Edgar graduated from the University of New South Wales in 2002 with First Class Honours in Applied Economic Geography. His honours thesis focused on the disparity of health and medical services in Greater Sydney. The thesis used the Sydney yellow pages as its main data source to investigate the issue at a grass-root level. Collected data was compared and contrasted with demographic data extracted from the 2001 Census to formulate his central thesis of a tri-modal split in terms of service provision and access.
In early 2009, Edgar subsequently completed a PhD in Cultural Geography, also at the University of New South Wales. His thesis was entitled 'Neo-normativity, Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and latrinalia: The demonstration of a concept on non-heterosexual performativities' which critically examined the complex relationships between personal identity performances and space by using the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade and graffiti as case studies. Using a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods, including visual methodologies which are seldom used in social studies, a central theory of neo-normativity (the gradual normalisation of stereotypes) was formed. This theory was used to explain the many abject relationships between non-heterosexual communities and common stereotypes, including the legitimisation of gay and lesbian politics as well as for attracting parade sponsors.
Between April 2002 and April 2009 Edgar worked as a Social Research and Information Officer at the not-for-profit organisation Western Sydney Regional Information and Research Service (WESTIR Ltd). In this role, Edgar had worked in collaboration and consultation on numerous occasions with various Local Government Areas, assisting in the compilation of their Social Plans, demographic profiles and various other community development projects. He had also compiled various reports for a range of Government agencies and departments (such as the NSW Premier's Department) as well as non-profit organisations (such as the Nepean HACC Access Project).
In April 2009, Edgar joined the City Futures Research Centre at the University of New South Wales as a Research Officer.
Teaching
Edgar taught at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) and University of New England (UNE) between 2005 and 2009. The courses focused on the practises of research methods such as participant observation and questionnaire surveys.
UNSW
GEOH1601 Australian and Global Geographies: Integration and divergence (2005; 2006; 2007; 2008)
GEOH2641 Australian urban environment (2005)
GEOH3111 Advanced qualitative methods for geography (2004)
GEOH3651 Geographies of migration (2006; 2007)
PLAN7122 Planning project (2009)
UTS
50164 Research Methods 1 - Quantitative survey methods and practice (2007; 2008)
UNE
GEPL301/401 Economic change and urban development (2009)
Research
Edgar is currently working on a number of projects:
ARC:
DP0986122 - The drivers and outcomes of re-investment in low density suburban housing markets
LP0989373 - Governing the compact city: The role and effectiveness of strata management in higher density residential developments
AHURI:
70541 - Low-income home ownership support programs: a review of past schemes and consideration of future potential
70588 - Partnership working in the design and delivery of housing policy
HousingNSW - Understanding people based outcomes: following a community experiencing transition through renewal
Page Last Updated: 16 Sep 2009
