ʹڲƱ
Back to
Dr Hazel Blunden

Dr Hazel Blunden

Senior Lecturer

Ph.D, Macquarie University

BA (Hons.), La Trobe University

Arts, Design & Architecture (ADA)
Social Policy Research Centre

Hazel is a Senior Research Fellow at the Social Policy Research Centre where she is working on a variety of homelessness and housing-related research projects, as well as a range of program evaluations for governments relating to educational access and inequality and programs supporting young adults leaving out-of-home care.

Hazel has a particular expertise in housing policy issues. She is an AHURI author and has a published a range of book chapters and articles on housing and homelessness issues. She has extensive experience in working with vulnerable people of diverse backgrounds facing housing instability or homelessness and ensuring the active involvement of participants in research.

In addition to research work, Hazel strongly supports researchers having a pedagogical practice, and does sessional convening and tutoring in Social Sciences, Built Environment, and delivers the housing module on SPRC's Poverty and Inequality short course.

Prior to joining ʹڲƱ, Hazel was Senior Research Assistant at the Urban Research Centre at Western Sydney University where she worked on a variety of urban planning and housing-oriented research projects. Hazel was an advisor to a NSW Parliamentarian in the Housing, Fair Trading and other portfolio areas. Prior to this, Hazel was Policy Officer at housing peak body Shelter NSW, and earlier, a Tenant's Advocate at Redfern Legal Centre and Eastern Area Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service.

Hazel served for many years in a voluntary capacity on the Inner West Council Affordable Housing Reference Committee.

Qualifications:

