Brotherhood of St Laurence

Library Blog - November 2026

Selected readings

A curated selection of recent articles and papers relevant to our work.

Information, knowledge and critical thinking

  • How to Read a Book: A librarian's guide to a richer non-fiction experience: Hana Lee Goldin, Card Catalog
    Goldin describes a practical process for reading nonfiction more critically and deeply, from examining a book’s structure, authorship and context before beginning, to engaging with its arguments and sources while reading, and using its notes, index and bibliography to guide further learning afterwards.
  • Studying open government data: Acknowledging practices and politics: Gijs van Maanen, Data & Policy
    Van Maanen argues that open government data should be studied through how it works in practice and shapes politics and democracy, rather than assuming that making data open automatically improves transparency, participation or democratic outcomes.
  • A new study finds that to counter misinformation online, we need to copy its style: Jooyoung Lee, Emily Booth, Marian-Andrei Rizoiu, The Conversation
    Lee, Booth and Rizoiu describe research showing that reliable information may be more effective at attracting attention online when it uses language that reflects the concerns and communication styles of the communities it is trying to reach, offering a potential approach to countering misinformation.
Work, inclusion and participation
  • Activating relational welfare: insights from Supported Employment: Adam Whitworth, Elaine Astley, Anne Marie Cullen et al., Journal of Social Policy
    Whitworth et al. explore how relational welfare works in Supported Employment services, finding that person-centred approaches built around trust, relationships, individual strengths and greater participant agency can provide more positive experiences than traditional employment support, while highlighting the different ways relational principles can be embedded in welfare services.
  • AI and the Future of Accessible Work: Anne Marie Piper, Darren Gergle, Cynthia L. Bennett et al., Communications of the ACM
    Piper et al. explore how AI could improve workplace accessibility for disabled people while also creating new barriers and risks, arguing that disabled people should be actively involved in evaluating and developing AI and that AI should complement, rather than replace, other forms of workplace support and accessibility.
  • Flexible work is everywhere – except where future leaders need it most: Laura Thomas, Curtin University
    New research highlights that women continue to leave management roles at higher rates than men and argues that employers can strengthen gender equality and retain leadership talent by designing flexible work into senior roles, supporting shared caring responsibilities and ensuring flexibility does not limit career progression.
Social policy, care and communities
  • We must prepare entire cities for extreme heat. Our new study reveals how: Nicky Morrison, Patrick Harris, Vanita Yadav, The Conversation
    Morrison, Harris and Yadav argue that protecting communities from extreme heat requires a coordinated, city-wide approach that brings together government, health and emergency services with communities, supported by clear responsibilities, long-term funding and changes to housing, infrastructure and urban planning.
  • We know how to end homelessness. We just won’t pay for it: Kavitha Vipulananda, Pursuit
    Vipulananda argues that Australia can learn from Japan’s high-volume housing construction and Finland’s Housing First approach to reduce homelessness, but doing so requires sustained investment in permanent housing, public land, prevention and income support rather than relying on temporary accommodation.
  • Governments have turned care into a commodity. It’s failing us all: Gabrielle Meagher, The Conversation
    Meagher argues that Australia’s increasing reliance on market-based, for-profit models for child care, aged care and disability support has contributed to problems with quality and access, and calls for governments to move towards a more collaborative social model that gives communities, people using services and frontline workers a stronger voice in how care is provided.

Journals

Academic journals present peer‑reviewed research by subject experts. Recent issues from selected publishers are listed below.

Listen and watch

A selection of podcasts, webinars and recorded talks relevant to our work.

  • George Megalogenis on who Australia is becoming and why it matters for our politics: Future Perfect, Triple R (podcast)
    Journalist, author and long-time Triple R subscriber George Megalogenis joins host Dylan Bird to discuss his new book Three Shocks: Who We Are Becoming In The 21st Century.
  • A Data Science Playbook for Social Justice: The tech Policy Press Podcast
    How can you tell if an algorithm is any good? For University of Michigan assistant professor of information and public policy Ben Green, the answer lies less in accuracy scores, fairness metrics or any other technical measure than in what the system actually does once it’s out in the world. 
  • Reforming Grants Administration in Australia: MLCIP, Pork Barrelling Risks, and Integrity Reform: The Centre for Public Integrity (video)
    In this webinar accompanying the Centre for Public Integrity’s research paper, Public Money, Political Advantage?, Executive Director Dr Catherine Williams hosts an expert panel on reforming Australia’s grants administration.
  • Shifting Mindsets Around Early Education and Care in Australia: SNAICC Yarns (video)
    In this episode of SNAICC Yarns, Executive Director of Communications, Mandy Taylor, yarns with Nat Kendall-Taylor, CEO of FrameWorks Institute, about how mindsets shape the way Australians understand early education and care, and why shifting these beliefs matters for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities. 

Learning Opportunities

Upcoming events, including talks, short courses and webinars.

Current Display

This month the book display highlights our collection of resources relating to Australian politics. Our items on display can be found in the Books on Display list. Additional resources can be found in the catalogue under a subject search for, Australia Politics And Government.

Acknowledgement of Country

The Brotherhood of St. Laurence acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land and waterways on which our organisation operates. We pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present.

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