Misogynology and the impossibility of dwelling
- Authors: Hammond, Richard
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: For Martin Heidegger, the essence of technology—Ge-stell—is a framing and ordering of the world that valorises instrumental-calculative thinking at the direct expense of other forms of thought. As being-in-the-world—a notion that the later Heidegger would re-interpret as belonging-to Being as the mortal of the fourfold—human being is given over to the logos of framing and ordering: technology. In the technological age, human being is ordered into an inauthentic relationship with itself, its environment, and with Being itself. Yet the gatheringsaying of the modern logos is more than a framing of the cosmos into standing reserve, it is also a peculiarly gendered framing of human being. In this thesis I claim that while Heidegger was oblivious to the inherently masculinist aspect of the Western tradition, his thought provides an effective theoretical basis to interrogate invisible systemic gender inequality. In order to demonstrate this I develop an account of Heidegger’s critique of technology by tracing the origins of the critique from Heidegger’s early thinking in Being and Time onwards. This genealogical approach demonstrates the centrality of Heidegger’s critique of technology to his broader project, and facilitates an exploration of the fourfold as a heuristic from which an originary sense of Being (as dwelling) can emerge. By employing Heidegger’s critique of technology to highlight the metaphysical assumptions that frame mainstream debates on pornography, I demonstrate that the pornification of popular culture—now largely synonymous with rape culture—can be interpreted as a significant aspect of the logos of Ge-stell. I argue that rather than remain the purview of masculine privilege, the seeming impossibility of dwelling in the modern age reveals the techno-misogynological framing of Ge-stell.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Hammond, Richard
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: For Martin Heidegger, the essence of technology—Ge-stell—is a framing and ordering of the world that valorises instrumental-calculative thinking at the direct expense of other forms of thought. As being-in-the-world—a notion that the later Heidegger would re-interpret as belonging-to Being as the mortal of the fourfold—human being is given over to the logos of framing and ordering: technology. In the technological age, human being is ordered into an inauthentic relationship with itself, its environment, and with Being itself. Yet the gatheringsaying of the modern logos is more than a framing of the cosmos into standing reserve, it is also a peculiarly gendered framing of human being. In this thesis I claim that while Heidegger was oblivious to the inherently masculinist aspect of the Western tradition, his thought provides an effective theoretical basis to interrogate invisible systemic gender inequality. In order to demonstrate this I develop an account of Heidegger’s critique of technology by tracing the origins of the critique from Heidegger’s early thinking in Being and Time onwards. This genealogical approach demonstrates the centrality of Heidegger’s critique of technology to his broader project, and facilitates an exploration of the fourfold as a heuristic from which an originary sense of Being (as dwelling) can emerge. By employing Heidegger’s critique of technology to highlight the metaphysical assumptions that frame mainstream debates on pornography, I demonstrate that the pornification of popular culture—now largely synonymous with rape culture—can be interpreted as a significant aspect of the logos of Ge-stell. I argue that rather than remain the purview of masculine privilege, the seeming impossibility of dwelling in the modern age reveals the techno-misogynological framing of Ge-stell.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Neurotrophic biomarker change after physical activity and mindfulness interventions
- Authors: England, Gina
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: BACKGROUND AND AIM AND HYPOTHESIS: BDNF, FGF2 and NGF are neurotrophins associated with neuroplasticity, nervous system development and psychiatric disorder in the literature. BDNF in particular is suggested as a useful biomarker of mood disorder. Both mindfulness and physical activity are shown to improve mood, reduce stress and are widely used as part of a multi-component treatment approach, reducing distressing symptoms of mood and affect disorders. The utility of protein level as a biomarker has been controversial in the literature following issues concerning the assessment of peripheral levels as a proxy for central levels. The principal aim of this study was to investigate the gene expression of three neurotrophins BDNF, FGF2 and NGF as potential biomarkers of mood disorder, at an early stage of these disorders, which are now widely recognised as having pathogenesis related to dysregulation in the neuro-immuno-endocrine axis. In addition, the study will explore the effect of both physical activity and mindfulness on neurotrophin expression clarifying the associations between the success of these interventions seen in the literature and their effect on the change of neurotrophin expression. Current literature reports increased levels of BDNF protein both centrally and peripherally following mood disorder treatment and participation in both physical exercise and mindfulness activities. Based on similarity of structure and function amongst the three neurotrophins, this thesis will hypothesize an increase in BDNF and potentially FGF2 and NGF mRNA following participation in the two interventional modules designed to improve wellbeing in clinical and non-clinical communities. METHOD: In this independent measures design, 28 non-clinical volunteers were randomly allocated to an 8 week intervention, comprising digital health tracking modules and participation in an unstructured increase in Physical Activity or Mindfulness program, to assess the effect of these interventions on levels of mRNA expression. RTqPCR was used to compare relative mRNA abundance in peripheral blood at baseline and 8 week time interval. The control group were allocated to a waitlist for the period of the 8 week study, followed by access to the program of their choice. Change in emotional state was measured using the DASS. RESULT: BDNF expression is shown significantly increased (p 0.01, n=5) in the Physical Activity group, and significantly decreased in the Mindfulness group (p 0.01, n=11). FGF2 and waitlisted controls showed no significant change. In the case of NGF no expression was seen in human peripheral blood either before or after the intervention. DASS scores revealed a significant decrease in negative affect in the Mindfulness group p = 0.03. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a significant positive association between physical activity and BDNF mRNA, although no significant reduction in distressing mood symptoms was shown. This was potentially due to the small group size. Mindfulness was significantly associated with decreasing negative affect, despite an unexpected decrease in BDNF mRNA consistent with pathophysiology of depression, likely related to neuro-immunoendocrine axis disturbance as suggested in the published literature. It is suggested decreasing mRNA levels reflect lower numbers of immune activated leucocytes present in the blood following mood improvement, albeit not verified in the study. This study suggests even in a small non-clinical sample there may be potential benefits to well-being by increasing levels of physical activity or becoming mindful, and that BDNF has potential as a biomarker of emotional state.
- Description: Masters by Research
- Authors: England, Gina
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: BACKGROUND AND AIM AND HYPOTHESIS: BDNF, FGF2 and NGF are neurotrophins associated with neuroplasticity, nervous system development and psychiatric disorder in the literature. BDNF in particular is suggested as a useful biomarker of mood disorder. Both mindfulness and physical activity are shown to improve mood, reduce stress and are widely used as part of a multi-component treatment approach, reducing distressing symptoms of mood and affect disorders. The utility of protein level as a biomarker has been controversial in the literature following issues concerning the assessment of peripheral levels as a proxy for central levels. The principal aim of this study was to investigate the gene expression of three neurotrophins BDNF, FGF2 and NGF as potential biomarkers of mood disorder, at an early stage of these disorders, which are now widely recognised as having pathogenesis related to dysregulation in the neuro-immuno-endocrine axis. In addition, the study will explore the effect of both physical activity and mindfulness on neurotrophin expression clarifying the associations between the success of these interventions seen in the literature and their effect on the change of neurotrophin expression. Current literature reports increased levels of BDNF protein both centrally and peripherally following mood disorder treatment and participation in both physical exercise and mindfulness activities. Based on similarity of structure and function amongst the three neurotrophins, this thesis will hypothesize an increase in BDNF and potentially FGF2 and NGF mRNA following participation in the two interventional modules designed to improve wellbeing in clinical and non-clinical communities. METHOD: In this independent measures design, 28 non-clinical volunteers were randomly allocated to an 8 week intervention, comprising digital health tracking modules and participation in an unstructured increase in Physical Activity or Mindfulness program, to assess the effect of these interventions on levels of mRNA expression. RTqPCR was used to compare relative mRNA abundance in peripheral blood at baseline and 8 week time interval. The control group were allocated to a waitlist for the period of the 8 week study, followed by access to the program of their choice. Change in emotional state was measured using the DASS. RESULT: BDNF expression is shown significantly increased (p 0.01, n=5) in the Physical Activity group, and significantly decreased in the Mindfulness group (p 0.01, n=11). FGF2 and waitlisted controls showed no significant change. In the case of NGF no expression was seen in human peripheral blood either before or after the intervention. DASS scores revealed a significant decrease in negative affect in the Mindfulness group p = 0.03. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a significant positive association between physical activity and BDNF mRNA, although no significant reduction in distressing mood symptoms was shown. This was potentially due to the small group size. Mindfulness was significantly associated with decreasing negative affect, despite an unexpected decrease in BDNF mRNA consistent with pathophysiology of depression, likely related to neuro-immunoendocrine axis disturbance as suggested in the published literature. It is suggested decreasing mRNA levels reflect lower numbers of immune activated leucocytes present in the blood following mood improvement, albeit not verified in the study. This study suggests even in a small non-clinical sample there may be potential benefits to well-being by increasing levels of physical activity or becoming mindful, and that BDNF has potential as a biomarker of emotional state.
