Description:
Survey and focus group interviews with female students in regional Victoria resulted in identification of four perceived barriers that influence them to exclude engineering as a career choice. These barriers were identified as a lack of interest in the perceived image, a lack of knowledge, a traditionally male-dominated industry, and limited recognisable role models. This paper reports on what Year 10 females are saying about the barriers and, consequently, how engineering can be promoted to overcome these barriers.
Description:
Survey and focus group interviews with female students in regional Victoria resulted in identification of four perceived barriers that influence them to exclude engineering as a career choice. These barriers were identified as a lack of interest in the perceived image, a lack of knowledge, a traditionally male-dominated industry, and limited recognisable role models. This paper reports on what Year 10 females are saying about the barriers and, consequently, how engineering can be promoted to overcome these barriers.
Description:
This study explored rural welfare practice issues with six welfare professionals working in contentious fields of practice such as child welfare, family violence and the justice system in the western region of Victoria. Participants were selected on the basis of difference to provide a range of experiences. The six participants completed a questionnaire and were subsequently interviewed in depth about their own experiences. The study asked participants about issues of concern to them and strategies that they find useful in their professional practice in small communities. Issues of concern included: risk and experience of violence and harassment, managing confidential information gathered from formal and informal sources, providing services that are non stigmatising, managing dual and multiple roles and lack of anonymity and privacy. Participants were concerned about the dilemmas of personal privacy versus community “right to know” particularly when they had privileged information about perpetrators of violence and child sexual assault within their communities. Participants shared their practical solutions and personal survival strategies, as well as their concerns. Many employing organisations did not recognise these factors effectively in work practices, and supervision was focused on agency accountability rather than professional development and support. On a broader level, workplaces and educators need to recognise the impact of the occupational demands and stressors relevant for rural practitioners, where anonymity and privacy are frequently compromised, and respond sensitively to these issues. This paper includes a number of recommendations for educators and organisations employing welfare staff in rural areas. The author sincerely thanks the six welfare professionals for sharing their stories in such rich detail and with such honesty and frankness. Identifying details have been altered to protect their privacy.
Description:
This study explored rural welfare practice issues with six welfare professionals working in contentious fields of practice such as child welfare, family violence and the justice system in the western region of Victoria. Participants were selected on the basis of difference to provide a range of experiences. The six participants completed a questionnaire and were subsequently interviewed in depth about their own experiences. The study asked participants about issues of concern to them and strategies that they find useful in their professional practice in small communities. Issues of concern included: risk and experience of violence and harassment, managing confidential information gathered from formal and informal sources, providing services that are non stigmatising, managing dual and multiple roles and lack of anonymity and privacy. Participants were concerned about the dilemmas of personal privacy versus community “right to know” particularly when they had privileged information about perpetrators of violence and child sexual assault within their communities. Participants shared their practical solutions and personal survival strategies, as well as their concerns. Many employing organisations did not recognise these factors effectively in work practices, and supervision was focused on agency accountability rather than professional development and support. On a broader level, workplaces and educators need to recognise the impact of the occupational demands and stressors relevant for rural practitioners, where anonymity and privacy are frequently compromised, and respond sensitively to these issues. This paper includes a number of recommendations for educators and organisations employing welfare staff in rural areas. The author sincerely thanks the six welfare professionals for sharing their stories in such rich detail and with such honesty and frankness. Identifying details have been altered to protect their privacy.
Description:
An innovative program in rural Victoria matches young homeless women with older homeless women and provides them with a range of support services.The result is more stability in the accommodation setting, mutual benefit and satisfaction for clients, and impressive rates of permanent housing outcomes.
Description:
An innovative program in rural Victoria matches young homeless women with older homeless women and provides them with a range of support services.The result is more stability in the accommodation setting, mutual benefit and satisfaction for clients, and impressive rates of permanent housing outcomes.
