Paul Smyth (academic)

Paul Smyth (born 1947^[1]) is a professor of social policy in the School of Social and Political Sciences, Faculty of Arts at the University of Melbourne.

Education and early career

Smyth initially trained as a Roman Catholic priest.^[2] Smyth then completed a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Murdoch University in Perth, and a Doctor of Philosophy at the University of New South Wales.^[3] Smyth was a senior researcher at Uniya, a Jesuit social research and action centre in Sydney established by Frank Brennan.^[2] Paul was then Director of Social Policy and Research and Development at the School of Social Work and Social Policy at the University of Queensland.^[4]

University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne appointed Smyth a Professorial Fellow of Social Policy in July 2003, with responsibility for overseeing the Master of Social Policy programme.^[4] In a joint-appointment with the Brotherhood of St Laurence, from 2004 until 2013, Smyth was also the General Manager of the Research and Policy Centre at the Brotherhood in Melbourne.^[2][5] During this time, Smyth gave the 2007 Foenander Lecture^[6] and the 2013 Sambell Oration.^[7]

Smyth remains the Course Co-ordinator for the Master of Social Policy at the University.^[8]

Other appointments

In May 2008, Smyth was appointed to the Department of Social Services's Australian Institute of Family Studies Advisory Council^[9] and was reappointed in 2009.^[10][11] Smyth also sat on the advisory board of the University of South Australia Centre for Work + Life^[12] and is a member of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council (part of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference).^[13] Smyth is a member of the Grattan Institute's Productivity Growth Program Reference Group^[14] and is an External Thought Leader to The Wyatt Trust.^[15] Smyth sat on the Editorial Board of the British Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies.^[16] Smyth previously sat on the Volunteer Research Agenda Advisory Group at Volunteering Australia.^[17]

Jenny Macklin, the Australian Shadow Minister for Disability Reform, appointed Smyth in 2014 to advise on social policy reform in the Australian Labor Party.^[18][19]

Publications

Smyth's commentary is featured in publications including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's The Drum,^[20] The Conversation,^[21] Crikey,^[22] and Eureka Street^[23] among others.^[24][25]

Selected books

• 2014, Social Policy in Australia, 3rd edition, Smyth, P. & McClelland, A. (eds), Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780195552812
• 2013, Inclusive Growth in Australia, Smyth, P & Buchanan, J., Allen & Unwin, ISBN 9781743311301
• 2005, Community and local governance in Australia, Smyth, P. & Reddel, T., Jones, A. (eds), UNSW Press, ISBN 978-0-86840-775-3
• 2004, Social policy and the Commonwealth: prospects for social inclusion, Smyth, P. & Jones Finer, C (eds), Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 978-1-4039-2166-6
• 1998, Contesting the Australian way : states, markets and civil society, Smyth, P. & Cass, B. (eds), Cambridge University Press, ISBN 978-0-521-63306-2
• 1994, Australian Social Policy the Keynesian Chapter, Smyth, P, [UNSW Press], ISBN 0-86840-262-1

References

External links

• University of Melbourne Biography