Hugh Mackay AO has been admitted to the degree of Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) for outstanding contributions to scholarship, public life, and Australian society.
The award was conferred during a ceremony in the Great Hall on Thursday, 15 October, and was overseen by presiding officer Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott.
"Hugh is widely recognised as Australia’s pre-eminent social researcher and a pioneer of the nation’s social research industry," Professor Scott said.
"Across a career spanning more than six decades, he has shaped national understanding of Australian values, identity and social change, combining rigorous qualitative research with a rare gift for communication and public engagement."
Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Professor Lisa Adkins also attended the ceremony and read the citation.
"Through his scholarship, leadership and public voice, Hugh has profoundly influenced how Australians understand themselves and their society," Professor Adkins said.
"His work continues to challenge, inform and inspire, fostering empathy, inclusion and thoughtful public dialogue."
The award was conferred at a ceremony on Thursday. Photo: University of Sydney / Franky Tsang
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LinkBorn in 1938, Mackay’s early life profoundly informed his later work as a social researcher and writer.
Reflecting on those formative years in his Australia Day address in 2019, he described a society marked by rigid binaries and limited tolerance for difference.
These observations have underpinned a lifelong commitment to exploring the complexities of human behaviour, community, belonging and ethical responsibility.
Mackay is a graduate of the University of Sydney, completing a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 1962. He later complemented this with a Master of Arts in Philosophy from Macquarie University.
He is a founding member of the Australian Psychological Society and co-founder of The Ethics Centre. These institutions have played critical roles in advancing professional and ethical discourse in Australia.
In 1979, he established the Mackay Report, an enduring and influential program of qualitative social research that has produced over 120 quarterly reports, offering profound insight into the attitudes, anxieties and aspirations of Australians.
This work has provided an evidentiary foundation for public debate, policymaking and institutional reflection for more than four decades.
Hugh is widely recognised as Australia’s pre-eminent social researcher and a pioneer of the nation’s social research industry.
- Vice Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott
Mackay’s contributions as an author are equally significant.
His first major work of social analysis was titled ‘Reinventing Australia’ and published in 1993. The book became a number one bestseller and was followed by a series of acclaimed works including ‘What Makes Us Tick’, ‘The Good Life’ and ‘The Art of Belonging’.
His 24th book, ‘The Way We Are’, was published in 2024 and continued his exploration of Australian society with clarity and compassion.
Mackay’s leadership and service extend beyond scholarship. He has held numerous influential roles, including deputy chairman of the Australia Council for the Arts, chairman of the trustees of Sydney Grammar School, and inaugural chairman of the ACT government’s Community Inclusion Board.
He currently serves as an Honorary Professor at the Australian National University and was a patron of the Asylum Seekers Centre in Newtown for 10 years.
His contributions have been recognised through election as a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society and the Royal Society of New South Wales, as well as the award of honorary doctorates from five Australian universities.
In 2015, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the community through social research and psychology, as an author and commentator, and for contributions to arts and education.
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