- Description: Masters by Research
Never give up... : Perceptions of perseverance and its impact on the life and academic success of nine university students
- Authors: Griffiths, Katrina
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: Perseverance is a quality which individuals draw on to achieve their goals, despite any challenges they may face, and so is one of the keys to academic and life success. Perseverance is considered to be a positive attribute that can be learned. In this study, how tertiary students understand perseverance, how they acquired it and its role in their lives and learning are explored. The research sample for the study consists of nine pre-service teachers from Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in regional Victoria, Australia. The researcher uses semi-structured interviews, and draws on educational and salutogenic theory and a qualitative methodology. The data has been analysed within the Ecological framework based on the work of McLeroy and colleagues (1988). In the introductory chapter the aims of the study are outlined, perseverance is defined and its significance as a character strength/ attribute is considered. The second chapter, the literature review, explores the extent to which perseverance, along with associated character strengths, has been identified as a significant factor that influences educational achievement and the ability to meet life’s challenges. The third chapter provides justification for applying a qualitative phenomenological methodology, with particular attention to describing both the salutogenic theoretical perspective and the Ecological Model (EM). The fourth chapter, the data analysis, identifies themes within the data and these are discussed with reference to the relationships between the EM layers. The fifth chapter offers the discussion, implications and conclusion of the study. The research findings indicate that all the participants defined perseverance as an attribute or character strength which they called on to overcome challenges and obstacles as they pursued their goals. They associated it with such qualities as persistence, motivation, commitment, focus, goal-setting and strength, amongst others. They recognized perseverance as integral to their academic success as well as to their ability to manage crises and challenges in their lives. They identified multiple contributors to their acquisition of perseverance, including family members, friends and some teachers. Many of the participants identified instances when they made a conscious decision to persevere, and viewed the experience as definitive in their growth as mature people. However, few of the participants considered the schools they attended to have played a significant role in developing their understanding of perseverance or of helping them acquire it, though they were appreciative of those teachers who gave them general support and encouragement. They recognized the importance of schools and teachers explicitly teaching perseverance and supporting its development through positive critique and feedback, and of students experiencing multiple opportunities for practising perseverance at the individual, family, school and policy levels. In educational practice, these conclusions suggest that further research into how best to implement these approaches across all schools would be invaluable.
- Description: Masters by Research
- Description: erseverance is a quality which individuals draw on to achieve their goals, despite any challenges they may face, and so is one of the keys to academic and life success. Perseverance is considered to be a positive attribute that can be learned. In this study, how tertiary students understand perseverance, how they acquired it and its role in their lives and learning are explored. The research sample for the study consists of nine pre-service teachers from Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in regional Victoria, Australia. The researcher uses semi-structured interviews, and draws on educational and salutogenic theory and a qualitative methodology. The data has been analysed within the Ecological framework based on the work of McLeroy and colleagues (1988). In the introductory chapter the aims of the study are outlined, perseverance is defined and its significance as a character strength/ attribute is considered. The second chapter, the literature review, explores the extent to which perseverance, along with associated character strengths, has been identified as a significant factor that influences educational achievement and the ability to meet life’s challenges. The third chapter provides justification for applying a qualitative phenomenological methodology, with particular attention to describing both the salutogenic theoretical perspective and the Ecological Model (EM). The fourth chapter, the data analysis, identifies themes within the data and these are discussed with reference to the relationships between the EM layers. The fifth chapter offers the discussion, implications and conclusion of the study. The research findings indicate that all the participants defined perseverance as an attribute or character strength which they called on to overcome challenges and obstacles as they pursued their goals. They associated it with such qualities as persistence, motivation, commitment, focus, goal-setting and strength, amongst others. They recognized perseverance as integral to their academic success as well as to their ability to manage crises and challenges in their lives. They identified multiple contributors to their acquisition of perseverance, including family members, friends and some teachers. Many of the participants identified instances when they made a conscious decision to persevere, and viewed the experience as definitive in their growth as mature people. However, few of the participants considered the schools they attended to have played a significant role in developing their understanding of perseverance or of helping them acquire it, though they were appreciative of those teachers who gave them general support and encouragement. They recognized the importance of schools and teachers explicitly teaching perseverance and supporting its development through positive critique and feedback, and of students experiencing multiple opportunities for practising perseverance at the individual, family, school and policy levels. In educational practice, these conclusions suggest that further research into how best to implement these approaches across all schools would be invaluable.
- Authors: Griffiths, Katrina
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: Perseverance is a quality which individuals draw on to achieve their goals, despite any challenges they may face, and so is one of the keys to academic and life success. Perseverance is considered to be a positive attribute that can be learned. In this study, how tertiary students understand perseverance, how they acquired it and its role in their lives and learning are explored. The research sample for the study consists of nine pre-service teachers from Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in regional Victoria, Australia. The researcher uses semi-structured interviews, and draws on educational and salutogenic theory and a qualitative methodology. The data has been analysed within the Ecological framework based on the work of McLeroy and colleagues (1988). In the introductory chapter the aims of the study are outlined, perseverance is defined and its significance as a character strength/ attribute is considered. The second chapter, the literature review, explores the extent to which perseverance, along with associated character strengths, has been identified as a significant factor that influences educational achievement and the ability to meet life’s challenges. The third chapter provides justification for applying a qualitative phenomenological methodology, with particular attention to describing both the salutogenic theoretical perspective and the Ecological Model (EM). The fourth chapter, the data analysis, identifies themes within the data and these are discussed with reference to the relationships between the EM layers. The fifth chapter offers the discussion, implications and conclusion of the study. The research findings indicate that all the participants defined perseverance as an attribute or character strength which they called on to overcome challenges and obstacles as they pursued their goals. They associated it with such qualities as persistence, motivation, commitment, focus, goal-setting and strength, amongst others. They recognized perseverance as integral to their academic success as well as to their ability to manage crises and challenges in their lives. They identified multiple contributors to their acquisition of perseverance, including family members, friends and some teachers. Many of the participants identified instances when they made a conscious decision to persevere, and viewed the experience as definitive in their growth as mature people. However, few of the participants considered the schools they attended to have played a significant role in developing their understanding of perseverance or of helping them acquire it, though they were appreciative of those teachers who gave them general support and encouragement. They recognized the importance of schools and teachers explicitly teaching perseverance and supporting its development through positive critique and feedback, and of students experiencing multiple opportunities for practising perseverance at the individual, family, school and policy levels. In educational practice, these conclusions suggest that further research into how best to implement these approaches across all schools would be invaluable.
- Description: Masters by Research
- Description: erseverance is a quality which individuals draw on to achieve their goals, despite any challenges they may face, and so is one of the keys to academic and life success. Perseverance is considered to be a positive attribute that can be learned. In this study, how tertiary students understand perseverance, how they acquired it and its role in their lives and learning are explored. The research sample for the study consists of nine pre-service teachers from Initial Teacher Education (ITE) in regional Victoria, Australia. The researcher uses semi-structured interviews, and draws on educational and salutogenic theory and a qualitative methodology. The data has been analysed within the Ecological framework based on the work of McLeroy and colleagues (1988). In the introductory chapter the aims of the study are outlined, perseverance is defined and its significance as a character strength/ attribute is considered. The second chapter, the literature review, explores the extent to which perseverance, along with associated character strengths, has been identified as a significant factor that influences educational achievement and the ability to meet life’s challenges. The third chapter provides justification for applying a qualitative phenomenological methodology, with particular attention to describing both the salutogenic theoretical perspective and the Ecological Model (EM). The fourth chapter, the data analysis, identifies themes within the data and these are discussed with reference to the relationships between the EM layers. The fifth chapter offers the discussion, implications and conclusion of the study. The research findings indicate that all the participants defined perseverance as an attribute or character strength which they called on to overcome challenges and obstacles as they pursued their goals. They associated it with such qualities as persistence, motivation, commitment, focus, goal-setting and strength, amongst others. They recognized perseverance as integral to their academic success as well as to their ability to manage crises and challenges in their lives. They identified multiple contributors to their acquisition of perseverance, including family members, friends and some teachers. Many of the participants identified instances when they made a conscious decision to persevere, and viewed the experience as definitive in their growth as mature people. However, few of the participants considered the schools they attended to have played a significant role in developing their understanding of perseverance or of helping them acquire it, though they were appreciative of those teachers who gave them general support and encouragement. They recognized the importance of schools and teachers explicitly teaching perseverance and supporting its development through positive critique and feedback, and of students experiencing multiple opportunities for practising perseverance at the individual, family, school and policy levels. In educational practice, these conclusions suggest that further research into how best to implement these approaches across all schools would be invaluable.