Description:
Introduction/Purpose: The objectives of this study were to examine whether a static stretching (SS) routine decreased isometric force, muscle activation, and jump power while improving range of motion (ROM). Second, the study attempted to compare the duration of the dependent variable changes with the duration of the change in ROM. Methods: Twelve participants were tested pre- and post- (POST, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min) SS of the quadriceps and plantar flexors (PF) or a similar period of no stretch (control). Measurements during isometric contractions included maximal voluntary force (MVC), evoked contractile properties (peak twitch and tetanus), surface integrated electromyographic (iEMG) activity of the agonist and antagonistic muscle groups, and muscle inactivation as measured by the interpolated twitch technique (ITT). Vertical jump (VJ) measurements included unilateral concentric-only (no countermovement) jump height as well as drop jump height and contact time. ROM associated with seated hip flexion, prone hip extension, and plantar flexion-dorsiflexion was also recorded. Results: After SS, there were significant overall 9.5% and 5.4% decrements in the torque or force of the quadriceps for MVC and ITT, respectively. Force remained significantly decreased for 120 min (10.4%), paralleling significant percentage increases (6%) in sit and reach ROM (120 min). After SS, there were no significant changes in jump performance or PF measures. Conclusion: The parallel duration of changes in ROM and quadriceps isometric force might suggest an association between stretch-induced changes in muscle compliance and isometric force output.
Description:
This paper will discuss research being conducted into the implementation of community care for the aged in rural Victoria, by focusing on one program – Community Aged Care Packages (CACP). This program has expanded rapidly in the last 15 years to provide case management and service brokerage as a community based alternative to low level residential care. The research is being undertaken as part of a PhD thesis and utilises a multi-method qualitative design of semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis and case study analysis. This paper will focus on a discussion of the preliminary results of the study, utilising data from an initial series of exploratory semi-structured interviews. The data from these interviews suggests that although the program is delivering highly valued services, program implementation choices have had unintended consequences and do not take account of rural issues in service provision. This data has implications for the development of policy and delivery in the aged care area, however it also illustrates the way in which policy implementation choices can impact on the quality of life of those who need support services.
Description:
This paper will discuss research being conducted into the implementation of community care for the aged in rural Victoria, by focusing on one program – Community Aged Care Packages (CACP). This program has expanded rapidly in the last 15 years to provide case management and service brokerage as a community based alternative to low level residential care. The research is being undertaken as part of a PhD thesis and utilises a multi-method qualitative design of semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis and case study analysis. This paper will focus on a discussion of the preliminary results of the study, utilising data from an initial series of exploratory semi-structured interviews. The data from these interviews suggests that although the program is delivering highly valued services, program implementation choices have had unintended consequences and do not take account of rural issues in service provision. This data has implications for the development of policy and delivery in the aged care area, however it also illustrates the way in which policy implementation choices can impact on the quality of life of those who need support services.
Description:
Adults in Australia have tended to return relatively recently to learning in patterns that are significantly different by gender. These patterns of gender segmentation for adults are particularly noticeable in the findings of recent research by the author into adult, community and vocational learning in small and remote towns in Victoria. The issues associated with such patterns form the basis of this exploratory paper.
Description:
As late as 1961, nearly seven thousand children were in the custody of Victorian institutions or under the care of the Children's Welfare Department. Many of them were institutionalised simply because they had been born out of welock; more than half were admitted because of so-called 'neglect'. This is what happened to Frank Golding and his two brothers. On Christmas Eve 1940, the boys - Frank (not yet three), Bob (four), and Bill (six) - found themselves on the doorstep of an orphan asylum. They were certainly not orphans, but the boys spent most of their lost childhood inside the walls of the Ballarat Orphanage. 'An Orphan's Escape' is not just about surviving in the emotional wasteland of state care. It would take Frank fifty years to learn what had been happening 'outside the wall' while he was inside. Where were his parents? Why didn't they come for him? Why wouldn't anyone tell him? Frank's childhood puzzlement lasted half a lifetime. Theirs was by no means the only appalling story of the time. Hundreds of similar stories were told to the Federal Senate Committee's 2004 Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care. His parents rescued him at last, but the battle for their children had been at a huge cost. Files from the welfare department, the army and the police opened up a dark pit that his parents had kept hidden. Although his parents had been irresponsible in the early stages of this saga, 'An Orphan's Escape' reveals that evidence Frank discovered in the files showed they care deeply about their children.
