Why this Cluster exists
The concentration of the Work, Live, and Play research cluster exists to address the growing need for a holistic understanding of the human experience across three interconnected areas of life—work, leisure, and daily living. Here are a few key reasons for its existence:
Interdisciplinary Complexity
Work, live, and play are fundamental aspects of human life, but they don't exist in isolation. They are deeply interconnected, influencing and shaping each other. For example, how we work affects how we live and engage in leisure activities, while our play and recreation can impact our productivity and well-being at work. This complexity requires an interdisciplinary approach, pulling in expertise from fields like management, marketing, law, and communication to create a well-rounded understanding of these dynamics.
Changing Social Landscapes
With the rapid shifts in technology, culture, and societal norms, the way people work, live, and play is undergoing significant transformations. The rise of remote work, new media platforms, the gig economy, and shifting consumer behaviours have blurred the boundaries between these spheres. Investigating these changes allows researchers to identify trends, challenges, and opportunities in how people navigate work-life balance and interact with modern social structures.
Human-Centered Focus
At the heart of all innovation and development are people. This cluster seeks to explore the social and human aspects of life, focusing on how individuals and communities experience and adapt to change. Whether it's the evolution of workspaces, the role of media in leisure, or the impact of law and business on daily living, the concentration exists to enhance our understanding of the human experience from multiple dimensions.
Our work and impact
Digital Dimensions of Work, Leisure and Culture
Ombudsman Project
UniSC researchers, Dr Karen Sutherland, Assoc Prof Rory Mulcahy and Dr Jacqueline Burgess have successfully collaborated with the Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman (ASBFEO) on a project investigating the challenges within the B2B relationship between SMEs and Digital Marketing Service Providers.
Read the project report (Research Bank).
Mobile Alerts
Project Lead: Associate Professor Renee Barnes
UniSC Researchers Renee Barnes and Rory Mulcahy teamed up with ABC Digital to explore the dynamic world of mobile news alert engagement. By combining the power of journalism and marketing through a multi-disciplinary approach, their project delves into message framing and consumer engagement. Grounded in cutting-edge theories and frameworks, this collaboration seeks to uncover new insights into how audiences interact with news in the fast-paced mobile landscape.
Read the project report (Research Bank).
Business, Society and Leisure in Sport
Understanding Sunshine Coast sentiment for Brisbane 2032
Project Lead: Dr Peter English
Peter English, David Fleischman, Rory Mulcahy, Lenny Vance, Aaron Tham. 2023. Understanding Sunshine Coast sentiment for Brisbane 2032, Sunshine Coast Council ($19,983). Offered valuable insights into community sentiment across SE Queensland and the Sunshine Coast regarding the 2032 Games, shaping future communication strategies to foster deeper, more impactful engagement with key community stakeholders by using cutting edge analysis.
Project report: TBC
AIS Post Sport Transition
Project Lead: Dr David Fleischman
Fleischman, D. Stevenson, T., Mulcahy R., English, P and Vance, L. “Mind the Gap” – Understanding motivators and inhibitors to elite athlete career adaptability, Australian Sports Commission ($32,000). This research plays a pivotal role in advancing the Australian Institute of Sport’s well-being and education strategic objectives. It also positively influences the broader Australian sporting system by deepening our understanding of life beyond sport and offering critical support for athletes’ career transitions across their career.
Project Report: TBC
In the news
UniSC named top in Queensland, in global top 2% for impact
The University of the Sunshine Coast has topped Queensland, and been named among the world’s top two percent of universities, in a major global ranking.
Future global leaders learn building blocks of infrastructure
A group of future global leaders from South Asia are exploring key learnings in building regional infrastructure for trade and economic growth through a University of the Sunshine Coast course centred on international diplomacy and capacity building.
UniSC gains a ‘twin’ as part of global capacity building partnership
The University of the Sunshine Coast has formed a twinning partnership with Papua New Guinea’s newest university to help build its teaching and learning capacity through a collaborative work and cultural exchange.