Population, migration focus

A new research centre focused on developing a sustainable population and workforce strategy for Australia and the Asia Pacific has been launched at the University of Adelaide.

The world-class centre, headed by one of the country's leading demographers, Professor Graeme Hugo, recently awarded an AO in the Queen's Birthday Honours, will also look at international patterns of migration and the challenges posed by an ageing society.

The Australian Population and Migration Research Centre will work collaboratively with a number of leading universities in the Asia Pacific region, as well as the United Kingdom and United States.

"Australia and the Asia Pacific are at a critical crossroads in this area, so the timing could not be better," Professor Hugo said.

"We aim to produce a balance of really high quality research as well as undertake contract work for large scale international organisations such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank."

Professor Hugo is well known on the international front for his research into demographic trends and sits on a number of Federal and State Government committees relating to population, ageing and immigration.

"South Australia has taken the lead nationally in population policy and the people involved in this new centre have had considerable input into that policy," Professor Hugo said.

Story by Candy Gibson