Description:
As late as 1961, nearly seven thousand children were in the custody of Victorian institutions or under the care of the Children's Welfare Department. Many of them were institutionalised simply because they had been born out of welock; more than half were admitted because of so-called 'neglect'. This is what happened to Frank Golding and his two brothers. On Christmas Eve 1940, the boys - Frank (not yet three), Bob (four), and Bill (six) - found themselves on the doorstep of an orphan asylum. They were certainly not orphans, but the boys spent most of their lost childhood inside the walls of the Ballarat Orphanage. 'An Orphan's Escape' is not just about surviving in the emotional wasteland of state care. It would take Frank fifty years to learn what had been happening 'outside the wall' while he was inside. Where were his parents? Why didn't they come for him? Why wouldn't anyone tell him? Frank's childhood puzzlement lasted half a lifetime. Theirs was by no means the only appalling story of the time. Hundreds of similar stories were told to the Federal Senate Committee's 2004 Inquiry into Children in Institutional Care. His parents rescued him at last, but the battle for their children had been at a huge cost. Files from the wefare department, the army and the police opened up a dark pit that his parents had kept hidden. Although his parents had been irresponsible in the early stages of this saga, 'An Orphan's Escape' reveals that evidence Frank discovered in the files showed they care deeply about their children.
Description:
"This study of Ballarat and its Asylum covers the period between the 1850s and the early 1900s when an old-age pension was introduced in Victoria. It is essentially a case study. It argues that Ballarat's Asylum progressively developed and expanded upon a model of organised poor relief practiced among the industrial classes in England, in consequence of the perceived need for rapid capital expansion in Australia, and knowledge of the dangers associated with mining, building construction, and other manual work. The introduction of a secular education system in Victoria, together with enthusiasm among producers for technological innovation and skill development, led to changes in the nature and conditions of paid work, as well as to a push among workers and their sympathizers for greater appreciation of past contributions by older workers and the needs of the ill and/or incapacitated. This push was only partially addressed by the Victorian government in 1901 when it introduced the old-age pension."
Ecology of the endangered Southern Shepherd's Purse Ballantinia antipoda (Brassicaceae) and the associated moss mat community on Mount Alexander, Victoria
Description:
Despite its rarity, conservation status and location within the regional park, there is only limited information on the ecology of B. antipoda. The significance of the micorhabitat provided by the associated moss mat community is unclear.
Description:
Despite its rarity, conservation status and location within the regional park, there is only limited information on the ecology of B. antipoda. The significance of the micorhabitat provided by the associated moss mat community is unclear.
Description:
This article reports findings from a larger qualitative study conducted to gain insight into the experience of fathers living with their chronically-ill children in rural Victoria, Australia. Data were collected via unstructured interviews with four fathers. The findings presented in this article explore the phenomena of normalization for fathers within the chronic illness experience. Fathers described normalizing the experience of living with their chronically-ill child as involving a combination of various coping strategies and behaviours including: (1) accepting the child's condition, (2) changing expectations, (3) focusing energies on a day-to-day basis, (4) minimizing knowledge-seeking behaviours, and (5) engaging in external distraction activities. Findings highlight the complex and unique normalization strategies these men utilized and contribute to knowledge and understanding of the complex nature of raising a chronically-ill child in rural Australia and provide a sound basis upon which to guide an ongoing and holistic assessment of fathers with chronically-ill children.
Description:
Arid areas are often overgrazed and dysfunctional with poor recruitment of desirable species, diminished control over resources and altered soil properties. Restoration ecology re-establishes these valued processes. State-and-transition models summarise knowledge of vegetation dynamics and tools for restoration, and encourage the incorporation of new information. The model developed here for semi-arid woodlands of north-west Victoria highlighted the unknown cause of observed, natural recruitment and the need for a technique, other than direct seeding and handplanting, for enhancing the recruitment of desirable species. I pursued these knowledge gaps for two dominant, woodland trees: Allocasuarina luehmannii and Casuarina pauper. Natural recruitment of juvenile C. pauper was found to be limited and primarily from root suckers. Extensive recruitment of A. luehmannii was shown to be mostly seedlings established following substantial reductions in grazing pressure since 1996. Seedlings were associated with areas devoid of ground flora near a female tree. The importance of competition between seedlings and ground flora, spatial variation in soil moisture and individual variation in the quantity of seed produced deserves further investigation to enhance future restoration success. Root suckers of both C. pauper and A. luehmannii can be artificially initiated, albeit in low numbers and this was found to be a feasible, new tool for restoration. Suckers are preceded by the growth of callus tissue on exposed or damaged, living, shallow roots. Both male and female trees can produce suckers and spring treatments may be more successful. Genetic fingerprinting of mature A. luehmannii and C. pauper trees in six populations did not identify any clonal individuals indicating that recruitment in the past has been from seedlings. Despite this, the high level of gene flow suggests that the impact of introducing small numbers of root suckers into existing populations is unlikely to impact negatively on the population genetics of these species.