Optimising the management of invasive aquatic plants targeted for extirpation from catchments and waterways : Utilising alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.) as a target species
- Authors: Clements, Daniel
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Aquatic plants are integral components of freshwater ecosystems and provide essential ecosystem services. However, when invasive species establish in new aquatic environments, there are few natural checks and balances to inhibit their growth and spread. Overabundant aquatic vegetation can harm aquatic systems if left unchecked and negatively impact on agricultural productivity, social amenity and biodiversity values. Prevention and early intervention are recognised as the most cost effective means to manage invasive species that pose a biosecurity risk. This thesis contributes to the development of effective management strategies for one of the world’s most invasive aquatic plant species, known as alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.). It focusses on developing management strategies in an early stage of invasion, in order to achieve extirpation of this species from catchments and waterways. Developing effective detection and surveillance strategies are required for invasive aquatic plants, as a key impediment to achieving extirpation is the ability to detect infestations, so that control strategies can be enacted. This thesis investigates the effectiveness of aerial surveillance for detection of alligator weed at different spatial scales, using high altitude aerial imagery (orthophotos) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. An examination of the growth rate of alligator weed in Victoria, Australia, over a five year period, demonstrates the effective use of orthophotos to detect and monitor large infestations of aquatic alligator weed. The efficacy of unmanned aerial vehicle technology, including the use of automated algorithms, to detect patches of alligator weed growing in waterways is evaluated against current detection techniques. Effective management of invasive aquatic plants targeted for extirpation requires the coupling of effective detection and control efforts to prevent reproduction. To date, development of control strategies for aquatic alligator weed has been limited to evaluating the efficacy of short-term control at a local scale without regard to the effects of management strategies on dispersal of propagules throughout catchments. This thesis determines that viable alligator weed stem fragments are produced following herbicide application, which comprises extirpation efforts. This thesis has gone further than current practice in that it has evaluated the efficacy of current and novel control techniques, in both laboratory and field trials and has developed methods to manage viable fragment production post-herbicide application, to limit dispersal throughout catchments. In this respect, the application of the herbicides glyphosate, metsulfuron-methyl and imazapyr, and their effectiveness when incorporating surfactant systems and plant growth regulators, have been evaluated in field and laboratory studies to optimise control techniques for aquatic alligator weed. Results have shown that our approaches, when used in an early stage of invasion, are capable of eliminating patches of alligator weed in two to three years. Integral to the research is an experiment to determine the effect of herbicide treatments on the production of alligator weed stem fragments and their subsequent viability. Further investigation to determine the usefulness of commercially available plant growth regulators (PGRs) to reduce the number of viable propagules produced by alligator weed post-herbicide application was found to be ineffective. This thesis also evaluates the impact of herbicides and surfactant systems, on all key alligator weed response metrics in aquatic environments including; above ground biomass, below ground biomass and viable stem fragmentation. No previous studies have looked simultaneously at these three important measures for determining the efficacy of a particular control regime, and we have determined that this is essential for effective management of aquatic alligator weed in an early stage of invasion. The thesis has underscored the notion that development of more effective management strategies, based upon experimental trials, will result in an increased likelihood of eradicating invasive aquatic plants that pose a biosecurity risk, and thus move toward the mitigation of the threat that high-risk species pose to aquatic ecosystems. PLEASE NOTE: Portions of the full text have been removed due to copyright restrictions.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Clements, Daniel
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Aquatic plants are integral components of freshwater ecosystems and provide essential ecosystem services. However, when invasive species establish in new aquatic environments, there are few natural checks and balances to inhibit their growth and spread. Overabundant aquatic vegetation can harm aquatic systems if left unchecked and negatively impact on agricultural productivity, social amenity and biodiversity values. Prevention and early intervention are recognised as the most cost effective means to manage invasive species that pose a biosecurity risk. This thesis contributes to the development of effective management strategies for one of the world’s most invasive aquatic plant species, known as alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.). It focusses on developing management strategies in an early stage of invasion, in order to achieve extirpation of this species from catchments and waterways. Developing effective detection and surveillance strategies are required for invasive aquatic plants, as a key impediment to achieving extirpation is the ability to detect infestations, so that control strategies can be enacted. This thesis investigates the effectiveness of aerial surveillance for detection of alligator weed at different spatial scales, using high altitude aerial imagery (orthophotos) and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. An examination of the growth rate of alligator weed in Victoria, Australia, over a five year period, demonstrates the effective use of orthophotos to detect and monitor large infestations of aquatic alligator weed. The efficacy of unmanned aerial vehicle technology, including the use of automated algorithms, to detect patches of alligator weed growing in waterways is evaluated against current detection techniques. Effective management of invasive aquatic plants targeted for extirpation requires the coupling of effective detection and control efforts to prevent reproduction. To date, development of control strategies for aquatic alligator weed has been limited to evaluating the efficacy of short-term control at a local scale without regard to the effects of management strategies on dispersal of propagules throughout catchments. This thesis determines that viable alligator weed stem fragments are produced following herbicide application, which comprises extirpation efforts. This thesis has gone further than current practice in that it has evaluated the efficacy of current and novel control techniques, in both laboratory and field trials and has developed methods to manage viable fragment production post-herbicide application, to limit dispersal throughout catchments. In this respect, the application of the herbicides glyphosate, metsulfuron-methyl and imazapyr, and their effectiveness when incorporating surfactant systems and plant growth regulators, have been evaluated in field and laboratory studies to optimise control techniques for aquatic alligator weed. Results have shown that our approaches, when used in an early stage of invasion, are capable of eliminating patches of alligator weed in two to three years. Integral to the research is an experiment to determine the effect of herbicide treatments on the production of alligator weed stem fragments and their subsequent viability. Further investigation to determine the usefulness of commercially available plant growth regulators (PGRs) to reduce the number of viable propagules produced by alligator weed post-herbicide application was found to be ineffective. This thesis also evaluates the impact of herbicides and surfactant systems, on all key alligator weed response metrics in aquatic environments including; above ground biomass, below ground biomass and viable stem fragmentation. No previous studies have looked simultaneously at these three important measures for determining the efficacy of a particular control regime, and we have determined that this is essential for effective management of aquatic alligator weed in an early stage of invasion. The thesis has underscored the notion that development of more effective management strategies, based upon experimental trials, will result in an increased likelihood of eradicating invasive aquatic plants that pose a biosecurity risk, and thus move toward the mitigation of the threat that high-risk species pose to aquatic ecosystems. PLEASE NOTE: Portions of the full text have been removed due to copyright restrictions.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Perceived organisational support and expatriation in Ghana
- Authors: Sokro, Evans
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis explores the relationship between perceived organisational support and expatriation outcomes in host subsidiaries of multinational companies. While multinationals depend on expatriates to manage their foreign subsidiaries, successful expatriation is influenced by expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment to the host country’s environments. Although Ghana has witnessed a substantial growth in the number of foreign subsidiaries operating in various sectors of the country’s economy, support structures have not been well researched in terms of how host organisations manage expatriation, considered from an African perspective. Adopting a positivist research approach, this study surveyed 229 expatriates working in foreign subsidiaries of multinational companies based in Ghana. Structural equation modelling was employed to test the model and hypothesised relationships. The test of the hypothesised model reveals that support from the organisation and host employees has significant positive effects on expatriation. Specifically, the study shows that perceived organisational support positively relates to expatriate assignment completion and career development. Host-country nationals’ support has a significant effect on expatriate adjustment to the work environment but no effect on Ghanaian cultural adjustment. The empirical results indicate that headquarters-subsidiary coordination has significant positive effects on expatriate adjustment to the host country’s environment and on how the subsidiary is shaped through knowledge transfer. In contrast, Ghanaian cultural adjustment was found to have a negative impact on assignment completion and shaping of the subsidiary. Furthermore, while assignment completion is positively related to career and professional skills development, shaping the subsidiary has a direct effect on overall success. Career development and overall success are significantly associated with expatriate satisfaction. This thesis concludes by discussing the implications of the findings of the study for both theory and practice. The limitations of the study are acknowledged and explained. Several recommendations for future research are detailed to ensure successful expatriation in sub-Saharan Africa in general.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Sokro, Evans
