ACYS - behind the scenes

ACYS – BEHIND THE SCENES

Where we are, what else we do

ACYS is based at the University of Tasmania in Hobart.

The primary function of ACYS is to communicate multidisciplinary research- and practice-based information about youth to specialists and the wider community.

All research, writing, editing and design work is done in-house by a staff of six people. Because of our publishing skills, we also do editing and publishing work for the University, the state government, Tasmanian book publishers and other clients. In their off-time, ACYS staff members are also frequently involved in community or professional support activities that make use of their interests and experience.

Who we are

ACYS Director: Professor Rob White, Chair of Sociology and Director of the Criminology Research Unit at the University of Tasmania School of Sociology and Social Work, is an internationally respected scholar in the fields of youth studies, sociology and criminology. He has extensive practical experience in working with youth and community workers, police services, teachers, drug and alcohol workers, government policymakers and academic researchers.

ACYS Interim Manager: Herb Seewang joined ACYS in June 2008 as interim manager. He has over 20 years experience in working with industry in business development with the Department of Economic Development, in a range of roles involving small business, market development, investment attraction and infrastructure. With a BA in Business from Minnesota State University Mankato, Herb worked in Asia, North America, and Europe before migrating to Australia. He has been a volunteer business mentor for the business and not-for-profit sectors for the past six years.

Editor of Youth Studies Australia and ACYS Production Manager:
Sue Headley’s academic background in both sociology and science, plus her desire to pursue a career in editing and publishing, made her well suited for ACYS. She joined us in 1996 and has been Editor of Youth Studies Australia and ACYS Production Manager since 2005. In addition to editing YSA, Sue coordinates the editorial production of ACYS books.

Deputy editor of Youth Studies Australia and ACYS research officer:
Kate Gross writes the ‘Youth Monitor’ and ‘Abstracts’ columns for Youth Studies Australia and is also a researcher/contributor to the ACYS Australian Youth Facts and Stats website. Kate’s academic background in journalism, political science and education and her previous work in media monitoring was ideal for ACYS. She joined us in 2006 and was made Deputy Editor of YSA in 2007.

Editor of Youth Field Xpress and ACYS Information/website Manager:
Anne Hugo has postgraduate qualifications in librarianship and education and worked in South Africa and the UK before migrating to Australia. She is enrolled in a masters degree in youth research and has been ACYS’s website manager since 1995, at which time she also launched our e-newsletter, Youth Field Xpress. As ACYS Information manager she’s responsible for our help desk services, databases, web content management and email distribution lists. 

Nick Gross is responsible for the look of all ACYS products includng our website. With a degree in English and political science and a diploma in graphic art, Nick is a vital asset in a publishing house, and joined ACYS in 2005. As well as producing YSA and ACYS books, Nick provides graphic art services for the University of Tasmania and independent book publishers.

ACYS Subscriptions and Sales Manager:
Kath Robinson has been looking after the YSA subscription databases since 1995 and retires in July 2008. With a secretarial background in the advertising industry, and an enviable ability to make software work, Kath also became a researcher/contributor to the Australian Youth Facts and Stats website. And like all ACYS staff, she also proofreads!

Sue Dilley joined ACYS in July 2008 upon Kathleen's retirement and takes up Kath's duties above. She brings many skills to her role, including her experience at ACYS in 2002, working with the Australian Youth Facts and Stats website at the time of its inception.

Facts and Stats researcher: Felicity Picken commenced her part-time role researching and creating content for the Facts and Stats web site in June 2008. She is in the final year of her PhD with the School of Sociology and Social Work at the University of Tasmania.