Web based regional newspapers : The role of content : A thesis
- Authors: Knox, Ian
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The phenomenon and acceptance of electronic publishing has proliferated in the last five years due to the expansion in the use of the World Wide Web in the general community. The initial fears that newspapers would be decimated by the introduction of this technology have been proven groundless, but despite a high web presence by newspapers world wide, profitable models of cyber papers are elusive. In an online environment traditional relationships between newspaper advertising and editorial may not stand. Despite the considerable body of published literature concerning the movement of print newspapers to an online environment, little was found concerning online content. A need to re-evaluate what content and functions are considered to be desirable by print readers, in an online environment was identified as the main objective of this research. Evaluation the of user attitudes to web based newspapers provides a foundation for future research into areas such as developing effective models for profitable online newspapers. To achieve this objective, the research tools used were a content analysis, an online newspaper user survey and newspaper management personal interviews. The study looked at Victorian regional daily newspapers that also had online versions. By focussing on the regional newspapers, meaningful comparisons could be made between content, staff attitudes and readership interests. The content analysis measured the quantum and nature of the content of the print and online versions of the regional dailies during a one week period. This provided a measure of the type and source of the articles included both in print and online. Newspaper editorial staff interviews contributed a personalised view of content priorities, which was then contrasted with a web based questionnaire which measured user requirements in relation to content and interactivity. It was found from the survey that content alone would not provide a sufficient basis to build a profitable online regional newspaper site. The findings were analysed in relation to the literature, newspaper site content and editorial staff interviews. Despite regularly accessing online newspaper sites, it was found that users are unwilling to pay for the experience. Users indicated a desire for a higher level of interactivity, in addition to the content, which is currently provided, by online regional newspapers. Evaluation of user attitudes to web based newspapers provides a foundation for future research into the development of effective for profitable online newspapers.
- Description: Master of Business
- Authors: Knox, Ian
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The phenomenon and acceptance of electronic publishing has proliferated in the last five years due to the expansion in the use of the World Wide Web in the general community. The initial fears that newspapers would be decimated by the introduction of this technology have been proven groundless, but despite a high web presence by newspapers world wide, profitable models of cyber papers are elusive. In an online environment traditional relationships between newspaper advertising and editorial may not stand. Despite the considerable body of published literature concerning the movement of print newspapers to an online environment, little was found concerning online content. A need to re-evaluate what content and functions are considered to be desirable by print readers, in an online environment was identified as the main objective of this research. Evaluation the of user attitudes to web based newspapers provides a foundation for future research into areas such as developing effective models for profitable online newspapers. To achieve this objective, the research tools used were a content analysis, an online newspaper user survey and newspaper management personal interviews. The study looked at Victorian regional daily newspapers that also had online versions. By focussing on the regional newspapers, meaningful comparisons could be made between content, staff attitudes and readership interests. The content analysis measured the quantum and nature of the content of the print and online versions of the regional dailies during a one week period. This provided a measure of the type and source of the articles included both in print and online. Newspaper editorial staff interviews contributed a personalised view of content priorities, which was then contrasted with a web based questionnaire which measured user requirements in relation to content and interactivity. It was found from the survey that content alone would not provide a sufficient basis to build a profitable online regional newspaper site. The findings were analysed in relation to the literature, newspaper site content and editorial staff interviews. Despite regularly accessing online newspaper sites, it was found that users are unwilling to pay for the experience. Users indicated a desire for a higher level of interactivity, in addition to the content, which is currently provided, by online regional newspapers. Evaluation of user attitudes to web based newspapers provides a foundation for future research into the development of effective for profitable online newspapers.
- Description: Master of Business
If I Belong Here...How Did That Come To Be?
- Authors: Lambeth, Paul
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The purpose of this research is to contribute a non indigenous perspective to current discourse on sense of place in contemporary Australia. The research employs a number of strategies to investigate current responses to our geographic and historical time position. Within the exegesis there is a vers libre poem, written from the imagined viewpoint of members of the Burke and Wills’ expedition. The poem is supported by a superimposition of the Don Quixote story over that of the ill-fated inland Australian explorers. [...]
- Description: Master of Arts (Visual Arts)
- Authors: Lambeth, Paul
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The purpose of this research is to contribute a non indigenous perspective to current discourse on sense of place in contemporary Australia. The research employs a number of strategies to investigate current responses to our geographic and historical time position. Within the exegesis there is a vers libre poem, written from the imagined viewpoint of members of the Burke and Wills’ expedition. The poem is supported by a superimposition of the Don Quixote story over that of the ill-fated inland Australian explorers. [...]
- Description: Master of Arts (Visual Arts)
Conducting suicide research in Australia in relation to the operation of Human Research Ethics Committees
- Authors: Macgill, Jennifer
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis began with a research project on suicide that was abandoned after many hurdles were encountered in terms of reaching participants and after various applications to ethics committees. The ultimate research question was then recast as ‘Do Human Research Ethics Committees influence the conduct of suicide research in Australia?’ The conceptual framework for setting up the research was derived from literature on Critical Theory, Feminism and Weberian concepts of power and rationality. Subsidiary questions were then derived from this literature and the starting exemplar case of my own research attempts. These considered whether suicide research was problematic for ethics committees, the nature of the experiences of ethics committee members in making decisions regarding suicide research and whether the influences of disciplinary background, patriarchal medical dominance and pro-positivism were evident. In addition, questions were raised about whether and how other researchers who sought approval to conduct research into suicide-related issues were appraised. [...]
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Macgill, Jennifer
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis began with a research project on suicide that was abandoned after many hurdles were encountered in terms of reaching participants and after various applications to ethics committees. The ultimate research question was then recast as ‘Do Human Research Ethics Committees influence the conduct of suicide research in Australia?’ The conceptual framework for setting up the research was derived from literature on Critical Theory, Feminism and Weberian concepts of power and rationality. Subsidiary questions were then derived from this literature and the starting exemplar case of my own research attempts. These considered whether suicide research was problematic for ethics committees, the nature of the experiences of ethics committee members in making decisions regarding suicide research and whether the influences of disciplinary background, patriarchal medical dominance and pro-positivism were evident. In addition, questions were raised about whether and how other researchers who sought approval to conduct research into suicide-related issues were appraised. [...]
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Investigations into the ecology and management of the invasive plant Galenia pubescens within the native temperate grasslands of Victoria, Australia
- Authors: Mahmood, Ako
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Plant invasions of natural ecosystems are one of the major threats to the conservation of biological diversity across nearly all biogeographical regions in the world. This thesis focuses on Galenia pubescens (Carpet weed) as a case study of possible approaches to the potential management of environmental weed species. G. pubescens is a woody prostrate perennial plant that is becoming a serious threat to Australian temperate grasslands, surrounding agricultural areas and conservation reserves. It is indigenous to South Africa and was first recorded in Australia in the early 1900s, and it is an aggressive competitor against native species. It is difficult to control, and little information exists about its effects on natural ecosystems, and aspects of its biology and ecology. This study has investigated some important ecological characteristics of G. pubescens’ seeds and has experimented with different management strategies in combination with chemical control. It has also considered the potential for the expansion of the distribution of this species across suitable habitat in Australia under predicted elevated CO2 and drought conditions. Seeds of G. pubescens are shown to be able to germinate over a broad range of temperatures, but short bursts (5 minutes) of high temperatures (80oC to 120oC replicating possible exposures to a fire) reduced seed germination. Seed germination was positively favored by light and declined rapidly in darkness, decreasing by > 80% at a depth of only 0.5 cm in soil. This suggests that fire regimes might be useful in removing mature plants and controlling seed numbers on the surface, and that subsequent native seeding of undisturbed areas may assist in the long-term management of this noxious weed. A trial was conducted to determine the effect of treatment with a plant essential oil (pine oil) to limit the seed germination and seedling emergence of G. pubescens. This trial showed that the effects of pine oil application were significant (P<0.05). Germination was completely inhibited by application of pine oil at 5% or higher concentrations directly to seeds, and seedling emergence was reduced by between 90 and 100% in pot trials. These outcomes demonstrate the potential viability of pine oil as a long-term control option for this species. In field-based experiments, control strategies including herbicide control with glyphosate, organic herbicide control with pine oil, the application of mulch, and the addition of native seeds to the available seedbank (and all possible combinations of these techniques), were tested. The study showed that one single treatment of a G. pubescens infestation without undertaking a secondary treatment is insufficient to control the G. pubescens infestation or to encourage native regeneration, but that a combined strategy, employing all the aforementioned techniques, is more effective. It is however suggested that full regeneration of the area may not be possible unless further restoration programs are instituted after the cycle of G. pubescens’ treatment has been completed. The thesis also assessed the control effects of chemical control combined with a prescribed spring burning. Assessment of the resulting aboveground vegetation of G. pubescens has shown that a combination of chemical control and late-spring burning can reduce the cover of non-native species such as G. pubescens, suggesting that this could be a useful tool in their management. Finally, this study has supported the view that the growth of G. pubescens will be significantly enhanced in a future climate with an enriched atmospheric CO2 concentration. These climatic changes will have important implications for management of this noxious weed in the future.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Mahmood, Ako
