Dr Harry Savelsberg

I am director of the BSS (Human Services) programs (MBSS & MBSP) and the BSS (Honours) program. My research interests centre on youth issues especially in regards to social exclusion and youth policy. I am active in community affairs and in the cause of empowering young people.

• My teaching includes, social policy, political economy and Australian politics. I work closely with BSS and BSW honour's students and jointly coordinate the honour's workshops.

Diploma of Teaching (Secondary)

Bachelor of Education (Individual Program)

Master of Education (studies)

Doctor of Philosophy

• My main research interest centres on the sociological and policy investigations of youth inequality. Specifically understanding the complexities of young people's social transitions in social contexts characterised by risk.
• I have led a number of funded research projects and consultancies, in collaboration with industry partners, investigating youth issues, volunteering and cultural diversity.

Publications (refereed)

De Roeper, J & Savelsberg, H (2009) ‘Challenging the youth policy imperative: engaging young people through the arts’, Journal of Youth Studies, Vol.12, no. 2 April, 209 – 225.

Savelsberg, H & Martin-Giles, M (2008) ‘Young people on the margins: Australian studies of social exclusion’, Journal of Youth Studies, vol.11, no.1, February, 17 – 31.

Kerr, L., Savelsberg, H. Sparrow, S. & Tedmanson, D., (2002) “Celebrating diversity: Experiences and perceptions of volunteering in Indigenous and non English speaking background communities”, Australian Journal on Volunteering, Vol. 6, No. 2.

Kerr, L. & Savelsberg, H. (2001) “The community Sector in the Era of the Market Model: Facilitators of Social Change or Servants of the State”, Just Policy, Number 23 September.

Kerr, L. & Savelsberg, H. (1999a) “Unemployment and civic responsibility in Australia: Towards a new social contract” Critical Social Policy, vol. 19 (2), issue 59.

Kerr, L. & Savelsberg, H. (1999b) “The Voluntary Work Initiative (VWI): critical reflections on implementation, participant perceptions and the impact on the voluntary sector”, in Lee, J., Probert, B., and Watts, R., Work and the New Economy: Policies, Programs and Populations, Centre for Applied Social Research, RMIT. Melbourne.

Kerr, L. & Savelsberg, H. (1998) “Volunteering for the dole: Towards a new social contract?” in Carson, E., Jamrozik, A., & Winefield, T., Unemployment: Economic Promise and Political Will, Australian Academic Press, Brisbane.

Kerr, L. & Savelsberg, H. (1997) “Community development and volunteers: putting theory into practice”, Australian Journal on Volunteering, Vol. 2, No. 2.

Kerr, L. & Savelsberg, H. (1997) “Social intervention and the role of volunteers: Staking a claim for community development”, Australian Journal on Volunteering, Vol. 2, No. 1

I am able to provide media comment in the following areas of expertise:

Discipline: Sociology

• Social Policy
• Sociology
• Youth Policy
• Youth Social Inequlity
• Volunteering