Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

CHASS was established in 2004 to promote and provide advocacy for the humanities, arts and social sciences and to serve as a coordinating forum for academics, students, business, practitioners and the broader community.

The Council's goals are to:

1. Build community recognition and resources for the Humanities, the Arts and the Social Sciences so they contribute fully to a prosperous, innovative, creative and inclusive Australia
2. Support member organisations in building Australian knowledge, skills and talent in the humanities, arts and social sciences, particularly through research and development

CHASS

• Promotes the work of the sectors to government, industry and the public
• Advocates for policy reform and resources to allow Australia to further develop and use the knowledge and skills it has developed in the humanities, the arts and the social sciences.
• Provides a coordinating forum for discussion in the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences sectors in Australia
• Creates networks linking experts and researchers in the sector with industry, policy makers and media
• Builds the innovative capacity of Australia through better linkages between these sectors, and science, technology, engineering and medicine
• Supports members by building an effective and well-resourced organisation able to provide policy briefing, advocacy and communications advice, and leadership in promoting the sector.

About CHASS

CHASS has more than 100 members including universities, individual faculties, research centres, professional associations, arts training institutions and creative industry groups. They include the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, the Australian Academy of Humanities and the Council for the Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities.

It has a three-year funding agreement with the Department of Innovation Industry Science and Research under the Higher Education Support Act. It is for activities that "foster an understanding of the importance of, or promote research and scholarship …in social science or the humanities in Australia".

Since it began in 2004 it has boosted the profile of HASS issues in research and education areas and established a network of researchers and practitioners in the area.

Over four years of operations CHASS has made policy submissions and recommendations to key inquiries and policy reviews on issues affecting its members and resources for HASS. It has published papers on policy issues including the demographics of the academic work force, commercialisation of research, arts and innovation and the impact of HASS research. Its workshops and seminars bring members and others interested in HASS together on key areas of interest, and it has established HASS on the Hill as a regular event that brings hundreds of people to Canberra for meetings with members of the Australian Parliament.

It operates with respect for its membership and policy makers; aims to communicate in a clear and open way; and cultivates creative, rigorous thinking.

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