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Plant invasions of natural ecosystems are one of the major threats to the conservation of biological diversity across nearly all biogeographical regions in the world. This thesis focuses on Galenia pubescens (Carpet weed) as a case study of possible approaches to the potential management of environmental weed species. G. pubescens is a woody prostrate perennial plant that is becoming a serious threat to Australian temperate grasslands, surrounding agricultural areas and conservation reserves. It is indigenous to South Africa and was first recorded in Australia in the early 1900s, and it is an aggressive competitor against native species. It is difficult to control, and little information exists about its effects on natural ecosystems, and aspects of its biology and ecology. This study has investigated some important ecological characteristics of G. pubescens’ seeds and has experimented with different management strategies in combination with chemical control. It has also considered the potential for the expansion of the distribution of this species across suitable habitat in Australia under predicted elevated CO2 and drought conditions. Seeds of G. pubescens are shown to be able to germinate over a broad range of temperatures, but short bursts (5 minutes) of high temperatures (80oC to 120oC replicating possible exposures to a fire) reduced seed germination. Seed germination was positively favored by light and declined rapidly in darkness, decreasing by > 80% at a depth of only 0.5 cm in soil. This suggests that fire regimes might be useful in removing mature plants and controlling seed numbers on the surface, and that subsequent native seeding of undisturbed areas may assist in the long-term management of this noxious weed. A trial was conducted to determine the effect of treatment with a plant essential oil (pine oil) to limit the seed germination and seedling emergence of G. pubescens. This trial showed that the effects of pine oil application were significant (P<0.05). Germination was completely inhibited by application of pine oil at 5% or higher concentrations directly to seeds, and seedling emergence was reduced by between 90 and 100% in pot trials. These outcomes demonstrate the potential viability of pine oil as a long-term control option for this species. In field-based experiments, control strategies including herbicide control with glyphosate, organic herbicide control with pine oil, the application of mulch, and the addition of native seeds to the available seedbank (and all possible combinations of these techniques), were tested. The study showed that one single treatment of a G. pubescens infestation without undertaking a secondary treatment is insufficient to control the G. pubescens infestation or to encourage native regeneration, but that a combined strategy, employing all the aforementioned techniques, is more effective. It is however suggested that full regeneration of the area may not be possible unless further restoration programs are instituted after the cycle of G. pubescens’ treatment has been completed. The thesis also assessed the control effects of chemical control combined with a prescribed spring burning. Assessment of the resulting aboveground vegetation of G. pubescens has shown that a combination of chemical control and late-spring burning can reduce the cover of non-native species such as G. pubescens, suggesting that this could be a useful tool in their management. Finally, this study has supported the view that the growth of G. pubescens will be significantly enhanced in a future climate with an enriched atmospheric CO2 concentration. These climatic changes will have important implications for management of this noxious weed in the future.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Rainfall prediction in Australia : Clusterwise linear regression approach
- Authors: Mahmood, Arshad
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Accurate rainfall prediction is a challenging task because of the complex physical processes involved. This complexity is compounded in Australia as the climate can be highly variable. Accurate rainfall prediction is immensely benecial for making informed policy, planning and management decisions, and can assist with the most sustainable operation of water resource systems. Short-term prediction of rainfall is provided by meteorological services; however, the intermediate to long-term prediction of rainfall remains challenging and contains much uncertainty. Many prediction approaches have been proposed in the literature, including statistical and computational intelligence approaches. However, finding a method to model the complex physical process of rainfall, especially in Australia where the climate is highly variable, is still a major challenge. The aims of this study are to: (a) develop an optimization based clusterwise linear regression method, (b) develop new prediction methods based on clusterwise linear regression, (c) assess the influence of geographic regions on the performance of prediction models in predicting monthly and weekly rainfall in Australia, (d) determine the combined influence of meteorological variables on rainfall prediction in Australia, and (e) carry out a comparative analysis of new and existing prediction techniques using Australian rainfall data. In this study, rainfall data with five input meteorological variables from 24 geographically diverse weather stations in Australia, over the period January 1970 to December 2014, have been taken from the Scientific Information for Land Owners (SILO). We also consider the climate zones when selecting weather stations, because Australia experiences a variety of climates due to its size. The data was divided into training and testing periods for evaluation purposes. In this study, optimization based clusterwise linear regression is modified and new prediction methods are developed for rainfall prediction. The proposed method is applied to predict monthly and weekly rainfall. The prediction performance of the clusterwise linear regression method was evaluated by comparing observed and predicted rainfall values using the performance measures: root mean squared error, the mean absolute error, the mean absolute scaled error and the Nash-Sutclie coefficient of efficiency. The proposed method is also compared with the clusterwise linear regression based on the maximum likelihood estimation, linear support vector machines for regression, support vector machines for regression with radial basis kernel function, multiple linear regression, artificial neural networks with and without hidden layer and k-nearest neighbours methods using computational results. Initially, to determine the appropriate input variables to be used in the investigation, we assessed all combinations of meteorological variables. The results confirm that single meteorological variables alone are unable to predict rainfall accurately. The prediction performance of all selected models was improved by adding the input variables in most locations. To assess the influence of geographic regions on the performance of prediction models and to compare the prediction performance of models, we trained models with the best combination of input variables and predicted monthly and weekly rainfall over the test periods. The results of this analysis confirm that the prediction performance of all selected models varied considerably with geographic regions for both weekly and monthly rainfall predictions. It is found that models have the lowest prediction error in the desert climate zone and highest in subtropical and tropical zones. The results also demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is capable of finding the patterns and trends of the observations for monthly and weekly rainfall predictions in all geographic regions. In desert, tropical and subtropical climate zones, the proposed method outperform other methods in most locations for both monthly and weekly rainfall predictions. In temperate and grassland zones the prediction performance of the proposed model is better in some locations while in the remaining locations it is slightly lower than the other models.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Description: Accurate rainfall prediction is a challenging task because of the complex physical processes involved. This complexity is compounded in Australia as the climate can be highly variable. Accurate rainfall prediction is immensely benecial for making informed policy, planning and management decisions, and can assist with the most sustainable operation of water resource systems. Short-term prediction of rainfall is provided by meteorological services; however, the intermediate to long-term prediction of rainfall remains challenging and contains much uncertainty. Many prediction approaches have been proposed in the literature, including statistical and computational intelligence approaches. However, finding a method to model the complex physical process of rainfall, especially in Australia where the climate is highly variable, is still a major challenge. The aims of this study are to: (a) develop an optimization based clusterwise linear regression method, (b) develop new prediction methods based on clusterwise linear regression, (c) assess the influence of geographic regions on the performance of prediction models in predicting monthly and weekly rainfall in Australia, (d) determine the combined influence of meteorological variables on rainfall prediction in Australia, and (e) carry out a comparative analysis of new and existing prediction techniques using Australian rainfall data. In this study, rainfall data with five input meteorological variables from 24 geographically diverse weather stations in Australia, over the period January 1970 to December 2014, have been taken from the Scientific Information for Land Owners (SILO). We also consider the climate zones when selecting weather stations, because Australia experiences a variety of climates due to its size. The data was divided into training and testing periods for evaluation purposes. In this study, optimization based clusterwise linear regression is modified and new prediction methods are developed for rainfall prediction. The proposed method is applied to predict monthly and weekly rainfall. The prediction performance of the clusterwise linear regression method was evaluated by comparing observed and predicted rainfall values using the performance measures: root mean squared error, the mean absolute error, the mean absolute scaled error and the Nash-Sutclie coefficient of efficiency. The proposed method is also compared with the clusterwise linear regression based on the maximum likelihood estimation, linear support vector machines for regression, support vector machines for regression with radial basis kernel function, multiple linear regression, artificial neural networks with and without hidden layer and k-nearest neighbors methods using computational results. Initially, to determine the appropriate input variables to be used in the investigation, we assessed all combinations of meteorological variables. The results confirm that single meteorological variables alone are unable to predict rainfall accurately. The prediction performance of all selected models was improved by adding the input variables in most locations. To assess the influence of geographic regions on the performance of prediction models and to compare the prediction performance of models, we trained models with the best combination of input variables and predicted monthly and weekly rainfall over the test periods. The results of this analysis confirm that the prediction performance of all selected models varied considerably with geographic regions for both weekly and monthly rainfall predictions. It is found that models have the lowest prediction error in the desert climate zone and highest in subtropical and tropical zones. The results also demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is capable of finding the patterns and trends of the observations for monthly and weekly rainfall predictions in all geographic regions. In desert, tropical and subtropical climate zones, the proposed method outperform other methods in most locations for both monthly and weekly rainfall predictions. In temperate and grassland zones the prediction performance of the proposed model is better in some locations while in the remaining locations it is slightly lower than the other models.
