Membership Guidelines for Applicants
These guidelines provide an overview of RIOSC and set out the process to apply for RIOSC membership.
Background
Social Cohesion and Community Resilience Ministerial Taskforce
In May 2015, the Hon Daniel Andrews MP, Premier of Victoria, established the Social Cohesion and Community Resilience Ministerial Taskforce (Taskforce) to adopt a whole-of-government and whole-of-community evidence based approach to address social cohesion, community resilience, marginalisation and to prevent violent extremism.
The key focus of the Taskforce is on how governments, communities, academics and other stakeholders can work together to:
- protect and enhance the social cohesion and resilience of our communities; and
- develop initiatives that help to prevent a small group of individuals, or networks of individuals, from harming our cohesive society through violent extremism.
The Community Resilience Unit (CRU) has been formed within the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) to support the Taskforce.
Strategic Framework to Strengthen Victoria’s Social Cohesion and the Resilience of its Communities
The Victorian Government has released its Strategic Framework to Strengthen Victoria’s Social Cohesion and the Resilience of its Communities (Framework).One of the principles of the Framework is the understanding that Victorian Government policy should be evidence-informed.
The Framework is accessible at should be considered closely by applicants when applying for RIOSC membership.
RIOSC
The purpose of RIOSC is to:
- enable diverse research and practical expertise to be combined across organisational boundaries to address the research problem at hand;
- facilitate greater cross-sectoral interaction among academics, researchers, policy makers and practitioners to ensure that social cohesion and community resilience insights are both robust and practical;
- enable RIOSC members to contribute to research that informs the process of co-producing initiatives and evaluating their effectiveness.
Research priorities
The research priorities for RIOSC have been identified by the Taskforce’s Interim Advisory Board, made up by subject matter experts.These priorities have been endorsed by the Taskforce.
The 2016-17 research priorities aim to understand innovative program approaches that strengthen open-mindedness, empathy and capacity for critical thinking and tackle issues around violent extremism in culturally and context-sensitive ways.
Research Priority 1
Social Cohesion and Diversity
- Examine the protective factors (individual and community) that build resilience to racist and religious exclusivist views.
- Develop insights into how public language and discourse impacts people both negatively and positively, particularly on marginalised and vulnerable young people.
Research Priority 2
Community Polarisation, Marginalisation and Violent Extremism
- Examine the driving factors behind the attraction to violent extremist narratives and behaviour.
- Develop multi-disciplinaryprogram approaches that incorporate health, educational and other expertise to holistically tackle issues related to violent extremism.
- Investigation of contemporary social trends that legitimate violence as a means to deal with complex social issues.
Research Priority 3
Project Innovation and Evaluation methodologies
- Develop innovative methodologies and theories for assessing the strength and impact of individual and cross-program initiatives to community resilience, social cohesion and the prevention of violent extremism.
When applying for RIOSC membership, please ensure that your work aligns strongly with at least one of the above research priorities.
Structure and membership
RIOSC will be a network of leading researchers and institutions and will not have a physical location. Individuals and organisations are invited to apply for membership and if successful, will work togetherin an interdisciplinary network that reflects the complex and multi-faceted nature of the research priorities.
The CRU will facilitate various opportunities each year for members to meet face-to-face, network and discuss common issues.
A category of associate membership will be available for interstate and international practitioners.
Membership
While there is no limit on the number of RIOSC members or associate members, applications for RIOSC membership will be assessed by an assessment panel based on the eligibility criteria set out below. Final membership will be approved by Victoria’sChief Resilience Officer.
Without limitation, members and associate members may include:
- individuals representing universities or other centres of higher learning;
- individuals representing research centres and think-tanks;
- academics and subject matter experts;
- individuals representing community organisations who are currently involved in relevant research;
- Victorian Government departments; and
- organisations (organisational applications are for associate membership only).
Multiple individuals from the same organisationmay apply for RIOSC membership. Each individual must complete a separate application.
Eligibility criteria
The eligibility criteria for RIOSC membership are:
- track record of contributions across at least one of the research priority areas, either as a researcher, evaluator or in program delivery;
- demonstrated innovation in research, evaluation and/or program delivery related to at least one of the priority research areas;
- an interest inattending practitioner workshops and forums; and
- applicants must be based in Victoria.
‘Based in Victoria’ requires applicants to have their primary location in locality with a Victorian postcode.
Please note that criterion 4 is not a requirement for associate membership.
Benefits of membership
A number of opportunities will be available to RIOSC members. These include:
i.Social Cohesion Research Grants Program (not available to associate members)
Only members of RIOSC will be eligible to apply for the Social Cohesion Research Grants Program which will run over three years (2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19). Grants which are approved will contribute towards the current evidence baseand inform the development of innovative policy andpractice.
Grant applications can be received from RIOSC members individually or collaboratively. Members also have the option to partner with non-RIOSC individuals or groups. For example, this could include community organisations, philanthropic bodies or academics based interstate or overseas. However, for a grant application to be valid the lead applicant must be based in Victoria and be a RIOSC member.
Grant rounds will open annually in November and each round will be open for six weeks.
ii.Networking with other subject matter experts
RIOSC will be a collaborative forum for the dissemination of innovative ideas to promote social cohesion, multiculturalism, diversity, community resilience and to prevent violent extremism. The opportunity for members to link in with other subject matter experts will be a significant benefit for RIOSC members, particularly when formulating research proposals.
iii.Becoming part of a community of practice and shaping public policy
It is anticipated that a community of practice in Victoria will evolve organically as RIOSC members meet and network to discuss their research and workshop new knowledge. The opportunity available to RIOSC members is to not only form part of that community, but to actively mould its direction and focus. RIOSC members may therefore be able to play a role in shaping policy and program design.
iv.Practitioner workshops and forums (not available to associate members)
In addition to undertaking research, RIOSC members will be invited to participate in practitioner workshops and forums, free of charge, to keep the research network active and engaged.
Each workshop will be held in Melbourne and run for up to a day each and involve active discussions among members about recent trends and research issues. There may also be opportunities for members to present to RIOSC on different issues related to the research priorities.
Length of membership
Membershipis until 30 June 2019.
Remuneration
RIOSC members and associate members will not be remunerated for their participation. There is no charge to become a RIOSC member.
Resignation and removal of membership
RIOSC members and associate members may resign from RIOSC at any stage by informing the CRU in writing.
The CRU may removea member or associate member from RIOSC at any stage, after consulting the member in question, by informing them in writing of the decision.
Governance
Community Resilience Unit
The CRU, located within DPC, will provide secretariat support to RIOSC and will keep the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and the Taskforce informed of its activities and discussions.
Expert Reference Group
The Expert Reference Group, previously known as the Interim Advisory Board, is comprised of up to ten academic and subject matter experts. This group was first established in 2015 as part of the Taskforce’s governance structure.
Going forward, the role of the Expert Reference Group will include liaising with RIOSC members to:
- assist in the development and prioritisation of the research program;
- provide expert advice and guidance to the CRU and the Taskforce; and
- make recommendations to the CRU for practitioner workshops and forums.
Expert Reference Group meetings are chaired by Victoria’s Chief Resilience Officer, who heads up the CRU.
Expert Reference Group members are members of RIOSC by virtue of sitting on the ERG.
Conflicts of interest
RIOSC members must declare in writing all actual, potential and perceived Conflicts of Interest with respect to their duties as RIOSC members.
“Conflict of Interest” means:
Any circumstance where a RIOSC member has an actual, potential or perceived opportunity to prefer their own interests, or those of any other person or organisation, to the interests of the RIOSC.
A Conflict of Interest may include an actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest, as described below:
“Actual conflict of interest”means:
A real conflict currently exists between the interests of a RIOSC member and the interests and purposes of the RIOSC.
“Potential conflict of interest” means:
Given the circumstances, a conflict may arise between the interests of a RIOSC member and the interests and purposes of the RIOSC.
“Perceived conflict of interest” means:
Members of the public could reasonably form the view that the interests of a RIOSC member may improperly influence the member’s activities in connection with the RIOSC.
Please ensure that you complete the ‘Conflict of Interest Declaration’ form and attach it to your application. This form can be found at
Applying for membership
To apply for RIOSC membership, please complete an online application form and attach a signed conflict of interest form at:
Membership remains open ongoing with scheduled intake dates throughout the year. Please see the website for dates
All applications will be acknowledged by email. The CRU will advise you of the outcome of your application a few weeks following the closest intake assessment date.
Please contact Isabel FitzGerald, Policy Officer, at (03) 9651 5937, if you would like to discuss your application.
Research Institute on Social Cohesion (RIOSC) – Membership Guidelines for Applicants 1