so on. Filling in missing information in a dataset is an important requirement for many machine-learning algorithms that require a complete dataset as input. Data imputation algorithms aim at filling the missing information in a dataset. Many missing data imputation techniques exist in the literature, with applications demonstrated on various types of datasets. …

Efficient parameter estimation for agent-based models of tumour growth

Cancer is an extremely heterogeneous disease, particularly at the cellular level. Cells within a single cancerous tumour undergo vastly different rates of proliferation based on their location and specific genetic mutations. Capturing this stochasticity in cell behaviour and its effect on tumour growth is challenging with a deterministic system, e.g. ordinary differential equations, however, is possible with an agent-based model (ABM). In an ABM, cells are modelled as individual agents that have a probability of proliferation and movement in each …

Making the most of many models

In the age of Big Data, machine learning methods, and modern statistics the adage "all models are wrong but some are useful" has never been so true. This project will investigate data science approaches where more than one model makes sense for the data. Is it better to choose a single model or is there something to be gained from multiple models?This project will look at variable selection methods, penalised regression, Bayesian model averaging and conformal prediction. The research has …

Using time-controlled grazing to sequester carbon in Queensland rangelands

Time-controlled grazing (TCG), or cell grazing is a management strategy in which cattle are stocked and rotated across small paddocks or “cells” according to fodder availability. Grazing takes place in short durations at high stocking densities, in an effort to mimic the grazing patterns of wild ungulate herds.This management strategy has gained traction in recent years due to claims that it improves both pasture productivity and diversity, whilst also increasing long-term carbon pools. Limited data is available on the impact …

Explainable AI-enabled predictive analytics

Modern predictive analytics underpinned by AI-enabled learning (such as machine learning, deep learning) techniques has become a key enabler to the automation of data-driven decision making. In the context of process monitoring and forecast, predictive analytics has been applied to making predictions about the future state of a running process instance - for example, which task will be carried out next, when and who will perform the task, when will an ongoing process instance complete, what will be the outcome …

Co-benefits of trees on farms: soil carbon

Soils are now in the ‘front line’ of global environmental change. Soils are the largest global pool of actively cycling organic C and N. Maintaining and increasing soil organic matter (SOM) is a prominent strategy for mitigating atmospheric CO2 and adapting agriculture to climate change.At the same time the global biodiversity crisis has led to increased scrutiny on supply chains to scrutinise farms ecological footprint. Planting or retaining trees in the landscape has the opportunity to achieve both outcomes, however …

Flexible thermoelectrics for wearable electronics

Advancements in miniaturisation and integration of electronics have recently stimulated the explosive progress in wearable electronics. With increasing practical needs, our analysis has indicated that the market values of wearable electronics are predicted to boost up to US$50B in 2022 and US$72B in 2026. Currently, conventional batteries have limited applications in wearable electronics due to their requirements of frequent replacement/recharge and extra-maintenance. This is especially true in temperature or pressure sensors in some circumstances such as remote-control smart home systems …

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If you have questions about the best options for you, the application process, your research topic, finding a supervisor or anything else, get in touch with us today.

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New interdisciplinary research to explore issues around reproductive justice in australia.

The second of three new collaborative and interdisciplinary Hallmark Research Initiatives has launched, themed around Reproductive Justice. It seeks to build a unified national research and advocacy agenda to progress reproductive justice in Australia.

Research will revolve around four themes: defining reproductive justice for an Australian context (the term was originally coined by black women activists in the US to reframe it as a human rights issue rather than one of individual experience), intersectionality and reproduction, regulation, and reproductive markets.

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An interactive map shows the impact of asphalt and concrete on city temperatures, and why we need to ‘de-pave’ and ‘re-plant’ in a warming climate.

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Beneath the surface and inside out: exploring neuroscience through art.

The connection – and potential disconnect – between the brain’s internal and external worlds is explored in artworks that combine textiles and neuroscience.

Identifying changes in leg joints of female runners during puberty

The way that leg joints move during running changes as females go through puberty. The findings could help to explain why some sports injuries are more common in female adolescents.

Waste management legislation in Pacific region countries – insights and opportunities

A comprehensive legal review aims to reduce environmental, health and economic risk and improve waste management in 15 Pacific region nations.

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$8 million Snow fellowship to predict disease risk

Landmark genetic research could allow doctors to accurately predict whether a patient is at risk of developing common diseases, decades before symptoms.

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The ASD - ANU Co-Lab brings together researchers, academics and technical leaders to solve national security challenges and nurture Australian talent.

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Established to drive the future of personalised medicine and diagnostics via microscopic wearable technology.

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How university sector can advance collections and research

By Claire Sheridan University collections - cultural material, specimens, data and archival records - are a by-product of research, teaching and of…

Professor Bronwyn Parry awarded $16 million in ERC funding

In an Australian first for social science, Professor Bronwyn Parry, Dean of the College of Arts and Social Sciences at the Australian National…

Dr Bin Lu awarded International Hydrogen Research Fellowship

Dr Bin Lu from the ANU College of Engineering, Computing and Cybernetics has been awarded an International Hydrogen Research Fellowship funded by the…

ANU funding success for ARC Discovery Projects

Research into chicken farming, plant security and the ocean's role in climate change are among projects at The Australian National University (ANU)…

Top 10 tips from experts on launching big ideas

Turning innovation into a business takes more than a great idea. The path from research to commercialisation can be a combination of challenges,…

ANU partners in $7m ARC LIEF-funded research projects

The Australian National University (ANU) will contribute to six projects funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Infrastructure,…

Professor Emma Schultz's journey from finance to governance

Professor Emma Schultz, Associate Dean (Research) of the Australian National University's (ANU) College of Business and Economics (CBE), never set…

ANU leads diverse fields in Research Magazine 2023

The Australian's annual Research Magazine has named the top researcher and top research institution in each field of research.  ANU…

ANU celebrates nine highly cited researchers

The Australian National University (ANU) celebrates the inclusion of nine of its researchers in the Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers 2023 list.…

Celebrating the impact of the ANU Grand Challenges

On Wednesday 22 November, more than 150 people gathered at the National Film and Sound Archive to celebrate the achievements and legacy of the Grand…

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Research opportunities

Pursuing a research degree can provide you with access to world-class education, innovative technologies, life-changing research opportunities and a supportive academic community.