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis explores the relationship between perceived organisational support and expatriation outcomes in host subsidiaries of multinational companies. While multinationals depend on expatriates to manage their foreign subsidiaries, successful expatriation is influenced by expatriates’ cross-cultural adjustment to the host country’s environments. Although Ghana has witnessed a substantial growth in the number of foreign subsidiaries operating in various sectors of the country’s economy, support structures have not been well researched in terms of how host organisations manage expatriation, considered from an African perspective. Adopting a positivist research approach, this study surveyed 229 expatriates working in foreign subsidiaries of multinational companies based in Ghana. Structural equation modelling was employed to test the model and hypothesised relationships. The test of the hypothesised model reveals that support from the organisation and host employees has significant positive effects on expatriation. Specifically, the study shows that perceived organisational support positively relates to expatriate assignment completion and career development. Host-country nationals’ support has a significant effect on expatriate adjustment to the work environment but no effect on Ghanaian cultural adjustment. The empirical results indicate that headquarters-subsidiary coordination has significant positive effects on expatriate adjustment to the host country’s environment and on how the subsidiary is shaped through knowledge transfer. In contrast, Ghanaian cultural adjustment was found to have a negative impact on assignment completion and shaping of the subsidiary. Furthermore, while assignment completion is positively related to career and professional skills development, shaping the subsidiary has a direct effect on overall success. Career development and overall success are significantly associated with expatriate satisfaction. This thesis concludes by discussing the implications of the findings of the study for both theory and practice. The limitations of the study are acknowledged and explained. Several recommendations for future research are detailed to ensure successful expatriation in sub-Saharan Africa in general.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Pixel N-grams for Mammographic Image Classification
- Authors: Kulkarni, Pradnya
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: X-ray screening for breast cancer is an important public health initiative in the management of a leading cause of death for women. However, screening is expensive if mammograms are required to be manually assessed by radiologists. Moreover, manual screening is subject to perception and interpretation errors. Computer aided detection/diagnosis (CAD) systems can help radiologists as computer algorithms are good at performing image analysis consistently and repetitively. However, image features that enhance CAD classification accuracies are necessary for CAD systems to be deployed. Many CAD systems have been developed but the specificity and sensitivity is not high; in part because of challenges inherent in identifying effective features to be initially extracted from raw images. Existing feature extraction techniques can be grouped under three main approaches; statistical, spectral and structural. Statistical and spectral techniques provide global image features but often fail to distinguish between local pattern variations within an image. On the other hand, structural approach have given rise to the Bag-of-Visual-Words (BoVW) model, which captures local variations in an image, but typically do not consider spatial relationships between the visual “words”. Moreover, statistical features and features based on BoVW models are computationally very expensive. Similarly, structural feature computation methods other than BoVW are also computationally expensive and strongly dependent upon algorithms that can segment an image to localize a region of interest likely to contain the tumour. Thus, classification algorithms using structural features require high resource computers. In order for a radiologist to classify the lesions on low resource computers such as Ipads, Tablets, and Mobile phones, in a remote location, it is necessary to develop computationally inexpensive classification algorithms. Therefore, the overarching aim of this research is to discover a feature extraction/image representation model which can be used to classify mammographic lesions with high accuracy, sensitivity and specificity along with low computational cost. For this purpose a novel feature extraction technique called ‘Pixel N-grams’ is proposed. The Pixel N-grams approach is inspired from the character N-gram concept in text categorization. Here, N number of consecutive pixel intensities are considered in a particular direction. The image is then represented with the help of histogram of occurrences of the Pixel N-grams in an image. Shape and texture of mammographic lesions play an important role in determining the malignancy of the lesion. It was hypothesized that the Pixel N-grams would be able to distinguish between various textures and shapes. Experiments carried out on benchmark texture databases and binary basic shapes database have demonstrated that the hypothesis was correct. Moreover, the Pixel N-grams were able to distinguish between various shapes irrespective of size and location of shape in an image. The efficacy of the Pixel N-gram technique was tested on mammographic database of primary digital mammograms sourced from a radiological facility in Australia (LakeImaging Pty Ltd) and secondary digital mammograms (benchmark miniMIAS database). A senior radiologist from LakeImaging provided real time de-identified high resolution mammogram images with annotated regions of interests (which were used as groundtruth), and valuable radiological diagnostic knowledge. Two types of classifications were observed on these two datasets. Normal/abnormal classification useful for automated screening and circumscribed/speculation/normal classification useful for automated diagnosis of breast cancer. The classification results on both the mammography datasets using Pixel N-grams were promising. Classification performance (Fscore, sensitivity and specificity) using Pixel N-gram technique was observed to be significantly better than the existing techniques such as intensity histogram, co-occurrence matrix based features and comparable with the BoVW features. Further, Pixel N-gram features are found to be computationally less complex than the co-occurrence matrix based features as well as BoVW features paving the way for mammogram classification on low resource computers. Although, the Pixel N-gram technique was designed for mammographic classification, it could be applied to other image classification applications such as diabetic retinopathy, histopathological image classification, lung tumour detection using CT images, brain tumour detection using MRI images, wound image classification and tooth decay classification using dentistry x-ray images. Further, texture and shape classification is also useful for classification of real world images outside the medical domain. Therefore, the pixel N-gram technique could be extended for applications such as classification of satellite imagery and other object detection tasks.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Kulkarni, Pradnya
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: X-ray screening for breast cancer is an important public health initiative in the management of a leading cause of death for women. However, screening is expensive if mammograms are required to be manually assessed by radiologists. Moreover, manual screening is subject to perception and interpretation errors. Computer aided detection/diagnosis (CAD) systems can help radiologists as computer algorithms are good at performing image analysis consistently and repetitively. However, image features that enhance CAD classification accuracies are necessary for CAD systems to be deployed. Many CAD systems have been developed but the specificity and sensitivity is not high; in part because of challenges inherent in identifying effective features to be initially extracted from raw images. Existing feature extraction techniques can be grouped under three main approaches; statistical, spectral and structural. Statistical and spectral techniques provide global image features but often fail to distinguish between local pattern variations within an image. On the other hand, structural approach have given rise to the Bag-of-Visual-Words (BoVW) model, which captures local variations in an image, but typically do not consider spatial relationships between the visual “words”. Moreover, statistical features and features based on BoVW models are computationally very expensive. Similarly, structural feature computation methods other than BoVW are also computationally expensive and strongly dependent upon algorithms that can segment an image to localize a region of interest likely to contain the tumour. Thus, classification algorithms using structural features require high resource computers. In order for a radiologist to classify the lesions on low resource computers such as Ipads, Tablets, and Mobile phones, in a remote location, it is necessary to develop computationally inexpensive classification algorithms. Therefore, the overarching aim of this research is to discover a feature extraction/image representation model which can be used to classify mammographic lesions with high accuracy, sensitivity and specificity along with low computational cost. For this purpose a novel feature extraction technique called ‘Pixel N-grams’ is proposed. The Pixel N-grams approach is inspired from the character N-gram concept in text categorization. Here, N number of consecutive pixel intensities are considered in a particular direction. The image is then represented with the help of histogram of occurrences of the Pixel N-grams in an image. Shape and texture of mammographic lesions play an important role in determining the malignancy of the lesion. It was hypothesized that the Pixel N-grams would be able to distinguish between various textures and shapes. Experiments carried out on benchmark texture databases and binary basic shapes database have demonstrated that the hypothesis was correct. Moreover, the Pixel N-grams were able to distinguish between various shapes irrespective of size and location of shape in an image. The efficacy of the Pixel N-gram technique was tested on mammographic database of primary digital mammograms sourced from a radiological facility in Australia (LakeImaging Pty Ltd) and secondary digital mammograms (benchmark miniMIAS database). A senior radiologist from LakeImaging provided real time de-identified high resolution mammogram images with annotated regions of interests (which were used as groundtruth), and valuable radiological diagnostic knowledge. Two types of classifications were observed on these two datasets. Normal/abnormal classification useful for automated screening and circumscribed/speculation/normal classification useful for automated diagnosis of breast cancer. The classification results on both the mammography datasets using Pixel N-grams were promising. Classification performance (Fscore, sensitivity and specificity) using Pixel N-gram technique was observed to be significantly better than the existing techniques such as intensity histogram, co-occurrence matrix based features and comparable with the BoVW features. Further, Pixel N-gram features are found to be computationally less complex than the co-occurrence matrix based features as well as BoVW features paving the way for mammogram classification on low resource computers. Although, the Pixel N-gram technique was designed for mammographic classification, it could be applied to other image classification applications such as diabetic retinopathy, histopathological image classification, lung tumour detection using CT images, brain tumour detection using MRI images, wound image classification and tooth decay classification using dentistry x-ray images. Further, texture and shape classification is also useful for classification of real world images outside the medical domain. Therefore, the pixel N-gram technique could be extended for applications such as classification of satellite imagery and other object detection tasks.
- 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.
