Depending on the proposed program, the PIR could be undertaken over two-three months full time or over a six or twelve-month period on a part-time basis. The HHURRI are looking for topics/interests that are well formed, where the practitioner has a specific interest or aptitude, and where the project offers clear benefit to the practitioner and the nominated academic collaborator or unit. Proposed projects need to offer relevance to urban policy and practice, while also drawing on academic literature and scholarship.

Practitioners in Residence could apply to undertake a project within the HHURRI’s research incubator; or nominate another academic group or unit within the University of Sydney. Prospective applicants MUST discuss their proposal with the relevant academic collaborators and obtain their support prior to making their application.

Proposals for projects addressing the themes of climate change, Indigenous land, or socially just cities and regions are particularly encouraged.

Up to two Practitioners will be selected per calendar year.

Practitioners might be working in government, industry, or the non-profit sector. They may be experienced urban planners or designers or have other professional expertise relevant to the research objectives and focus of the HHURRI – for instance, in relation to infrastructure, housing, the environment, heritage, land management or urban economics.

As part of the PIR program, practitioners may be expected to arrange a secondment from their substantive position in order to take up residency.

In addition to being situated within the nominated research Incubator or academic unit, the practitioner will be supervised by the PIR Co-ordinator. 

At the commencement of their residency, training in the use of the University’s online library collection and electronic databases will be provided.

The final paper will be suitable for a broad policy and practice audience. It will:

• Highlight from the practitioner’s perspective why the issue/topic is important;
• Review the scholarly research literature and evidence and present a concise synthesis of key implications;
  
• Opportunities for leverage with the university / HHURRI’s research and the research agenda of other programs at the University.
  
• Apply this evidence to the topic under investigation; 
  
• Present an analysis of key data collected from available data sets/ documentary or other material;    
  
• Identify impacts and implications for policy, practice, and further research. 

Note that the timeframe does not anticipate projects requiring approval from the University’s Research Ethics Committee.  

Papers will be up to 30 pages in length (8-12,000 words), written using the HHURRI’s document template. 

The co-ordinator will review a draft of the paper. Their comments should be used to write the final version of the paper.  

Where the practitioner has no other full time income an honorarium of up to $15,000 for a six month program or up to $30,000 for up to a year will be available. This will be less than a wage and certainly will not reflect professional consulting rates.  

1. Experience and demonstrated expertise of the practitioner 
2. A well-formed research proposal that can be delivered within the specified time period (see over for the guidelines for preparing a proposal) 
3. A demonstrated connection to scholarship 
4. The relevance of the topic for wider urban policy and practice consistent with the mission of the HHURRI.

The HHURRI Advisory Board will determine awards under this scheme. The Board will make up to two awards under this scheme per year.  

• 30 July 2025
• 30 November 2025

The HHURRI reserves the right not to offer an award if it considers that applications are not of sufficient merit.

Questions should be submitted via email to:  

Professor Nicole Gurran, Director, Henry Halloran Urban and Regional Research Initiative
Email: nicole.gurran@sydney.edu.au

Applications should be submitted via email to:  

Jacqueline Tyrrell, PhD Candidate 
Project Support Officer, Henry Halloran Urban and Regional Research Initiative
Email: jacqueline.tyrrell@sydney.edu.au