Ph.D. (Human Geography), Macquarie University, 2002

Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Sociology, La Trobe University, 1994
Phone
0437092154
E-mail
h.blunden@unsw.edu.au
Location
Level 2, Goodsell Building
  • Book Chapters | 2016
    Blunden H; Drake G, 2016, 'Homelessness, the 'housing first' approach and the creation of 'home'', in Housing in 21st-Century Australia: People, Practices and Policies, pp. 205 - 220
    Book Chapters | 2015
    Blunden HM; Drake G, 2015, 'Homelessness, the ‘Housing First’ approach and the creation of home', in Dufty-Jones R; Rogers D (ed.), Housing in 21st-Century Australia People, Practices and Policies, Ashgate, London, pp. 205 - 220
    Book Chapters | 2012
    Blunden H, 2012, 'Housing and the Olympic Games', in Lenskyj H; Wagg S (ed.), The Palgrave Handbook of Olympic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, UK, pp. 520 - 532,
    Book Chapters | 2012
    Blunden H, 2012, 'The Olympic Games and Housing', in The Palgrave Handbook of Olympic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan UK, pp. 520 - 532,
    Book Chapters | 2004
    Blunden HM; Darcy M; Stubbs J; Perry J, 2004, 'Housing Costs and Work Location in Sydney', in Carlson E (ed.), A Future That Works, Centre for Full Employment and Equity, Newcastle University, Newcastle, Australia, pp. 84 - 92,
    Book Chapters |
    Blunden H, 'The Olympic Games and Housing', in The Palgrave Handbook of Olympic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan,
  • Journal articles | 2025
    Baker S; Blunden H; Hoenig J; Ring K; Xavier A, 2025, '“If we can grow them here it just makes sense”: Disrupting higher education narratives through Country University Centres in regional and rural Australia', International Journal of Educational Research, 131,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Blunden H; Flanagan K, 2022, 'Housing options for women leaving domestic violence: the limitations of rental subsidy models', Housing Studies, 37, pp. 1896 - 1915,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Bryant J; Horwitz R; Gray RM; Lafferty L; Jops P; Blunden H; Hudson S; Brener L, 2022, 'Improving access to drug and alcohol treatment in NSW Australia: The role of self-determination and peer support', Health and Social Care in the Community, 30, pp. e2050 - e2057,
    Journal articles | 2022
    Duff C; Hill N; Blunden H; Valentine K; Randall S, 2022, 'Connecting Housing, Health, and Social Supports for People Leaving Treatment: Housing Policy Lessons from Australia', CITYSCAPE, 24, pp. 307 - 322,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Blunden H; Giuntoli G; Newton BJ; Katz I, 2021, 'Victims/Survivors’ Perceptions of Helpful Institutional Responses to Incidents of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse', Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 30, pp. 56 - 79,
    Journal articles | 2021
    Duff C; Hill N; Blunden H; valentine K; Randall S; Scutella R; Johnson G, 2021, 'Leaving rehab: enhancing transitions into stable housing', AHURI Final Report,
    Journal articles | 2020
    Dew A; Lenette C; Smith L; Boydell K; Bibby H; Lappin J; Coello M; Raman S; Velkou K; Wells R; Momartin S; Blunden H; Higgins M; Murad M; Barry J; Mohammad Y; Bibby H, 2020, '“To the Arabic community disability is not normal”: Understandings of disability among Iraqi and Syrian people from refugee backgrounds.', Journal of Refugee Studies, 34, pp. 2849 - 2870,
    Journal articles | 2019
    Liu E; Blunden H, 2019, 'Cultural diversity and sensitivity in public estate renewals: evidence from an Australian longitudinal study', Housing Studies, 35, pp. 1004 - 1024,
    Journal articles | 2017
    Fernandez E; Lee JS; Foote W; Blunden H; McNamara P; Kovacs S; Cornefert P-A, 2017, '‘There's More to be Done; “Sorry” is Just a Word’: Legacies of Out-of-Home Care in the 20th Century', Children Australia, 42, pp. 176 - 176,
    Journal articles | 2016
    Blunden H, 2016, 'Discourses around negative gearing of investment properties in Australia', Housing Studies, 31, pp. 340 - 357,
    Journal articles | 2015
    Blunden HM; Drake G, 2015, 'The Role of Engagement, Ongoing Support and Housing Availability in Rehousing People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness', Third Sector Review, 21, pp. 101 - 120,
    Journal articles | 2010
    Saha B; Griffin L; Blunden H, 2010, 'Adsorptive separation of phosphate oxyanion from aqueous solution using an inorganic adsorbent', ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH, 32, pp. 341 - 347,
  • Reports | 2024
    Blunden H; Giuntoli G; Lee J; Safitri R; Katz I; Wilkinson C; Skattebol J, 2024, Educational Pathways Program Evaluation - Final Report, Social Policy Research Centre, ʹڲƱ, Sydney, /research/sprc/our-projects/evaluation-of-the-educational-pathways-program
    Reports | 2024
    Blunden H; Wong B; Bates S; Cheung S; Hsieh W; Katz I, 2024, Evaluation of the Universal Screening and Support Pilot: Final Report, ʹڲƱ, Sydney,
    Reports | 2024
    Smyth C; Cortis N; Blunden H; Bates S; Katz I, 2024, Specialist Workers for Children and Young People Outcomes Evaluation – Final Report, ,
    Reports | 2024
    valentine K; Liu E; Veeroja P; Harris P; Blunden H; Horton E, 2024, The role of housing providers in supporting clients with complex needs, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Ltd, Melbourne, 428, ,
    Reports | 2023
    Blunden H; Giuntoli G; Skattebol J; Katz I; Baker S; Lee J, 2023, Educational Pathways Program Evaluation - baseline report Executive Summary, Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, , /content/dam/pdfs/unsw-adobe-websites/arts-design-architecture/ada-faculty/sprc/2023-11-epp-evaluation-exec-summary/2023-11-EPP-Evaluation-Exec-Summary-FINAL.pdf
    Reports | 2023
    Blunden H; valentine K, 2023, A longitudinal study of the wellbeing of Amélie Housing Social and Affordable Housing Fund social housing tenants Final Report, Social Policy Research Centre, ʹڲƱ and the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, NSW, Sydney,
    Reports | 2022
    Katz I; Blunden H; Giuntoli G; Skattebol J; Gendera S, 2022, Evaluation of the National headspace Program - Final Report, KPMG, Canberra, ,
    Preprints | 2021
    Duff C; Hill N; Blunden H; valentine K; Randall S; Scutella R; Johnson G, 2021, Leaving rehab: enhancing transitions into stable housing,