Reducing climate change related fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from operational longwall coal mines
- Authors: Holmes, Robert
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The aim of this research is to quantify and validate a method which can significantly reduce fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from collieries in Australia, both cost-effectively and safely. Methane (CH₄) is controlled in collieries currently only for safety, statutory compliance or for capture and use reasons. But today, there is pressure on collieries to reduce not only mining costs but their greenhouse gas emissions. It is known that 65% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with collieries come from fugitive ventilation air methane (VAM). The oxidising machinery to mitigate these fugitive emissions is expensive, has safety concerns and is not widely used at present for these reasons. But widespread concern over GHG emissions means that it is desirable to lower VAM emissions now. One safe, low-cost and non-gas drainage solution explored herein to reduce emissions, is a method to prevent some CH₄ from entering the mine airstream and becoming VAM in the first place. This emissions reduction method underwent a 12-month trial in a colliery in the Hunter Valley using six different quantified and costed non-gas drainage measures. All relevant data was retained, and with the mine’s permission has been processed and published here as a part of this research. A reduction in fugitive emissions of 95,398 t/CO₂-e below that projected for the subsequent 12 months was quantified, at a mitigation cost of A$1.08 t/CO₂-e. The level of mitigation achieved, represents approximately 20% of the mine’s VAM emissions. This research has also further tested the method used in the Hunter Valley trial, by visiting two other large collieries in Queensland, and assessing the two most successful mitigation measures from the Hunter Valley trial (roadway sealing and pressure balancing of sealed panels) against operational conditions at these collieries by ventilation modelling, using their measured gas, airflow and seal pressure data.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Holmes, Robert
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The aim of this research is to quantify and validate a method which can significantly reduce fugitive greenhouse gas emissions from collieries in Australia, both cost-effectively and safely. Methane (CH₄) is controlled in collieries currently only for safety, statutory compliance or for capture and use reasons. But today, there is pressure on collieries to reduce not only mining costs but their greenhouse gas emissions. It is known that 65% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with collieries come from fugitive ventilation air methane (VAM). The oxidising machinery to mitigate these fugitive emissions is expensive, has safety concerns and is not widely used at present for these reasons. But widespread concern over GHG emissions means that it is desirable to lower VAM emissions now. One safe, low-cost and non-gas drainage solution explored herein to reduce emissions, is a method to prevent some CH₄ from entering the mine airstream and becoming VAM in the first place. This emissions reduction method underwent a 12-month trial in a colliery in the Hunter Valley using six different quantified and costed non-gas drainage measures. All relevant data was retained, and with the mine’s permission has been processed and published here as a part of this research. A reduction in fugitive emissions of 95,398 t/CO₂-e below that projected for the subsequent 12 months was quantified, at a mitigation cost of A$1.08 t/CO₂-e. The level of mitigation achieved, represents approximately 20% of the mine’s VAM emissions. This research has also further tested the method used in the Hunter Valley trial, by visiting two other large collieries in Queensland, and assessing the two most successful mitigation measures from the Hunter Valley trial (roadway sealing and pressure balancing of sealed panels) against operational conditions at these collieries by ventilation modelling, using their measured gas, airflow and seal pressure data.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Reflective leadership : A self-study of practice
- Authors: Ludvigsen, Donna
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Encouraging reflective leadership practice is a recognised focus for coaches and consultants in primary schools. Despite the wealth of knowledge on coaching and consulting in organisational learning, there is less known about the transition between these two interactions and the purpose behind this. This self-study of my practice as a regional school improvement officer in Victoria, Australia, details my interaction with six teacher-leaders, who considered school improvement strategies by constructing a pattern-block representation of the structures within their schools. The research questions posed were: “What do teacher-leaders reflect upon when considering school improvement approaches?” and “How does the external facilitator encourage teacherleaders to reflect upon their practice?” Research undertaken for this study was used to develop a range of statements related to Donald Schön’s theory of reflective practice, particularly reflection-in-action. The statements were presented as a stimulus for action in practice and encompassed a range of tensions. Tensions included; orchestrating change by moving between the current situation and a preferred future; making connections by acknowledging the complexity of the situation whilst attempting to create order; developing a strategy from the consideration of a shared vision and a written plan; and undertaking leadership by moving between hierarchical, distributive and self-organising structures. Tacit and explicit knowledge was evident when reflecting-inaction. Finally I explored how, as the external facilitator, I encouraged reflection by moving between coaching and consulting interactions. I began this research by examining the practice of others. However, the greatest learning I achieved related to how I reflected-in-action and my understanding of self-study in practice. Initially in this study, I placed myself at the centre of the research and considered this a selfin- study; however, as the study progressed, I examined both my practice and the research simultaneously, terming this self-and-study, and, finally, from my analysis of the research when the study concluded, I developed a series of statements that could be used as a stimulus for future action, which I refer to as self-from-study. The larger implication for this research therefore relates to my understanding of my own reflection-in-action and how by embracing a number of tensions one can consider a range of possibilities for improvement.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Ludvigsen, Donna
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Encouraging reflective leadership practice is a recognised focus for coaches and consultants in primary schools. Despite the wealth of knowledge on coaching and consulting in organisational learning, there is less known about the transition between these two interactions and the purpose behind this. This self-study of my practice as a regional school improvement officer in Victoria, Australia, details my interaction with six teacher-leaders, who considered school improvement strategies by constructing a pattern-block representation of the structures within their schools. The research questions posed were: “What do teacher-leaders reflect upon when considering school improvement approaches?” and “How does the external facilitator encourage teacherleaders to reflect upon their practice?” Research undertaken for this study was used to develop a range of statements related to Donald Schön’s theory of reflective practice, particularly reflection-in-action. The statements were presented as a stimulus for action in practice and encompassed a range of tensions. Tensions included; orchestrating change by moving between the current situation and a preferred future; making connections by acknowledging the complexity of the situation whilst attempting to create order; developing a strategy from the consideration of a shared vision and a written plan; and undertaking leadership by moving between hierarchical, distributive and self-organising structures. Tacit and explicit knowledge was evident when reflecting-inaction. Finally I explored how, as the external facilitator, I encouraged reflection by moving between coaching and consulting interactions. I began this research by examining the practice of others. However, the greatest learning I achieved related to how I reflected-in-action and my understanding of self-study in practice. Initially in this study, I placed myself at the centre of the research and considered this a selfin- study; however, as the study progressed, I examined both my practice and the research simultaneously, terming this self-and-study, and, finally, from my analysis of the research when the study concluded, I developed a series of statements that could be used as a stimulus for future action, which I refer to as self-from-study. The larger implication for this research therefore relates to my understanding of my own reflection-in-action and how by embracing a number of tensions one can consider a range of possibilities for improvement.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The assumed divide : Examining gender, feminism and relationships through visual art
- Authors: Hollis, Sylvia
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text: false
- Description: The Assumed Divide is a visual arts based, practice-led research project which explores expectations of gender within the context of interpersonal relationships, structured through feminist theory. I created a collection of small, figurative sculptures inspired by experiences of animosity and misunderstanding, to locate areas of gendered interpersonal ambivalence. This thesis proposes that feminism might enhance gender relations by deconstructing harmful stereotypes and by encouraging empathy and respect for diversity. Issues such as reproductive choice, intergenerational debate, and uncertainty in aims are discussed as apparent impediments to the unity of feminism, against a patriarchal tradition that grants men categorical universality. I argue that by dismantling the perception of male unification and by elucidating the multitudinous similarities and variances of human experience, feminism makes advances in eliminating sexism. I also examine how binary gender division, with an assumption of distinct difference between male and female, generates conflict and power dynamics advantageous to men, diminishing the quality of heterosexual and social relationships. The observation that overlapping gender traits blur boundaries of male and female, and that rigid categorisations are not indisputably representative of all people, may offer more points of connection to bridge the divide of gender. Each artwork in The Assumed Divide reflects on gendered experience, with sculpted depictions of disintegrated flesh acting as visual manifestations of the psyches and social conditions of the figures. Working realistically on a small scale, and integrating found silver trays as motifs of domesticity and relationships, my intent is to directly stimulate contemplation of the themes in context to viewers’ lives, recognising that the audience is free to find their own meaning in the works. Discussion of these pieces, alongside works by other artists who broach topics of feminism, gender, and relationships, exemplifies the capacity for art to infuse theory with personal insight, inspired and derived from the lives of both artist and viewer.
