Terry Burke's expertise is in urban and policy studies. Within these broad areas his interests are in housing, particularly lower income housing (public and private rental housing), housing affordability, urban segregation, and comparative urban and social policy.
Professor Burke has undertaken considerable research for government and industry including local government housing studies, measurement of affordability, and public housing allocations and rent systems. He is an ex Director of the Swinburne University AHURI centre and past convenor of Australia's only national housing course, the Graduate Certificate. Diploma and Masters in Housing Management and Policy. He was also Co chair of the Asia Pacific Network of Housing Researchers (APNHR)
Professor Burke has co-authored a number of texts including Social Theory and the Australian City and Informed Decision Making. He has also written many other reports and journal articles on urban and housing issues in Australia.