Welcome to the social sciences! It’s a huge family of subjects that investigates society and culture, set to shape Australia’s future
Census Day in Australia is one of the biggest social science parties we throw as a nation. Once the data is collected, social scientists turn the answers into a detailed snapshot of Australia, revealing how our population and communities are changing. That’s why the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia have chosen it as the day to launch their brand new report: Social Sciences for Australia’s Future.
Let’s take a closer look at the social sciences, and the report!
So, what counts as a social science?
If you have ever wondered why a TikTok trend takes off, what makes a city liveable or why some communities are hit harder by climate change, congrats! You are already thinking like a social scientist.
Social science uses evidence – including surveys, interviews, experiments, statistics, maps and big datasets – to find patterns in human life, and answer questions.
The social sciences include fields such as:
- Society, Politics and Culture: sociology, anthropology, geography, Indigenous studies, linguistics and more
- Business and Economics: commerce, management, tourism and accounting
- History, Philosophy and Law
- Education, Psychology and Public Health
A psychologist might test how social media affects well-being. An economist could model the cost of a new policy. A geographer might map which neighbourhoods are most vulnerable to heatwaves. All human-centred, different toolkits.
And yes, there’s plenty of STEM in the mix. Social scientists code, build models, analyse data, run experiments and use technologies such as geographic information systems and AI. The numbers tell you what is happening, social science helps explain why – and what we should do next.
Subject selection
Want to get a taste of the social sciences? Try these subjects at school:
- Economics
- Geography
- History
- Legal studies
- Psychology
- Sociology
Social science is everywhere
The new Social Sciences for Australia’s Future report from the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia calls the field “hidden in plain sight”.
Its numbers back that up: nearly one-third of Australia’s workforce has a social science qualification. Social sciences also account for 51% of university enrolments and 43% of vocational education and training enrolments.
Translation? Science grads work across government, business, health, education, tech, community services and research. The report says they have strong employment outcomes and the flexibility to move across occupations and industries – useful when the future of work keeps dropping surprises.
The report also highlights First Nations leadership and Indigenous Knowledges as essential to stronger research and education. Understanding Australia’s future means valuing the world’s oldest continuing cultures and making sure First Nations people lead work concerning their communities, cultures and Country.
So, if you want a career that mixes curiosity, evidence and real-world impact, social science deserves a spot on your shortlist!
Read the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia’s Social Sciences for Australia’s Future report.