- Description: Masters by Research
The development of the Malaysian vocational education and training system
- Ramanathan Chettiar, Palaniappan
- Authors: Ramanathan Chettiar, Palaniappan
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The vocational education and training (VET) sector in Malaysia has experienced significant change over the last 10 years. This thesis aimed to identify the challenges facing VET development in Malaysia and consider the lessons that can be learnt from Australian and Singaporean VET experiences. This research explored the challenges using a mixed methods approach (qualitative and quantitative) to answer the research question from a multiple stakeholder perspective. The 42 respondents included policymakers, chief executive officers (CEOs) from industry, CEOs from registered training organisations (RTOs), VET instructors and trainees. There were 34 respondents from Malaysia involved in the interviews. Two policymakers and two CEOs of RTOs from Singapore and Australia were also involved in the interviews. An online survey was answered by 209 Malaysian respondents. Significantly, the literature review, including literature from Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, focused on the development of VET policy and the ideas associated with vocational education theory, human capital theory, systems theory and threshold theory, program theory, employability theory, collective skills formation, stakeholder engagement and the capability approach. The literature review provided an overview of the motivations behind government initiates to expand skills development initiatives using different models, the shifting of responsibility for employability to the employee and promoting inclusivity within the nation. While VET objectives were overt, the need for socially inclusive results were not. There is a need to consider economic, social and education contexts when developing VET systems, given the diversity of Malaysian society. The argument is made within the thesis that the development of VET policy has been largely led by government and legislation, rather than industry. The thesis suggests that challenges inherent in the development of a VET system arise from the gaps between VET policy and practice, rhetoric and implementation. While the presence of policy mechanisms for system efficiency was acknowledged by stakeholders, VET policy was characterised by respondents as incremental rather than long term. Most stakeholders acknowledged the importance of lifelong learning and for the need for Malaysia to become a learning nation. The lack of a single agency to monitor skills development was considered an obstacle for effective skills development within the country. Accordingly, this thesis proposes a set of recommendations to address these challenges and provides directions for future research.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Ramanathan Chettiar, Palaniappan
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The vocational education and training (VET) sector in Malaysia has experienced significant change over the last 10 years. This thesis aimed to identify the challenges facing VET development in Malaysia and consider the lessons that can be learnt from Australian and Singaporean VET experiences. This research explored the challenges using a mixed methods approach (qualitative and quantitative) to answer the research question from a multiple stakeholder perspective. The 42 respondents included policymakers, chief executive officers (CEOs) from industry, CEOs from registered training organisations (RTOs), VET instructors and trainees. There were 34 respondents from Malaysia involved in the interviews. Two policymakers and two CEOs of RTOs from Singapore and Australia were also involved in the interviews. An online survey was answered by 209 Malaysian respondents. Significantly, the literature review, including literature from Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States, focused on the development of VET policy and the ideas associated with vocational education theory, human capital theory, systems theory and threshold theory, program theory, employability theory, collective skills formation, stakeholder engagement and the capability approach. The literature review provided an overview of the motivations behind government initiates to expand skills development initiatives using different models, the shifting of responsibility for employability to the employee and promoting inclusivity within the nation. While VET objectives were overt, the need for socially inclusive results were not. There is a need to consider economic, social and education contexts when developing VET systems, given the diversity of Malaysian society. The argument is made within the thesis that the development of VET policy has been largely led by government and legislation, rather than industry. The thesis suggests that challenges inherent in the development of a VET system arise from the gaps between VET policy and practice, rhetoric and implementation. While the presence of policy mechanisms for system efficiency was acknowledged by stakeholders, VET policy was characterised by respondents as incremental rather than long term. Most stakeholders acknowledged the importance of lifelong learning and for the need for Malaysia to become a learning nation. The lack of a single agency to monitor skills development was considered an obstacle for effective skills development within the country. Accordingly, this thesis proposes a set of recommendations to address these challenges and provides directions for future research.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The immanence of traumatic rupture : From the extra/ordinary to the originary
- Authors: Pedersen, Cassie
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis critically intervenes into the interdisciplinary space of trauma theory by both identifying and circumventing the tendency of theorists to posit trauma in a relation of either transcendence or immanence to the contexts in which it occurs. In the classical trauma theories of Shoshana Felman, Dori Laub, and Cathy Caruth, trauma is broadly defined as a disruptive and aporetic event that shatters the cognitive, experiential, and representational frameworks necessary for making sense of the occurrence. These theorists conceptualise trauma as transcendent, seeing trauma as existing “outside” or “beyond” the frameworks in which it comes into being. However, more recent critics enter a polemic with classical trauma theorists by reconceptualising trauma as immanent to the all too human frameworks that facilitate its occurrence in the first place. I contend that the mutual exclusive insistence that trauma need either be conceived as immanent to, or transcendent of, the frameworks in which it occurs has led to a conceptual impasse in trauma theory that is rooted in a false dichotomy between these extremes. Tracing this oppositional tendency across a broad disciplinary spectrum, engaging contributions to trauma theory from philosophy, literary theory, and history, the major aim of this thesis to move beyond the false dichotomy between the immanent and the transcendent by revealing that these terms are inextricably bound. Drawing on the works of Hannah Arendt, Giorgio Agamben, Sigmund Freud, Jacques Lacan, Jean Laplanche, and Jean-François Lyotard (to name only a few), this thesis revitalises the space of trauma theory by offering a series of interlocking arguments that conceptualise the alterity of trauma as being immanent to the frameworks it transcends. This paradoxical logic is at the crux of what I refer to as the immanence of traumatic rupture.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Pedersen, Cassie
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis critically intervenes into the interdisciplinary space of trauma theory by both identifying and circumventing the tendency of theorists to posit trauma in a relation of either transcendence or immanence to the contexts in which it occurs. In the classical trauma theories of Shoshana Felman, Dori Laub, and Cathy Caruth, trauma is broadly defined as a disruptive and aporetic event that shatters the cognitive, experiential, and representational frameworks necessary for making sense of the occurrence. These theorists conceptualise trauma as transcendent, seeing trauma as existing “outside” or “beyond” the frameworks in which it comes into being. However, more recent critics enter a polemic with classical trauma theorists by reconceptualising trauma as immanent to the all too human frameworks that facilitate its occurrence in the first place. I contend that the mutual exclusive insistence that trauma need either be conceived as immanent to, or transcendent of, the frameworks in which it occurs has led to a conceptual impasse in trauma theory that is rooted in a false dichotomy between these extremes. Tracing this oppositional tendency across a broad disciplinary spectrum, engaging contributions to trauma theory from philosophy, literary theory, and history, the major aim of this thesis to move beyond the false dichotomy between the immanent and the transcendent by revealing that these terms are inextricably bound. Drawing on the works of Hannah Arendt, Giorgio Agamben, Sigmund Freud, Jacques Lacan, Jean Laplanche, and Jean-François Lyotard (to name only a few), this thesis revitalises the space of trauma theory by offering a series of interlocking arguments that conceptualise the alterity of trauma as being immanent to the frameworks it transcends. This paradoxical logic is at the crux of what I refer to as the immanence of traumatic rupture.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The lost opportunity of Melbourne's outer circle railway
- Authors: McKenna, Trevor
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis examines a little known railway line in Melbourne, the Outer Circle Railway (OCR) running from Oakleigh in the south-east to Fairfield in the north. There is great significance to its east-north trajectory, because I will argue, it was conceptualised as a major part of the Melbourne system, for the future; a future that ostensibly lasted only two years, before the economic depression of the 1890s caused it to close in stages. It further brought in many more strands to the Melbourne transport nexus, as it circumnavigated the inner suburbs. I ask the key question ‘was the Outer Circle Railway a lost opportunity’? Though considered one of the great public transport cities of the world, Melbourne with its extensive rail and tramway networks succumbed to the winds of change, embodied by the Fordist principles of private car ownership, freeway building and traffic systems. The public transport budget was cut in the second half of the twentieth century – leaving Greater Melbourne in constant gridlock, in the twenty-first century. I use documentary analysis to examine primary and secondary documents, to comprehend whether the almost immediate denigration of the OCR, by newspapers and most historians, was warranted. Certainly I find many contemporaneous champions of the OCR, which was built to the highest British standard, as was the entire Victorian Railways system. My key finding is that the OCR rail line could be utilised in the modern era. The OCR route is pointed squarely towards Tullamarine airport, and could be used as a basis for the long-sought rail link to the airport. The decision of the Andrews Labor Government in 2014 to abandon the contentious East-West road tunnel in favour of rail projects reflects the need for a growing city to privilege public transport, as it did in the nineteenth century.
- Description: Masters by Research
- Authors: McKenna, Trevor
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis examines a little known railway line in Melbourne, the Outer Circle Railway (OCR) running from Oakleigh in the south-east to Fairfield in the north. There is great significance to its east-north trajectory, because I will argue, it was conceptualised as a major part of the Melbourne system, for the future; a future that ostensibly lasted only two years, before the economic depression of the 1890s caused it to close in stages. It further brought in many more strands to the Melbourne transport nexus, as it circumnavigated the inner suburbs. I ask the key question ‘was the Outer Circle Railway a lost opportunity’? Though considered one of the great public transport cities of the world, Melbourne with its extensive rail and tramway networks succumbed to the winds of change, embodied by the Fordist principles of private car ownership, freeway building and traffic systems. The public transport budget was cut in the second half of the twentieth century – leaving Greater Melbourne in constant gridlock, in the twenty-first century. I use documentary analysis to examine primary and secondary documents, to comprehend whether the almost immediate denigration of the OCR, by newspapers and most historians, was warranted. Certainly I find many contemporaneous champions of the OCR, which was built to the highest British standard, as was the entire Victorian Railways system. My key finding is that the OCR rail line could be utilised in the modern era. The OCR route is pointed squarely towards Tullamarine airport, and could be used as a basis for the long-sought rail link to the airport. The decision of the Andrews Labor Government in 2014 to abandon the contentious East-West road tunnel in favour of rail projects reflects the need for a growing city to privilege public transport, as it did in the nineteenth century.
- Description: Masters by Research
The Port Phillip Lime Economy : The vessels, the industry and their decline
- Authors: Taylor, Peter
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The objective of this Master of Arts thesis is to address the previous knowledge gap that existed with regards to the unwritten history of the Port Phillip lime economy. The particular focus of this thesis concerns the participating craft that helped to drive that economy, the types of craft and a number of shipwrecks concerning lime craft.
