Paula Geldens

BSocSci (Hons) (JCU); PhD (Melbourne)

Paula Geldens is an Associate to the ISR and member of the Citizenship and Government program. Paula completed her PhD at the University of Melbourne in 2005. Her thesis was entitled ‘I just can't see myself doing it’. Occupational aspirations and Identities: Young people from family farms, Victoria. Whilst undertaking this research, Paula also worked with the Bureau of Rural Sciences (Federal Department of Agriculture Fisheries Forestry Australia) on a study which investigated the decision-making processes of landholders in the face of drought and increasing debt (Leaving the Land: A study of Western Division grazing families in transition) and an ARC funded project at the University of Melbourne exploring welfare and wellbeing amongst the young rural population of Shepparton, Victoria (Young people and well-being in Shepparton). Following completion of her PhD, Paula worked on another ARC funded project Rethinking youth citizenship: Identity and connection at Monash University. Paula is currently completing a study, supported by Swinburne University of Technology with newspaper printers (“I’m a printer”…but what does that mean? The social impacts of technological changes within the newspaper industry). This study explores the various impacts of the introduction of workplace technologies on members of this workforce.

In her current position as Lecturer in Sociology at Swinburne University of Technology Paula convenes the following units: Sociology 1A, Social Theory, Cultural Study Tour (co-convenor), Research Project and Internship in Social Research. Her research interests lay at the intersections of the following areas: youth, identity, health and well being and place (with a particular interest in rurality).

Office: BA1026
Telephone: +61 3 9214 4677
Email: pgeldens@swin.edu.au

Publications in the Swinburne Research Bank