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Why pursue a research qualification in australia .

Australia is globally renowned for the quality of its own research and its work with scientists in other nations. In fact, several Australian universities consistently rank in the world’s top 100 for research. 

Studying a research degree in Australia is a popular choice, with international students making up more than 30 per cent of all research degree students across the country. 

Australia’s commitment to global citizenship and innovation, together with outstanding graduate outcomes, will help you use your research in support of academic discovery for a better future. 

High-quality research and development

Australian research and development (R&D) has led to important, life-changing innovations. These include the cochlear implant, cervical cancer vaccine, IVF, Wifi, the black box flight recorder, Google Maps and silicon photovoltaic solar cells, among many others. 

Almost 90 per cent of Australian research is rated at or above world standard. Australian universities are consistently ranked among the world’s best, with seven in the world’s top 100, based on the quality of their research.

A leader in scientific research

Australia has earnt a reputation as a leader in scientific research, ranking in the world's top one per cent in 15 different fields of research – including space science, physics, computer science and clinical medicine.

Australia’s scientific publication scores are also among the world's highest, ranking in the world’s top four for scientific journal articles, including six key categories: 

• computer science
• space science
• multidisciplinary research
• clinical medicine
• molecular biology and genetics. 

Outstanding graduate outcomes

Australia offers strong support to research students to prepare for future employment continues. This leads to outstanding graduate outcomes, with an employment rate of 85.6% (2022) for international postgraduate research-level students.

Having started in 2023, the Australian Government’s A$296 million National Industry PhD Program is supporting 1,800 PhD candidates over 10 years to undertake industry-focused research projects. 

Technological innovation 

Australia continues to make significant advances in technological innovation, particularly in agriculture, education, financial services and health. 

Entrepreneurs and academics are collaborating on important breakthroughs, including:

• blockchain in finance
• immersive simulation in education
• robotics in medical procedures, and
• the Internet of Things in agriculture.

Australia is also recognised as a world leader in silicon-based quantum computing research.

Australia is a place for highly educated workers

The research environment in Australia is strengthened by the country’s highly educated workforce – many of whom come from international backgrounds. 

Australia ranks first in the OECD Talent Attractiveness 2023 list for attracting and retaining highly educated workers. 

Talented researchers play an invaluable role in innovation and technological progress. This strengthens Australia’s competitiveness on the world stage and offer the opportunity to learn from academics who are leaders in their field.

Universities help sustainable development

Australian universities are good global citizens, working to help solve issues such as poverty, gender inequality and climate change. 

Australia’s research in sustainability and global development makes it a highly attractive partner for international collaborations. It also makes it an excellent place for international students to complete a research qualification in a related field.

According to the 2023 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings15 Australian universities are ranked in the top 100 for making an impact towards UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Take the next step to apply for research

Universities and higher education providers may have different processes for applying for courses. For more information, please contact your preferred Australian education provider directly via the Study Australia Course Search tool or consult an education agent closer to home. 

Step 1: Identify your level of study

Postgraduate research qualifications in Australia are available at three Higher Degree by Research (HDR) levels.

• Honours degrees
• Masters degrees by research or Masters with minor thesis
• Doctoral Degree (PhD) (research)

Step 2: Identify a topic of interest, a university and an academic supervisor 

Even if you don’t have a specific research question in mind, it’s useful to know the broad topic that interests you. 

Different universities have different research specialisations, so try to find one that matches your interests. Often they will be able to provide you with a list of available specialisations and even specific research topics. 

Universities and other higher education providers will usually be able to give you a list of academic staff members who could supervise your research. You should speak with each of these to ensure they are a good match for your interest area. 

Step 3: Apply through individual education providers

As each university and education provider has a different application process for HDR degrees, you will need to confirm requirements wherever you apply. Many providers accept online applications.

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August 2023

The tip of the iceberg: measuring unemployment in australia.

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s decisions on interest rate increases rely on the concept of balancing inflation and unemployment.

The role of Buy Now Pay Later services in enhancing competition in the Australian economy

The Australian retail, financial, and online advertising markets are all highly concentrated in Australia. As the last 20 years of attempts to increase competition in these sectors has shown, there is no silver bullet to address the market power of dominant firms in Australia. That said, there is clear consensus that new firms, and new

January 2022

Money talks.

Investors in mining are backing electrification resources over fossil fuels. In the year to October 2021, just one fossil fuel company listed on the ASX, while 42 companies listed that target electrification minerals copper, nickel, lithium cobalt, graphite and rare earths. Over half the companies aim to mine in Western Australia, with another seven headquartered

December 2021

This report examines the policies of the largest Australian superannuation funds, highlighting their investments in companies involved in nuclear weapons development, production and maintenance (nuclear weapons companies).

Dirty Big Secret: Financial performance of fossil fuel companies

Fossil fuels were the worst performing sector in the ASX 300 over the last decade. $100 invested in the fossil fuel dominated S&P ASX 300 Energy index in 2010 was worth just $104 by January 2020, dropping to $51 with COVID. $100 in the wider market peaked at $237, falling to $169 with COVID. Excluding

November 2018

A secret weapon in the fight against financial misconduct.

