Efforts to address crime and justice issues have been bolstered by investing in high-quality research that will shape smarter public policy for the future. The Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) has today announced important new funding that will support Australian academics to undertake cutting-edge crime and justice research.
One of the winning projects, by Charles Sturt University, aims to understand money laundering tactics used by criminals in the illicit tobacco market. Money laundering funds and supports serious and organised crime across Australia, not just illicit tobacco.
According to the AIC’s recent report, The costs of serious and organised crime in Australia, 2023–24, illicit tobacco cost Australia an estimated $4 billion in 2023–24. Since 2023, serious and organised crime groups have escalated efforts to control the illicit market in Australia, resulting in more than 200 fire bombings, at least 3 homicides (including an innocent civilian) and multiple other non-fatal violent attacks.
AIC Director Heather Cook says she looks forward to seeing the work of these seven new projects come to fruition under the Criminology Research Fund [CRF, formerly known as Criminology Research Grants (CRG)].
“These projects address current trends in Australian crime and justice, such as family and domestic violence, illicit tobacco use, recidivism and potential improvements such as Aboriginal-led justice systems,” Ms. Cook said.
“The AIC is committed to working closely with CRF recipients to advance knowledge on these topics and, ultimately, deliver real-world impact.”
The CRF program aims to support research relevant to public policy issues, foster quality criminological research, and ensure that funded research is disseminated effectively. The program is selected by the Criminology Research Advisory Council, administered by the AIC, and is supported by the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments.
All selected projects remain subject to execution of a contract. More information is available on the CRG website.
AIC Media
02 6268 7343
media@acic.gov.au
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WINNING PROJECTS |
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| ADMINISTERING INSTITUTION | PURPOSE | INVESTIGATOR |
| Charles Sturt University | Criminal Adaptation Across Trade-Based Crimes: Understanding Organised Crime Method Transfer from Illicit Tobacco to Money Laundering | Dr Jamie Ferrill Dr Anton Moiseienko Prof Louis de Koker Prof Colin King Prof Saskia Hufnagel A/Prof Doron Goldbarsht Dr Milind Tiwari |
| University of NSW | Interactions of education and health outcomes with criminal justice contact of Aboriginal children and young people in Walgett NSW: a community-led analysis of linked data | Dr Rebecca Deborah Reeve A/Prof Ruth McCausland Ms Peta MacGillivray Ms Sandra Suey-Thorne Ms Loretta Weatherall Ms Wendy Spencer |
| University of Newcastle | Enhancing First Response Legal Services for People with Mental Health Conditions or Cognitive Disabilities in the Criminal Justice System | Dr Ray Nickson Dr Alice Neikirk Prof Linda Steele Prof John Anderson |
| Griffith University | Mental Health Needs Among Adolescents Engaged in Domestic and Family Violence: Evidence from a Longitudinal Population-based Study | A/Prof Stacy Tzoumakis Dr. Emma McKenzie Dr. Tyson Whitten Dr. Oliver Watkeys Prof Kimberlie Dean Prof Melissa Green |
| University of NSW | Feasibility and acceptability of an Indigenous mental health court diversion trial to inform development of a culturally appropriate model across New South Wales | Tony Butler Armita Adily Azar Kariminia David Greenberg Paul Simpson Maree Toombs Jocelyn Jones Erin Spike Dale Owens Thomas Gordon |
| University of NSW | Has reform delivered? A mixed-methods study of diversion outcomes and case processing under the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020. | Dr Christel Macdonald Dr Simon Clay Prof Donald Weatherburn Prof David Greenberg |
| Griffith University | Understanding the Co-occurrence of Physical Domestic Violence, Technology-Facilitated Coercive Control, and Intimate Monitoring: Developing Targeted Measures to Inform Policy and Prevention | Dr Jeffery Ackerman Prof Molly Dragiewicz |