Ben Archer
- ben.archer@jcu.edu.au
- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3215-5432
- Associate Lecturer, Career Education
Projects
1
Publications
18
Awards
0
Biography
Central to my research is understanding how educational opportunities—or their limitations—impact career development in non-urban settings. I explore how access to education intersects with local religious and cultural frameworks to influence career choices and professional development trajectories. This investigation extends to analysing how religious belief systems can shape both individual career aspirations and community-wide approaches to workforce development.
A key component of my research involves examining how businesses in rural and remote areas can effectively plan for their future workforce needs while considering these unique contextual factors. This includes studying how organisations can develop strategies that account for local educational infrastructure and cultural dynamics to create sustainable workforce solutions.
Through this research, I aim to contribute to both theoretical frameworks and practical applications that can help individuals navigate career development while assisting organisations in building robust workforce planning strategies that are sensitive to local contexts. This work has important implications for educational policy, regional development, and organisational management in diverse geographical settings.
Research
Research Interests
Research Area 1: Career Development in Non-Metropolitan Contexts
Investigating career development pathways and decision-making processes specific to rural, remote, and regional communities. This includes examining how geographical location influences career choices, opportunities, and professional growth trajectories.
Research Area 2: Educational Access and Career Outcomes
Exploring the relationship between access to education and career development in geographically diverse settings. This research strand examines how educational infrastructure, opportunities, and limitations in rural and remote areas shape career pathways and professional development.
Research Area 3: Religious Belief Systems and Career Decision Making
Analysing the influence of religious and cultural frameworks on career aspirations and workforce participation. This includes investigating how religious beliefs interface with career decision-making processes and shape individual and community approaches to professional development.
Research Area 4: Strategic Workforce Planning in Regional Settings
Examining how organisations in rural and remote areas develop and implement workforce planning strategies. This includes researching how businesses can create sustainable workforce solutions while accounting for local educational resources, cultural dynamics, and geographical constraints.