Social Psychology of Innovation Research Group

In response to the 2019-2020 bushfire crisis, Australians engaged in an astounding level of charitable giving and volunteering to help communities and wildlife affected by the devastating fires.

Led by Associate Professor Sam Wilson and Associate Professor Diane Sivasubramaniam, this innovative rapid scoping project identified, described, and mapped the everyday humanitarianism enacted by individuals and community groups in response to the bushfire crisis. It was cited by the Australian Red Cross in their submission to the Bushfire Royal Commission.

People undertake many forms of voluntary humanitarian behaviour.

We know a good deal about the nature and drivers of traditional forms of voluntary humanitarian behaviour (e.g., blood donation, charitable giving). But we know much less about new and emerging forms of voluntary humanitarian behaviour (e.g., participating in protests, starting a community action group).

In partnership with the Australian Red Cross, this project sought to determine the predictors of different types of contemporary, voluntary humanitarian behaviour. Associate Professor Sam Wilson and Associate Professor Diane Sivasubramaniam led a team to create the foundation of a new online tool to quickly and efficiently match people to the types of humanitarian volunteering opportunities for which they are best suited (e.g., on the basis of their personality, values, interests, resources).

In collaboration with the SMART Rural Health Network, Dr Sharon Grant and Associate Professor Diane Sivasubramaniam led this Social Innovation Research Institute-aligned project.

A Code Grey is “an organisation-level response to actual or potential violent, aggressive, abusive or threatening behaviour, exhibited by patients or visitors” (Victorian Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS], 2017).

The Code Grey Project developed a methodology for rural-proofing DHHS Code Grey (and other health) guidelines through community co-design of responses to OVA by rural health services and their communities. Final recommendations of the Code Grey project are currently being developed further through an ongoing PhD project (co-funded by Rural Northwest Health) to apply social psychological theory, coupled with a community co-design approach, to develop effective anti-violence campaigns in rural health services.