Keywords
Fields of Research (FoR)
Economic Geography, Urban and Regional Studies, Social and Cultural Geography, Human Geography not elsewhere classified, Applied Sociology, Program Evaluation and Social I, Urban Sociology and Community Studies, Social ChangeSEO tags
Biography
Hazel is a Senior Research Fellow at the Social Policy Research Centre where she is working on a variety of homelessness and housing-related research projects, as well as others concerned with regional access to vocational and higher education. Hazel Blunden is a social policy specialist with more than 15 years’ experience working on commissioned research projects for NGOs, local and state government, managing projects from inception to...view more
Hazel is a Senior Research Fellow at the Social Policy Research Centre where she is working on a variety of homelessness and housing-related research projects, as well as others concerned with regional access to vocational and higher education. Hazel Blunden is a social policy specialist with more than 15 years’ experience working on commissioned research projects for NGOs, local and state government, managing projects from inception to conclusion.
Hazel has a particular expertise in housing policy issues. She is an AHURI author and has a published a range of book chapters and articles on housing and homelessness issues. Hazel is adept at designing qualitative and quantitative tools, organising and undertaking fieldwork. She has extensive experience in working with vulnerable people of diverse backgrounds and ensuring the active involvement of participants in research.
In addition to research work, Hazel also lectures and tutors as a sessional across a range of social sciences and built environment courses at UNSW.
Prior to joining UNSW, Hazel was Senior Research Assistant at the Urban Research Centre at Western Sydney University where she worked on a variety of research projects for the NSW Government, local Governments, and NGOs. Earlier in her career, Hazel was an advisor to a NSW Parliamentarian in the Housing, Fair Trading and other portfolio areas. Prior to this, Hazel was Policy Officer at housing peak body Shelter NSW, and before that, a Tenant's Advocate at Redfern Legal Centre and Eastern Area Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service
Hazel served for many years in a voluntary capacity on the Inner West Council Affordable Housing Reference Committee.
Qualifications:
Ph.D. (Human Geography), Macquarie University, 2002
Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Sociology, La Trobe University, 1994
My Grants
I carry out a variety of contractual research work for governments and NGOs, awarded via competitive tender.
My Qualifications
Ph.D, Macquarie University
BA (Hons.), La Trobe University
My Awards
Vice Chancellors Excellence In Engaged Research Award, Western Sydney University, 2014.
My Research Activities
My research is conducted via the Social Policy Research Centre. Current projects include:
- Program evaluations and studies: the Foyer Central project (with AHURI), the Educational Pathways Program, the Country Universities Centre program, The wellbeing of St Vincent de Paul Amelie Housing tenants - longitudinal study, the Universal Screening Service pilot program, the Specialist Worker - Children and Youth program in NSW DFV services, the Homes for Families program (with AHURI), the Home and Healthy program (with AHURI), the Justice Advocacy Service, the Youth Advocacy Program, the Keeping Women Safe initiatives, among others.
- Various AHURI research projects.
- These can be viewed on my profile where a full list of publications can be accessed.
My Research Supervision
Areas of supervision
My areas of expertise are housing policy, and social policy in general.
Currently supervising
I am currently supervising a Masters and PhD student. I supervised one other MA student who has completed.
My Engagement
Hazel is a long-time voluntary member of the Inner West Council Council Affordable Housing Strategic Reference Committee, which advises Inner West Council on housing-related matters.
My Teaching
Hazel Blunden has a continuous record of teaching across social sciences courses (including social research methods, urban studies and political economy) at University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), University of New South Wales (NSW), Western Sydney University (WSU) and also earlier on at Macquarie University and University of Sydney. Hazel has convened Masters level courses in FASS at UNSW as well as tutored on a range of undergraduate courses at UTS and UNSW. She has designed course content and managed and delivered face to face and online/blended learning course content.
Hazel manages blended learning content and course administration as well as doing face to face classes.
2020
Convenor, Social Research and Policy Project SOSS3002, UNSW
Head Tutor, Qualitative Social Research Project, SOSS2001, UNSW
2019
Tutor, Social Research and Society SRAP1001, UNSW
Guest lecturer, marking, Research Methods and Design SRAP5101, UNSW
Tutor, Contemporary Global Economy 99208, UTS
Course convenor, Research Methods and Design SRAP5101, UNSW
Lecturer/tutor, Social Research and Policy Project SRAP3002, UNSW
Marking, Research Methods and Design SRAP5103, UNSW
2018
Marking, Research Methods and Design SRAP5101, UNSW
Marking, Theory, Ethics and Research Impact SRAP5102, UNSW
Tutor, Investigating for Change 54053, UTS
Guest lecturer, Past, Present and Future of Innovation 81513, UTS
Tutor, Economy, Society and Globalism 54052, UTS
2017
Lecturer/tutor, Social Research and Policy Project SRAP3002, UNSW
Co-course convenor, Theory, Ethics and Research Impact SRAP5102, UNSW
Tutor, Economics, Society and Globalism 54052, UTS
Tutor, Self and Society 54050, UTS
Co-convenor, Theory, Ethics and Research Impact SRAP5102, UNSW
Co-convenor, Research Methods and Design SRAP5101, UNSW
2016
Tutor, Social Research and Society SRAP1001, UNSW
Co-convenor, Research Methods and Project Design SRAP5101, UNSW
Co-convenor, Research Methods and Project Design SRAP5101, UNSW
2015
Tutor, Social Research and Society SRAP1001, UNSW
Tutor, Cities: An Introduction to Urban Studies 101589.2, WSU
Tutor, Social Research Methods 400337.4, WSU
Convenor, Geographies of Social Difference 101556, WSU
2011-2014
Geographies of Social Difference, WSU
Social Research Methods, WSU
Economies and Cities and Regions, WSU
Applied Social Research, WSU
Publications
ORCID as entered in ROS
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5462-4634