New research by QUT Distinguished Professor Stuart Cunningham using Census data to pinpoint Australia’s most creative areas has been awarded $480,000 from the Australian Research Council.
The outcomes are expected to highlight the rapidly changing makeup of the Australian economy and reinforce Professor Cunningham’s prediction that jobs in the creative industries are more ‘robot-proof’ than those in many other sectors.
The Federal Minister for Education and Training, Senator Simon Birmingham, made the announcement on Wednesday when he revealed the recipients of the 2016 round of the Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Projects scheme.
“Despite the glitches that occurred with the Census last year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics is confident they have captured the vast majority of the population,” Professor Cunningham said.
“We will drill down into that data to reveal Australia’s creative and cultural hotspots, as well as explore the factors producing them at a local and regional level.
“This project represents a major innovation, bringing together population-level and comparative studies of local cultural and creative activity. By integrating these complementary research strategies we will be able to paint a compelling national picture.”
Professor Cunningham said his project includes close collaboration with the cultural agencies of each of the mainland states as well as QUT and University of Newcastle colleagues.
“Ideally we will deliver outcomes including better-targeted government cultural policy and program initiatives,” he said.
“By closely analysing the creative economy we are placing the creative sector in front of policy makers as a vital contributor to high growth, labour-intensive economic activity as the Australian economy transitions from its strong reliance of bulk commodities exports.
“Jobs in the creative industries are going to be among those that are more resilient in the face of automation.
“Recent employment growth in areas like design, social media management and digital content has been far greater than the general workforce’s increase.
“These are jobs that we have seen continued strong growth and I expect the latest Census data on creative activity in Australia will reinforce that.”
QUT is part of a national collaborative group of five major Australian universities that form the ATN (Australian Technology Network of Universities).
Media contact:
Amanda Weaver, QUT Media, 07 3138 9449, amanda.weaver@qut.edu.au
After hours: Rose Trapnell, 0407 585 901, media@qut.edu.au