- Authors: Mahmood, Arshad
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Accurate rainfall prediction is a challenging task because of the complex physical processes involved. This complexity is compounded in Australia as the climate can be highly variable. Accurate rainfall prediction is immensely benecial for making informed policy, planning and management decisions, and can assist with the most sustainable operation of water resource systems. Short-term prediction of rainfall is provided by meteorological services; however, the intermediate to long-term prediction of rainfall remains challenging and contains much uncertainty. Many prediction approaches have been proposed in the literature, including statistical and computational intelligence approaches. However, finding a method to model the complex physical process of rainfall, especially in Australia where the climate is highly variable, is still a major challenge. The aims of this study are to: (a) develop an optimization based clusterwise linear regression method, (b) develop new prediction methods based on clusterwise linear regression, (c) assess the influence of geographic regions on the performance of prediction models in predicting monthly and weekly rainfall in Australia, (d) determine the combined influence of meteorological variables on rainfall prediction in Australia, and (e) carry out a comparative analysis of new and existing prediction techniques using Australian rainfall data. In this study, rainfall data with five input meteorological variables from 24 geographically diverse weather stations in Australia, over the period January 1970 to December 2014, have been taken from the Scientific Information for Land Owners (SILO). We also consider the climate zones when selecting weather stations, because Australia experiences a variety of climates due to its size. The data was divided into training and testing periods for evaluation purposes. In this study, optimization based clusterwise linear regression is modified and new prediction methods are developed for rainfall prediction. The proposed method is applied to predict monthly and weekly rainfall. The prediction performance of the clusterwise linear regression method was evaluated by comparing observed and predicted rainfall values using the performance measures: root mean squared error, the mean absolute error, the mean absolute scaled error and the Nash-Sutclie coefficient of efficiency. The proposed method is also compared with the clusterwise linear regression based on the maximum likelihood estimation, linear support vector machines for regression, support vector machines for regression with radial basis kernel function, multiple linear regression, artificial neural networks with and without hidden layer and k-nearest neighbours methods using computational results. Initially, to determine the appropriate input variables to be used in the investigation, we assessed all combinations of meteorological variables. The results confirm that single meteorological variables alone are unable to predict rainfall accurately. The prediction performance of all selected models was improved by adding the input variables in most locations. To assess the influence of geographic regions on the performance of prediction models and to compare the prediction performance of models, we trained models with the best combination of input variables and predicted monthly and weekly rainfall over the test periods. The results of this analysis confirm that the prediction performance of all selected models varied considerably with geographic regions for both weekly and monthly rainfall predictions. It is found that models have the lowest prediction error in the desert climate zone and highest in subtropical and tropical zones. The results also demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is capable of finding the patterns and trends of the observations for monthly and weekly rainfall predictions in all geographic regions. In desert, tropical and subtropical climate zones, the proposed method outperform other methods in most locations for both monthly and weekly rainfall predictions. In temperate and grassland zones the prediction performance of the proposed model is better in some locations while in the remaining locations it is slightly lower than the other models.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Description: Accurate rainfall prediction is a challenging task because of the complex physical processes involved. This complexity is compounded in Australia as the climate can be highly variable. Accurate rainfall prediction is immensely benecial for making informed policy, planning and management decisions, and can assist with the most sustainable operation of water resource systems. Short-term prediction of rainfall is provided by meteorological services; however, the intermediate to long-term prediction of rainfall remains challenging and contains much uncertainty. Many prediction approaches have been proposed in the literature, including statistical and computational intelligence approaches. However, finding a method to model the complex physical process of rainfall, especially in Australia where the climate is highly variable, is still a major challenge. The aims of this study are to: (a) develop an optimization based clusterwise linear regression method, (b) develop new prediction methods based on clusterwise linear regression, (c) assess the influence of geographic regions on the performance of prediction models in predicting monthly and weekly rainfall in Australia, (d) determine the combined influence of meteorological variables on rainfall prediction in Australia, and (e) carry out a comparative analysis of new and existing prediction techniques using Australian rainfall data. In this study, rainfall data with five input meteorological variables from 24 geographically diverse weather stations in Australia, over the period January 1970 to December 2014, have been taken from the Scientific Information for Land Owners (SILO). We also consider the climate zones when selecting weather stations, because Australia experiences a variety of climates due to its size. The data was divided into training and testing periods for evaluation purposes. In this study, optimization based clusterwise linear regression is modified and new prediction methods are developed for rainfall prediction. The proposed method is applied to predict monthly and weekly rainfall. The prediction performance of the clusterwise linear regression method was evaluated by comparing observed and predicted rainfall values using the performance measures: root mean squared error, the mean absolute error, the mean absolute scaled error and the Nash-Sutclie coefficient of efficiency. The proposed method is also compared with the clusterwise linear regression based on the maximum likelihood estimation, linear support vector machines for regression, support vector machines for regression with radial basis kernel function, multiple linear regression, artificial neural networks with and without hidden layer and k-nearest neighbors methods using computational results. Initially, to determine the appropriate input variables to be used in the investigation, we assessed all combinations of meteorological variables. The results confirm that single meteorological variables alone are unable to predict rainfall accurately. The prediction performance of all selected models was improved by adding the input variables in most locations. To assess the influence of geographic regions on the performance of prediction models and to compare the prediction performance of models, we trained models with the best combination of input variables and predicted monthly and weekly rainfall over the test periods. The results of this analysis confirm that the prediction performance of all selected models varied considerably with geographic regions for both weekly and monthly rainfall predictions. It is found that models have the lowest prediction error in the desert climate zone and highest in subtropical and tropical zones. The results also demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is capable of finding the patterns and trends of the observations for monthly and weekly rainfall predictions in all geographic regions. In desert, tropical and subtropical climate zones, the proposed method outperform other methods in most locations for both monthly and weekly rainfall predictions. In temperate and grassland zones the prediction performance of the proposed model is better in some locations while in the remaining locations it is slightly lower than the other models.
Factors affecting the organisational adoption of blockchain technology in australia : a mixed-methods approach
- Authors: Malik, Muhammad Saleem
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Blockchain (BCT) is an emerging technology that promises many benefits for organisations, such as disintermediation, data security, data transparency, a single version of the truth, and trust among trading partners. Despite its multiple benefits, the adoption rate of BCT among organisations has not reached a significantly high level worldwide. The present thesis addresses this issue in the Australian context. There is a knowledge gap in what specific factors, among the plethora of factors reported in the extant scholarly and commercial literature, affect Australian organisations while deciding to adopt BCT. To fill this gap, this thesis uses a mixed-methods approach known as sequential exploratory mixed methods. In this approach, the research starts with a qualitative phase as an initial phase followed by a quantitative phase. During the qualitative phase, data were collected through semi-structured interviews of the BCT experts and decision-makers working with the ifferent Australian organisations that adopted or were in the process of adopting BCT. The Technology, Organisation, Environment (TOE) framework, based on the qualitative interpretative approach, was used as a theoretical lens during the qualitative phase. The qualitative data were analyzed using the thematic analysis technique with the SQR NVivo software. The analysis shows that the different factors, belonging to the technological, organisational, and environmental contexts, affect the organisational decision to adopt BCT in Australia. The technological factors include perceived benefits, perceived computability, perceived complexity, perceived disintermediation, and perceived information transparency; organisational factors are organisational innovativeness, organisational learning capability, top management support; environmental factors consist of government support, standards uncertainty, competition intensity, and trading partners readiness. The qualitative analysis also shows the direct and moderating effect of the perceived risks between the relationship of the identified factors and organisational adoption of BCT. Based on the findings of the qualitative phase, the thesis develops a theoretical conceptual model, which shows the relationship between the factors and the organisational adoption of BCT. To increase the external validity of the developed conceptual model, the thesis started a quantitative phase with the administration of an online survey for data collection. Certain criteria were set to screen out the irrelevant participants in the survey. During this phase, hypotheses were proposed for the relationship of the factors identified in the qualitative phase and the organisational adoption of BCT. The survey data was analyzed using the PLS Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) technique with the SmartPLS 3 software. The quantitative analysis confirms the findings of the qualitative phase that the perceived benefits, perceived compatibility, perceived information transparency, perceived disintermediation, organisational innovativeness, organisational learning capability, top management support, competitive intensity, government support, and trading partner readiness have a positive effect on the organisational adoption of BCT. Whereas the perceived complexity, standards uncertainty, and perceived risks have a negative effect. The analysis also shows that the moderating effects of perceived risks are significant in the relationship of perceived compatibility, perceived information transparency, perceived disintermediation, organisational innovativeness, organisation innovativeness, competition intensity, and organisational adoption of BCT. Contrary to the qualitative findings, ‘perceived risks’ has no moderating effects on the relationship of perceived benefits, organisational learning capability, top management support, government support, trading partner readiness, and the adoption of BCT. The thesis has both theoretical and practical contributions, which are useful both for theory development and decision-making for the adoption of BCT in Australia. Theoretically, this thesis contributes to the existing IT adoption literature in several ways. Firstly, the thesis provides empirical evidence about the factors affecting organisational adoption of BCT in Australia. This is the first in-depth sequential exploratory mixed methods research that bridges this knowledge gap in the extant literature. The identification of such factors is important, particularly for the Australian government and organisations interested in the value creation of BCT. Second, the thesis reports the effect of new factors, namely, perceived information transparency, perceived disintermediation, organisational innovativeness, organisational learning capability, standards uncertainty, trading partner readiness, and competition intensity on BCT adoption that are exclusively identified in this research. Third, this thesis confirms the findings of the past studies that the factors of perceived benefits and perceived compatibility, perceived complexity, and top management support have an effect on the organisational adoption of BCT. Fourth, according to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first research that has used the qualitative interpretive research approach to investigate the organisational adoption of BCT. Therefore, the thesis confirms the suitability of the qualitative interpretive research approach for BCT adoption. Lastly, most of the researchers have used the TOE framework in either in qualitative or quantitative research. This thesis proves its validity in mixed methods research as well. The thesis's practical contributions are discussed in chapter 7.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Malik, Muhammad Saleem