The Royal Commission into the financial services industry has heard tens of thousands of incidents of financial misconduct. The problem is clearly not just a “few bad apples”; the problem is clearly rooted in the core structure and practice of this industry.

September 2018

Polling – royal commissions, big 4 banks gift from company tax cuts: $9.5 billion.

Over the ten years to 2026-27 when the total benefit to companies is estimated at $65 billion, The Australia Institute estimates the big four banks will receive a ‘gift’ of $9,500 million with Commonwealth Bank alone to receive $2,800 million.

Submission: Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry

The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry. We expect the Royal Commission to be swamped by submissions that relate to specific examples of misconduct. Our submission tries to take a step back and consider the extent to which

October 2017

Consumer protection in the banking, insurance and financial sector.

The Australia Institute made this submission to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee’s inquiry into consumer protection in the banking, insurance and financial sector. Our main concern in this submission is to look at the deeper issues and ask what are the forces that drive ‘bad behaviour’ in the finance and insurance sectors. We start with

Report: South Australia Bank Levy

A new report from The Australia Institute’s Senior Economist, Matt Grudnoff, reviews the economic impact of the South Australian government’s proposed bank levy. The research finds that the banks are not only very capable of paying the 0.0036% levy on the same liabilities that the federal government levy is based on, but also that the

Levy on the Major Banks

The Australia Institute welcomes the opportunity to a submission to the Inquiry into the Major Bank Levy Bill 2017 and the Treasury Laws Amendment (Major Bank Levy) Bill 2017. This submission should be read in conjunction with some earlier submissions to Senate Inquiries. In particular we refer to our submission to the Senate Economics Committee

Bank levy to have minor impact on average Australians

The Australia Institute has tested two claims made in response to the bank levy announced in the Federal Budget: that the impact of the levy will be passed onto customers, and that it will be borne by shareholders, affecting Australian superannuation savings. —For paper see PDF below— In either scenario, the research finds that the

Voters oppose company tax cuts, dole cuts: Poll

February 2017, dawson polling: one nation surge, support for ret, opposition to company tax cuts, liberals heartland rejects pm’s company tax and renewables agenda, october 2016, australians support a super profits tax on banks.

A nationally representative poll conducted by The Australia Institute through Research Now asked about attitudes towards implementing a super profits tax on Australian banks. The poll asked: A ‘bank super-profits tax’ would collect a higher rate of tax from banks on top of existing taxes, but levied only on especially high bank profits. Would you approve

New research supports need for extra bank regulation

New research from Canberra based think tank The Australia Institute supports the need for additional regulation of Australia’s banking sector. In some of the most comprehensive polling ever released into attitudes to the banks in Australia, polling of over 1400 Australians finds: 68 percent of respondents supported a Royal Commission or similar inquiry. Only 16 percent

September 2015

Who says public support for environmental advocacy.

The mining and forestry lobby campaign to remove tax-deductibility for certain non-for-profit organisations they deem contrary to their business interests, does not have the support of the Australian public, according to new polling.  Hearings recommence tomorrow in the Government’s inquiry into the administration, transparency and effectiveness of the Register of Environmental Organisations.  Many Coalition politicians

How does sustainable banking add up?

This report examines both the sustainability in the Australian and global banking sectors and the assessment indicators. Specifically, it assesses self-regulatory and voluntary measures aimed at producing socially and environmentally responsible banking.

Australia’s Tobin Tax: Arguments and evidence

The Australia Institute Policy Brief outlines: A tax on financial transactions, known as a “Tobin” tax, could protect superannuation, investors, and improve the operation of Australia’s capital markets and provide a source of tax revenue of over $1 billion per year. Tobin taxes or some form of financial transaction tax are in effect in over

BRIEFING NOTE: Banks at risk of losing customers through investment in coal projects on the Reef

In May The Australia Institute conducted a survey of 1,100 people to determine people’s attitude to their bank funding coal port projects on the Great Barrier Reef. Following the Australian Government’s approval of several new coal ports in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, survey respondents were asked about the likelihood of changing from

SUBMISSION: Financial services review

The Australia Institute has published a number of papers on the finance industry. This submission examines various aspects of the financial services industry including banking, superannuation, cooperatives, the budget and consumer issues. 

Climate Proofing Your Investments: Moving Funds out of Fossil Fuels

Investments in coal, oil, and gas increase financial risk without increasing returns, according to the new report Climate proofing your investments: Moving funds out of fossil fuels published by The Australia Institute. To meet the internationally-agreed two degree global warming limit, fossil fuel businesses must leave in the ground two-thirds of the reserves currently on their books.

Time to get engaged with super?

Australians spend more money each week on superannuation fees than they do on electricity, yet only a small portion of those with superannuation pay close, if any, attention to the decisions made on their behalf by their superannuation ‘trustees’. Similarly, while Australian households now hold nearly $1 trillion in institutional superannuation funds few, if any,

February 2013

Corporate power in australia.

Some industries have far more political influence than others, and some political systems are more susceptible to the influence of industries than others. In Australia, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is currently investigating evidence of the links between the previous NSW Labor Government and the mining industry. In the words of Geoffrey Watson, QC,

December 2012

The rise and rise of the big banks.

The Australian banking industry is the most concentrated in the world and also the most profitable. In fact the ‘big four’ Australian banks make up four of the eight most profitable banks in the world. The big banks have conceded that they are not highly competitive but have argued that their market power provides benefits

October 2012

Who knew australians were so co-operative the size and scope of mutually owned co-ops in australia.

Eight in every ten Australians are a member of a co-operatively owned, or mutually owned enterprise (co-ops and mutuals) such as a road side assistance organisation (NRMA, RACV), a member-owned superannuation fund (AustralianSuper), a mutually owned bank (such as bankmecu) or a consumer cooperative (Co-op Bookshop). Similarly, large businesses such as the dairy co-operative Murray

August 2012

The profit in home lending.

