Research

Research that listens, connects and responds.

My research is community-engaged, relationally responsive, and committed to impact beyond the academy. I work alongside communities to explore questions of relationality, institutional accountability, wellbeing, and impact.

As an evaluation scholar, I currently research institutional responses to gender-based violence (GBV) and the role of bystanders in shaping victim-survivor outcomes.

Through my research I seek to center lived-experience, collective community wisdom, and adopt methods that honour relationship, ensure integrity and integrate trauma-informed practice.

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Featured Projects

The Bystander Ally Project

Focus: Gender-based violence prevention & response

I co-lead a research project examining institutional responses to gender-based violence, with a focus on how bystander conduct impacts victim-survivor outcomes.
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Reenchanting Evaluation

Focus: Social impact evaluation

My PhD explored reenchanted values in social impact evaluation, examining how relational, place-based practices can support value reclamation in community through community gardening programs.
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Social Impact Toolbox

Focus: Social impact resources & tools

Co-founder of the UTS Social Impact Toolbox. An online platform democratising access to free-evaluation resources to empower organisations to evaluate their social impact in a way that is reliable, accessible and free.
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We’re Sorry For Your Loss!

Focus: Policy design & development

A review of life-centred policy for the holistic care of students, examining how universities and educators can better support those navigating loss and bereavement while at university.
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Projects & publications

Bertram, R. (2025). Rethinking Bystanders: Emerging findings from the Bystander Ally Project on the role of universities in preventing harm after GBV disclosures. Australasian Safer Communities Symposium. Sydney, Australia.

Bertram, R. (2024). Reenchanting evaluation: Relationality and the role of place in reclaiming neglected values in evaluation [Doctoral thesis, University of Technology Sydney]. UTS OPUS. http://hdl.handle.net/10453/190095

Bertram, R., Smith, A., &. Pruscino, C. (2024). The Bystander Ally Project: Effective bystander metrics for sexual assault and sexual harm (SASH) victim-survivor support. NSW/ACT Universities Prevention Connection & University of Technology Sydney.

Smith, A., &. Bertram. (2024). Understanding critical behavioral factors of SASH bystander responses. Transformative Consumer Research.

Harrison, F., & Bertram, R. (2024). We’re Sorry For Your Loss: Human Centred Approach to Loss and Bereavement into Special Consideration. Students as Partners Projects, University of Technology Sydney.

Bertram, R. (2024). Between luxury and need: A geospatial study of urban community gardens at the extremes of the socioeconomic spectrum. European Group of Organisation Studies, 40th EGOS Colloquium. Milan, Italy.

Bertram, R., Smith, A., Wright, C. E. F., & Pruscino, C. (2024). Minimising harm from bystander reactions to sexual assault and sexual harm victim-survivor support, NSW/ACT Universities Prevention Connection & University of Technology Sydney partnership.

Jarrett, D., Bertram, R., Hudson, S. & Dalton, B. (2024). Decolonising the metrics of success: Celebrating and Integrating Indigenous paradigms into program evaluation practice. NSW Aboriginal Land Council & University of Technology Sydney.

Bertram, R. & Hudson, S. (2024). Measuring What Matters: The Story of Rivergum Community Garden [Documentary]. University of Technology Sydney.

Darcy, S., Bertram, R., Almond, B., & Dalton, B. (2023). Spinal Cord Injury Australia – National expansion of SCIA Employment Service through virtual platforms and local community connections for people with a spinal cord injury or other physical disabilities. University of Technology Sydney

Dalton, B., Darcy, S., Petrakis, D., Hemsley, B., Bertram, R., & Almond, B. (2023). Settlement Services International – Economic and Community Participation Program Economic Participation Stream – Impact Evaluation (Management). University of Technology Sydney

Wearring, A., Dalton, B., & Bertram, R. (2021). Pivoting Post-Pandemic: Not-for-Profit Arts and Culture Organisations and a New Focus on Social Impact. Cosmopolitan Civil Societies: An Interdisciplinary Journal, 13:2, 44–59. http://dx.doi.org/ ccs.v13.i2.7729

Dalton, B., & Bertram, R. (2018). Co-creation of Australia’s first Measuring Social Impact Toolbox, a free online repository of planning templates and validated measures, indicators and tools to measure the social impact of Australia’s NFP sector, University of Technology Sydney and Bendigo Bank.

Bertram, R., & Anderson, L. (2017). Report on Current Trends in Employer Supported Volunteering. Shopfront Community Program, Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion, University of Technology Sydney