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Blockchain (BCT) is an emerging technology that promises many benefits for organisations, such as disintermediation, data security, data transparency, a single version of the truth, and trust among trading partners. Despite its multiple benefits, the adoption rate of BCT among organisations has not reached a significantly high level worldwide. The present thesis addresses this issue in the Australian context. There is a knowledge gap in what specific factors, among the plethora of factors reported in the extant scholarly and commercial literature, affect Australian organisations while deciding to adopt BCT. To fill this gap, this thesis uses a mixed-methods approach known as sequential exploratory mixed methods. In this approach, the research starts with a qualitative phase as an initial phase followed by a quantitative phase. During the qualitative phase, data were collected through semi-structured interviews of the BCT experts and decision-makers working with the ifferent Australian organisations that adopted or were in the process of adopting BCT. The Technology, Organisation, Environment (TOE) framework, based on the qualitative interpretative approach, was used as a theoretical lens during the qualitative phase. The qualitative data were analyzed using the thematic analysis technique with the SQR NVivo software. The analysis shows that the different factors, belonging to the technological, organisational, and environmental contexts, affect the organisational decision to adopt BCT in Australia. The technological factors include perceived benefits, perceived computability, perceived complexity, perceived disintermediation, and perceived information transparency; organisational factors are organisational innovativeness, organisational learning capability, top management support; environmental factors consist of government support, standards uncertainty, competition intensity, and trading partners readiness. The qualitative analysis also shows the direct and moderating effect of the perceived risks between the relationship of the identified factors and organisational adoption of BCT. Based on the findings of the qualitative phase, the thesis develops a theoretical conceptual model, which shows the relationship between the factors and the organisational adoption of BCT. To increase the external validity of the developed conceptual model, the thesis started a quantitative phase with the administration of an online survey for data collection. Certain criteria were set to screen out the irrelevant participants in the survey. During this phase, hypotheses were proposed for the relationship of the factors identified in the qualitative phase and the organisational adoption of BCT. The survey data was analyzed using the PLS Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) technique with the SmartPLS 3 software. The quantitative analysis confirms the findings of the qualitative phase that the perceived benefits, perceived compatibility, perceived information transparency, perceived disintermediation, organisational innovativeness, organisational learning capability, top management support, competitive intensity, government support, and trading partner readiness have a positive effect on the organisational adoption of BCT. Whereas the perceived complexity, standards uncertainty, and perceived risks have a negative effect. The analysis also shows that the moderating effects of perceived risks are significant in the relationship of perceived compatibility, perceived information transparency, perceived disintermediation, organisational innovativeness, organisation innovativeness, competition intensity, and organisational adoption of BCT. Contrary to the qualitative findings, ‘perceived risks’ has no moderating effects on the relationship of perceived benefits, organisational learning capability, top management support, government support, trading partner readiness, and the adoption of BCT. The thesis has both theoretical and practical contributions, which are useful both for theory development and decision-making for the adoption of BCT in Australia. Theoretically, this thesis contributes to the existing IT adoption literature in several ways. Firstly, the thesis provides empirical evidence about the factors affecting organisational adoption of BCT in Australia. This is the first in-depth sequential exploratory mixed methods research that bridges this knowledge gap in the extant literature. The identification of such factors is important, particularly for the Australian government and organisations interested in the value creation of BCT. Second, the thesis reports the effect of new factors, namely, perceived information transparency, perceived disintermediation, organisational innovativeness, organisational learning capability, standards uncertainty, trading partner readiness, and competition intensity on BCT adoption that are exclusively identified in this research. Third, this thesis confirms the findings of the past studies that the factors of perceived benefits and perceived compatibility, perceived complexity, and top management support have an effect on the organisational adoption of BCT. Fourth, according to the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first research that has used the qualitative interpretive research approach to investigate the organisational adoption of BCT. Therefore, the thesis confirms the suitability of the qualitative interpretive research approach for BCT adoption. Lastly, most of the researchers have used the TOE framework in either in qualitative or quantitative research. This thesis proves its validity in mixed methods research as well. The thesis's practical contributions are discussed in chapter 7.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Historical mine sites as modern-day sources of contamination : Measurement and characterisation of arsenic in historical gold mine wastes to identify the potential for mobility and human exposure
- Authors: Martin, Rachael
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Centuries of metalliferous mining activities have resulted in a legacy of contamination throughout the world. Unremediated mine wastes and tailings, as well as contaminated soils, water and sediments, represent ongoing sources of environmental degradation and human exposure, long after mine closure and abandonment. Despite global concern over these contaminant sources, there remain uncertainties surrounding the nature of human exposure to mine wastes and their toxicologically relevant characteristics. As urbanisation expands into areas proximal to abandoned mine sites, an understanding of the human-contaminant interface at this boundary is critical for assessing the potential health risks. This thesis addresses this knowledge gap by investigating the importance of particle size as a factor governing the distribution of metals and metalloids in historical gold mine wastes in regional Victoria, Australia, with an emphasis on arsenic as a contaminant of potential concern. By characterising those particle size fractions that are relevant to dust mobilisation and human exposure, this thesis examines the human-contaminant interface using a multi-pathway approach. In particular, this thesis focuses on the potential for exposure via inhalation of mine waste particulates. The outcomes of the studies presented in this body of work demonstrate that historical gold mine wastes in regional Victoria represent a source of readily ingestible and inhalable particulates characterised by extremely elevated levels of arsenic (and other contaminants) well above their bulk (in situ) concentrations. Although lung bioaccessibility testing and mineralogical analyses revealed that most of the arsenic in inhalable dust has been naturally immobilised, the lung-soluble fraction should be considered when undertaking risk assessments for chronic exposure. This thesis provides a framework for the development of targeted management strategies for unremediated historical gold mining wastes in regional Victoria. The findings suggest there is a need for environmental regulations to shift from generic guideline values to exposure-specific guidelines that more accurately reflect the human health risks posed by historical mine sites. This thesis has emphasised the notion that in order for remedial action to accurately match the level of risk, the sourcepathway- receptor linkage must be evaluated using a systematic size-resolved approach.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Martin, Rachael
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Centuries of metalliferous mining activities have resulted in a legacy of contamination throughout the world. Unremediated mine wastes and tailings, as well as contaminated soils, water and sediments, represent ongoing sources of environmental degradation and human exposure, long after mine closure and abandonment. Despite global concern over these contaminant sources, there remain uncertainties surrounding the nature of human exposure to mine wastes and their toxicologically relevant characteristics. As urbanisation expands into areas proximal to abandoned mine sites, an understanding of the human-contaminant interface at this boundary is critical for assessing the potential health risks. This thesis addresses this knowledge gap by investigating the importance of particle size as a factor governing the distribution of metals and metalloids in historical gold mine wastes in regional Victoria, Australia, with an emphasis on arsenic as a contaminant of potential concern. By characterising those particle size fractions that are relevant to dust mobilisation and human exposure, this thesis examines the human-contaminant interface using a multi-pathway approach. In particular, this thesis focuses on the potential for exposure via inhalation of mine waste particulates. The outcomes of the studies presented in this body of work demonstrate that historical gold mine wastes in regional Victoria represent a source of readily ingestible and inhalable particulates characterised by extremely elevated levels of arsenic (and other contaminants) well above their bulk (in situ) concentrations. Although lung bioaccessibility testing and mineralogical analyses revealed that most of the arsenic in inhalable dust has been naturally immobilised, the lung-soluble fraction should be considered when undertaking risk assessments for chronic exposure. This thesis provides a framework for the development of targeted management strategies for unremediated historical gold mining wastes in regional Victoria. The findings suggest there is a need for environmental regulations to shift from generic guideline values to exposure-specific guidelines that more accurately reflect the human health risks posed by historical mine sites. This thesis has emphasised the notion that in order for remedial action to accurately match the level of risk, the sourcepathway- receptor linkage must be evaluated using a systematic size-resolved approach.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The intellectual life of Catherine Helen Spence
- Authors: McFarland, Michele
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis will argue that Catherine Helen Spence, a writer, preacher and reformer who migrated from Scotland to Australia in 1839, performed the role of a public intellectual in Australia similar to that played by a number of women of letters in Victorian England. While her ideas were strongly influenced by important British and European nineteenth-century intellectual figures and movements, as well as by Enlightenment thought, her work also reflects the different socio-political, historical and cultural environment of Australia. These connections and influences can be seen in her engagement with what were some of the "big ideas" of the nineteenth century, including feminism, socialism, religious scepticism, utopianism and the value of progress. In arguing that Spence was a public intellectual, I will consider the ways in which she used the literary genres of fiction and journalism, as well as her sermons, to try to help her fellow citizens make sense of the world, attempting to organise and articulate some of the significant ideas affecting the political, social and cultural climates in which they lived. Through the exploration of Spence's intellectual work, I will show how she can be regarded as making a significant contribution to nineteenth-century Australian intellectual life, one that has been under-recognised and under-valued.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: McFarland, Michele
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis will argue that Catherine Helen Spence, a writer, preacher and reformer who migrated from Scotland to Australia in 1839, performed the role of a public intellectual in Australia similar to that played by a number of women of letters in Victorian England. While her ideas were strongly influenced by important British and European nineteenth-century intellectual figures and movements, as well as by Enlightenment thought, her work also reflects the different socio-political, historical and cultural environment of Australia. These connections and influences can be seen in her engagement with what were some of the "big ideas" of the nineteenth century, including feminism, socialism, religious scepticism, utopianism and the value of progress. In arguing that Spence was a public intellectual, I will consider the ways in which she used the literary genres of fiction and journalism, as well as her sermons, to try to help her fellow citizens make sense of the world, attempting to organise and articulate some of the significant ideas affecting the political, social and cultural climates in which they lived. Through the exploration of Spence's intellectual work, I will show how she can be regarded as making a significant contribution to nineteenth-century Australian intellectual life, one that has been under-recognised and under-valued.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
International students and social connectedness : The role sport can play
- Authors: McLeod, Beth Lauren
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Whilst it is well known that international education is a lucrative industry, what is not so well known is how to continue attracting prospective higher education students to Australia in what has become a competitive global market. Adding concern to Australia’s reputation as an international education provider is the recent research which indicated that international students are dissatisfied with their social experiences while in Australia. This research highlights that international students in Australia are not getting the most value out of their educational sojourn, in part, because of their less than engaging experiences with Australians. As a consequence, one of the main challenges faced by Australia’s international education sector is to create and sustain a positive student experience in order to enhance Australia’s reputation as an education provider, be fair to the students and remain competitive in this valuable industry. Developing stronger social connections appears to be an important factor for creating a positive international student experience, and a case can be made to consider the role of sport as a potential strategy for enhancing the international student experience. In particular, sports participation and spectatorship may be possible vectors for enhancing international students’ social connections with Australians because of the opportunity provided for personal interaction. To date, there is a relative lack of research that has investigated this relationship. This Australian-based study aimed to bridge this knowledge gap by focusing on three key areas: (1) to determine whether there was a relationship between sports participation and social connectedness, and if this relationship was influenced by the students’ type and level of sports participation; (2) to determine whether there was a relationship between sport spectatorship and social connectedness, and if the context of sport spectatorship influenced this relationship; and, (3) to determine whether there was a relationship between sport spectatorship and sports participation, particularly from the perspective of international students in Australia. ii The investigation used a mixed methods approach, which combined quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, in a sequential manner. The first phase involved the collection of questionnaire data. Subsequently, these quantitative findings were used to frame the qualitative interview themes and foci. Through this process, greater depth and personal perspectives were added to the initial findings to enrich understanding of various elements of the investigation. Qualitatively the overarching premise as to why a quantitative relationship existed between sports participation and social connectedness (p<0.0001) was that sporting involvement enabled close proximity to the Australian people, who the students perceived to be highly active in sport. The qualitative findings also supported the quantitative finding for the second research sub-question indicating that spectatorship was related to social connectedness (p<0.0001). According to the qualitative results spectatorship was deemed to be one of the best ways for students to connect with Australian people. The students explained this was possible because spectatorship provided them with an easy and relaxed way to connect to people, particularly Australian people and in a casual environment. Three underlying themes explained why spectatorship was perceived to provide this unique environment and connection opportunity. These were (1) spectatorship is a universal and inclusive leisure activity; (2) spectatorship connects people; and (3) Australia has a strong sporting culture. The quantitative results from the third research sub-question revealed a relationship between spectatorship and sports participation (p<0.0001) and the qualitative interview data enriched this finding. The interview data indicated that students considered spectatorship as a driver for their sports participation. Students revealed that spectatorship helped them increase their level of sports participation, and to feel included in sport even without physical involvement. The qualitative results from this study suggest spectatorship plays a more important role than sports participation for international students in developing social connections with Australian people. Results revealed that increased involvement in sports participation and spectatorship enhanced students’ understanding of the Australian language and culture, assisting them iii to develop and maintain meaningful friendships in their host country. This finding indicates that sport may be a unique way for international students to achieve the connections they desire with Australians. The value of both sports participation and spectatorship for international students is evident. Accordingly it is recommended that Australian educational institutions offer sporting opportunities specifically for international students, and thus contribute positively to a rewarding and lasting educational experience.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: McLeod, Beth Lauren
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Whilst it is well known that international education is a lucrative industry, what is not so well known is how to continue attracting prospective higher education students to Australia in what has become a competitive global market. Adding concern to Australia’s reputation as an international education provider is the recent research which indicated that international students are dissatisfied with their social experiences while in Australia. This research highlights that international students in Australia are not getting the most value out of their educational sojourn, in part, because of their less than engaging experiences with Australians. As a consequence, one of the main challenges faced by Australia’s international education sector is to create and sustain a positive student experience in order to enhance Australia’s reputation as an education provider, be fair to the students and remain competitive in this valuable industry. Developing stronger social connections appears to be an important factor for creating a positive international student experience, and a case can be made to consider the role of sport as a potential strategy for enhancing the international student experience. In particular, sports participation and spectatorship may be possible vectors for enhancing international students’ social connections with Australians because of the opportunity provided for personal interaction. To date, there is a relative lack of research that has investigated this relationship. This Australian-based study aimed to bridge this knowledge gap by focusing on three key areas: (1) to determine whether there was a relationship between sports participation and social connectedness, and if this relationship was influenced by the students’ type and level of sports participation; (2) to determine whether there was a relationship between sport spectatorship and social connectedness, and if the context of sport spectatorship influenced this relationship; and, (3) to determine whether there was a relationship between sport spectatorship and sports participation, particularly from the perspective of international students in Australia. ii The investigation used a mixed methods approach, which combined quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, in a sequential manner. The first phase involved the collection of questionnaire data. Subsequently, these quantitative findings were used to frame the qualitative interview themes and foci. Through this process, greater depth and personal perspectives were added to the initial findings to enrich understanding of various elements of the investigation. Qualitatively the overarching premise as to why a quantitative relationship existed between sports participation and social connectedness (p<0.0001) was that sporting involvement enabled close proximity to the Australian people, who the students perceived to be highly active in sport. The qualitative findings also supported the quantitative finding for the second research sub-question indicating that spectatorship was related to social connectedness (p<0.0001). According to the qualitative results spectatorship was deemed to be one of the best ways for students to connect with Australian people. The students explained this was possible because spectatorship provided them with an easy and relaxed way to connect to people, particularly Australian people and in a casual environment. Three underlying themes explained why spectatorship was perceived to provide this unique environment and connection opportunity. These were (1) spectatorship is a universal and inclusive leisure activity; (2) spectatorship connects people; and (3) Australia has a strong sporting culture. The quantitative results from the third research sub-question revealed a relationship between spectatorship and sports participation (p<0.0001) and the qualitative interview data enriched this finding. The interview data indicated that students considered spectatorship as a driver for their sports participation. Students revealed that spectatorship helped them increase their level of sports participation, and to feel included in sport even without physical involvement. The qualitative results from this study suggest spectatorship plays a more important role than sports participation for international students in developing social connections with Australian people. Results revealed that increased involvement in sports participation and spectatorship enhanced students’ understanding of the Australian language and culture, assisting them iii to develop and maintain meaningful friendships in their host country. This finding indicates that sport may be a unique way for international students to achieve the connections they desire with Australians. The value of both sports participation and spectatorship for international students is evident. Accordingly it is recommended that Australian educational institutions offer sporting opportunities specifically for international students, and thus contribute positively to a rewarding and lasting educational experience.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A philosophical analysis of the functions and operation of due process in accounting standard setting in Australia
- Authors: Mehta, Surinder
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The setting of accounting standards in the Australian context has undergone significant change over the past few decades because of both the introduction of international accounting standards and the outcomes of the Corporate Law Economic Reform Program (CLERP). One major thrust of these reforms was to widen the breadth of participation and to introduce new voices into the Australian accounting standard setting regime. Though there have been recent changes to Australian accounting standard setting arrangements, due process still remains as the underlying procedure for incorporating stakeholder participation. Standard setting resides within a socio-political and economic realm which lies between a capitalistic economic individualism premised upon self-interest and interest group preferences, and an idealistic paradigm of the public interest (common good). Both notions are espoused within modern civil society and present in the formulation of policy and regulation through participation. Recent times have seen the promulgation of accounting standards given over by delegated legislation to private sector interests who compete for desired outcomes and more recently this has been entrenched within the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) which produces International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This research presents a two-fold investigation of the due process which is applied when developing accounting standards in Australia. Firstly, this study questions whether such standards provide an adequate avenue for incorporating both appropriate attributes of participation and accountability in line with the historical understanding of due process as developed through common law. Secondly, this study questions whether such standards provide an appropriate vehicle for widening participation by introducing new voices into the Australian accounting standard setting process. On the former question, common law due process resonates within a paradigm that supports fair dealing and equity between individuals with themselves and with government. On the latter question, this research identifies low and declining stakeholder participation within the due process of accounting standard setting. This is accompanied by the declining interest of previous major participants. In examining the longitudinal participation trends of submitters to the accounting standard setting regime, this research contends that the due process finds itself embedded within the confines of a procedural construct to the detriment of accommodating natural justice through a more enlightened substantive approach. As such, when considered in light of its common law roots, it fails both to provide an adequate level of openness along with accommodating only a limited opportunity to participate, specifically when taking into account opinions and interests. The very construct of common law due process rests upon its ability both to subsume participation within the decision-making process, and for that participation to be substantive in the outcome of the process. That is, such participation gives meaning to the outcome. Instead the current due process as applied within the accounting standard setting environment resonates such participation through abolitionist type approaches. Here self-interested parties compete for advantages from property rights and private benefits in line with the more modern interpretation of the public interest. The approach taken in this thesis is to consider the due process from a philosophical perspective by assessing the questions of accountability and participation within the due process in terms of civil society, the public good, economic individualism, libertarianism, liberalism, and agency, rather than to embed the discussion within the expansive existing studies concerning due process in the accounting standard setting process. The conclusion from this perspective is that due process is clearly a process past its due date.
- Description: Masters by Research
- Authors: Mehta, Surinder
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The setting of accounting standards in the Australian context has undergone significant change over the past few decades because of both the introduction of international accounting standards and the outcomes of the Corporate Law Economic Reform Program (CLERP). One major thrust of these reforms was to widen the breadth of participation and to introduce new voices into the Australian accounting standard setting regime. Though there have been recent changes to Australian accounting standard setting arrangements, due process still remains as the underlying procedure for incorporating stakeholder participation. Standard setting resides within a socio-political and economic realm which lies between a capitalistic economic individualism premised upon self-interest and interest group preferences, and an idealistic paradigm of the public interest (common good). Both notions are espoused within modern civil society and present in the formulation of policy and regulation through participation. Recent times have seen the promulgation of accounting standards given over by delegated legislation to private sector interests who compete for desired outcomes and more recently this has been entrenched within the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) which produces International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This research presents a two-fold investigation of the due process which is applied when developing accounting standards in Australia. Firstly, this study questions whether such standards provide an adequate avenue for incorporating both appropriate attributes of participation and accountability in line with the historical understanding of due process as developed through common law. Secondly, this study questions whether such standards provide an appropriate vehicle for widening participation by introducing new voices into the Australian accounting standard setting process. On the former question, common law due process resonates within a paradigm that supports fair dealing and equity between individuals with themselves and with government. On the latter question, this research identifies low and declining stakeholder participation within the due process of accounting standard setting. This is accompanied by the declining interest of previous major participants. In examining the longitudinal participation trends of submitters to the accounting standard setting regime, this research contends that the due process finds itself embedded within the confines of a procedural construct to the detriment of accommodating natural justice through a more enlightened substantive approach. As such, when considered in light of its common law roots, it fails both to provide an adequate level of openness along with accommodating only a limited opportunity to participate, specifically when taking into account opinions and interests. The very construct of common law due process rests upon its ability both to subsume participation within the decision-making process, and for that participation to be substantive in the outcome of the process. That is, such participation gives meaning to the outcome. Instead the current due process as applied within the accounting standard setting environment resonates such participation through abolitionist type approaches. Here self-interested parties compete for advantages from property rights and private benefits in line with the more modern interpretation of the public interest. The approach taken in this thesis is to consider the due process from a philosophical perspective by assessing the questions of accountability and participation within the due process in terms of civil society, the public good, economic individualism, libertarianism, liberalism, and agency, rather than to embed the discussion within the expansive existing studies concerning due process in the accounting standard setting process. The conclusion from this perspective is that due process is clearly a process past its due date.
- Description: Masters by Research
Managed identities : How do Australian university students who stutter negotiate their studies?
- Authors: Meredith, Grant
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Previous social research focused on people who stutter has problematised and largely ignored the experiences of university students who stutter, relying heavily upon surveys of teachers and peers while almost ignoring the authentic voices of students who stutter. Using a novel bricolage approach incorporating autoethnography, this project posed the question: “How do students who stutter negotiate their university experiences in Australia?” In 2008, a unique, web-based audit of 39 Australian public universities concluded that little publicly accessible information about stuttering support services was available for prospective university students. In many ways, stuttering is absent from disability classifications and service systems in higher education. An online survey of 102 Australian university students who stutter, and follow-up individual interviews with 15 students, revealed how these students manage their social identities from enrolment through to graduation. Only a minority of students reported ever formally disclosing their functional impairment to university support services or academic staff. This meant they rejected and/or avoided the disability label and associated stigma. The students were found to exercise a high degree of individual agency and creativity throughout their university journey. Many employed ‘concessional bargaining’ techniques to effectively navigate the oral assessment requirements during their degrees. Analysis of the interview and survey data is interspersed with critical self-reflection by the author – as a university lecturer who himself stutters. This thesis makes a significant contribution to shaping our understanding of the social identities and trajectories of university students who stutter. These students have been recast as positive, purposeful, resourceful and creative agents whose actions can be largely understood from a social model of disability. A series of recommendations for supporting and teaching these students are made to key stakeholders in higher education.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Meredith, Grant
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Previous social research focused on people who stutter has problematised and largely ignored the experiences of university students who stutter, relying heavily upon surveys of teachers and peers while almost ignoring the authentic voices of students who stutter. Using a novel bricolage approach incorporating autoethnography, this project posed the question: “How do students who stutter negotiate their university experiences in Australia?” In 2008, a unique, web-based audit of 39 Australian public universities concluded that little publicly accessible information about stuttering support services was available for prospective university students. In many ways, stuttering is absent from disability classifications and service systems in higher education. An online survey of 102 Australian university students who stutter, and follow-up individual interviews with 15 students, revealed how these students manage their social identities from enrolment through to graduation. Only a minority of students reported ever formally disclosing their functional impairment to university support services or academic staff. This meant they rejected and/or avoided the disability label and associated stigma. The students were found to exercise a high degree of individual agency and creativity throughout their university journey. Many employed ‘concessional bargaining’ techniques to effectively navigate the oral assessment requirements during their degrees. Analysis of the interview and survey data is interspersed with critical self-reflection by the author – as a university lecturer who himself stutters. This thesis makes a significant contribution to shaping our understanding of the social identities and trajectories of university students who stutter. These students have been recast as positive, purposeful, resourceful and creative agents whose actions can be largely understood from a social model of disability. A series of recommendations for supporting and teaching these students are made to key stakeholders in higher education.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Ageing under the rainbow : The interrelations between age, sense of belonging, and mental health among Australian gay men
- Authors: Morris, Simon
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This research investigated the interrelations between gay men’s age, sense of belonging (to the general community, the broader gay community, gay groups and with gay friends) and mental health by testing four models: direct, mediation, additive and moderation.
- Description: Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)
- Authors: Morris, Simon
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This research investigated the interrelations between gay men’s age, sense of belonging (to the general community, the broader gay community, gay groups and with gay friends) and mental health by testing four models: direct, mediation, additive and moderation.
- Description: Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)
A conceptual re-alignment of methodology underpinning tax effect accounting : An Australian exploration of the contemporary normalising effect
- Authors: Morton, Elizabeth
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This research examines the presence and effectiveness of the ‘normalising effect’, traditionally offered as the main justification for tax effect accounting’s (TEA) adoption. TEA can be seen as a technical facet of accounting practice, ‘normalising’ the timing differences between the accounting and taxation systems. That is, income tax is recognised according to when transactions are recognised for accounting purposes in order to ‘normalise’ reported profits, thereby reflecting an income statement focus. It has been contended that this will improve the usefulness of financial reports by ‘correcting’ misleading and ‘unreal’ fluctuations in income tax. Australia’s adoption of AIFRS in 2005 entailed a major conceptual re-alignment of the methodology underpinning TEA, moving away from the income statement focus in favour of a balance sheet focus. This implied a different normalisation emphasis. It is within this contemporary setting, based on a study of 90 companies over the two regulatory periods between 2002 and 2011 (AGAAP and AIFRS), that a quantitative measure of the presence and effectiveness of the normalising effect was undertaken, additionally considering the subsequent balance sheet impact. Effective normalisation was revealed during the AGAAP period, whilst only effective after the removal of loss makers during the AIFRS period. These findings suggest that the relaxation of recognition criteria under AIFRS may have had a meaningful impact on the effectiveness of the new standard. However, when normalisation was given a more narrow definition in light of prima facie tax, deferred taxes had a more substantial impact, particularly during the AIFRS period. Such findings are consistent with the notion thatTEA enables reported tax to be ‘as if’ it were a function of accounting, without a substantial build up on the balance sheet as a consequence. These findings have implications for evaluating the efficacy of TEA and comprehending the nature of contemporary financial statements.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Morton, Elizabeth
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This research examines the presence and effectiveness of the ‘normalising effect’, traditionally offered as the main justification for tax effect accounting’s (TEA) adoption. TEA can be seen as a technical facet of accounting practice, ‘normalising’ the timing differences between the accounting and taxation systems. That is, income tax is recognised according to when transactions are recognised for accounting purposes in order to ‘normalise’ reported profits, thereby reflecting an income statement focus. It has been contended that this will improve the usefulness of financial reports by ‘correcting’ misleading and ‘unreal’ fluctuations in income tax. Australia’s adoption of AIFRS in 2005 entailed a major conceptual re-alignment of the methodology underpinning TEA, moving away from the income statement focus in favour of a balance sheet focus. This implied a different normalisation emphasis. It is within this contemporary setting, based on a study of 90 companies over the two regulatory periods between 2002 and 2011 (AGAAP and AIFRS), that a quantitative measure of the presence and effectiveness of the normalising effect was undertaken, additionally considering the subsequent balance sheet impact. Effective normalisation was revealed during the AGAAP period, whilst only effective after the removal of loss makers during the AIFRS period. These findings suggest that the relaxation of recognition criteria under AIFRS may have had a meaningful impact on the effectiveness of the new standard. However, when normalisation was given a more narrow definition in light of prima facie tax, deferred taxes had a more substantial impact, particularly during the AIFRS period. Such findings are consistent with the notion thatTEA enables reported tax to be ‘as if’ it were a function of accounting, without a substantial build up on the balance sheet as a consequence. These findings have implications for evaluating the efficacy of TEA and comprehending the nature of contemporary financial statements.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A financial stress index to model and forecast financial stress in Australia
- Authors: Mukulu, Sandra
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The series of financial crises that cascaded through and rocked much of the world over the past decade created opportunities to draw meaning from the pattern of countries succumbing to crisis and those who appear to be wholly or partially immune. This thesis examines the case of Australia, a developed country that has seldom experienced an endogenous crisis in the last few decades, but has experienced crisis by contagion. This study designs a financial stress index to measure and forecast the health of the Australian economy and proposes a custom-made stress index to: Gauge the potential for a crisis; and Signal when a timely intervention may minimise fear and contagion losses in the Australian financial market. Financial and economic data is used to design indicators for stress in the banking sector and equity, currency and bond markets. Further, this study explores how movements in equity markets of key trading partners of Australia can be used to predict movements in the Australian equity market. The variance-equal weights (VEW) and principal components approach (PCA) are used to subsume 22 stress indicators into a composite stress index. The VEW and PCA stress indexes were examined to determine monitoring and their forecasting capabilities. It was found that the VEW stress index performed better than the PCA stress index, because it provided more consistent estimates for the level of Australian financial stress. Although, both models show some promise, each model fell short of giving adequate forecasts in financial stress especially at the peak time of the 2007-2009 GFC. Thus, more research is needed to understand the complex nature of financial crisis, how crises develop and the techniques that can be used to predict the onset of financial crises.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Mukulu, Sandra