Description:
Arid areas are often overgrazed and dysfunctional with poor recruitment of desirable species, diminished control over resources and altered soil properties. Restoration ecology re-establishes these valued processes. State-and-transition models summarise knowledge of vegetation dynamics and tools for restoration, and encourage the incorporation of new information. The model developed here for semi-arid woodlands of north-west Victoria highlighted the unknown cause of observed, natural recruitment and the need for a technique, other than direct seeding and handplanting, for enhancing the recruitment of desirable species. I pursued these knowledge gaps for two dominant, woodland trees: Allocasuarina luehmannii and Casuarina pauper. Natural recruitment of juvenile C. pauper was found to be limited and primarily from root suckers. Extensive recruitment of A. luehmannii was shown to be mostly seedlings established following substantial reductions in grazing pressure since 1996. Seedlings were associated with areas devoid of ground flora near a female tree. The importance of competition between seedlings and ground flora, spatial variation in soil moisture and individual variation in the quantity of seed produced deserves further investigation to enhance future restoration success. Root suckers of both C. pauper and A. luehmannii can be artificially initiated, albeit in low numbers and this was found to be a feasible, new tool for restoration. Suckers are preceded by the growth of callus tissue on exposed or damaged, living, shallow roots. Both male and female trees can produce suckers and spring treatments may be more successful. Genetic fingerprinting of mature A. luehmannii and C. pauper trees in six populations did not identify any clonal individuals indicating that recruitment in the past has been from seedlings. Despite this, the high level of gene flow suggests that the impact of introducing small numbers of root suckers into existing populations is unlikely to impact negatively on the population genetics of these species.
Description:
In 2001 the Victorian Government launched its Community Building initiative. As part of this initiative the government funded 11 locally based community building demonstration projects. One of these projects is located within the Pyrenees Shire. In this discussion paper the authors examine the Pyrenees Shire’s Community Building Demonstration Project, describing the program and its objectives. They focus on the factors which have had a significant impact on the community building process within the municipality, identifying factors which have both facilitated and impeded the process. In terms of facilitating factors they identify a number: the involvement of community champions, strong local government support and community readiness, the capacity to deliver ‘runs on the board’ early in the life of the project, along with a flexible planning process. Conversely, they identify factors which have impeded the community building process in the Shire. Lack of continuity of personnel, an inability to develop shared understanding on occasions and difficulties associated with engaging disparate groups are described. This paper is significant for a number of reasons. In the first instance, it contributes useful, ‘real time’ insights into the implementation of community building in regional Victoria. Secondly it may, through its contribution to theory building and managerial practice, develop and strengthen community building programs in the future. Finally, at the level of public policy, it may contribute to the growing body of knowledge around the efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of these types of regional interventions.
Description:
In 2001 the Victorian Government launched its Community Building initiative. As part of this initiative the government funded 11 locally based community building demonstration projects. One of these projects is located within the Pyrenees Shire. In this discussion paper the authors examine the Pyrenees Shire’s Community Building Demonstration Project, describing the program and its objectives. They focus on the factors which have had a significant impact on the community building process within the municipality, identifying factors which have both facilitated and impeded the process. In terms of facilitating factors they identify a number: the involvement of community champions, strong local government support and community readiness, the capacity to deliver ‘runs on the board’ early in the life of the project, along with a flexible planning process. Conversely, they identify factors which have impeded the community building process in the Shire. Lack of continuity of personnel, an inability to develop shared understanding on occasions and difficulties associated with engaging disparate groups are described. This paper is significant for a number of reasons. In the first instance, it contributes useful, ‘real time’ insights into the implementation of community building in regional Victoria. Secondly it may, through its contribution to theory building and managerial practice, develop and strengthen community building programs in the future. Finally, at the level of public policy, it may contribute to the growing body of knowledge around the efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of these types of regional interventions.
Description:
The Department of Victorian Communities funded a study to evaluate the policies and practices of State sporting associations (SSA) in Victoria. The study was conducted in 5 phases which were (1) invite all SSAs to submit their sports injury risk management (SIRM) policies which were content analysed; (2) interview key informants from 12 selected sports; (3) develop a survey instrument for clubs and local associations; (4) survey approximately 720 clubs and local associations and (5) do observations of practices at competition and training for the 12 selected sports. The objectives of the project were to investigate the effectiveness of SIRM policies in sport and to identify barriers and facilitators to SIRM implementation. The overall aim of the project was to develop a framework for the development of sports activity standards for SIRM in Victoria.
