Dr Melanie (Lain) Dare is a social scientist with a strong background in commercial resource management (forestry). Lain’s PhD studies focused on improving community engagement practices in Australian commercial forestry, culminating in the development of a highly regarded community engagement handbook for forest managers. Lain was the Project Leader for the Cooperative Research Centre for Forestry (CRC for Forestry) Communities project (2011-2012), a multi-disciplined project that worked with industry partners to undertake a range of social research projects.
Lain has undertaken a range of research projects across forest management and agricultural sectors. Work with the CRC for Forestry included socio-economic impact analyses, community wellbeing and resilience studies, and in collaboration with colleagues the development of recommendations for the effective design and implementation of structural adjustment packages (report available online). Lain was the chief investigator for the Tasmanian Drought Evaluation Project (2011) which reviewed the effectiveness of State government drought initiatives in providing adequate assistance and relief of prevailing cost of living pressures (available online). More recently Lain undertook a community wellbeing and needs analysis for the not-for-profit health service Rural Alive and Well (RAW). This study reviewed the social and health impacts of the downturn in the forestry industry on two regional areas in Tasmania, providing recommendations regarding effective provision of social support services to affected community members.
Lain’s work to date highlights her commitment to rural and regional communities. Lain is passionate about research that works with communities to collaboratively develop knowledge, skills and long-term capacity – research that makes a positive contribution to our communities.
Dare, M., Schirmer, J., and Vanclay, F (in review). “Can community engagement help the forest industry achieve a social license to operate? Findings from case studies of the forest industry in Australia and Canada”. Journal of Forestry (resubmitted September 2011).
Dare, M., Schirmer, J. Kimber, J. (2011). “Tasmanian drought evaluation project”. Report to the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, and the Social Inclusion Unit (Department Premier and Cabinet). Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Science, Burnie Tasmania.