Personal profile
Biography
Overview
Caleb's research focuses on two major dimensions of the future of work. One, creating green jobs and the interlinking of greening work, the broader economy and contemporary society. Two, the 'gig' economy and its implications for workers, organisations, public policy and society.
This research experience was gained via the completion of a PhD in 2013 at Curtin University. The research built a case study methodology to understand the ways in which the Australian political economic milieu affects workplace response and efforts to ‘green’ automotive manufacturing. Much of the analysis was drawn from in depth qualitative interviews with key political, industry and union leaders in Australia. The thesis also drew on international experiences to contextualise and contrast the Australian workplace response to pressing environmental issues such as climate change. This research was published in 2014 as a book 'Greening Auto Jobs: A Critical Analysis of the Green Job Solution' ISBN 978-0-7391-8980-1
In 2015, Caleb completed a one year Post-Doctorate at York University, Canada, and is currently a co-investigator on a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada research project entitled “Adapting Canadian Work and Workplace: Canada in International Perspective” and holds a research fellowship position at the University of Western Australia.
Caleb is the Chief Investigator of a University of Western Australia research project the transition of Western Australia's Fossil Fuel Energy Generation Sector. He is also currently researching the unionisation and politics of Australia's LNG export industry.
Education
PhD, Curtin University (2013)
Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) (Honours), Curtin University (2008)
Bachelor of Social Science (Sociology and Politics), Curtin University (2007)
Roles and responsibilities
Executive Committee Member, Industrial Relations Society of Western Australia
International Advisory Group Member of PHASE: Phasing in and phasing out: reworking labour in energy transitions in the North Sea
Member of the Research and Publications Committee for the Australian Labour and Employment Relations Association
Member of the 21st International Labour and Employment Relations Association (ILERA) World Congress Scientific Committee.
Future research
Work in the Gig Economy
Funding overview
External Grant
Ellem, B & C. Goods (2021) Climate, Work, Community and Just Transition University of Sydney Industry Partnership Grant with the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union Western Australia $AUD22,636 funded 2021.
Veen, A., Baird, M., Goods, C & T. Barratt, (2020) Marginalized workers in the Australian platform-economy University of Sydney Industry Partnership Grant with Uber Australia $AUD50,000 funded
Adapting Canadian Work and Workplaces to Respond to Climate Change Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Canada Partnership Grants program. 2014-2021. $CAD2.5 million.
Internal Competitive Grants
Goods, C., Smith, B., Barratt, T. & Veen, A (2020) Is the Covid-19 crisis shifting Australian attitudes towards worker entitlements?Future Fund Research Awards, awarded $AUD4,700
Goods, C. & Gillian, M. (2020) UWA Business School Visiting Professor Grant, with Associate Professor Mike Gillian, awarded $AUD5,000 to host Professor Dimitris Stevis from Colorado University
Chief Investigator with Brett Smith, Tom Barratt and Craig Standing on a UWA Business School and BHP Billiton Research Award funded project Are Consumers Willing to Pay for Minimum Conditions for Workers in the Gig Economy? $AUD9,920 funded. 2018.
Previous positions
Research Fellow & Sessional Academic, Management and Organisations, Business School, University of Western Australia (2016)
Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, York University, Canada (2015)
P/T Research Associate/Tutor, Management and Organisations, Business School, University of Western Australia (2013-14)
Casual Research Assistant, Lecturer/Tutor, Graduate School of Business and School of Management, Curtin University (2012-14)
Current projects
Transitioning Fossil Fuel Workplaces and Organisations in Australia
Working in the Australian Gig Economy
Teaching overview
Since 2020 University of Western Australia, EMPL2202 Australian Employment Relations
Since 2018 University of Western Australia, MGMT1136 Introduction to Management and Organisations
Research
Industrial Relations
Future of Work
Gig Economy
Work & Environmental Issues
Organisations & Climate Change
Engagement
MEDIA
“On-demand award would create "arbitrary schism": Academics” Workplace Express, 2 December 2021, https://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&nav=10&selkey=60713&utm_source=instant+email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=subscriber+email&utm_content=article+headline&utm_term=On-demand%20award%20would%20create%20%22arbitrary%20schism%22%3A%20Academics
"On-demand" award's scope too narrow: Academics” Workplace Express, 12 August 2021, https://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&nav=10&selkey=60357&utm_source=instant+email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=subscriber+email&utm_content=article+headline&utm_term=%22On-demand%22%20award%27s%20scope%20too%20narrow%3A%20Academics
“Gig-economy arrangements under scrutiny as Senate committee looks at job security”, Life Matters on Radio National with Hilary Harper, ABC, 21 April 2021, https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/gig-economy-arrangements-under-scrutiny-as-senate-looks-at-job/13310578