Description:
This paper discusses the value of clan name research as a means of uncovering Aboriginal place names. It argues that clan names are able to provide a layer of place names that in some instances is the only source of information available to researchers of indigenous toponymy. They are an important data set that is useful in the mapping of Aboriginal spatial organization.
Description:
This paper discusses the value of clan name research as a means of uncovering Aboriginal place names. It argues that clan names are able to provide a layer of place names that in some instances is the only source of information available to researchers of indigenous toponymy. They are an important data set that is useful in the mapping of Aboriginal spatial organization.
Description:
This thesis investigates the impact of clustering on the development and operation of wine and tourism industries in Victoria, Australia. Specifically, the research analyses the structure and competitive strength of industry players, and highlights the importance of geographic co-location on their behaviour. In essence, this study examines micro-clusters in these regional industries to identify overlap and complementarity between them. The research focuses on three case studies based around geographic locations in Central and Western Victoria - Ballarat, Northern Grampians and Bendigo regions. "The primary aim of the study is to gain an understanding of the scope of wine and tourism micro-clusters and how they interact. [...] Generally speaking, this study develops and applies a framework that demonstrates the relevance of cluster theory as a regional development tool for scenarios that fucus on co-located clusters at a micro level, as opposed to the majority of research reported that focuses on the macro level."
Description:
This thesis investigates the impact of clustering on the development and operation of wine and tourism industries in Victoria, Australia. Specifically, the research analyses the structure and competitive strength of industry players, and highlights the importance of geographic co-location on their behaviour. In essence, this study examines micro-clusters in these regional industries to identify overlap and complementarity between them. The research focuses on three case studies based around geographic locations in Central and Western Victoria - Ballarat, Northern Grampians and Bendigo regions. "The primary aim of the study is to gain an understanding of the scope of wine and tourism micro-clusters and how they interact. [...] Generally speaking, this study develops and applies a framework that demonstrates the relevance of cluster theory as a regional development tool for scenarios that fucus on co-located clusters at a micro level, as opposed to the majority of research reported that focuses on the macro level."
Description:
"This project has, for its central component, an epic poem, 'A locale of the cosmos'. The accompanying exegesis examines epic as an ancient, but continually evolving form. It argues that, as a contemporary example of the genre and, as a sustained poetic rumination on landscape and memory, 'A locale of the cosmos' represents a significant development within the modern tradition of autobiographical epic. In broader terms, 'A locale of the cosmos' privileges the landscape and history of a region of Australia, the Wimmera region of north-western Victoria and, in doing so, explores the cumulative effects of the physical environment as a site for sustained poetic treatment. The poem is, therefore, an epic of both historical narrative and philosophical reflection, giving meaning to and interpreting ideas of space, place and locale. "Furthermore, it explores, in particular, the psychological and spiritual effects of vast horizontal distances, created by a landscape in which endless plains and immense horizons form an analogue of the wider cosmos. The poem's themes, therefore, bear not only on the prominences of the visible locale, but also explore the salients of an interior world, a landscape of the mind to which the poetry gives shape and meaning."
Description:
"This project has, for its central component, an epic poem, 'A locale of the cosmos'. The accompanying exegesis examines epic as an ancient, but continually evolving form. It argues that, as a contemporary example of the genre and, as a sustained poetic rumination on landscape and memory, 'A locale of the cosmos' represents a significant development within the modern tradition of autobiographical epic. In broader terms, 'A locale of the cosmos' privileges the landscape and history of a region of Australia, the Wimmera region of north-western Victoria and, in doing so, explores the cumulative effects of the physical environment as a site for sustained poetic treatment. The poem is, therefore, an epic of both historical narrative and philosophical reflection, giving meaning to and interpreting ideas of space, place and locale. "Furthermore, it explores, in particular, the psychological and spiritual effects of vast horizontal distances, created by a landscape in which endless plains and immense horizons form an analogue of the wider cosmos. The poem's themes, therefore, bear not only on the prominences of the visible locale, but also explore the salients of an interior world, a landscape of the mind to which the poetry gives shape and meaning."