The Australian Homeland Security Research Centre undertakes independent, evidence-based analysis of domestic security issues as well as facilitating a range of security related professional development events.

The Centre's 2008 research priorities include:

• A comprehensive national security policy
• Establishing the appropriate balance between:
• different threats including biological, explosive, chemical, radiological, incendiary, kidnapping, extortion, and electronic
• protection of critical infrastructure and the built environment
• a terrorism and all-hazards focus
• Trends in science, engineering and technology for homeland security
• Enhancing the role of private sector security services in national security

The Centre's 2008/9 special projects are:

• Improving civil military cooperation (CIMIC)
• Enhancing the domestic use of defense forces (Homeland Defence project)
• Integrating mental health care into emergency response and disaster management
• Factoring climate change into capability development of emergency services and law enforcement agencies