- Description: Masters by Research
- Authors: Taylor, Peter
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The objective of this Master of Arts thesis is to address the previous knowledge gap that existed with regards to the unwritten history of the Port Phillip lime economy. The particular focus of this thesis concerns the participating craft that helped to drive that economy, the types of craft and a number of shipwrecks concerning lime craft.
- Description: Masters by Research
The role of Telomeres in the development of Cardiac Hypertrophy
- Authors: Booth, Scott
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Description: The overall aim of this thesis was to determine the role of telomeres in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. It was hypothesised that changes in cardiomyocyte telomere length and/or maintenance cause cardiac hypertrophy.
- Authors: Booth, Scott
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Description: The overall aim of this thesis was to determine the role of telomeres in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. It was hypothesised that changes in cardiomyocyte telomere length and/or maintenance cause cardiac hypertrophy.
Theoretical perspectives on using epidemiology and systems thinking to better understand the aetiology and prevention of distance running-related injury
- Authors: Hulme, Adam
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: On a global scale, the sporting activity of distance running has increased in popularity. This is likely attributable to a growing societal concern for the documented rise in several lifestyle-related chronic diseases. As a form of exercise, running provides significant beneficial effects on a range of biomedical health indices, and is the preferred physical activity of choice for many people given its high accessibility and relatively low financial cost. Notwithstanding the many health-related benefits associated with running, the risk of sustaining a distance running-related injury (RRI) can be high. Therefore, from an injury prevention perspective, understanding why runners sustain RRI is of primary scientific importance. Over the last fifty years, the science behind RRI causation and prevention has attracted considerable interest amongst sports injury prevention researchers. During that time, there has been a concerted scholarly effort to understand the aetiology of RRI from an epidemiological and clinical research-based standpoint. Traditional scientific approaches have attempted to identify the effect of discrete trainingrelated, behavioural, and/or biomechanical exposures on the risk of developing either general or specific RRI. Despite what is now a considerable body of work, several descriptive and systematic reviews have found a history of previous injury to be the only definitive risk factor for subsequent RRI development. Alongside the continuing application of traditional scientific approaches, this PhD thesis promotes the use of a complementary ‘systems thinking’ theoretical perspective for better understanding the development and prevention of RRI. There are several contained chapters, the first of which is a systematic review of the RRI aetiological literature. After examining in closer detail the causal mechanism underpinning RRI development, a series of papers urge injury prevention scientists to consider drawing on alternative philosophical perspectives when planning and designing research. In building on the preceding arguments, the final chapters involve the construction of a systems ergonomics control structure model of the Australian distance running system, including the way RRI is managed and controlled.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Hulme, Adam
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: On a global scale, the sporting activity of distance running has increased in popularity. This is likely attributable to a growing societal concern for the documented rise in several lifestyle-related chronic diseases. As a form of exercise, running provides significant beneficial effects on a range of biomedical health indices, and is the preferred physical activity of choice for many people given its high accessibility and relatively low financial cost. Notwithstanding the many health-related benefits associated with running, the risk of sustaining a distance running-related injury (RRI) can be high. Therefore, from an injury prevention perspective, understanding why runners sustain RRI is of primary scientific importance. Over the last fifty years, the science behind RRI causation and prevention has attracted considerable interest amongst sports injury prevention researchers. During that time, there has been a concerted scholarly effort to understand the aetiology of RRI from an epidemiological and clinical research-based standpoint. Traditional scientific approaches have attempted to identify the effect of discrete trainingrelated, behavioural, and/or biomechanical exposures on the risk of developing either general or specific RRI. Despite what is now a considerable body of work, several descriptive and systematic reviews have found a history of previous injury to be the only definitive risk factor for subsequent RRI development. Alongside the continuing application of traditional scientific approaches, this PhD thesis promotes the use of a complementary ‘systems thinking’ theoretical perspective for better understanding the development and prevention of RRI. There are several contained chapters, the first of which is a systematic review of the RRI aetiological literature. After examining in closer detail the causal mechanism underpinning RRI development, a series of papers urge injury prevention scientists to consider drawing on alternative philosophical perspectives when planning and designing research. In building on the preceding arguments, the final chapters involve the construction of a systems ergonomics control structure model of the Australian distance running system, including the way RRI is managed and controlled.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Your stories, my stories, our stories : Power/knowledge relations and Koorie perspectives in discourses of Australian History Education
- Authors: Weuffen, Sara
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Over the past decade, popularised notions and approaches to the teaching and learning of Australia’s history have been overwhelmingly researched and written by non-Indigenous academics. This research challenges dominant non-Indigenous curriculum and research agendas by exploring how, why, and to what degree Koorie, and by extension Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, are taken up for the development and implementation of school-based curriculum aligned to the Year Nine Australian Curriculum: History. The research is guided by Michel Foucault’s poststructural theory to examine a range of discourses identified by year nine history teachers and three Koorie Elders in Ballarat and Greater Shepparton. It is supplemented through Martin Nakata’s ground breaking work on Indigenous Standpoint Theory to acknowledge and highlight the cross-cultural/racial power/knowledge relations of peoples who are involved in the research. It is a timely response to the 2013 mandatory implementation of the Australian Curriculum: History in Victorian state schools. The research builds upon academic research (see Clark, 2006; Harrison & Greenfield, 2011; Mackinlay & Barney, 2011; 2014b) about how teachers may engage critically with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific content. It contributes significantly to a field of research that has not received much attention over the past eleven years. The research is a striking contribution to understandings of Australian cross-cultural/racial research and education practices. It argues that teachers are not necessarily insensitive to cross-cultural/racial relations operating in Australia; rather, that more rigorous and comprehensive teacher education programs are required for the integration of Koorie perspectives on Australian history. The research clearly demonstrates that stories from local Koorie communities offers up a wealth of knowledge that may be drawn upon to reform curriculum agendas towards shared-history understandings of Australia’s history. Ultimately, it advocates for a more nuanced and mature conversation about contemporary cross-cultural/racial education practices in Australia.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Weuffen, Sara
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Over the past decade, popularised notions and approaches to the teaching and learning of Australia’s history have been overwhelmingly researched and written by non-Indigenous academics. This research challenges dominant non-Indigenous curriculum and research agendas by exploring how, why, and to what degree Koorie, and by extension Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, are taken up for the development and implementation of school-based curriculum aligned to the Year Nine Australian Curriculum: History. The research is guided by Michel Foucault’s poststructural theory to examine a range of discourses identified by year nine history teachers and three Koorie Elders in Ballarat and Greater Shepparton. It is supplemented through Martin Nakata’s ground breaking work on Indigenous Standpoint Theory to acknowledge and highlight the cross-cultural/racial power/knowledge relations of peoples who are involved in the research. It is a timely response to the 2013 mandatory implementation of the Australian Curriculum: History in Victorian state schools. The research builds upon academic research (see Clark, 2006; Harrison & Greenfield, 2011; Mackinlay & Barney, 2011; 2014b) about how teachers may engage critically with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific content. It contributes significantly to a field of research that has not received much attention over the past eleven years. The research is a striking contribution to understandings of Australian cross-cultural/racial research and education practices. It argues that teachers are not necessarily insensitive to cross-cultural/racial relations operating in Australia; rather, that more rigorous and comprehensive teacher education programs are required for the integration of Koorie perspectives on Australian history. The research clearly demonstrates that stories from local Koorie communities offers up a wealth of knowledge that may be drawn upon to reform curriculum agendas towards shared-history understandings of Australia’s history. Ultimately, it advocates for a more nuanced and mature conversation about contemporary cross-cultural/racial education practices in Australia.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
"Beyond home and sex?" : Gender and sexuality in Elizabeth Moon's
- Authors: O'Sullivan, Jennifer
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: Historically, fantasy fiction has tended to present sexuality and gender in a conservative light. Contemporary authors in this genre have the opportunity to imagine worlds in which they can critique these norms and offer new and subversive alternatives. Elizabeth Moon’s work has been seen by some readers and critics (Mains, et al, Bach) to challenge conservative gender roles, and while in some areas this is evident, a critical reading of her Paksworld series through a feminist lens reveals that her work is still largely restricted by normative notions of gender and heteronormative contexts and ideals. In this thesis I argue that while Moon’s female characters are allowed a certain amount of autonomy, they are still often repressed by those around them, silenced, or subject to male dominance and/or sexual violence. Those women in the novels who achieve a position of social, political or spiritual power are forced to make choices between roles: for example, between being a warrior and a mother, and are not allowed to ‘have it all’. Moon does subvert some familiar feminine tropes – her fantasy princesses for example avoid being married against their will, and her female warriors are more complex than simply being ‘sheroes’. Utilising masculinities and disability theory, I also analyse Moon’s treatment of men and masculinity. While Moon presents several familiar male fantasy tropes, she also portrays some surprisingly subversive men. These men are forced to reimagine and reinterpret their own masculine identities by having to confront ageing, disability, mutilation and loss of personal power while negotiating traditionally masculine homo-social environments. Finally, I argue that Moon’s presentation of sexuality in the Paksworld series is problematic and conservative in that very few of her characters are having pleasurable, consensual sex, especially not outside traditional marriage structures. Furthermore, the Paksworld series is largely heteronormative, with same-sex desire identified predominantly with a character who is presented as an antagonist to Paks. Paks herself is asexual, and I argue that Moon uses this as a way to avoid dealing with the issue of female sexual desire rather than an opportunity to explore asexuality as a valid sexual preference or identity. Overall, I argue that despite some subversive elements, Moon’s characters are still largely restricted by conservative expectations of genre, culture, gender and sexuality.
