Future of Work Institute Newsletter
July 2026
As we reach the midpoint of 2026, AI is changing jobs and the skills they require faster than many organisations can adapt. Combined with ongoing economic uncertainty, leaders are facing growing pressure to support their people through change while preparing for the future.
The ability of organisations to respond effectively to this challenge will depend, in large part, on how work is designed. When work provides clarity, autonomy, opportunities for learning and strong social connections, people are better equipped to embrace new technologies while maintaining their wellbeing and performance.
For professionals and leaders looking to put these principles into practice, I warmly invite you to explore Curtin Credential: SMART Work Design, commencing on 7 September. Developed on the SMART Work Design framework founded by John Curtin Distinguished Professor Sharon Parker, this eight-week online course equips you to redesign your own and others' work to promote happier, healthier employees and more successful businesses.
Thank you for your continued engagement and interest in our research. I invite you to read on to discover the latest work from across the Institute, including exciting opportunities to join the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Quality Work in a Digital Age (QWIDA) as it continues to take shape.
Warmest regards,
John Curtin Distinguished Professor Marylène Gagné
Director, Future of Work Institute
Curtin University
Upcoming professional development
Curtin Credential: SMART Work Design
7 September 2026 - 1 November 2026
Developed based on the SMART Work Design framework founded by John Curtin Distinguished Professor Sharon Parker, this 8-week online course equips you to redesign your own and others’ work to promote happier, healthier employees and more successful businesses.
Or paste this link into a web browser: https://creds.curtin.edu.au/browse/fowi/courses/smart-work-design-2026-3
Highlights
Credit: OECD
Professor Sharon Parker has become the first Australian researcher to deliver a keynote address at the OECD Skills Summit since the event was established in 2016.
Held in Istanbul, Türkiye, the OECD Skills Summit 2026 brought together ministers and senior officials from more than 44 countries and 12 international organisations to explore the future of skills and labour markets in a rapidly changing world.
The Centre for Transformative Work Design and the Future of Work Institute were proud to showcase our research to improve mental awareness, respect and safety at the Mining Industry Summit 2026: Building Respect.
Hosted by the Government of Western Australia’s Mental Awareness, Respect and Safety (MARS) Program, our research team joined fellow researchers, industry leaders and practitioners to reflect on the progress made and the actions needed to create lasting change across the WA mining industry.
Credit: Adelaide University
Professor Sharon Parker delivered a plenary presentation at the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Research Futures Symposium, hosted by Adelaide University in collaboration with Safe Work Australia.
In her presentation, Professor Parker highlighted how existing research can better equip Australia to address emerging work health and safety challenges posed by AI and other new technologies.
Professor Patrick Dunlop joined leading experts at the ACS (Australian Computer Society) WA Tech Summit for a panel discussion exploring the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence, ethics and the future of work.
The session also brought together Professor Anthony J. Langlois (Stan Perron Dean of Applied Ethics, Curtin University) and Jenish Pandya (AI Titans) to explore the opportunities and challenges of AI adoption, with a particular focus on ethics, future skills and responsible innovation.
Publications
Griffin, M. A. (2026). Competencies and skills for navigating uncertain and interdependent systems of the future. In S. Tillement, C. Kamaté, H. Laroche, & C. Bieder (Eds.), The Shaken Foundations of Safety. SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology. Springer, Cham (pp. 91–100). https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-032-22924-3_10
🔒 Zhang, F., Ge, X., Song, S., & Parker, S. K. (2026). Beyond the job: Exploring the career implications of job crafting. In The Elgar Companion to Work Design. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035322633.00013
Mertens, A., Kho, M., De Toni, F., & Parker, S. K. (2026). Why technology implementation fails: From adoption to dynamic technology integration. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2026.2684522
Zhang, F., Iles, L., Andrei, D., Zoszak, L., & Parker, S. K. (2026). One threat, two paths: A social identity model of age discrimination's asymmetric impact on older workers' knowledge seeking and sharing. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 99(2), e70114. https://doi.org/10.1111/joop.70114
🔒 Steel, P., Fariborzi, H., & Dunlop, P. D. (2026). Bridging a gap in meta-analytical practices: A superior approach for converting standardized beta weights to correlations. Journal of Applied Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0001379
Gradito Dubord, M. A., Gagné, M., Dubreuil, P., & Forest, J. (2026). Finding your Totem: Unveiling the effects of a positive technology intervention on employees’ well-being and perceived team effectiveness with self-determination theory. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359432X.2025.2566811
Kho, M. C., Chong, J. X., Andrei, D. M., & Parker, S. (2026). More than an intervention: The far-reaching impacts of a participatory work redesign project in aged care. Personnel Review, 55(3), 830–842. https://doi.org/10.1108/PR-03-2025-0242
Carnevale, J. B., Frese, M., Jack, S. L., Parker, S. K., & Wiklund, J. (2026). A better tomorrow? Work and well-being in the entrepreneurial society. Journal of Business Research, 207, 115986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2026.115986
Or paste this link into a web browser: https://www.futureofworkinstitute.com.au/publications
In the media
📰 Worried about your job? You’re not alone. But there are proven ways to ease job insecurity
Professor Sharon Parker
📰 Fresh data revealed at ‘Building Respect’ Mining Industry Summit sparked by shocking sexual harassment cases
Professor Sharon Parker
🎧 AI will change your job. Here’s the SMART way to redesign it.
Professor Sharon Parker
Conference participations
27–28 April 2026: OECD Skills Summit 2026. Professor Sharon Parker (Turkey).
7–8 May 2026: The Annual Finnish Social Psychology Conference 2026. Professor Marylène Gagné (Finland).
15–17 June 2026: 17th European Academy of Occupational Health Psychology (EAOHP) Conference. Dr Belinda Cham, Dr Karina Jorritsma and Dr Lucinda Iles (Finland).
16–17 June 2026: Decentralization in Organizations (DiO) 2026 Conference. Professor Marylène Gagné (France).
30 June–3 July 2026: 9th International Conference on Self-Determination Theory (SDT 2026). Professor Marylène Gagné and Dr E. İlker Camgöz (Switzerland).
29–30 June 2026: Work Health and Safety Research Futures Symposium. Professor Sharon Parker (Australia).
12–16 July 2026: International Conference on Prospective Memory (ICPM) 2026. Dr Luke Strickland (Germany).
17–18 July 2026: European Network of Selection Researchers (ENESER) Meeting. Professor Patrick Dunlop and Rachel Xia (Italy).
17–21 July 2026: 59th Annual Meeting of the Society for Mathematical Psychology. Dr Luke Strickland (Canada).
Staff achievements
Academy of Management Human Resources (HR) Division 2026 Career Achievement Awards
Congratulations to Professor Sharon Parker for being awarded the Dave Ulrich Impact Award as part of the Academy of Management's Human Resources (HR) Division 2026 Career Achievement Awards.
The Dave Ulrich Impact Award recognises excellence in the application of theory and research in practice and/or public policy in honour of the extraordinary career of David Ulrich and his contribution to HR practices across the globe.
2025 Curtin University Faculty of Business and Law Research and Industry Awards
Congratulations to Professor Patrick Dunlop on being named Researcher of the Year at the 2025 Curtin University Faculty of Business and Law Research and Industry Awards.
This recognition reflects Professor Dunlop’s commitment to excellence in research leadership and supervision, alongside a remarkable year of achievements that included publishing 11 papers in leading A*/A journals, being inducted as a Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) and serving as President of the Australasian Congress on Personality and Individual Differences
PhD completion
Congratulations to E. İlker Camgöz, who has successfully completed his PhD, receiving outstanding feedback from examiners.
Dr Camgöz's thesis was supervised by Professor Sharon Parker (Centre for Transformative Work Design), Associate Professor Florian Klonek (Deakin University), and Dr Anu Jolly (The University of Western Australia).
We look forward to seeing the continued impact of Dr Camgöz's research and contributions in his new role as Research Fellow.
Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP) Foundation Award
Congratulations to our PhD student Rachel Xia for being awarded the Zedeck-Jacobs Opportunity Equity in Organizations Grant by the SIOP Foundation and Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP).
The grant will assist in conducting research examining the effective use of generative AI among job candidates from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
Upcoming events
The evolution of work design: Past lessons, present insights and future directions
Tuesday 18 August
Or paste this link into a web browser: https://events.humanitix.com/the-evolution-of-work-design-past-lessons-present-insights-and-future-directions
How top-down work redesign shapes wellbeing and performance: Research insights and practitioner perspectives
Thursday 17 September
Or paste this link into a web browser: https://events.humanitix.com/how-top-down-work-redesign-shapes-wellbeing-and-performance-research-insights-and-practitioner-perspectives
💼 Industry Partnerships & Engagement Manager
The Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Quality Work in a Digital Age (QWIDA) is seeking an Industry Partnerships and Engagement Manager to build, manage and grow the Centre's network of industry, government and other partner organisations.
- Based at Curtin University's Perth CBD campus
- Fixed Term G08 level role ($119,125 - $126,950 + 17% superannuation)
Or paste this link into a web browser: https://au.seek.com/job/93264457?type=standard&ref=search-standalone&origin=jobCard#sol=0bcba976e17293316269d5c25bbbd79b9829cd24
💼 Centre Administrator - Administrative Officer
The Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Quality Work in a Digital Age (QWIDA) is seeking a Centre Administrator to establish effective systems, processes and ways of working that support the Centre's successful establishment and ongoing operations
- Based at Curtin University's Perth CBD campus
- Fixed Term G05 level role ($83,283 - $91,103 + 17% superannuation)
Or paste this link into a web browser: https://au.seek.com/job/93264456?type=standard&ref=search-standalone&origin=jobCard#sol=79621134866134ef9ff064f0bada4a3eb84a6e95
About the Centre for Transformative Work Design
The Centre for Transformative Work Design (CTWD) is a Research Centre where passionate organisational psychology researchers and professionals are working together to transform work under the directorship of Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow, Professor Sharon K. Parker.
We conduct high quality, independent and innovative research to understand the role of work design in generating healthy and productive work.
We are committed to fostering the design of good work across all industries.
Or paste this link into a web browser: https://www.transformativeworkdesign.com/
About the Future of Work Institute
The Future of Work Institute promotes productive and meaningful work as an essential foundation of a healthy economy and society. We seek to understand the impact of the digital age in the workplace, particularly the effects of artificial intelligence, changing demographics, and changing patterns of aspiration and mobility.
We are conducting research at the nexus of policy and practice and through working with business, government, not-for-profit and volunteer organisations, we create new ways of organising work and optimising human capability in the workplace.
Or paste this link into a web browser: https://www.futureofworkinstitute.com.au/
Centre for Transformative Work Design Future of Work Institute
Curtin University
78 Murray Street, Perth WA 6000