The purpose of this brief is to estimate the profit earned on mortgages by the ANZ Bank, the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the National Australia Bank and the Westpac Banking Corporation known as big four banks. The method here is to estimate the average profit margin on bank home loans and then to apply that

February 2011

The price of disloyalty: why competition has failed to lower atm fees.

One of the most expensive ways for Australians to access their own money is by using an automatic teller machine (ATM) that is not provided by their own bank. In most cases, third-party ATMs charge $2 for every transaction, including checking one’s account balance. In other words, $2 is the price consumers pay every time

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Comparative Health Policy Library

Australia | health topics, disease & illness, environmental health, financing & payment systems, gaps & challenges, health disparities & minority health, maternal & child health, perspectives on health system.

1. Lokuge, A. (2020, May 2). Racing Against the Virus From Inside Australia's Healthcare System . The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/world/australia/hospitals-coronavirus... .

2. Department of Health & Human Services. (2015, September 18). Mental health laws and your rights. Better Health Channel. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ServicesAndSupport/mental-hea... .

3. Albeck-Ripa, L. (2020, May 2). How Australia Could Almost Eradicate H.I.V. Transmissions. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/01/world/australia/hospitals-coronavirus... .

4. Duchamire, J. (2020, January 8). As Bushfires Rage, Australia Faces Another Challenge: Protecting National Mental Health. Time Magazine. https://time.com/5759685/australian-bushfires-mental-health/

5. Cox, L. (2020, May 24). Australia’s ‘failing’ environmental laws will fuel further public health crises, Nobel laureate warns. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/may/25/australias-failin... laws-will-fuel-further-public-health-crises-nobel-laureate-warns.

6.  How are costs contained? Commonwealth Fund. https://www.commonwealthfund.org/international-health-policy-center/syst... .

7.  Overview of the Australian health system. WA Health, Government of Western Australia. https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Careers/International-applicants/Internatio... .

8. Altman, S., & Jackson, T. (1991). Health Care in Australia: Lessons from Down Under. Health Affairs, 10(3), 129–146. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.10.3.129

9. Ambulance costs around Australia: why is it free in some states and not others? ABC News. (2018, July 19). https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-20/ambulance-fees-around-australia/1... .

10. Bridging The Gaps In Healthcare. (2017, May 31). HelloCare. https://hellocaremail.com.au/bridging-gaps-healthcare/ . 

11. National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, 2018-19 financial year. Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2019, December 11). https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-is... .

12. Face the Facts: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. The Australian Human Rights Commission. (2015, February 25). https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/education/face-facts-aboriginal-and-... . 

13. Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet. Overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Status 2019. https://nacchocommunique.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/overviewofaborigina... .

14. Australian Institute for Health and Welfare, Australia's Health 2018: In Brief (2018). Australian Government. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/australias-health-2018... . 

15. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2014). The Size and Causes of the Indigenous Health Gap. https://www.aihw.gov.au/getmedia/785f924a-85f4-4ca0-9dad-1abe0152c14c/7_... .

16. Closing the Gap: Australia's Indigenous Inequality 'Not Good Enough'. (2020, February 12). BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-51469708 . 

17. Indigenous Australians Data. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/population-groups/indigenous-austra... . 

18. Durey, A., & Thompson, S. C. (2012). Reducing the health disparities of Indigenous Australians: Time to Change Focus. BMC Health Services Research, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-12-151  

19. Li, J.-L. (2017). Cultural Barriers Lead to Inequitable Healthcare Access for Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders. Chinese Nursing Research, 4(4), 207–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnre.2017.10.009  

20. Griffiths, K., & Smith, J. (2020). Measuring Health Disparities in Australia: Using Data to Drive Health Promotion Solutions. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 31(2), 166–168. https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.340  

21. Closing the Gap for Aboriginal Health. (2019). The Lancet, 393(10173), 718. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736 (19)30405-2 

22. Bond, C. J., & Singh, D. (2020). More Than A Refresh Required for Closing the Gap of Indigenous Health Inequality. Medical Journal of Australia, 212(5), 198. https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2020/212/5/more-refresh-required-closing-...

23. Morgan, J. (2015). Indigenous Australians and the Struggle for Health Equality. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine, 3(3), 188–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2213-2600 (15)00045-4.

24. Pholeros, P. How to Reduce Poverty? Fix Homes. TEDx Sydney. www.ted.com/talks/paul_pholeros_how_to_reduce_poverty_fix_homes#t-63118 .

25. Callander, E. J., & Fox, H. (2018). What are the costs associated with child and maternal healthcare within Australia? A study protocol for the use of data linkage to identify health service use, and health system and patient costs. BMJ Open, 8(2). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017816

26. Braithwaite, J., Hibbert, P. D., Jaffe, A., White, L., Cowell, C. T., Harris, M. F., … Muething, S. (2018). Quality of Health Care for Children in Australia, 2012-2013. JAMA, 319(11), 1113. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2018.0162   27. Scott, D. (2020, January 15). Two sisters. Two different journeys through Australia's health care system. Vox. https://www.vox.com/2020/1/15/21030568/australia-health-insurance-medicare .

28. Taylor, M., & Hill, S. (2014). Consumer Expectations and Healthcare in Australia. Australian Health & Hospitals Association, 1–17. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/270571884_Consumer_expectations... .

29. Russell, L. (2020, June 10). The national cabinet's in and COAG's out. It's a fresh chance to put health issues on the agenda, but there are risks. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-national-cabinets-in-and-coags-out-its-a... . 

30. OECD Reviews of Health Care Quality: Australia 2015: Raising Standards: en. OECD. (2015, November 15). https://www.oecd.org/australia/oecd-reviews-of-health-care-quality-austr... .

31. Dixit, S. K., & Sambasivan, M. (2018). A review of the Australian healthcare system: A policy perspective. SAGE Open Medicine, 6, 205031211876921. https://doi.org/10.1177/2050312118769211  

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Meta-analysis finds cardio-fitness cuts death and disease by nearly 20%

by University of South Australia

Running, cycling, or swimming—if you regularly exercise, you're well on track for a long and healthy life, as new research from the University of South Australia finds that an increased cardio fitness level will reduce your risk of death from any cause.

Published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine , the study found that for every 1-MET increase in cardiorespiratory fitness—the amount of energy used for quiet sitting—a person can reduce their risk of death by 11%–17%, and specifically, their risk of heart disease by 18%.

Comprising 26 systematic reviews with meta-analysis representing more than 20.9 million observations from 199 unique cohort studies, it is the first study to collate all the scientific evidence that looked at the prospective link between cardiorespiratory fitness and health outcomes among adults.

Senior author, UniSA's Professor Grant Tomkinson, says that cardiorespiratory fitness is probably the most important type of fitness for good health.

"Cardiorespiratory fitness (or CRF) is your ability to perform physical activity for a long period of time like running, cycling, and swimming," Prof Tomkinson says.

"In this study we found that high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness reduce the risk of dying early from any cause.

"We summarized the evidence linking CRF to numerous health outcomes and found that those with low levels of CRF are far more likely to die early or develop chronic conditions like heart disease later in life.

"Specifically, we found that every 1-MET increase in CRF, which is the amount of energy used when sitting quietly, reduced the risk of early death from any cause and heart failure by 11%–17% and 18%, respectively.

"For most people, a 1-MET increase in CRF can be achieved through a regular aerobic exercise program.

"The message is quite simple: if you do a lot of 'huff and puff' exercise, then your risk of dying early or developing diseases in the future is reduced. If you avoid exercise your health may suffer."

Chronic health conditions are an ongoing cause of poor health, disability, and premature death. In Australia, an estimated 11.6 million people (47%) have a chronic and debilitating health conditions, which contributes to two thirds of the burden of disease.

Lead author from the Public Health Agency of Canada and Adjunct Professor at UniSA, Dr. Justin Lang, says the study delivers a strong message for public health that cardiorespiratory fitness is an important marker of health status.

"Clearly, cardiorespiratory fitness is as an important factor for good health. If you are already exercising, this is good news; but if you know you need to up your fitness and movement, then this is a timely reminder," Dr. Lang says.

"People can make meaningful improvements through additional moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, at least 150 minutes a week. And as they improve their fitness, their risk of death and disease will decline.

"But the onus for improvement should not just sit with the individual, it should also be routinely assessed in clinical and public health practice, so that we can support people to improve their health outcomes.

"Through regular assessment, clinicians and exercise professionals could better identify adults at greater risk of early death and initiate exercise programs aimed at increasing CRF through regular physical activity."

This study was conducted in partnership with researchers from the Public Health Agency of Canada, the University of Granada, the University of Ottawa and University of Northern British Columbia.

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Transformations That Work

• Michael Mankins
• Patrick Litre

More than a third of large organizations have some type of transformation program underway at any given time, and many launch one major change initiative after another. Though they kick off with a lot of fanfare, most of these efforts fail to deliver. Only 12% produce lasting results, and that figure hasn’t budged in the past two decades, despite everything we’ve learned over the years about how to lead change.

Clearly, businesses need a new model for transformation. In this article the authors present one based on research with dozens of leading companies that have defied the odds, such as Ford, Dell, Amgen, T-Mobile, Adobe, and Virgin Australia. The successful programs, the authors found, employed six critical practices: treating transformation as a continuous process; building it into the company’s operating rhythm; explicitly managing organizational energy; using aspirations, not benchmarks, to set goals; driving change from the middle of the organization out; and tapping significant external capital to fund the effort from the start.

Lessons from companies that are defying the odds

Idea in Brief

The problem.

Although companies frequently engage in transformation initiatives, few are actually transformative. Research indicates that only 12% of major change programs produce lasting results.

Why It Happens

Leaders are increasingly content with incremental improvements. As a result, they experience fewer outright failures but equally fewer real transformations.

The Solution

To deliver, change programs must treat transformation as a continuous process, build it into the company’s operating rhythm, explicitly manage organizational energy, state aspirations rather than set targets, drive change from the middle out, and be funded by serious capital investments.

Nearly every major corporation has embarked on some sort of transformation in recent years. By our estimates, at any given time more than a third of large organizations have a transformation program underway. When asked, roughly 50% of CEOs we’ve interviewed report that their company has undertaken two or more major change efforts within the past five years, with nearly 20% reporting three or more.

• Michael Mankins is a leader in Bain’s Organization and Strategy practices and is a partner based in Austin, Texas. He is a coauthor of Time, Talent, Energy: Overcome Organizational Drag and Unleash Your Team’s Productive Power (Harvard Business Review Press, 2017).
• PL Patrick Litre leads Bain’s Global Transformation and Change practice and is a partner based in Atlanta.

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What the data says about crime in the U.S.

A growing share of Americans say reducing crime should be a top priority for the president and Congress to address this year. Around six-in-ten U.S. adults (58%) hold that view today, up from 47% at the beginning of Joe Biden’s presidency in 2021.

We conducted this analysis to learn more about U.S. crime patterns and how those patterns have changed over time.

The analysis relies on statistics published by the FBI, which we accessed through the Crime Data Explorer , and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), which we accessed through the  National Crime Victimization Survey data analysis tool .

To measure public attitudes about crime in the U.S., we relied on survey data from Pew Research Center and Gallup.

Additional details about each data source, including survey methodologies, are available by following the links in the text of this analysis.

With the issue likely to come up in this year’s presidential election, here’s what we know about crime in the United States, based on the latest available data from the federal government and other sources.

How much crime is there in the U.S.?

It’s difficult to say for certain. The  two primary sources of government crime statistics  – the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) – paint an incomplete picture.

The FBI publishes  annual data  on crimes that have been reported to law enforcement, but not crimes that haven’t been reported. Historically, the FBI has also only published statistics about a handful of specific violent and property crimes, but not many other types of crime, such as drug crime. And while the FBI’s data is based on information from thousands of federal, state, county, city and other police departments, not all law enforcement agencies participate every year. In 2022, the most recent full year with available statistics, the FBI received data from 83% of participating agencies .

BJS, for its part, tracks crime by fielding a  large annual survey of Americans ages 12 and older and asking them whether they were the victim of certain types of crime in the past six months. One advantage of this approach is that it captures both reported and unreported crimes. But the BJS survey has limitations of its own. Like the FBI, it focuses mainly on a handful of violent and property crimes. And since the BJS data is based on after-the-fact interviews with crime victims, it cannot provide information about one especially high-profile type of offense: murder.

All those caveats aside, looking at the FBI and BJS statistics side-by-side  does  give researchers a good picture of U.S. violent and property crime rates and how they have changed over time. In addition, the FBI is transitioning to a new data collection system – known as the National Incident-Based Reporting System – that eventually will provide national information on a much larger set of crimes , as well as details such as the time and place they occur and the types of weapons involved, if applicable.

Which kinds of crime are most and least common?

Property crime in the U.S. is much more common than violent crime. In 2022, the FBI reported a total of 1,954.4 property crimes per 100,000 people, compared with 380.7 violent crimes per 100,000 people.  

By far the most common form of property crime in 2022 was larceny/theft, followed by motor vehicle theft and burglary. Among violent crimes, aggravated assault was the most common offense, followed by robbery, rape, and murder/nonnegligent manslaughter.

BJS tracks a slightly different set of offenses from the FBI, but it finds the same overall patterns, with theft the most common form of property crime in 2022 and assault the most common form of violent crime.

How have crime rates in the U.S. changed over time?

Both the FBI and BJS data show dramatic declines in U.S. violent and property crime rates since the early 1990s, when crime spiked across much of the nation.

Using the FBI data, the violent crime rate fell 49% between 1993 and 2022, with large decreases in the rates of robbery (-74%), aggravated assault (-39%) and murder/nonnegligent manslaughter (-34%). It’s not possible to calculate the change in the rape rate during this period because the FBI  revised its definition of the offense in 2013 .

The FBI data also shows a 59% reduction in the U.S. property crime rate between 1993 and 2022, with big declines in the rates of burglary (-75%), larceny/theft (-54%) and motor vehicle theft (-53%).

Using the BJS statistics, the declines in the violent and property crime rates are even steeper than those captured in the FBI data. Per BJS, the U.S. violent and property crime rates each fell 71% between 1993 and 2022.

While crime rates have fallen sharply over the long term, the decline hasn’t always been steady. There have been notable increases in certain kinds of crime in some years, including recently.

In 2020, for example, the U.S. murder rate saw its largest single-year increase on record – and by 2022, it remained considerably higher than before the coronavirus pandemic. Preliminary data for 2023, however, suggests that the murder rate fell substantially last year .

How do Americans perceive crime in their country?

Americans tend to believe crime is up, even when official data shows it is down.

In 23 of 27 Gallup surveys conducted since 1993 , at least 60% of U.S. adults have said there is more crime nationally than there was the year before, despite the downward trend in crime rates during most of that period.

While perceptions of rising crime at the national level are common, fewer Americans believe crime is up in their own communities. In every Gallup crime survey since the 1990s, Americans have been much less likely to say crime is up in their area than to say the same about crime nationally.

Public attitudes about crime differ widely by Americans’ party affiliation, race and ethnicity, and other factors . For example, Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are much more likely than Democrats and Democratic leaners to say reducing crime should be a top priority for the president and Congress this year (68% vs. 47%), according to a recent Pew Research Center survey.

How does crime in the U.S. differ by demographic characteristics?

Some groups of Americans are more likely than others to be victims of crime. In the  2022 BJS survey , for example, younger people and those with lower incomes were far more likely to report being the victim of a violent crime than older and higher-income people.

There were no major differences in violent crime victimization rates between male and female respondents or between those who identified as White, Black or Hispanic. But the victimization rate among Asian Americans (a category that includes Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders) was substantially lower than among other racial and ethnic groups.

The same BJS survey asks victims about the demographic characteristics of the offenders in the incidents they experienced.

In 2022, those who are male, younger people and those who are Black accounted for considerably larger shares of perceived offenders in violent incidents than their respective shares of the U.S. population. Men, for instance, accounted for 79% of perceived offenders in violent incidents, compared with 49% of the nation’s 12-and-older population that year. Black Americans accounted for 25% of perceived offenders in violent incidents, about twice their share of the 12-and-older population (12%).

As with all surveys, however, there are several potential sources of error, including the possibility that crime victims’ perceptions about offenders are incorrect.

How does crime in the U.S. differ geographically?

There are big geographic differences in violent and property crime rates.

For example, in 2022, there were more than 700 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in New Mexico and Alaska. That compares with fewer than 200 per 100,000 people in Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine, according to the FBI.

The FBI notes that various factors might influence an area’s crime rate, including its population density and economic conditions.

What percentage of crimes are reported to police? What percentage are solved?

Most violent and property crimes in the U.S. are not reported to police, and most of the crimes that  are  reported are not solved.

In its annual survey, BJS asks crime victims whether they reported their crime to police. It found that in 2022, only 41.5% of violent crimes and 31.8% of household property crimes were reported to authorities. BJS notes that there are many reasons why crime might not be reported, including fear of reprisal or of “getting the offender in trouble,” a feeling that police “would not or could not do anything to help,” or a belief that the crime is “a personal issue or too trivial to report.”

Most of the crimes that are reported to police, meanwhile,  are not solved , at least based on an FBI measure known as the clearance rate . That’s the share of cases each year that are closed, or “cleared,” through the arrest, charging and referral of a suspect for prosecution, or due to “exceptional” circumstances such as the death of a suspect or a victim’s refusal to cooperate with a prosecution. In 2022, police nationwide cleared 36.7% of violent crimes that were reported to them and 12.1% of the property crimes that came to their attention.

Which crimes are most likely to be reported to police? Which are most likely to be solved?

Around eight-in-ten motor vehicle thefts (80.9%) were reported to police in 2022, making them by far the most commonly reported property crime tracked by BJS. Household burglaries and trespassing offenses were reported to police at much lower rates (44.9% and 41.2%, respectively), while personal theft/larceny and other types of theft were only reported around a quarter of the time.

Among violent crimes – excluding homicide, which BJS doesn’t track – robbery was the most likely to be reported to law enforcement in 2022 (64.0%). It was followed by aggravated assault (49.9%), simple assault (36.8%) and rape/sexual assault (21.4%).

The list of crimes  cleared  by police in 2022 looks different from the list of crimes reported. Law enforcement officers were generally much more likely to solve violent crimes than property crimes, according to the FBI.

The most frequently solved violent crime tends to be homicide. Police cleared around half of murders and nonnegligent manslaughters (52.3%) in 2022. The clearance rates were lower for aggravated assault (41.4%), rape (26.1%) and robbery (23.2%).

When it comes to property crime, law enforcement agencies cleared 13.0% of burglaries, 12.4% of larcenies/thefts and 9.3% of motor vehicle thefts in 2022.

Are police solving more or fewer crimes than they used to?

Nationwide clearance rates for both violent and property crime are at their lowest levels since at least 1993, the FBI data shows.

Police cleared a little over a third (36.7%) of the violent crimes that came to their attention in 2022, down from nearly half (48.1%) as recently as 2013. During the same period, there were decreases for each of the four types of violent crime the FBI tracks:

• Police cleared 52.3% of reported murders and nonnegligent homicides in 2022, down from 64.1% in 2013.
• They cleared 41.4% of aggravated assaults, down from 57.7%.
• They cleared 26.1% of rapes, down from 40.6%.
• They cleared 23.2% of robberies, down from 29.4%.

The pattern is less pronounced for property crime. Overall, law enforcement agencies cleared 12.1% of reported property crimes in 2022, down from 19.7% in 2013. The clearance rate for burglary didn’t change much, but it fell for larceny/theft (to 12.4% in 2022 from 22.4% in 2013) and motor vehicle theft (to 9.3% from 14.2%).

Note: This is an update of a post originally published on Nov. 20, 2020.

• Criminal Justice

John Gramlich is an associate director at Pew Research Center

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Housing values rise 0.6% in April, as low supply trumps high interest rates and inflation

Australian home values continued to trend higher in April with CoreLogic’s national Home Value Index (HVI) rising 0.6%.

This was on par with the pace of gains recorded in both February and March, with the month-on-month rise adding approximately $4,720 to the national median dwelling value.

April’s increase takes the current growth cycle into its 15 th month, with housing values up 11.1% or approximately $78,000 since the trough in January last year.

Beneath the headline numbers we are seeing multi-speed conditions with the mid-sized capitals continuing to lead the pace of growth. Perth remains at the top of the growth charts with a 2.0% rise in April, followed by Adelaide at 1.3% and Brisbane at 0.9%.

The monthly change in Sydney values (+0.4%) has held reasonably firm around the 0.4% mark each of the past three months, while Melbourne’s market (-0.1%) has broadly stabilised after recording a subtle -0.8% dip over the three months to January.

The smaller capitals have emerged from relatively soft conditions, with both Hobart and ACT recording three months of consistent, albeit mild, rises in home values.

“We aren’t seeing any signs of heat coming out of the Perth housing market just yet, in fact the quarterly pace of growth, at 6.0%, is approaching the cyclical highs seen during the pandemic when interest rates were at rock bottom,” said Tim Lawless, CoreLogic’s research director.

“On the other hand, we are seeing the pace of gains slow across the Brisbane market, easing below the 1% mark to 0.9% in April for the first time in 12 months. Affordability pressures may be impacting the pace of growth across the city, following a nearly $300,000 increase in values since the onset of COVID in March 2020, the largest dollar value increase of any capital.”

Almost every capital city is recording stronger growth conditions across the lower value range of the market . Darwin, where housing affordability is less challenging, is the exception, while Sydney’s lower quartile and broad middle of the market are showing the same quarterly change at 1.7% compared with a 0.5% rise in upper quartile dwelling values.

“The shift towards stronger conditions across lower value markets can also be seen between the housing types, with growth in unit values outpacing house values over the past three months,” Mr Lawless said.

“Hobart was the only city where houses recorded a larger gain than units over the past three months.”

Regional markets have shown a slightly stronger quarterly growth rate over the past five months than their capital city counterparts , following a 10-month period where the combined capitals index was outperforming. Looking at value movements over the past three months, the strongest regional markets were aligned with the strongest capital cities. Regional WA (+5.3%) led the pace of gains, followed by Regional SA (3.9%) and Regional Queensland (+3.2%), while Regional Victoria (-0.1%) was the only rest of state market to record a decline in values over the rolling quarter.

Home sales look to have moved through a cyclical peak in November last year . Although the monthly trend in home sales is highly seasonal, the less seasonal six-month trend has remained relatively flat since the November rate hike. Estimated sales over the past three months are tracking 8.6% higher than at the same time last year, and about 5.1% above the previous five-year average. However, it is likely a combination of worsening affordability and low sentiment will keep a lid on the volume of sales until interest rates start to track lower.