- Description: Masters by Research
- Authors: O'Sullivan, Jennifer
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: Historically, fantasy fiction has tended to present sexuality and gender in a conservative light. Contemporary authors in this genre have the opportunity to imagine worlds in which they can critique these norms and offer new and subversive alternatives. Elizabeth Moon’s work has been seen by some readers and critics (Mains, et al, Bach) to challenge conservative gender roles, and while in some areas this is evident, a critical reading of her Paksworld series through a feminist lens reveals that her work is still largely restricted by normative notions of gender and heteronormative contexts and ideals. In this thesis I argue that while Moon’s female characters are allowed a certain amount of autonomy, they are still often repressed by those around them, silenced, or subject to male dominance and/or sexual violence. Those women in the novels who achieve a position of social, political or spiritual power are forced to make choices between roles: for example, between being a warrior and a mother, and are not allowed to ‘have it all’. Moon does subvert some familiar feminine tropes – her fantasy princesses for example avoid being married against their will, and her female warriors are more complex than simply being ‘sheroes’. Utilising masculinities and disability theory, I also analyse Moon’s treatment of men and masculinity. While Moon presents several familiar male fantasy tropes, she also portrays some surprisingly subversive men. These men are forced to reimagine and reinterpret their own masculine identities by having to confront ageing, disability, mutilation and loss of personal power while negotiating traditionally masculine homo-social environments. Finally, I argue that Moon’s presentation of sexuality in the Paksworld series is problematic and conservative in that very few of her characters are having pleasurable, consensual sex, especially not outside traditional marriage structures. Furthermore, the Paksworld series is largely heteronormative, with same-sex desire identified predominantly with a character who is presented as an antagonist to Paks. Paks herself is asexual, and I argue that Moon uses this as a way to avoid dealing with the issue of female sexual desire rather than an opportunity to explore asexuality as a valid sexual preference or identity. Overall, I argue that despite some subversive elements, Moon’s characters are still largely restricted by conservative expectations of genre, culture, gender and sexuality.
- Description: Masters by Research
100 years of annual reporting by Australian Red Cross : Accountability amidst wars, disasters and loss of life
- Authors: Langton, Jonathan
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Purpose: This critical interpretive and historical case study of Australian Red Cross extends from the organisation’s beginning in 1914 through to the present day. The overarching purpose is to reveal and analyse the annual reporting practices of one of Australia’s oldest and most important humanitarian organisations in the discharge of accountability over the course of a century. Design/methodology/approach: A Political Economy of Accounting theoretical framework guides the content analysis and interpretation of findings. Background: While the review of literature acknowledges the annual report as a crucial element in the discharge of accountability, studies investigating the evolution of annual reports of International nongovernmental development and humanitarian aid organisations (INGDHOs) over extended periods of time appear to be absent from the literature. Findings: The annual reports were found to be responsive to the changing social, political, economic and institutional environment, casting doubt on any claims to objectivity in organisational management’s disclosures, including assertions regarding unadulterated adherence to its Fundamental Principles. Furthermore, sources of pressure from the wider environmental context impacted upon the development of accountability regimes and shaped the way in which organisational management reported to stakeholders. These regimes evidence the alignment of mission preservation and emotive disclosures with strategic priorities. Implications: This study extends understandings of how INGDHOs discharge accountability through annual reporting practices. It provides a more holistic framework for understanding the role of accountability in organisational management reporting, the development of accountability regimes and the implications for organisational and social functioning. Originality/value (significance): The contribution is distinctive not only for the context and extensive period covered, but also for the significant institutional setting of Australian Red Cross – encompassing deep social, political, economic and institutional changes. This adds to the extant literature and provides significant insights into the contested interplay between annual reporting practices and accountability regimes.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Langton, Jonathan
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Purpose: This critical interpretive and historical case study of Australian Red Cross extends from the organisation’s beginning in 1914 through to the present day. The overarching purpose is to reveal and analyse the annual reporting practices of one of Australia’s oldest and most important humanitarian organisations in the discharge of accountability over the course of a century. Design/methodology/approach: A Political Economy of Accounting theoretical framework guides the content analysis and interpretation of findings. Background: While the review of literature acknowledges the annual report as a crucial element in the discharge of accountability, studies investigating the evolution of annual reports of International nongovernmental development and humanitarian aid organisations (INGDHOs) over extended periods of time appear to be absent from the literature. Findings: The annual reports were found to be responsive to the changing social, political, economic and institutional environment, casting doubt on any claims to objectivity in organisational management’s disclosures, including assertions regarding unadulterated adherence to its Fundamental Principles. Furthermore, sources of pressure from the wider environmental context impacted upon the development of accountability regimes and shaped the way in which organisational management reported to stakeholders. These regimes evidence the alignment of mission preservation and emotive disclosures with strategic priorities. Implications: This study extends understandings of how INGDHOs discharge accountability through annual reporting practices. It provides a more holistic framework for understanding the role of accountability in organisational management reporting, the development of accountability regimes and the implications for organisational and social functioning. Originality/value (significance): The contribution is distinctive not only for the context and extensive period covered, but also for the significant institutional setting of Australian Red Cross – encompassing deep social, political, economic and institutional changes. This adds to the extant literature and provides significant insights into the contested interplay between annual reporting practices and accountability regimes.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A comparative analysis of domestic violence against women in Australia and Bangladesh : government policies, legislation and organisational responses
- Authors: Rahman, Nasrin
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This is a comparative study of Domestic Violence (DV) between Australia (Victoria) and Bangladesh. It examined the interrelationship between factors which contribute to DV, government policies and legislation developed to deal with DV, and organisational responders (police and DV Crisis Support Services) implementing strategies and remedies in the policies and legislation. A comparative country case study strategy was adopted utilising triangulation of methods of data collection including an analysis of the countries’ respective policies and legislation and conducting in-depth interviews with key responder personnel. The conceptual framework identified policies and legislation as Steering Media, which influenced a society’s beliefs embedded in the Lifeworld, and which guided the actions of responders to DV in the two different countries’ Systems. Differences and similarities were found between the two countries. The main common factor was the identification of gender inequality as an underlying factor causing DV. Some social and cultural factors exist in both countries such as poverty. Some factors were specific to Australia, such as the consumption of alcohol; and in Bangladesh, such as dowry and dependency on men. Of significance is that gender equality is enshrined in the Bangladeshi Constitution, while Australia relies on legislation that could potentially be changed to disadvantage women. Differences revealed include identification of victims and perpetrators, with Bangladesh specifically naming women and children as victims but never the perpetrator and Australia (Victoria) naming any family member as victim or perpetrator. Also, responders deal with DV victims and perpetrators differently according to the policies and legislation of both countries. This research has implications for both theory and practice in both countries. The findings have potential to contribute to changes in policy and legislation related to DV as well as in the practice level by responders across both countries, learning from each other in the process.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Rahman, Nasrin
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This is a comparative study of Domestic Violence (DV) between Australia (Victoria) and Bangladesh. It examined the interrelationship between factors which contribute to DV, government policies and legislation developed to deal with DV, and organisational responders (police and DV Crisis Support Services) implementing strategies and remedies in the policies and legislation. A comparative country case study strategy was adopted utilising triangulation of methods of data collection including an analysis of the countries’ respective policies and legislation and conducting in-depth interviews with key responder personnel. The conceptual framework identified policies and legislation as Steering Media, which influenced a society’s beliefs embedded in the Lifeworld, and which guided the actions of responders to DV in the two different countries’ Systems. Differences and similarities were found between the two countries. The main common factor was the identification of gender inequality as an underlying factor causing DV. Some social and cultural factors exist in both countries such as poverty. Some factors were specific to Australia, such as the consumption of alcohol; and in Bangladesh, such as dowry and dependency on men. Of significance is that gender equality is enshrined in the Bangladeshi Constitution, while Australia relies on legislation that could potentially be changed to disadvantage women. Differences revealed include identification of victims and perpetrators, with Bangladesh specifically naming women and children as victims but never the perpetrator and Australia (Victoria) naming any family member as victim or perpetrator. Also, responders deal with DV victims and perpetrators differently according to the policies and legislation of both countries. This research has implications for both theory and practice in both countries. The findings have potential to contribute to changes in policy and legislation related to DV as well as in the practice level by responders across both countries, learning from each other in the process.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy