ALERA Early Career Researcher Innovative Industrial Relations Research Grant

ALERA congratulates Dr Laura Good and her colleagues, Dr Isabella Dabaja, Dr Elsie Foeken and Dr Suneha Seetahul from the University of Sydney, the successful recipients of the Early Career Researcher (ECR) Grant Scheme 2025, for their project “Digitalised ideal workers? Impacts of AI on Australia’s ageing and gender segregated workforce.”

Project Summary

Generative AI is widely predicted to transform work, reshaping entire industries and occupations. This raises important employment relations questions about its impact on workers. These discussions often centre on young people and overlook older workers.

This innovative project examines how digitalisation is changing work for older Australians, with attention to gendered differences. Digital technologies may reinforce exclusionary ideals of the “ideal” worker or enable flexible work that supports older employees, especially those with caring responsibilities.

Using a mixed-methods approach combining statistical analysis of national datasets with qualitative interviews with older workers and their managers, findings will inform policies to ensure older workers are not left behind in Australia’s digital transition.

ALERA would like to thank all 2025 applicants for their submissions to the inaugural Innovative Industrial Relations Research Grant Scheme, which offers up to $10,000 (incl. GST) to support early career researchers. The Research and Publications Sub-Committee was impressed by the quality and standard of proposals received.

The grant aims to foster innovative research and promote public awareness of employment and industrial relations issues and their impact on society. Recipients will present their research findings to an ALERA audience within six months of the grant’s completion.