Established in 1980, the Industrial Relations Research Group is the longest-established research centre in its field in Australia. It has continued to remain relevant by addressing emerging issues of concern in the changing world of work and workplace relations, both local and international.
The IRRC brings together researchers from different academic disciplinary backgrounds inside and outside UNSW, from a range of business and industry sectors, and from around the world, to come together in its workspace or online, in order to conduct and publicise research that contributes to policy and practice in fields such as the regulation of labour standards, gender equity, workplace health and safety, and workforce development.
Our mission
The aim of the IRRC is to promote research on work, labour markets and industrial relations that will contribute to productive, satisfying and fair work arrangements.
Our values
We are committed to:
- Sponsoring rigorous, independent, evidence-based research that is creative and original
- Acting in the public interest, through ethical research, open communication and accountability.
Our objectives
- Objective 1: To promote better understanding of labour markets and industrial relations
- Objective 2: To promote safe, engaged, productive and fair workplaces
- Objective 3: To encourage the recognition, development and utilisation of skills
- Objective 4: To continue to build the impact of The Economic and Labour Relations Review
- Objective 5: To engage with industry, community and government in the production and dissemination of research
- Objective 6: To build our working relationships and international outreach
- Objective 7: To help develop emerging scholars.
Our activities
A major activity of the IRRC is to produce The Economic and Labour Relations Review (ELRR), an international journal, published four times a year, on the intersection of economic, social and labour relations policy research.
The IRRC supports the role of the ELRR editorial committee in ensuring that research published in the journal has both an impact and a social impact.
Centre members undertake evidence-based research, publication and communication activities that address significant work-related regulation, policies, and practices from a social justice perspective
It engages in both individual and collaborative research projects including externally and competitively funded grants and contract research projects
It communicates research results to academic, practitioner and policy communities and within the wider public domain through books, articles, print and social media, seminars/conferences, keynote addresses, industry forums, and reports.