“UK Uber drivers given new protections – The Backstory” On Radio National Breakfast with Fran Kelly, ABC, 18 March 2021, https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/uk-uber-protections-the-backstory-with-isobel-roe/13258058
“Perth's side hustlers are on the rise”, Focus Radio Program, ABC Perth, 28 July 2020, https://www.abc.net.au/radio/perth/programs/focus/side-hustle/12499360
"Undermined" members contributing to union's crisis: Paper, Workplace Express, 18 February 2020, https://www.workplaceexpress.com.au/nl06_news_selected.php?act=2&stream=1&selkey=58621&hlc=2&hlw=AMWU&s_keyword=AMWU&s_searchfrom_date=631112400&s_searchto_date=1583294998&s_pagesize=20&s_word_match=2&s_articles=1
Newspaper Interview with Bethany Hiatt, “Young West Aussies are ‘doing it tough’”, for The West Australian, Saturday, 9 March 2019, https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/young-west-aussies-are-doing-it-tough-ng-b881125119z
Radio Interview with Josh Szeps, The People vs Programme, ‘The People vs work’, ABC Radio National, 9 September 2018, http://radio.abc.net.au/programitem/pew31KkB4L?play=true
Interview for online article, ‘Online food delivery company Foodora facing legal action over alleged underpayment of staff’, ABC News, 12 June 2018, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-12/foodora-online-delivery-company-faces-legal-action-over-pay/9861178
Radio Interview with Geoff Hutchinson, Drive Program, ABC Perth 720, 31 January 2018, http://www.abc.net.au/radio/perth/programs/drive/drive/9359650
Radio Interview with Peter Bell and Paula Kruger, Breakfast Program, ABC Perth 720, 31 January 2018, http://www.abc.net.au/radio/perth/programs/breakfast/breakfast/9359644
‘McKenny, L & Keep, J. (2017). ‘The food delivery cyclists risking their lives in high-speed tunnels’. SBS Australia, 16 November 2017 http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/11/15/food-delivery-cyclists-risking-their-lives-high-speed-tunnels
Radio Interview with Clint Wheeldon, ‘Being exploited and breaching your visa: the limited choices of the food delivery worker’, ABC Perth 720, 21 August 2017
Radio Interview with Gareth Evan, ‘Gig Work’, 6PR 882, 19 June 2017.
‘The growing popularity of the concept of a “just transition”’ Workplace Express, 7 March, 2017.
Madel, C. ‘Your green car could cause black rain in China’ interviewed for the National Observer28 July, 2015. http://www.nationalobserver.com/2015/07/28/news/your-green-car-could-cause-black-rain-china
‘York researchers analyze the greening of green technology’ Yfile15 July, 2015.
http://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2015/07/15/york-researchers-analyze-the-greening-of-green-technology/
‘To Capitalism! The Cause of…and Solution to…All Environmental Problems’ Radio InterviewIndymediaRTR FM 92.1, 5 January, 2015
‘Episode 81: To Capitalism! The Cause of…and Solution to…All Environmental Problems’ Podcast interview on Progressive Podcast Australia, 6 January, 2015
‘Sustainable Capitalism’ Radio InterviewIndymediaRTR FM 92.1, 1 October 2012.
‘Environmental sustainability clauses in just 1.5% of agreements’ Workplace Express, 25 June 2012. Interviewed for and quoted in the workplace express article
Industrial relevance
INDUSTRY RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP REPORTS
Lambert, R., Ellem, B., Todd, P. & Goods, C (2017) ‘Engineering Service Work, Global Production Networks & Employment Relations in Australian Mining’, final report to the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union.
INDUSTRY PRESENTATIONS
Goods, C (2017), ‘Sustainability and Work: What does global warming have to do with my pay cheque?’, Australian Council of Trade Unions’ Training Workshop 2017, Perth, Western Australia, 18 August 2017
Todd, P and Goods, C(2016) ‘The Future of Work and IR: What can we learn from the mining engineering services industry?’,Industrial Relations Society of Western Australia State Conference 2016, Perth, Western Australia, 18 November 2016
Ellem, B., Todd, P., Lambert, R., Goods, C., Rainnie, A., ‘Global Production Networks, Managing Uncertainty and Labour in Australia, IndustriALL Global Caterpillar Network Meeting, Detroit, USA, 15th June 2016
Lambert, R., Todd, P., Ellem, B., Rainnie, A., Herod, A., Goods, C., ‘Global Production Networks in Engineering & Mining Service Companies: the impact on workers and the work they do’, AMWU Delegate Training Workshop, Sydney, Australia 17th June 2014
PARLIAMENTARY SUBMISSIONS
Barratt, T., Goods, C. & Veen, A (2021), Submission to the Fair Work Commission Major Cases inquiry into ‘Proposed On Demand Delivery Services Award’, 9 August, 2021 https://www.fwc.gov.au/sites/on-demand-delivery-award/additional-material/am202172-sub-tb-cg-av-090821.pdf
Goods, C., Barratt, T., Smith, B., Sullivan, R, & Veen, A (2021) ‘Submission to the Select Committee on Job Security’, Australian Senate, 30 March 2021 https://www.aph.gov.au/DocumentStore.ashx?id=5d3dc735-d565-46b2-85c5-db6deaf32dc1&subId=705854
Barratt, T., Goods, C., Smith, B & Veen, A (2020) ‘Submission to the Select Committee on the impact of technological and other change on the future of work and workers in New South Wales’, Legislative Council of NSW, 31 August 2020 https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lcdocs/submissions/69009/0011%20Dr%20Tom%20Barratt,%20Dr%20Caleb%20Goods,%20Dr%20Brett%20Smith%20and%20Dr%20Alex%20Veen.pdf
Barratt, T., Goods, C. & Veen, A (2019) ‘Submission to the Inquiry into the Victorian on-demand workforce’ , Victorian State Government, 6 February 2019 https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/hdp.au.prod.app.vic engage.files/1415/5669/1354/Barratt_Tom_-_Goods_Caleb_-_Veen_Alex.pdf
