John Addison Ballard's initial research was in Africa in the 1960s. He was a Research Fellow in the Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University (ANU), examining policy-making in Papua New Guinea during the period of decolonisation, 1972-1980; Professor of Administrative Studies at the University of Papua New Guinea; Appointment in the Department of Political Science in The Faculties, 1980-1995; Convenor of the Graduate Program in Political Science and International Relations; Co-convenor of a program on sexualities and culture at the Humanities Research Centre, 1993; Visiting Fellow, Graduate Research School, 1996-; Visiting Fellow, Gender Relations Centre, 2004-.