Welcome to CHASS
ABN: 75 017 337 844.
Incorporated in the ACT – Number A04144.
Registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.
The Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) exists to raise awareness of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) and their critical role in building the societies of the future. Throughout our history, we have sought to shape reform and positive change both drawing upon and gaining recognition for the strengths of the sector.
About Us/Our Mission
Established in 2004, CHASS promotes and provides advocacy services for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS) in Australia. Supporting more than 75 member organisations in their relationships with policy makers and the broader community, CHASS is an important network for knowledge and skills, and serves as a coordinating forum for teachers, researchers, professionals, practitioners and policy makers in the sector. It provides a strong voice to the sector and helps members to contribute to public debate through programs for knowledge exchange and media awareness.
Our members engage in research and professional practice in disciplines ranging from education, history, languages and philosophy, to demography, journalism, geography and sociology. Leading universities, discipline associations, peak bodies and collecting institutions are represented in our membership body. The performing and visual arts areas are well represented through art form groups and research and training institutions, as are media arts and design and publishing.
Members are specialists in the knowledge and skills of their disciplines and professions and are major advocates and networks for their fields. Our membership reflects an emerging focus on trans-disciplinary research and collaboration, with members engaged in new projects tackling the major challenges before Australia in partnership with traditional science areas and industry groups.
The Australasian Consortium of Humanities Research Centres (ACHRC) is a network for groups engaged in Humanities-based research. It aims to connect Humanities researchers and centres, both within the Australasian region and internationally, and to promote relationships with cultural institutions and sector representative bodies in the wider community. It provides a virtual and physical hub for information about research opportunities and events and seeks to strengthen the public profile of research in the Humanities.
The Australasian Association for Digital Humanities Inc (aaDH) was formed in March 2011 to strengthen the digital humanities research community in Australia and New Zealand and is a member of the international Alliance of Digital Humanities Organisations (ADHO). The professional association acts to support and extend links between digital humanities researchers, improve professional development opportunities and provide international leverage for local projects and initiatives. aaDH organises the Digital Humanities Australasia conference every two years and provides a range of other opportunities for fostering understanding of digital technologies in the humanities.
Drawing on the research and expertise of member organisations, CHASS makes policy submissions and recommendations to key inquiries and policy reviews where coordinating policy advice and data creates a stronger evidence base.
CHASS has published papers on policy issues, including the demographic outlook for the academic workforce in Australia; arts and innovation; and collaboration with science and technology.
Through its workshops and events, including the annual National Forum and the previously held HASS on the Hill meetings in Canberra, and its newsletters and publications, CHASS works to boost the profile of its members’ research, exhibitions, events and collections. It aims to support researchers, practitioners in HASS disciplines and organisations to contribute to public debate.
In partnership with key member organisations, we are actively involved in discussions and consultations on changes to research policy affecting the HASS sector and are active in facilitating linkages between smaller practitioner organisations and research in universities and collecting institutions.
CHASS is a non-profit association and is overseen by a ten-member Board elected from nominations by member organisations at the Annual General Meeting. Our Board has a mix of academic and industry members who represent a broad spectrum from across the HASS disciplines.