Download the April HVI

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Five things to know about… the three-minute thesis competition.

Left to right, Lihao Yan, Arya Ökten, Yanyu Zhao, Jenna Andrews, Ethan A.Lerner, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Dean Lynn Cooley, Alicia E. Ellis, Laura Stevens, Meera Choi, Alev Baysoy, Theodoros Trochatos, and Leonardo de Siqueira Lima. (Photo by Stephanie Anestis)

Every year, Yale’s Three-Minute Thesis Competition provides Ph.D. students with an opportunity to step away from the fog of their dissertation research and tell the world exactly what it is they are trying to achieve.

In three minutes.

The competition, known as 3MT, requires students to present their theses in a succinct, clear, and compelling way before a panel of judges. Winners receive a cash prize and bragging rights. But everyone who competes likely comes away understanding their research better and feeling more confident about public speaking, said Suzanne Young, the assistant dean for graduate student professional development in the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), which sponsors the competition.

“ This is really going back to the roots of public speaking, where it’s about you, your voice, your intelligence, and your quickness on your feet while presenting to people who might be reacting to you in the moment,” she said.

Yale News caught up with Young just before this year’s event on April 12. (See this year’s winners in accompanying box.) Here are five takeaways.

Yale’s 3MT competition is modeled after one founded by the University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia.

The original 3MT was held at UQ in 2008. The concept gradually spread throughout Australia and then abroad. Competitions are now held at more than 900 universities in more than 85 countries, according to UQ’s 3MT website.

For Yale’s competition, which debuted in 2017, registration opens in January. Most years, about 35 to 40 students sign up. A first-round competition is held in late February. The 10 winners chosen during that round go on to the April finals.

The competition is not just for students in the STEM fields.

Students compete in one of five categories: biology, engineering, humanities, physical science, and social science. Not surprisingly, perhaps, the entrants tend to be weighted toward the sciences.

“ In biology, contestants are talking about different ways to attack cancer, and in astronomy, different ways to understand dark matter,” Young said. “The stakes of those questions are pretty straightforward and obvious. I think that helps STEM candidates come to this competition more eagerly.”

But humanities students stand to gain a lot from the preparation required for the competition, and Young encourages them to give it a try. She knows from her own experience writing an English dissertation that the long process involved in shaping a thesis — including questioning, researching, and reading — can at times make the project feel “a bit amorphous.”

“ Having to say, ‘here’s why this matters, here are the key central ideas, here’s what I hope to change about the field, here are the stakes of what I’m doing’ — that clarity can be really welcome and helpful,” she said.

Presentations must include a single PowerPoint slide, but the use of any other technology or prop is prohibited.

In such a technology-dependent culture, this rule might seem outdated. But prohibiting technological enhancements and other distractions keeps the focus on the speaker, Young said. The single slide is intended to be an adjunct to what the speaker is saying and not a focus itself.

“ We’ve all been to talks where you have to decide whether you’re going to listen to the speaker or read the slides,” she said. “We want this to be a live moment of public speaking and all the challenges that come with that.”

Coaching is available to all competitors.

All participants are encouraged to prepare for their presentations by pursuing the Certificate for Public Communication , through the Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning. As soon as they sign up for the 3MT, they receive an email link to the certificate page. They also have access to coaching and advice from Young, as well as staff in the Office of Career Strategy and the Graduate Writing Lab.

“ We really emphasize the power of preparation and feedback,” Young said.

The judges in the competition are Yale alumni.

The final round takes place before a panel of judges comprised of accomplished Yale GSAS alumni representing a mix of disciplines and Lynn Cooley, dean of the graduate school. After the presentations, the judges leave the auditorium to confer. The audience — both those in the auditorium and those watching via the live stream — is then invited to vote for two entrants to receive the “People’s Choice” award. And there is entertainment — this year, the graduate and professional school a cappella group, the Citations, performed.

Eventually, the judges troop back in and announce the first-, second- and third-place winners. Each poses with an oversized cardboard check (prizes range from $300 to $1,000 for first place).

“ We try to make it fun, and a bit of a spectacle,” Young said.

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Advancing social justice, promoting decent work ILO is a specialized agency of the United Nations

Forced labour is a severe violation of human rights affecting 28 million of men, women and children in all countries and all economic sectors. It is rooted in poverty, discrimination and lack of social protection, and it disrupts fair competition between businesses. The issue has been at the heart of the ILO mandate to promote Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, leaving no one behind.

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men, women and children are in forced labour

of forced labour happens in the private economy

236 billion US$

generated in illegal profits every year

countries ratified the ILO Forced Labour Protocol

International Labour Standards on Forced Labour

• Convention No. 29 (C29)
• Convention No. 105 (C105)
• Protocol No. 29 (P29)
• Recommendation 203 (R203)

The Forced Labour Convention (No. 29), adopted in 1930, contains the definition of forced labour and provides that it should be punished as a crime. This is one of the most ratified ILO standards. 

• Text of the Convention
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The Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No. 105), adopted in 1957,  deals with state-imposed forms of forced labour. This is one of the most ratified ILO standards. 

The Protocol to the Forced Labour Convention, (P029), adopted in 2014, requires ratifying countries to take effective measures to prevent forced labour, protect victims and ensure their access to justice. 

The Protocol complements the Convention No. 29, therefore only countries that have ratified this Convention can ratify the Protocol. 

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The Forced Labour Recommendation (No. 203), adopted in 2014, provides further guidance on how to implement the Protocol.

It is a non-binding document that does not require ratification. 

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What can the ILO offer and how?

• Eradicating Forced Labour: Partnering strategically with ILO
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