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The series of financial crises that cascaded through and rocked much of the world over the past decade created opportunities to draw meaning from the pattern of countries succumbing to crisis and those who appear to be wholly or partially immune. This thesis examines the case of Australia, a developed country that has seldom experienced an endogenous crisis in the last few decades, but has experienced crisis by contagion. This study designs a financial stress index to measure and forecast the health of the Australian economy and proposes a custom-made stress index to: Gauge the potential for a crisis; and Signal when a timely intervention may minimise fear and contagion losses in the Australian financial market. Financial and economic data is used to design indicators for stress in the banking sector and equity, currency and bond markets. Further, this study explores how movements in equity markets of key trading partners of Australia can be used to predict movements in the Australian equity market. The variance-equal weights (VEW) and principal components approach (PCA) are used to subsume 22 stress indicators into a composite stress index. The VEW and PCA stress indexes were examined to determine monitoring and their forecasting capabilities. It was found that the VEW stress index performed better than the PCA stress index, because it provided more consistent estimates for the level of Australian financial stress. Although, both models show some promise, each model fell short of giving adequate forecasts in financial stress especially at the peak time of the 2007-2009 GFC. Thus, more research is needed to understand the complex nature of financial crisis, how crises develop and the techniques that can be used to predict the onset of financial crises.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Ergonomics interventions as investments in occupational health and safety : A selected series of case studies within the Australian postal corporation
- Authors: Nelson, David
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis examines and reports upon the application of ergonomics interventions to OHS-based industrial problems. The study focuses on the values of these interventions as investment opportunieties for management. A wide review of the scientific and commercial literature, personal information, observation techniques, and a selected series of seven case studies and eleven separate data-sets within the Australian Postal Corporation have been undertaken.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Nelson, David
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis examines and reports upon the application of ergonomics interventions to OHS-based industrial problems. The study focuses on the values of these interventions as investment opportunieties for management. A wide review of the scientific and commercial literature, personal information, observation techniques, and a selected series of seven case studies and eleven separate data-sets within the Australian Postal Corporation have been undertaken.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Percy : A life in China - The life and times of Percy Nettle : 1886-1964
- Authors: Nettle, Rodney
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis is about the transnational life of Percival Edward Nettle (1886-1964), a young man born in Ballarat who moved from Australia to Shanghai at the end of 1906 on his way to San Francisco. He never did get to San Francisco but lived in and out of China until he died in 1964. This thesis tells his story and also addresses the perennial human management problem of achieving a co-operative fit between people from different cultural backgrounds. Percy Nettle achieved this fit with the Chinese through developing an exceptional rapport with Chinese people from the time he commenced working with them in 1907 on engineering projects, and later during and through wars and other civil engagements. He was a great success in China, the key to which was his skill with the language and later from his ability to culturally adapt and empathise with the people in the environments in which he was living at the time. Percy also found that his ‘Wesleyan’ approach to people conveniently dovetailed with the ‘Confucian’ values approach of the Chinese. Percy was able to communicate with Chinese people from Viceroys to infantry men and bandits and could win their trust regardless of social levels. Percy documented his ‘fitting in’ experience with the Chinese in his diaries, letters and journals over a fifty-five-year period until his death in Hong Kong in 1964. The analysis and contextualisation of his original records form the basis of this thesis and what is learned from this study of his exceptional life is the importance of achieving a very high level of cultural empathy and understanding with the people we deal with beginning with learning how to speak with them in their own language. Percy was also able to demonstrate the universal efficacy of strong ethical values even when they are transposed from one cultural setting to another.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Nettle, Rodney
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis is about the transnational life of Percival Edward Nettle (1886-1964), a young man born in Ballarat who moved from Australia to Shanghai at the end of 1906 on his way to San Francisco. He never did get to San Francisco but lived in and out of China until he died in 1964. This thesis tells his story and also addresses the perennial human management problem of achieving a co-operative fit between people from different cultural backgrounds. Percy Nettle achieved this fit with the Chinese through developing an exceptional rapport with Chinese people from the time he commenced working with them in 1907 on engineering projects, and later during and through wars and other civil engagements. He was a great success in China, the key to which was his skill with the language and later from his ability to culturally adapt and empathise with the people in the environments in which he was living at the time. Percy also found that his ‘Wesleyan’ approach to people conveniently dovetailed with the ‘Confucian’ values approach of the Chinese. Percy was able to communicate with Chinese people from Viceroys to infantry men and bandits and could win their trust regardless of social levels. Percy documented his ‘fitting in’ experience with the Chinese in his diaries, letters and journals over a fifty-five-year period until his death in Hong Kong in 1964. The analysis and contextualisation of his original records form the basis of this thesis and what is learned from this study of his exceptional life is the importance of achieving a very high level of cultural empathy and understanding with the people we deal with beginning with learning how to speak with them in their own language. Percy was also able to demonstrate the universal efficacy of strong ethical values even when they are transposed from one cultural setting to another.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Exploring youth perceptions of school (dis)engagement and absence in Hepburn Shire
- Authors: O'Loughlan, Courtney
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis examines the educational experiences of some young people living in the Hepburn Shire, a Local Government Area (LGA) in the Central Highlands of Victoria. These young people were in various stages of disengaging from the mainstream education on offer in the shire. The research came about via consultation between the secondary school and Federation University in response to data from the Department of Education and Training (DET) showing that the Hepburn area had the lowest school attendance figures of the eleven LGA’s in the Grampians region. The school was interested in the reasons behind the lower figures and sought to gather some further information which might shed light on the experiences of young people who had difficulty in connecting, or staying connected to, school. It was hoped that the resultant findings would inform the approach taken by the schools in offering appropriate programs to support people to re-engage with school. Thus, the research question underpinning this research is: What are the key reasons that school attendance has been identified as being lower in the Hepburn Shire Local Government Area than in other parts of the Grampians region? A critical ethnographic study was undertaken comprised of participant observation, facilitated by the researcher being situated within the school, and a series of semi-structured interviews conducted with young people (of secondary school age), families, teachers, Principals, support staff including welfare providers and a selection of other professionals working with youth and their families in the Hepburn Shire. The study revealed a complexity within the Hepburn community, where a rich diversity of views about child-raising and education was present. Such views spanned philosophies about ‘unschooling’, the benefits of home-schooling, and a sense of permissiveness about not attending school each day. Further, there seemed to be a tendency within the school (both by teachers and other professionals working with youth) to talk about disengaged students and families of nonattending students in terms of deficit: there was something lacking with them, parenting skills, work ethic, behavioural or emotional regulation, that was viewed as contributing to the students’ poor attendance. Finally, the centrality of the teacher-student relationship to both student engagement and disengagement was evident in the conversations with young people and their families. Building respectful, reciprocal relationships with at least one key member of staff seems to be a major protective factor against disengagement. And further, seems to be a pre-requisite for those students who are entering the school for the first time, or who are re-entering after a significant absence.
- Description: Masters by Research
- Authors: O'Loughlan, Courtney
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis examines the educational experiences of some young people living in the Hepburn Shire, a Local Government Area (LGA) in the Central Highlands of Victoria. These young people were in various stages of disengaging from the mainstream education on offer in the shire. The research came about via consultation between the secondary school and Federation University in response to data from the Department of Education and Training (DET) showing that the Hepburn area had the lowest school attendance figures of the eleven LGA’s in the Grampians region. The school was interested in the reasons behind the lower figures and sought to gather some further information which might shed light on the experiences of young people who had difficulty in connecting, or staying connected to, school. It was hoped that the resultant findings would inform the approach taken by the schools in offering appropriate programs to support people to re-engage with school. Thus, the research question underpinning this research is: What are the key reasons that school attendance has been identified as being lower in the Hepburn Shire Local Government Area than in other parts of the Grampians region? A critical ethnographic study was undertaken comprised of participant observation, facilitated by the researcher being situated within the school, and a series of semi-structured interviews conducted with young people (of secondary school age), families, teachers, Principals, support staff including welfare providers and a selection of other professionals working with youth and their families in the Hepburn Shire. The study revealed a complexity within the Hepburn community, where a rich diversity of views about child-raising and education was present. Such views spanned philosophies about ‘unschooling’, the benefits of home-schooling, and a sense of permissiveness about not attending school each day. Further, there seemed to be a tendency within the school (both by teachers and other professionals working with youth) to talk about disengaged students and families of nonattending students in terms of deficit: there was something lacking with them, parenting skills, work ethic, behavioural or emotional regulation, that was viewed as contributing to the students’ poor attendance. Finally, the centrality of the teacher-student relationship to both student engagement and disengagement was evident in the conversations with young people and their families. Building respectful, reciprocal relationships with at least one key member of staff seems to be a major protective factor against disengagement. And further, seems to be a pre-requisite for those students who are entering the school for the first time, or who are re-entering after a significant absence.