    Reports | 2020
    Bryant J; Horwitz R; Gray R; Lafferty L; Jops P; Blunden H; Brener L, 2020, Barriers and enablers associated with access and equity in alcohol and other drug treatment in NSW, ʹڲƱ Centre for Social Research in Health, Sydney,
    Reports | 2020
    valentine K; Blunden H; Zufferey C; Spinney A; Zirakbash F, 2020, Supporting families effectively through the homelessness services system, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited, Melbourne, 330, ,
    Preprints | 2020
    valentine K; Cripps K; Flanagan K; Habibis D; Martin C; Blunden H, 2020, Inquiry into integrated housing support for vulnerable families,
    Reports | 2020
    valentine K; Cripps K; Flanagan K; Habibis D; Martin C; Blunden H, 2020, Inquiry into integrated housing support for vulnerable families, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Melbourne, 339, ,
    Reports | 2019
    Blunden H; Katz I, 2019, Establishing a Child Development Fund in Australia: A review of international models, Social Policy Research Centre, ʹڲƱ Sydney, Sydney, SPRC Report 09/19,
    Reports | 2019
    Blunden H; valentine K; Jops P, 2019, Evaluation of the Keeping Women Safe – Private Rental Initiative, Social Policy Research Centre, ʹڲƱ Sydney, Sydney,
    Reports | 2019
    Blunden H, 2019, Evaluation of Housing & Accommodation Support Initiative Plus (HASI Plus) – Literature Review, Social Policy Research Centre, ʹڲƱ Sydney, Sydney,
    Reports | 2019
    Flanagan K; Blunden H; Valentine K; Henriette J, 2019, Housing outcomes after domestic and family violence, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute Limited, AHURI journal, 311, ,
    Reports | 2019
    Purcal C; O'Shea P; Blunden H; Zmudzki F; Giuntoli G; Fisher KR, 2019, Evaluation of Housing & Accommodation Support Initiative Plus (HASI Plus) – Report 1, Social Policy Research Centre, ʹڲƱ Sydney, Sydney, SPRC Report 13/19,
    Reports | 2019
    Skattebol J; Blunden H, 2019, Evaluation of the Youth Advocate Program, Social Policy Research Centre, ʹڲƱ Sydney, Sydney,
    Conference Presentations | 2018
    Liu EY; Blunden H, 2018, 'Cultural diversity and sensitivity in public estate renewals: Evidence from a longitudinal study', presented at European Network for Housing Research Conference, Uppsala, 26 June 2018 - 29 June 2018
    Reports | 2018
    Walsh P; McHugh M; Blunden H; Katz I, 2018, Literature Review: Factors Influencing the Outcomes of Children and Young People in Out-of-Home Care, NSW Family and Community Services, Sydney, Report Number 6, ,
    Reports | 2018
    Zmudzki F; Muir S; Blunden H; Bates S; Katz I; valentine K; Harvey J, 2018, Evaluation Report: DVA Coordinated Client Support Program, Social Policy Research Centre, ʹڲƱ Sydney
    Reports | 2017
    Blunden H; Liu EY; valentine K, 2017, Evaluation of the Better Places Stronger Communities Project: Final Report, Social Policy Research Centre, ʹڲƱ Sydney, Sydney, SPRC Report 19/17, ,
    Reports | 2017
    Bullen JE; Liu E; Pawson H; valentine K; Blunden H, 2017, Evaluation of the Better Places Stronger Communities Project: Baseline report, Social Policy Research Centre, ʹڲƱ Sydney, Sydney, SPRC Report 04/17,
    Reports | 2016
    Fernandez E; Lee JS; Blunden HM; Mcnamara P; Kovacs S; Cornefert P-A, 2016, No Child Should Grow Up Like This: Identifying long term outcomes of Forgotten Australians, Child Migrants and the Stolen Generations, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, ,
    Reports | 2015
    Blunden HM; Feder K; Darcy M, 2015, Work Fast Greater Sydney Employment Integration Model Evaluation of Pilot Program, Urban Research Centre, Western Sydney University and Neami National, Sydney
    Reports | 2015
    Crabtree L; Phibbs P; Blunden HM; Moore N; Sappideen C, 2015, Community Land Trusts and Indigenous Communities: from Strategies to Outcomes, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Melbourne, 239,
    Reports | 2014
    Blunden HM; Darcy M, 2014, Determining the Financial Barriers moving from Welfare to Work, Urban Research Centre, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Sydney
    Reports | 2014
    Darcy M; Piracha A; Blunden HM; Hall N, 2014, Unintended Consequences: Homelessness Service Delivery in the Nepean/Blacktown Region, Western Sydney University Urban Research Centre, Sydney,
    Reports | 2014
    Drake G; Darcy M; Blunden HM; Steinwede J, 2014, Rough Sleepers in Parramatta: From Street to Home: Final Report, Urban Research Centre, Western Sydney University, Penrith, Sydney
    Reports | 2013
    Blunden HM; Drake G; Newton K; Darcy M, 2013, Boarding Houses Review, Parramatta
    Reports | 2012
    Crabtree L; Blunden H; Milligan V; Phibbs P; Sappideen ; Moore N, 2012, Community land trusts and indigenous housing options, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Melbourne,
    Reports | 2012
    Crabtree L; Phibbs P; Milligan V; Blunden H, 2012, Principles and practices of an affordable housing community land trust model, Research Paper, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Melbourne
    Reports | 2012
    Crabtree L; Phibbs P; Milligan V; Blunden HM; Moore N; Sappideen C, 2012, Community Land Trusts and Indigenous Housing Options, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute, Melbourne, 185,
    Reports | 2012
    Phibbs P; Milligan V; Blunden HM, 2012, Post Implementation Review of the ACT Land Rent Scheme,
    Reports | 2007
    Blunden HM, 2007, The Impact of the Sydney Olympic Games on Housing Rights, Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, Geneva, Switzerland,
    Reports | 2005
    Blunden HM, 2005, Public housing and nonhousing outcomes, Shelter NSW, Sydney, 25,
    Reports | 2004
    Bannister D; Blunden HM; Fromader C; Ogden S; Porteous P; Simon K, 2004, Report to the UN Special Rapporteur on Housing: Women and the Right to Adequate Housing in Australia, Sydney,
    Conference Papers | 2004
    Blunden HM; Darcy M; Perry J; Stubbs J, 2004, 'Housing Costs and Work Location in Sydney', in Carlson E (ed.), A Future That Works, centre for Full Employment and Equity, University of Newcastle, Newcastle University, presented at A Future That Works, Newcastle University, -
    Reports | 2003
    National Shelter ; ACOSS ; Blunden HM; Wilson I, 2003, Rent Assistance: Does it Deliver Affordability?, Australian Council of Social Services, Sydney, 348,

I carry out a variety of contractual research work for State, Territory and Commonwealth governments and NGOs, awarded via competitive tender.

Vice Chancellors Excellence In Engaged Research Award, Western Sydney University, 2014.

My research is conducted via the Social Policy Research Centre. Projects include:

  • Program evaluations and studies: the Foyer Centralevaluation (with AHURI), Drugs of Dependence Act review, Blended Payments trial (NDIS), Educational Pathways Program evaluation,Country Universities Centre program evaluation, Wellbeing of St Vincent de Paul Amelie Housing tenants - longitudinal study, Together Home evaluation (with AHURI), Universal Screening Service pilot program,Specialist Worker - Children and Youth program in NSW DFV services, Homes for Families program (with AHURI), the Home and Healthy program,the Justice Advocacy Service, the Youth Advocacy Program, the Keeping Women Safe initiatives, among others.
  • Various otherAHURI research projects.
  • These can be viewed on my profile where a full list of publications can be accessed.

Hazel is a long-time voluntary member of the Inner West Council Council Affordable Housing Strategic Reference Committee, which advises Inner West Council on housing-related matters.

My Research Supervision

I am currently supervising a Masters and PhD student. I supervised one other MA student who has completed.

My Teaching

Hazel Blunden has a continuous record of teaching across social sciences courses (including social research methods, urban studies and political economy) at University of Technology, Sydney (UTS), University of New South Wales (NSW), Western Sydney University (WSU) and also earlier on at Macquarie University and University of Sydney. Hazel has convened Masters level courses in FASS at ʹڲƱ as well as tutored on a range of undergraduate courses at UTS and ʹڲƱ. She has designed course content and managed and delivered face to face and online/blended learning course content.

Hazel manages blended learning content and course administration as well as doing face to face classes.

2020

Convenor, Social Research and Policy Project SOSS3002, ʹڲƱ

Head Tutor, Qualitative Social Research Project, SOSS2001, ʹڲƱ

2019

Tutor, Social Research and Society SRAP1001, ʹڲƱ

Guest lecturer, marking, Research Methods and Design SRAP5101, ʹڲƱ

Tutor, Contemporary Global Economy 99208, UTS

Course convenor, Research Methods and Design SRAP5101, ʹڲƱ

Lecturer/tutor,Social Research and Policy Project SRAP3002, ʹڲƱ

Marking,Research Methods and Design SRAP5103, ʹڲƱ

2018

Marking,Research Methods and Design SRAP5101, ʹڲƱ

Marking, Theory, Ethics and Research Impact SRAP5102, ʹڲƱ

Tutor, Investigating for Change 54053, UTS

Guest lecturer,Past, Present and Future of Innovation 81513, UTS

Tutor,Economy, Society and Globalism 54052, UTS

2017

Lecturer/tutor,Social Research and Policy Project SRAP3002, ʹڲƱ

Co-course convenor, Theory, Ethics and Research Impact SRAP5102, ʹڲƱ

Tutor, Economics, Society and Globalism 54052, UTS
Tutor, Self and Society 54050, UTS
Co-convenor, Theory, Ethics and Research Impact SRAP5102, ʹڲƱ

Co-convenor,Research Methods and Design SRAP5101, ʹڲƱ

2016

Tutor, Social Research and Society SRAP1001, ʹڲƱ

Co-convenor, Research Methods and Project Design SRAP5101, ʹڲƱ

Co-convenor, Research Methods and Project Design SRAP5101, ʹڲƱ

2015

Tutor, Social Research and Society SRAP1001, ʹڲƱ

Tutor, Cities: An Introduction to Urban Studies 101589.2, WSU

Tutor, Social Research Methods 400337.4, WSU

Convenor,Geographies of Social Difference 101556, WSU

2011-2014

Geographies of Social Difference, WSU
Social Research Methods, WSU
Economies and Cities and Regions, WSU
Applied Social Research, WSU