Barratt, T., Goods, C. & Veen, A (2018) ‘Submission to the Select Committee on the Future of Work and Workers’, Australian Senate, Canberra 16 February 2018, https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Future_of_Work_and_Workers/FutureofWork/Submissions
External positions
Co-Investigator Adapting Canadian Work and Workplaces to Respond to Climate Change, York University Toronto
1 Jan 2015 → 1 Jan 2021
Research expertise keywords
- Work And Climate Change
- Organisations And Climate Change
- Environmental Policy
- Future Of Work
- 'Gig' Economy
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 4 Quality Education
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SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
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SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
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SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
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SDG 13 Climate Action
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SDG 14 Life Below Water
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SDG 15 Life on Land
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SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Place and power in the remaking of fossil fuel sites: a study of just transition drivers in an Australian coal region
Ellem, B. & Goods, C., 23 Mar 2026, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Australasian Journal of Environmental Management. 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
'Woeful Pay, But Still, I Enjoy It': Refining Subjective Job Quality in Ride-Share Work
Veen, A., Barratt, T., Goods, C. & Baird, M., Mar 2026, In: NEW TECHNOLOGY WORK AND EMPLOYMENT. 41, 1, p. 15-26 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
(Institutionally) working Australia's gig economy into employment: Analysing Menulog's modern award application
Barratt, T., Veen, A. & Goods, C., 24 Jun 2025, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Journal of Industrial Relations. 28 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
AIRAANZ 2024 presidential address: time for industrial relations to reconcile with the climate crisis
Goods, C., 2025, In: Labour and Industry. 35, 1, p. 5-14 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Overcoming legitimacy challenges of novel HRM practices during internationalization: The case of two food-delivery platforms
Veen, A., Meijerink, J., Barratt, T., Keegan, A. & Goods, C., Feb 2025, In: Journal of World Business. 60, 2, p. 1-16 16 p., 101611.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access6 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus)
Activities
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Submission to Net Zero Economy Authority Energy Industry Jobs Plan closure of Torrens Island Power Station
Goods, C. (Consultant) & Ellem, B. (Author)
20 Feb 2025Activity: Industry and government engagement/consultancy › Submissions to or appearance before a government committee, inquiry or agency
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Industrial Relations Society of Western Australia Conference
Goods, C. (Participant) & Barratt, T. (Participant)
19 May 2025 → 20 May 2025Activity: Conferences and workshops › Contribution or participation in a conference
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Submission to the Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training Inquiry into the digital transformation of workplaces
Goods, C. (Consultant), Barratt, T. (Consultant), Smith, B. (Consultant) & Veen, A. (Consultant)
25 Jun 2024Activity: Industry and government engagement/consultancy › Submissions to or appearance before a government committee, inquiry or agency
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Submission to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee Inquiry Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023
Goods, C. (Author), Veen, A. (Author), Barratt, T. (Author) & Smith, B. (Author)
28 Sept 2023Activity: Industry and government engagement/consultancy › Submissions to or appearance before a government committee, inquiry or agency
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Submission to House Select Committee Inquiry into Workforce Australia Employment Services
Goods, C. (Author), Barratt, T. (Author) & Veen, A. (Author)
15 Mar 2023Activity: Industry and government engagement/consultancy › Submissions to or appearance before a government committee, inquiry or agency
Courses
Press/Media
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Menulog case underlines gig regulation challenges: Study
Goods, C., Barratt, T. & Veen, A.
27/06/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Press / Media
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What happens after you tap your phone to order dinner?
16/06/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Timing too tight for power station job transition: Academic
28/05/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
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Unions push for just transition jobs plan ahead of SA closure
7/03/25
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Press / Media
Impacts
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Collie’s just transition: a blueprint for the world’s eight million coal workers?
Goods, C. (Participant) & Ellem, B. (Participant)
Impact: Understanding and Awareness Impact, Economic Impacts, Environmental Impact, Public policy Impacts