- Description: Masters by Research
Motion picture production : A micro-budget model
- Authors: Owen, Richard
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The film industry plays an important cultural and economic role in Australia. However, the film industry in Australia has struggled for many years under a subsidy-driven government intervention process that creates a high degree of dependence on a subsidy-centric model. Motion picture production costs worldwide have risen dramatically over the last decade with Hollywood production budgets commonly exceeding $100 million. Australia as a nation has a proven capability to produce respectable motion pictures at varying production budgets, although this capacity has become entrenched with taxpayers’ money. Historically, subsidy-driven industries in Australia trend towards collapse due primarily to cyclical fiscal deficits and changing funding imperatives at the Commonwealth level. As a PhD by exegesis, the focus of this research was to create, as well as evaluate, a new model of film production that would not be dependent on subsidies. This study evaluated a number of factors that were relevant to establishing a viable micro-budget model. Micro-budget films have received little research attention, with the focus being on major films. This research examined an alternative model, through the creation of a feature-length micro-budget film, called Stakes, and assessed it across a range of criterion to determine whether Australia’s film industry could be strengthened and potentially become self-sufficient. The resulting motion picture premièred in Australian cinemas on October 29th 2015. The justification, methods and results are discussed in detail throughout this exegesis providing strong evidence in favour of the viability for a micro-budget segment in the Australian film industry. Such a model could reduce the risk of Australia’s film industry collapsing if subsidies are reduced or abolished. Thus, this research has significant implications for Australia’s film industry and also contributes strongly to scholarship through providing crucial information on micro-budget films.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Owen, Richard
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The film industry plays an important cultural and economic role in Australia. However, the film industry in Australia has struggled for many years under a subsidy-driven government intervention process that creates a high degree of dependence on a subsidy-centric model. Motion picture production costs worldwide have risen dramatically over the last decade with Hollywood production budgets commonly exceeding $100 million. Australia as a nation has a proven capability to produce respectable motion pictures at varying production budgets, although this capacity has become entrenched with taxpayers’ money. Historically, subsidy-driven industries in Australia trend towards collapse due primarily to cyclical fiscal deficits and changing funding imperatives at the Commonwealth level. As a PhD by exegesis, the focus of this research was to create, as well as evaluate, a new model of film production that would not be dependent on subsidies. This study evaluated a number of factors that were relevant to establishing a viable micro-budget model. Micro-budget films have received little research attention, with the focus being on major films. This research examined an alternative model, through the creation of a feature-length micro-budget film, called Stakes, and assessed it across a range of criterion to determine whether Australia’s film industry could be strengthened and potentially become self-sufficient. The resulting motion picture premièred in Australian cinemas on October 29th 2015. The justification, methods and results are discussed in detail throughout this exegesis providing strong evidence in favour of the viability for a micro-budget segment in the Australian film industry. Such a model could reduce the risk of Australia’s film industry collapsing if subsidies are reduced or abolished. Thus, this research has significant implications for Australia’s film industry and also contributes strongly to scholarship through providing crucial information on micro-budget films.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Injury epidemiology among Australian female cricketers
- Authors: Perera, Nirmala
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Cricket is a male-dominated sport; however, its popularity among females is increasing. Like other sports, participation in cricket poses the risk of injury to players. Injury problems for female cricketers are virtually unknown, as studies examining cricket injuries include almost exclusively male participants. In other sports, the types of injuries experienced by men and women are known to be different. Therefore, a clear understanding of the extent and types of injuries sustained by female cricket players is required, to underpin appropriately targeted injury prevention strategies. This thesis provides the first detailed epidemiological profile of cricket injuries sustained by women, by: 1. conducting a systematic review describing injuries in competitive team bat or stick sports in women, to enable cricket injuries to be viewed within the perspective of wider, but relevant, injury data, 2. evaluating existing data sources relating to hospital admissions from Victoria and Queensland and successful insurance claims across Australia, 3. examining the nature and incidence of cricket injuries in elite female players using Cricket Australia’s Athlete Management System, and 4. conducting a nationwide self-report survey of injuries during the 2014–15 season. This PhD research represents participants from different levels of play, across age groups and across Australia. The findings indicate that incidence of injuries for female cricketers were higher than expected based on previous findings in comparable sports, except when considered in relation to insurance claims. The cricket injury rate across hospital presentations, insurance claims, the AMS (Fair Play AMS 2016) and self-reported survey data, each of which represents different level of the sports injury pyramid, identified all-rounders and pace bowlers as having a higher incidence of injury than players in other positions. The highest frequency of reported injuries were in the head, hands, knees and ankles. The nature of the most common injuries were dislocations/sprains/strains, fractures, muscle injury, joint injury and gradual onset injuries. At the elite-level, lumber spine stress fractures accounted for a significant amount of time-loss from the sport. In this thesis, findings from the insurance claims, self-reported survey and AMS (Fair Play AMS 2016) data indicated that most injuries were of a low severity and were more likely to be treated outside of healthcare facilities such as hospitals. In summary, patterns of the most common injuries, in terms of anatomical location and nature of the injuries, were consistent throughout community-level players with some similarities to elite-level players. However, the injury mechanisms and risk factors may differ depending on the level of competition and player’s skill. Recommendations are that ongoing injury surveillance should be conducted at all levels of the sport, and surveillance methodology should be tailored to the specific setting, personnel and available resources. Therefore, before implementing an injury surveillance system at the community-level of the sport, more research is needed to fully understand what type of injury surveillance system might be feasible and suitable in this context.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Perera, Nirmala
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Cricket is a male-dominated sport; however, its popularity among females is increasing. Like other sports, participation in cricket poses the risk of injury to players. Injury problems for female cricketers are virtually unknown, as studies examining cricket injuries include almost exclusively male participants. In other sports, the types of injuries experienced by men and women are known to be different. Therefore, a clear understanding of the extent and types of injuries sustained by female cricket players is required, to underpin appropriately targeted injury prevention strategies. This thesis provides the first detailed epidemiological profile of cricket injuries sustained by women, by: 1. conducting a systematic review describing injuries in competitive team bat or stick sports in women, to enable cricket injuries to be viewed within the perspective of wider, but relevant, injury data, 2. evaluating existing data sources relating to hospital admissions from Victoria and Queensland and successful insurance claims across Australia, 3. examining the nature and incidence of cricket injuries in elite female players using Cricket Australia’s Athlete Management System, and 4. conducting a nationwide self-report survey of injuries during the 2014–15 season. This PhD research represents participants from different levels of play, across age groups and across Australia. The findings indicate that incidence of injuries for female cricketers were higher than expected based on previous findings in comparable sports, except when considered in relation to insurance claims. The cricket injury rate across hospital presentations, insurance claims, the AMS (Fair Play AMS 2016) and self-reported survey data, each of which represents different level of the sports injury pyramid, identified all-rounders and pace bowlers as having a higher incidence of injury than players in other positions. The highest frequency of reported injuries were in the head, hands, knees and ankles. The nature of the most common injuries were dislocations/sprains/strains, fractures, muscle injury, joint injury and gradual onset injuries. At the elite-level, lumber spine stress fractures accounted for a significant amount of time-loss from the sport. In this thesis, findings from the insurance claims, self-reported survey and AMS (Fair Play AMS 2016) data indicated that most injuries were of a low severity and were more likely to be treated outside of healthcare facilities such as hospitals. In summary, patterns of the most common injuries, in terms of anatomical location and nature of the injuries, were consistent throughout community-level players with some similarities to elite-level players. However, the injury mechanisms and risk factors may differ depending on the level of competition and player’s skill. Recommendations are that ongoing injury surveillance should be conducted at all levels of the sport, and surveillance methodology should be tailored to the specific setting, personnel and available resources. Therefore, before implementing an injury surveillance system at the community-level of the sport, more research is needed to fully understand what type of injury surveillance system might be feasible and suitable in this context.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Progressive rebels of Boy's Own Adventure? The 1935 Australian Cricket tour of India; breaking down social and racial barriers
- Authors: Ponsford, Megan
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: In October 1935, a touring party embarked on the inaugural tour of India by an Australian cricket team. To a great, and somewhat stereotypical, extent popular representations of IndianeAustralian relations are viewed through the lens of cricket – the national game in both countries. This dissertation about a significant, yet overlooked, chapter in sporting history examines the Australian cricketers’ response to the social, racial and political hierarchies of lateecolonial India. The experience of the touring party encouraged a reeimagining of ideological perspectives and this thesis identifies a uniquely Australian subjectivity to the British colonisation of India. The tour between the colony (India) and the dominion (Australia) can be interpreted as an antie imperial gesture. Both countries were attempting to forge relationships that would be independent from Britain. The role of cricket, itself experiencing a renaissance during the 1930s as it transformed from a largely amateur pursuit to an increasingly professional occupation is interrogated. As part of this transformation international cricket positioned itself as an increasingly politicised global entity within the broader turbulence of the firstehalf of the twentieth century. All those involved in the tour are now dead. However a close historical analysis of previously lost, highly personalised, primary material (letters, manuscripts, photographs and cricket ephemera) enables an interpretation of the players’ experience. This thesis argues that sporting events can be interpreted as cultural ciphers yet scholars and the wider sportsewriting community have neglected the historical significance of the 1935/36 tour. The unofficial status of the tour and its highly professional emphasis alienated it from the amateur ideals of Australian cricket. This transnational, multiedisciplinary approach addresses a lacunae in the professional trajectory of cricket. It also provides a new understanding and historical counter narrative of idetwentieth century IndianeAustralian sporting history and cultural exchange.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Ponsford, Megan
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: In October 1935, a touring party embarked on the inaugural tour of India by an Australian cricket team. To a great, and somewhat stereotypical, extent popular representations of IndianeAustralian relations are viewed through the lens of cricket – the national game in both countries. This dissertation about a significant, yet overlooked, chapter in sporting history examines the Australian cricketers’ response to the social, racial and political hierarchies of lateecolonial India. The experience of the touring party encouraged a reeimagining of ideological perspectives and this thesis identifies a uniquely Australian subjectivity to the British colonisation of India. The tour between the colony (India) and the dominion (Australia) can be interpreted as an antie imperial gesture. Both countries were attempting to forge relationships that would be independent from Britain. The role of cricket, itself experiencing a renaissance during the 1930s as it transformed from a largely amateur pursuit to an increasingly professional occupation is interrogated. As part of this transformation international cricket positioned itself as an increasingly politicised global entity within the broader turbulence of the firstehalf of the twentieth century. All those involved in the tour are now dead. However a close historical analysis of previously lost, highly personalised, primary material (letters, manuscripts, photographs and cricket ephemera) enables an interpretation of the players’ experience. This thesis argues that sporting events can be interpreted as cultural ciphers yet scholars and the wider sportsewriting community have neglected the historical significance of the 1935/36 tour. The unofficial status of the tour and its highly professional emphasis alienated it from the amateur ideals of Australian cricket. This transnational, multiedisciplinary approach addresses a lacunae in the professional trajectory of cricket. It also provides a new understanding and historical counter narrative of idetwentieth century IndianeAustralian sporting history and cultural exchange.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy