- Authors: Aashcharya, Hanwellage
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text: false
- Description: The transition to a circular economy paradigm is critical for addressing the growing challenges of waste management and resource depletion. Hence, this thesis examines a way to expand circular economy practices in Australia, with a special emphasis on the role of municipal waste management in generating value through the local processing of household glass waste in Ararat Rural City, Victoria. It integrates insights from two independent but interconnected studies to provide a multidimensional study on the circular economy and value creation through such local processing, and on glass remanufacturing feasibility, thus highlighting their synergistic potential for sustainable development. First, this thesis explores Australia’s circular economy and waste management landscape, focusing on challenges and opportunities associated with the household waste crisis. It analyses data from 520 municipalities across the six Australian states to understand waste generation, disposal methods and circular economy initiatives at the local government level. Despite initiatives such as the National Waste Policy Action Plan, disparities persist, which calls for sophisticated policy interventions and collaborative solutions. Using publicly available data, the study establishes a detailed database on waste management practices and circular economy projects. While most councils offer general waste bins, fewer councils provide bins for food organic and garden organic (FOGO) waste and glass waste. Engagement in waste management and circular economy projects varies across councils, indicating the necessity for targeted interventions and incentives to promote consistent policies nationwide. Of the 520 councils surveyed, 481 offer general waste bins, 246 provide FOGO bins and 406 supply mixed recyclable bins. However, only 14 councils, all from Victoria, have separate bins for glass waste. Nationally, 171 councils actively participate in waste management and circular economy projects, whereas 80 do not engage in either. Addressing these disparities requires targeted interventions, financial support and incentives to foster formal waste management and circular economy policies across Australia. Then, this thesis focuses on the feasibility of, and stakeholder perspectives about, creating social, environmental and economic value through establishing a glass remanufacturing plant in Ararat, Victoria. Using a qualitative approach, comprising 16 semi-structured interviews with representatives from local governments, academia, state government waste management authorities and the recycling industry, this thesis explores the economic, social and environmental benefits of glass remanufacturing. Recognising the critical significance of glass remanufacturing in promoting energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions and ensuring environmental sustainability, this thesis assesses the feasibility of establishing a glass remanufacturing business in Ararat Rural City. Stakeholder engagement and empirical study reveal the subtle aspects of glass remanufacturing sustainability, such as resource availability, regulatory challenges and community engagement methods, and environmental advantages, such as reduction in carbon emission and landfill. The study also explores the short-term and long-term viability of establishing a glass remanufacturing business in Ararat, Victoria. It finds that in the short term (>5 years), although this business has economic feasibility, it will face challenges. Initial investments in technology, infrastructure and human resources are crucial for market penetration, yet short-term profitability relies heavily on factors such as glass waste feedstock availability, regulatory stability and consumer demand. Addressing these challenges requires coordination with local authorities and innovative waste management initiatives to ensure a consistent supply of at least 50,000 tonnes per year. Moreover, regulatory concerns and the need to attract qualified personnel underscore the importance of complementary services and amenities for workforce retention. Looking ahead to 2030, the long-term viability appears more promising, with anticipated improvements in waste management methods, technological advancements and strategic investments positioning the business for sustainable growth and competitiveness, as identified from stakeholder analysis in this study. This thesis advocates for a comprehensive strategy for circular economy advancement, with municipal waste management serving as a key driver in unlocking value from household glass waste in Ararat. By bridging the gap between policy imperatives and on-the-ground execution, local governments may lead transformative projects that not only reduce waste but also promote socioeconomic development and environmental stewardship. Keywords: Circular economy, municipal waste management, household glass waste, remanufacturing feasibility, stakeholder perspectives, sustainable development
- Description: Masters by Research
Discriminating malware families using partitional clustering
- Authors: Mishra, Pooja
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text: false
- Description: Malware, malicious software designed to compromise device security, is crafted by expert software engineers and distributed through a specialized black markets. Identifying malware families within daily feeds remains a significant challenge for internet security firms. Industry-standard Yara rules, based on regular expressions, are prone to failure due to malware evolution. This thesis presents an alternative approach leveraging malware clustering. By clustering malware samples based on dynamic analysis features, Yara scans can efficiently pinpoint known families, but unrecognized samples signify potential new variants, earmarked for further scrutiny by analysis teams. This process diminishes the necessity for individual sample scans, thereby streamlining operations and lightening the analysis team’s workload. This research evaluates the partitional clustering algorithm for improved handling of sparse malware features, setting it against the following traditional algorithms K-Means, Agglomerative Clustering, DBSCAN, and Spectral Kmeans Clustering. Each algorithm is evaluated, with a focus on their efficacy clustering performance: KMeans optimizes for homogeneous variance across n groups; Agglomerative Clustering scales for large datasets via connectivity matrices; DBSCAN discriminates clusters based on density metrics; and Spectral K-means Clustering employs affinity matrix-based low-dimensional embedding prior to clustering. The contribution of this thesis include a comprehensive performance comparison of the partitional clustering algorithm against Hierarchical, Densitybased, Spectral K-means, and K-Means algorithms; enhancement of the partitional clustering algorithm for sparse data; an in-depth evaluation of features extracted from Application Programming Interface call parameters and Domain Name System queries executed by malware; and the development of countermeasures against malware’s anti-analysis tactics. The research utilizes a real-world malware dataset sourced from abuse.ch 1 [1]. Empirical results demonstrate the superior performance of the partitional clustering algorithm over traditional clustering techniques in the majority of tests conducted
- Description: Masters of Research
Exercise response and exhaled volatile organic compounds
- Authors: Bell, Leo
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: A growing body of research features the variability of responses to exercise training, frequently showing approximately 30-40% of participants do not experience meaningful improvements in fitness (also known as ‘nonresponse’). Hence, researchers have focused on investigating determinants of responsiveness to optimise exercise interventions at a personalised level and mitigate the prevalence of nonresponses. This PhD thesis aims to advance knowledge of these factors and provide future directions for research into potential biomarkers for monitoring exercise response. Interindividual variability in response to exercise is determined by a combination of biological (e.g. age, sex, genetics), environmental (e.g. lifestyle, diet, physical activity), and methodological factors (e.g. exercise dose, study design, statistical approach). While genetics are a large component of interindividual variability, studies comparing exercise response in twins indicate genetics may not play as substantive role as originally thought. Additionally, mRNA expression is tissue-specific, expensive, and invasive. Therefore, to improve the incidence of exercise fitness response it is imperative cost-effective, practical, and less invasive molecular predictors of exercise response are identified. This work highlights the potential of exerkines, circulating cell-free DNA, and metabolomic profile changes in blood, saliva, and breath as candidate biomarkers. Exercise studies mainly use reporting measures at the group level (e.g. mean, standard deviation). However, central tendency measures fail to highlight the interindividual variability and capture the proportion of nonresponses. This thesis demonstrates the merit of applying statistical frameworks for assessing interindividual variability and classifying individual responses to exercise training. A study examined whether progressively increasing treadmill run intensity would improve the proportion of positive cardiorespiratory fitness responders compared to constant intensity training. The findings show a significantly higher proportion of positive responders in the progressive overload group, however, a notable percentage of participants (~33%) did not exceed the technical error and smallest worthwhile change threshold (128.2mL). The following study examined the impact of different supervision types on individual responses to exercise training in tertiary education employees. Personal supervision led to the most significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and body composition compared to non-personal supervision and unsupervised training. Analysis of individual responses indicated a reduced incidence of non-responses for muscular strength and total fat loss, but not V̇O2peak, for personal supervision compared to other supervision types, suggesting that personal supervision can improve individual responses to exercise training. Additionally, the analysis supports evidence that outcome responses do not aggregate consistently within participants. These findings, in combination with the first study, highlight the need to develop measures capable of screening and predicting the likelihood of response to exercise. Breath analysis is a promising non-invasive method for monitoring physiological and metabolic adaptations. Consequently, a breath testing method was piloted to identify potential exhaled volatile organic compounds for monitoring exercise response. Using glass tubes and solid-phase microextraction fibres paired with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, a non-targeted analytical approach was employed to speculate for volatile organic compounds of interest. The descriptive analysis highlights compounds from endogenous, exogenous, and mixed origins before, 10 minutes and 24 hours after a standardised 20-minute treadmill run. Metabolites of interest included monoterpenes, alkenes and dienes, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, organosulfur, alkanes, amines, and amides. The presence of certain metabolites was transient and highlighted the confounding influence of the environment on breath sampling. In a follow-up study, the reliability of two commonly abundant compounds, acetone and isoprene, and their dynamic responses across time points are reported. The reliability analyses showed that acetone has poor reliability and consistency within individuals, while isoprene shows moderately good reliability and consistency. Isoprene levels significantly decreased 10 minutes after exercise and returned to baseline after 24 hours, aligning with existing theories on their dynamics. In summary, this thesis aims to highlight the prevalence of non-response to generic training regimens by reporting the relative importance of progressive increases in exercise intensity and the impact of supervision type on individual responses to exercise training. Additionally, this thesis reports on the potential of breath analysis to be a viable biomarker of trainability and suggests future directions for research in this area.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Image data understanding and preparation
- Authors: Kaur, Roopdeep
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Data understanding and preparation involves a process of analyzing, cleaning, transforming, and organizing the data in preparation for data mining. To improve the performance of applications that use image processing, verifying the quality of the images and image cleaning are crucial steps. However, diverse and complex environments have a great effect on images, directly affecting the decisions derived from image analysis and thereby limiting the acceleration of industrial automation. Environmental and camera impacts play a vital role in the quality of the photos captured in outdoor environments. Because of these impacts, the use of images captured in outdoor environments limits the effectiveness of an application in which image processing is involved. There are many techniques available in the current literature for analyzing the impact of the environment on Internet of Things (IoT) images. However, objectively assessing the effect of dynamic and complex environments on IoT images is challenging. To advance this research area, we present an innovative technique for evaluating the impact of environmental parameters on image quality compared with the quality affected by the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG) image compression technique and the different levels of Gaussian noise. The quality values produced by the structural similarity index measure (SSIM) are consistent with the different levels of environmental impacts, JPEG image quality, and Gaussian noise, and can be used for image understanding and preparation. For camera impacts, there exist many approaches that assess the influence on the quality of the images. Analysis shows that none of the existing metrics produces quality values consistent with intuitively defined impact levels for lens blur, lens dirtiness, or barrel distortion. To address the loopholes in the existing metrics and to ensure that the quality assessment metrics are more reliable, we introduce a new image quality assessment metric that uses the Dempster–Shafer theory to fuse quality values from different metrics. Our proposed metric produces quality values that are more consistent and better aligned with perceptually defined camera parameter impact levels. Various noise reduction techniques are proposed in the literature for image data preparation, including the use of median, Gaussian, and bilateral filters. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have gained popularity in image denoising owing to their ability to extract complex patterns and features from data. CNNs are highly adaptable, making them effective tools for various image-denoising tasks. The drawback of CNN-based techniques is that they require an appropriate training dataset and all images to be resized. Another notable disadvantage of these filtering techniques is that they work for certain types of environmental and camera impacts. To bridge this research gap, we analyze the impact of denoising on CNN performance. First, we filter noise from images using traditional denoising methods before using them in the CNN model. Second, we embed a denoising layer within the CNN. We conduct extensive experiments on traffic sign and object recognition datasets to validate the performance of image denoising. We also present an approach using peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) distribution to determine whether denoising should be adopted and which filter to use. Both CNN accuracy and PSNR distribution are used to determine the type of filter that needs to be used. The results vary by filter type, impact, and dataset, with traditional denoising showing better accuracy and embedded denoising offering shorter computational time in most cases. This comparative study provides insights into adopting denoising in various CNN-based image analyses. From this analysis, it is shown that traditional and embedding denoising techniques are efficient in reducing many impacts; however, these are not competent enough to reduce impact types such as salt and pepper, lens blur, and shadow. To address this problem, finally, for the first time, we introduce an approach to directly filter out poor-quality images for different environmental and camera impacts. Our approach assesses quality using an image quality metric and employs an optimal threshold to remove low-quality images while ensuring that an adequate number of images remain for deep learning model development. Results from real and simulated traffic and object recognition data showcase the superior performance of our approach compared with state-of-the-art approaches. The merit of our technique is that it works well for all environmental and camera impacts with comparable computational time.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Reframing inclusion through the lens of educational permaculture
- Authors: Holcombe, Wendy
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Educational inclusion is high on the agenda in countries across the globe, yet it continues to be a problematic challenge for those charged with the responsibility of enacting inclusive policies. Issues of nomenclature, conceptualisation and interpretation complicate the identification and implementation of reliable and consistent processes within the complexity of dynamic school systems. Attempts to address inequity in education have evolved over time from exclusionary and segregated practices to more integrated and inclusive practices, but historical bias remains evident in schools today. As we continue to reframe inclusion in the context of teaching to and for diversity, attention is moving from an initial focus on what teachers do, to consideration of what students actually experience. It is evident that many teachers are caught between embracing inclusive ideals and intentions and managing the realities of how to generate an inclusive culture. This is a particularly relevant issue for graduate teachers who may emerge from initial teacher education (ITE) courses with enthusiasm and idealistic understandings of the teaching profession. Reframing inclusion as a goal, a process and an outcome within a complex bioecological system can assist in supporting teachers to maintain a realistic perspective without diminishing positive, inclusive intentions. This case study used the conceptual framework of educational permaculture, purposefully created for this thesis through analogy with the practical wisdom of permaculture principles and processes, to explore the experience of eleven graduate teachers emerging from different ITE degrees within a single Victorian university. Data was collected via a survey of the main participants and their peers and combined with information from their final Graduate Teacher Performance Assessment (GTPA) submissions to generate insight into their preservice attitudes, intentions, knowledge, skills and dispositions. Four semi-structured interviews were conducted during the first two years of teaching to investigate the nature of their experience with a focus on challenges, strategies, goals and outcomes. Thematic analysis was used to interrogate the data and situate it within the educational permaculture framework as a means of triangulating perspectives and building credibility of the framework design as a lens for understanding classroom experience. Findings from the study suggest that educational principles, elements, processes and practices can be captured within an educational permaculture framework making it a viable proposition for further study. The predominant focus of graduate teachers on managing immediate challenges in their classroom experience was noted within the time and attention given to planning, establishing relationships, developing ways of working, meeting the needs of learners and introspective reflection. Finally, the study reveals that while graduate teachers may be classroom and inclusion ready in terms of attitudes, intentions and values, they require additional support during transition to manage the unique challenges of local contexts so they can develop practical skills and confidence in building and maintaining an inclusive classroom culture.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Aleu, Mark
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Background: Essential hypertension (EH) is a complex multifactorial condition caused by genetic and environmental factors. The genetic component of hypertension (HTN) accounts for 30-50% of BP variations but the exact genetic pathways involved are very complex and unclear. Nevertheless, there is increasing evidence that the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) is involved in EH. Early RAAS inhibition has been shown to reduce BP permanently in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model through unknown BP regulating genes in the kidney. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as regulators of gene expression at all levels. They play regulatory roles in EH pathophysiology by sequestering microRNAs, binding to messenger RNAs and interacting with proteins. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression and the regulatory role of kidney lncRNAs following early RAAS inhibition in SHRs. Design and Methods: SHRs were treated with the angiotensin receptor blocker, losartan (7.5mg/kg/d) and vehicle between 10-14 weeks of age. Kidney cortices were harvested at 14 and 20 weeks of age and RNA was extracted. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to profile differences in renal lncRNAs expression at 20 weeks (6 weeks post treatment). Bioinformatic analyses was applied to assess renal lncRNA expression, correlations between lncRNA expression and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and gene co-expression at 20 weeks. lncRNAs expression was confirmed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). RNA pull-down assay, RNA sequencing and mass spectroscopy was conducted to assess mRNA and protein interaction with LncRNA in HEK293 cell line. False discovery rate (FDR) and statistical significance was set as P<0.05. Results: Early RAAS inhibition with losartan significantly reduced MAP (P <0.0001) and SBP at 14 weeks (P < 0.0001) compared to controls in SHRs . This reduction was maintained at 20 weeks (P < 0.001) indicating a legacy of reduced BP following early RAAS inhibition.In addition, RNA-seq identified 15 differentially expressed lncRNAs (13 increased, 2 decreased) at 20 weeks, six weeks after treatment was stopped (FDR<0.05). Furthermore, we found correlations (r>|0.8|) between the expression of lncRNA, miRNA (miR-145-5p, miR-339-5p, miR-423-5p) and mRNA (Bcl6, Nrd1, Smad7, Bdkrb2, Ren, Adamts1) which may represent the genetic networks underpinning long-term BP reduction in SHRs . RT-qPCR validation identified differential expression of 13 lncRNAs (11 up-regulated, 2 down-regulated) at 20 weeks (P < 0.05). LncRNA AABR07021465.2 and AABR07014855.1 expression in the kidney was consistent in both RNA-seq analysis and qPCR validation (P<0.05). RNA-pulldown and sequencing showed binding between lncRNA AABR07021465.2 and 133 mRNAs including angiotensinogen (AGT), apolipoprotein B/A1 (APOB/A1), fibronectin 1 (FN1), hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha (HIF1A) and transforming growth factor beta receptor 2 (TGF-
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
The effect of hydralazine on abdominal aortic aneurysms
- Authors: Sargisson, Owen
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are complex aortic lesions that are characterised by increased inflammation and apoptosis. AAA is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. There is currently no pharmaceutical treatment for AAA. Hydralazine is an anti-hypertensive drug that also has anti-inflammatory properties. This project aimed to investigate the effect of hydralazine on AAA. Methods and results: In vivo experiments were conducted on two groups of apolipoprotein E deficient (ApoE-/-) mice that were infused with angiotensin II at the rate of 1
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Patrick, Anton
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Whilst shallow urban lakes often show phytoplankton blooms due to heavy loads of nutrient inputs, occasionally they will evidence an alternative massive growth of aquatic plants. These species of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) can interfere with valued community recreational activities such as boating, rowing, swimming, and fishing, therefore mechanical harvesting has traditionally been used as a control measure. This occurs in Lake Wendouree, a small flat-bottomed urban shallow lake in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. However, the impact of mechanical harvesting on the ecology of non-target biological communities is poorly studied in southern hemisphere lakes, particularly in Australia. Therefore, a before and after control-impact experimental design was used to assess the impact of Low, Medium, and High intensity harvest regimes on phytoplankton, zooplankton, and macroinvertebrate communities across all four seasons in Lake Wendouree. Variables measured included: plankton and macroinvertebrate abundance, diversity, and evenness. Further factors affecting those communities resulting from mechanical harvesting were analysed temporally such as immediately after, 1 day after, 7 days after, 28 days after harvest, and seasonally over the study period. Seven major groups of phytoplankton (Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta, Cyanophyta, Charophyta, Chrysophyta, Euglenophyta and Dinophyta), four major groups of zooplankton (Cladocera, Rotifera, Copepoda and Ostracoda), and nine major groups of macroinvertebrates (including Crustacea, Insecta, Gastropoda, and Nematoda) were identified in Lake Wendouree. Cyanophyta occurred during all seasons and was generally inversely correlated with Charophyta. Phytoplankton were strongly correlated with water temperature, pH and DO (dissolved Oxygen). Zooplankton correlated with pH and DO, while macroinvertebrates mostly correlated with water temperature. Harvest was important in the control of excessive growth of SAV. However, this study found that harvesting regimes were non-detrimental for all non-target communities. Seasonal and harvesting effects exerted the greatest influence during autumn. Despite the impacts on plankton and macroinvertebrate communities by mechanical harvesting, recovery was observed by 4 weeks following harvest disturbance. The intermediate disturbance hypothesis would be predictable for phytoplankton and macroinvertebrate than zooplankton. The taxa most vulnerable to removal with harvested SAV materials were macroinvertebrates. While some fish were removed in harvested material, removal of the most highly targeted recreational fishery species did not appear to be pronounced. Amphipods were the most abundant macroinvertebrate removed from the lake in harvested SAV material. However, other studies have shown that Amphipods are not significant components of fish in Australian freshwater environments. Further study of fish diets in Lake Wendouree is required to better understand the links between SAV harvest and fish feeding, condition, and growth. SAV harvest in Lake Wendouree exerts effects on non-target plankton and macroinvertebrate communities but these effects appear to be short-lived and not have a longer-term detrimental effect on invertebrate communities in the lake. Indirect effects on fish in the lake would therefore seem to be minimized.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Cytoskeletal plakins in epithelial ovarian cancer
- Authors: Wesley, Tamsin
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: The plakin family of cytoskeletal proteins play an important role in cancer progression yet are under-studied in cancer, especially ovarian cancer. These large cytoskeletal proteins have primary roles in the maintenance of cytoskeletal integrity. They are also associated with scaffolds of intermediate filaments and hemidesmosomal adhesion complexes mediating signalling pathways that regulate cellular growth, migration, invasion and differentiation, as well as a stress response. Abnormalities of plakins, and the closely related spectraplakins, result in serious pathologies of skin, striated muscle and nervous tissue. Their prevalence in epithelial cells suggests that plakins may play a role in epithelial ovarian cancer progression and recurrence. This thesis sought to explore the expression of plakin proteins, particularly plectin (PLEC), desmoplakin (DSP), periplakin (PPL) and envoplakin (EVPL) in ovarian cancer progression, comparing surgical stages, historical Silverberg histological grading and current World Health Organisation (WHO) pathological classification of ovarian tumour types. The study also investigated the potential role that the plakin family of proteins may play in regulating cancer cell growth, survival, migration, invasion and drug resistance. It highlights potential relationships between plakins and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and relates how these interactions may affect ovarian cancer progression, chemoresistance and ultimately recurrence. This study hypothesises that the molecular changes in the expression of plakins in benign ovarian tumours compared to various grades and stages of ovarian carcinomas, as well as floating cellular aggregates (spheroids) in the peritoneal ascites microenvironment, may contribute to the progression of the disease. It also attempts to understand these crucial changes in plakin expression in response to chemotherapy treatment and relate these findings in the perspective of disease recurrence.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Development of scaled boundary finite element method for geotechnical and mining engineering
- Authors: Wijesinghe, Dakshith
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Numerical methods are a mature field of research and have become an increasingly important tool in mining and geotechnical engineering design practices. Although the advantages of numerical methods in aiding the analysis and solving practical engineering problems have been widely accepted and recognised, there is still a gap for further improvements. One such area is the challenge to consider the complexities of geology and the lack of stratigraphic information in the numerical model. Failure to include geological complexities may lead to overestimating the analysis parameters, such as the safety factor. These difficulties mainly manifest in the form of complex mesh generation due to the need to integrate spatial variable material parameters, capturing complex geological features, requirement of additional meshing algorithms, high human involvement, and long processing time. The scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM) is a semi-analytical method that has potential to address these types of problems. This thesis focuses on developing the SBFEM to address these challenges so that complex geotechnical and mining engineering can be better modelled. Optimisation problems in geotechnical and mining engineering are also considered by developing a combined SBFEM-genetic algorithm framework for the design and rehabilitation of slopes. To begin with, an image-based mesh generation procedure is developed to automatically integrate the spatially variable material parameters into a computational mesh. The procedure allows the input of large data sets of geological and geometrical information in image format, and the mapping procedure enables the concatenation of any number of material parameters into a single computational mesh. The scaled boundary finite element formulation is used to discretise the governing equations of elasto-plasticity considering a Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, which is common in soils. A shear strength reduction technique is implemented to analyse the stability of slopes in the form of an output Factor of Safety. The developed method is shown to allow routine changes in the operation of the slopes to consider geometric changes, such as backfilling, excavation and updates to geological sublets, by simply editing the digital image inputs. To extend the SBFEM to more complex geotechnical and mining engineering applications, a formulation that considers the coupled effect of pore pressure and nonlinear deformation of the soil is developed. The image-based mesh generation procedure is incorporated to integrate the geological complexities, which include heterogeneity of strate and phreatic surfaces. The developed technique is applied to study complex case studies of a tailings dam embankment construction and a coal slope rehabilitation project with a construction period. The research also considers geometric optimisation problems within the context of geotechnical and mining engineering applications. Geometric optimisation of slopes such as those in open cut mines is important to reduce the overhead operational cost involved in construction, excavation and rehabilitation backfilling, while ensuring stability at an acceptable level. This is achieved by developing a unified platform combining genetic algorithm (GA) with scaled boundary finite element formulations and image-based meshing procedures. Since the image-based mesh generation procedure is an automatic process, it enables automation of the optimisation, which is an iterative proceeding. The capabilities of this technique are demonstrated by optimising the geometric parameters of complex slopes for given safety factors and rehabilitation geometries for given safety factors during a given construction period. The image-based SBFEM analysis platform is further developed to consider geological uncertainty, such as stratigraphic interfaces and phreatic surface fluctuations, so that their effect on slope stability can be studied. The Brownian bridge statistic technique is integrated into the pre-processing module to produce these instances reflecting the ranii dom fluctuations between two intervals and generate possible geological and hydrological cross-sections. This allows unknown geological stratigraphic interface fluctuation due to a lack of sublet information to be considered. The scaled boundary finite element formulations developed in the earlier parts of this thesis are used to discretise each generated profile and analysis probabilistically. Since the mesh generation method is fully automatic, this probabilistic analysis procedure enables to analyse of a large number of possible variations and their effect on geotechnical structures with limited human intervention. Few parametric studies were conducted on slopes to study the impact of stratigraphic and phreatic surface fluctuation on the probability of failure. Finally, the hydraulic fracture commonly seen in geotechnical and mining engineering applications is considered. The phase field has the potential to model complex fracture mechanisms including crack nucleation, branching and coalescence. However, it requires a very fine mesh in order to accurately regularise the energy resulting from the creation of new crack faces. This leads to longer processing time and high computational requirements. Moreover, fracture propagation modelling with phase field models requires equilibrium iterations and hence repetitive calculation of element matrices. This research develops a scaled boundary finite element formulation with phase field model to address hydraulic fracture problems in fully-saturated poro-elastic media. Adaptive meshing refinement based on quadtree meshes is applied. This restricts the fine mesh requirement to only the regions where damage is present and avoids the need for a very fine mesh throughout the structure. Further, leveraging from the unique number of patterns in a hierarchical mesh, an appropriate scaling technique is applied to transform the relevant matrices and vectors to the physical cell in the mesh. This avoids the need for repetitive calculations during the equilibrium iterations. These features increase the efficiency of fracture modelling while reducing the computational requirement. The benchmark problems and complex fracture network problems are provided to highlight the advantage of the method.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Trewarn, Adam
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Sediments are the ultimate repository of most contaminants that enter Australia's waterways; therefore, it is appropriate that regulatory attention addresses the risks posed by sediment contaminants. The release of elevated levels of heavy metals into the environment is a common by-product of our industrialised way of life. This problem continues to increase throughout the industrial age. We are now only beginning to understand the actual long-term burden that must be managed. Globally, estuaries are a critical focal point for civilisation and development. Owing to their strategic location and abundant resources, they have been utilised as trade hubs and industrial centres, and are often subject to intense industrial and urban development. Because estuaries accommodate large volumes of fine-grained sediments, their capacity to trap and absorb metal pollutants qualifies them as important sinks and receptacles for terrestrial, atmospheric, and oceanic metal input. Estuaries also provide important environmental services. Their protective conditions harbour a diverse range of biota, and the biogeochemical processes they accommodate play a key role in nutrient cycling and metal sequestration. However, contamination of estuaries with heavy metals is an ongoing issue, particularly as they bioaccumulate and transfer from sediments to aquatic organisms through the food chain. The Gippsland Lakes catchment has a 150-year history of a range of industrial activities, including gold and other metal mining, large open-cut brown coal mines and associated coalfired power stations, powering much of the state of Victoria, plantation forests and associated timber and paper mills, and extensive agriculture, including intensive dairy. Many of these activities are potential sources of contamination, particularly in bygone times, when environmental awareness and sound practices were less prevalent. The issue of highly elevated levels of heavy metal contaminants present within the Gippsland Lake sediments was first identified over 35 years ago. This comprehensive study looks to re-evaluate the modern surface sediments from across the Gippsland Lakes to determine, (i) If previously identified elevated Hg levels are still present or can be replicated (ii) If there are other metal contaminants that may warrant further attention, (iii) If possible, contamination is current, historical or a prolonged event (iv) If there are any natural or anthropogenic influences affecting metal concentrations within the sediments (v) What is the impact of heavy metal pollution across the Gippsland Lakes? Surficial grab and consolidated core sediment samples were collected over a period between 2015-2018 from thirteen defined locations across the Gippsland Lakes, representing the major geomorphological features of the area (e.g. major river mouths and lakes). Total metal analysis, sediment grain size, and XRF high-resolution core scanning provided insight into the overall distribution and possible risks of bulk and heavy metals present in the Gippsland Lakes sediment. Elevated concentrations of Cr, Ni, As, Cu, and Hg were found throughout the study area, exceeding the lower SQG trigger values across multiple depths and locations. Of the numerous metals initially investigated (Cr, Ni, Cu, As, Cd, Hg, and Pb) within the surface and core sediments, the findings of this study reiterated that the greatest concern was the degree of contamination and distribution of elevated levels of Hg in the western regions of the Gippsland Lakes. In addition, it highlighted the risks associated with elevated levels of Cr, Ni, and Cu. Cr and Ni have been identified at elevated levels throughout most of the western locations, Lake Victoria and Lake King, while isolated Cu is present at Paynesville. Further analysis into the metals and the interactions with the environment has defined three separate influences contributing to the elevated concentrations of heavy metals present across the study area, (i) Natural sources and cycling (Cr, Ni, and As): Concentrations of Cr, Ni, and As are likely a result of natural sources from the surrounding catchment, rather than a specific anthropogenically derived source. (i) Diffuse anthropogenic sources (Hg): The calculated pollution indices showed little to no natural influence on Hg concentrations; therefore, Hg concentrations were deemed highly likely a result of diffuse anthropogenic origin. (ii) Point source (Cu): Concentrations of Cu were generally very low throughout the study, except at a single location in an urbanised area adjacent to a commercial boatyard. This project has provided the most recent and comprehensive assessment of the presence, distribution, and leading influences on heavy metals present in the Gippsland Lakes, forming a strong foundation for informed management of the area into the future.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Hood, Andrew
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Soil organic carbon is vital to soil health and productivity. However, its abundance declines as continually greater demands are placed on agricultural food and fibre production. Humic substances are key components within the soil carbon and confer many benefits to soil and plants. Therefore, demand is growing for external amendments to maintain productive soils, including humic substances (HS), specifically humates. There are many sources of these HS, including lignite and Leonardite. Leonardite represents a naturally oxidised lignite that exhibits a rich source of HS. The limitation is the low abundance of Leonardite or difficulties obtaining a reliable source. Lignites are abundant in Victoria (Australia) but lignite derived-humates are often subject to significant compositional and yield variability. Past research has primarily focused on oxidising lignite under low solids loading conditions to improve HS yield and water solubility. This research focuses on oxidising dense run-of-mine (RoM) lignite slurries (20% dry solids loading) that are more suitable for commercial production. The product chemical and molecular structures are compared with a reference Leonardite. Hydrogen peroxide served as the oxidising agent given its availability at a commercial scale and convenience. The controlled set of oxidation experiments showed that the ratio of oxidant to lignite and lignite composition had more impact on HS yields and chemical structure than slurry temperature and pH. Initial oxidation trials utilised an archived sample of carefully blended 2015 RoM (run of mine) lignite from the Loy Yang (LY) mine in Victoria, Australia. Additional fresh LY RoM lignite was obtained in 2021 to enable further larger-scale (10 and 100 L) reaction trials and assess the impact of sample variation and aging on oxidation reactivity. A substantial increase in humic acid yield (29% to 68%) was produced by mild oxidation using a 1:1 (w/w) ratio of the 2015 RoM lignite (db, dry basis) and 35% (w/v) hydrogen peroxide. For the lower quality 2021 RoM lignite, the humic acid content was elevated from 13% to 78% through oxidation with a 2:1 ratio of hydrogen peroxide to lignite (db). Mass and carbon balances, which are often given little consideration, show >64% (2015 RoM) and >84% (2021 RoM) carbon recovery, with the majority of losses attributed to volatiles including CO2 and small organic acids or aldehydes The optimum reaction conditions for humic and fulvic acid production from LY RoM lignite depend on the target products, RoM properties and other commercial considerations. Optimum conditions are likely to be in the region of: - 40°C to 60°C to balance reaction speed and peroxide efficacy. - High humic acid yields require between 1:1 to 1.5:1 peroxide (35% w/v) to lignite (db) ratio. - Minimising humin yields requires a minimum of 2:1 peroxide to lignite. - High fulvic acid yields require between 3:1 to 4:1 peroxide (35% w/v) to lignite (db) ratio. This research shows that Loy Yang RoM lignite can be progressively oxidised with hydrogen peroxide to produce commercially relevant yields of humic and fulvic acids. A large portion of the humin is converted into humic or fulvic acids, and what remained was more oxidation resistant and water-insoluble aliphatic components. Elemental proportions shift within each fraction during oxidation. For the 2015 and 2021 RoM lignite samples; the O/C for the reaction solids increased by 36% and 16% for the respective lignites. The O/C changes for the HAs were 22% and 19% respectively. The humin undergoes a sizeable shift in H/C ratio consistent with aliphatic enhancement. The ratios elevate by 14% with oxidation for both the 2015 and 2021 lignites. Extensive lignite, reaction slurry and reaction product characterisation including slurry pH, spectroscopy (UV-vis, FTIR and NMR), and pyrolysis GC/MS assist in understanding the structural changes occurring during oxidation as well as identify promising on-line reaction monitoring technologies. Elemental (CHNSO), FTIR, NMR and functional group titrations show that the fundamental organic structural changes to the humic acid fraction achieved through controlled oxidation were greater acidity (particularly carboxylic acid content) and a transition from aromatic to more aliphatic character overall. No combination of ratios or slurry conditions tested produced a humic acid with the same chemical structural properties as those extracted from the reference Leonardite. However, it is possible to match some properties under the combinations tested. Larger-scale reactions (10 and 100 L) show that real-time reaction monitoring as well as adequate heating and cooling capacity are essential for commercialising the conceptual lignite oxidation process. Proactively dealing with an inherently variable feedstock and humic product composition is heavily dependent on the intersection of multiple variables. For example, tracking pH, reaction enthalpy, and UV-vis absorbance of prepared samples can provide valuable real-time feedback on the progress of a reaction. Combining these techniques with redox titrations could measure residual peroxide and help manage reaction control parameters or better understand reaction kinetics for process optimisation.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Institutional care, community care and philanthropy : a case study of Weroona, Woodford, NSW
- Authors: Hon, Stephnie
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: This thesis outlines the development of institutional and community care in tending to those in need, especially children’s welfare in New South Wales. The evolution of philanthropy has also contributed largely to its advancement. The current project on Weroona fills a gap in the literature by including oral histories of those who lived and worked there while it was an institution. These are stories and perspectives that have been largely neglected in previously written histories in the area of institutional and community care in NSW. There is a particular focus on young boys in institutional care, including those who had either straightforward or complex relationships with their Home. In fact, these residential institutions often doubled as both a “home” as well as a place of “confinement” with the managers acting as surrogate parents. At Weroona, efforts were made to normalise their lives as much as possible, with varying degrees of success, according to the individual boy and the manager of the day. These young men later lived across NSW as citizens and members of local communities. Also explored will be the ways in which the boys at Weroona had shared experiences and memories of their time there, along with highlighting notable differences of opinions. The central research question for this project is in what ways did the property Weroona undertake numerous incarnations, including as a place of philanthropy, a resort, a shelter protecting girls during the Second World War, a home for boys, and an institution caring for disabled adults? It is important research as it serves to illustrate several crucial aspects of care in New South Wales during the twentieth century, along with outlining the degree of success it achieved, and the lessons that may be learned from its operation. This thesis approaches the history and incarnations of Weroona within the research traditions of qualitative research and ethnographic history. The methodology used includes documentary, archival, and artefact research, state government records, extant oral history, unpublished manuscripts and notes, along with a site analysis of Weroona.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Ali, Basharat
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Whilst improving the Earth’s economic, environmental and social values are recognised challenges, the world needs 70% more nutritious food to combat micro-nutrient deficiency and to feed a growing human population, by 2050. Most food production is soil based; hence sustainable agriculture is a paramount need. It is quantitatively established that agricultural production is dependent on the practices and mechanism adopted by the land managers, hence a more enlightened agriculture approach demands an inclusive strategy that fairly addresses the three aspects i.e. economic, environmental, and social that underpins sustainability goals. The three adaptations i.e. precision conservation agriculture (PCA), digital agriculture (DA), and resilient agriculture (RA) practices were specifically developed to extend economic, social, and environmental benefits beyond the farmgate. Despite these constructs being widely known in agriculture, the adoption level of the three adaptations has remained low. This PhD study is founded on a social science framework and intends to examine: the impacts of: (1) PCA; (2) DA; and (3) RA practices, on sustainable agricultural performance; and effects of PCA on (4) DA practices; and (5) RA; (6) the mediating roles of DA, and RA on the relationship between PCA and sustainable agricultural performance; and (7) the moderating roles of the stakeholders’ characteristics (age, gender, education level, profession) on the relationships between PCA, DA, RA and sustainable agricultural performance in Australia. The methodology adopted in this PhD research essentially comprises two main components: 1) the four systematic literature reviews which were used to derive the research hypotheses and guide the development of a social science survey; and 2) a comprehensive social science online survey which provided the data for a quantitative analysis used to test the research hypotheses. Theoretical findings of the study demonstrate a true assimilation of the three adaptations by mapping their pathways towards sustainable agricultural performance. The empirical findings reveal that precision conservation, digital and resilient agricultural practices have a positive impact on sustainable agriculture performance. It establishes that DA and RA partially mediate the relationship between PCA and sustainable agricultural performance. This study finds that there is a significant difference between the perception of the respondents (male and aged 45+ years), and their counterparts (females and aged 15-44 years) about the impact of PCA on sustainable agricultural performance. At first glance, the contribution of this PhD research may appear to be rather obvious, i.e. PCA, DA and RA practices each have a positive impact on sustainable agricultural practices. It is, after all, why the adaptations were developed and thus it should be no surprise that they fulfill their promise. However, the rigorous testing of the premise has not been achieved until this research was undertaken. Therefore, it is posited that this research has made some significant contributions to further the global quest for sustainable agriculture.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Language and the built, natural, social, and symbolic environments during bad news conversations for people with a life-limiting illness : a case study methodology
- Authors: Miller, Elizabeth
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Background Bad news of a life-limiting illness is devastating to receive and remains a difficult conversation for healthcare professionals to undertake, despite education and training. Bad news conversations occur anywhere along an illness trajectory and often take place with the acute ward that is busy, sterile, and unfamiliar to patients and family members. Method A qualitative case study research methodology was used to explore the case, being the phenomenon of receiving bad news of a life-limiting illness for people living in regional Victoria, Australia. The literature was examined to understand the physical hospital environment and truth disclosure within bad news delivery. Data was collected between November 2021 and August 2022, through 14 semi-structured interviews with patients and family members, 13 semi-structured interviews with registered nurses, a three week observation period at a private regional hospital. The theoretical framework of Therapeutic Landscapes enabled the built, nature, social, and symbolic environments to be examined. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and qualitative content analysis. Results A review of the literature resulted in the development of the "SSAFER place approach" concept model and found that patients need to feel safe in the hospital environment and that safety is equated with space for family and familiar notions of home. Nurses aimed to provide holistic person-centred through therapeutic relationships with patients and family members and create a home-life environment. It was found that a calm and quiet environment was essential for absorbing bad news, and patients and family members believed the way bad news was delivered, and the language used often needed to be improved. The audit of 17 family meeting s highlighted that death and dying language was rarely documented, and late referrals to palliative care services often occurred. The "Breaking bad news model," created from a second literature review supported the results of the thesis. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, patients, family members and nurses were negatively affected, creating a non-therapeutic social environment. Conclusion For patients and family members, a therapeutic landscape comprised of therapeutic relationship, open, honest and empathetic language delivered within holistic person-centred care. In addition, care needed to be provided within a calm and quiet environment to allow absorption and processing of bad news. Nurses providing palliative care aimed to meet patients and family needs holistically within an environment aesthetically tuned to be more home-like than clinical.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Miller, Elizabeth
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Background Bad news of a life-limiting illness is devastating to receive and remains a difficult conversation for healthcare professionals to undertake, despite education and training. Bad news conversations occur anywhere along an illness trajectory and often take place with the acute ward that is busy, sterile, and unfamiliar to patients and family members. Method A qualitative case study research methodology was used to explore the case, being the phenomenon of receiving bad news of a life-limiting illness for people living in regional Victoria, Australia. The literature was examined to understand the physical hospital environment and truth disclosure within bad news delivery. Data was collected between November 2021 and August 2022, through 14 semi-structured interviews with patients and family members, 13 semi-structured interviews with registered nurses, a three week observation period at a private regional hospital. The theoretical framework of Therapeutic Landscapes enabled the built, nature, social, and symbolic environments to be examined. Data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and qualitative content analysis. Results A review of the literature resulted in the development of the "SSAFER place approach" concept model and found that patients need to feel safe in the hospital environment and that safety is equated with space for family and familiar notions of home. Nurses aimed to provide holistic person-centred through therapeutic relationships with patients and family members and create a home-life environment. It was found that a calm and quiet environment was essential for absorbing bad news, and patients and family members believed the way bad news was delivered, and the language used often needed to be improved. The audit of 17 family meeting s highlighted that death and dying language was rarely documented, and late referrals to palliative care services often occurred. The "Breaking bad news model," created from a second literature review supported the results of the thesis. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, patients, family members and nurses were negatively affected, creating a non-therapeutic social environment. Conclusion For patients and family members, a therapeutic landscape comprised of therapeutic relationship, open, honest and empathetic language delivered within holistic person-centred care. In addition, care needed to be provided within a calm and quiet environment to allow absorption and processing of bad news. Nurses providing palliative care aimed to meet patients and family needs holistically within an environment aesthetically tuned to be more home-like than clinical.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Carino, James
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: This thesis concerns individuals who develop dementia symptoms before 65 years of age (called younger-onset dementia, or YOD) while employed, which has significant personal, financial and social effects due to the commitments and responsibilities of families and work. This thesis aims to identify employment-related work strategies to allow people with dementia to continue to work. Four linked studies consistent with the study aim were designed and implemented. In Chapter 3, Study 1, a review of employer approaches to employees with dementia, evaluated nine studies related to dementia and work. The main analysis extracted, grouped and classified employer actions towards employees with dementia in these studies. Two in three employer responses to employees with dementia were ineffective in supporting employees. Poor understanding of the difficulties of those living with dementia appeared to be the main cause. Better knowledge among individuals experiencing dementia symptoms and their employers is needed. In Chapter 4, Study 2, a review of guidance materials related to dementia in the workplace sought to identify and review the availability, structure and content of information to support employees or employers dealing with dementia. Guidance information published by dementia organisations in English-speaking countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom (England, Scotland and Ireland) and the United States of America was analysed and compiled. Dementia websites were found to offer relevant, high-quality content, but this can be fragmented and difficult to find. Few organisations covered the range of relevant content. Most information was aimed at employees with dementia symptoms rather than their employers. Information gaps for employees with dementia included the importance of early diagnosis and assistive technology applications. Employer information gaps included workplace identification of dementia, employee retention and managing the wider work team around the person with dementia. Chapter 5 addressed Study 3, employer approaches to employees with dementia at work. This chapter extended existing research exploring the experience of dementia at work. Four groups were engaged in semi-structured interviews: (1) employers and human resource (HR) managers; (2) professionals supporting employers such as HR consultants; (3) employees with dementia who were working or had left work within the past two years; and (4) professionals supporting people living with dementia. The study identified employee and employer actions and assessed how dementia could be managed using relevant information and approaches to maintain viable employment. As well as the need for greater awareness of workplace cognitive impairment, this study identified solutions to prolong employment. Suggestions included using relevant expertise and external peer support, implementing self-management and personal strategies, raising employer awareness of employee rights and employer responsibilities, employee engagement in decisions about them and their work and assistance with the transition from work. An analytical approach, considering the person, task and organisation may assist in devising more effective employer implementation approaches. Study 4, guidance model document feedback (presented in Chapter 6), evaluated two model guidance documents (one for employers, the other for employees) developed from Studies 1, 2 and 3. This study aimed to determine the relevance and completeness of the content and identify potential enhancements. Study 3 participants were recontacted for this study. The proposed documents were received positively. Suggested improvements included care in the use of terms such as ‘dementia’, moving beyond ‘dementia friendly’ to inclusivity and clearer specification of the responsibilities of HR practitioners and employers. Chapter 7 placed the findings across the four studies into the context of increased workplace and societal attention to mental health, wellbeing, cognitive fitness and neurodiversity. Growing awareness of these issues is argued to be positive for future workplace understanding, acceptance and management of conditions such as dementia and cognitive impairment. HR leadership and expertise in dealing with dementia in the workplace are pertinent to achieving this goal. This thesis elaborates on the practical importance of information and communication in understanding cognitive impairment at work. Awareness that individuals in the early stages of cognitive difficulties maintain the capacity to continue to work can be improved. A review of information designed to support workplace decision-making has identified content and pathways to improve workplace knowledge and awareness. In conclusion, dementia at work can be managed by integrating awareness of dementia with mental health and cognition in workplaces. Greater attention to the diversity of cognitive abilities and processes in organisations can improve the life experience of employees living with dementia, their contribution to work, overall work performance and satisfaction.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Bullen, Heatheranne
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: Reverend Coledge Harland’s camel journeys through the Lake Eyre Basin in Central Australia in this thesis form a concise account of his sojourn as a camel patrol padre for the Australian Inland Mission (AIM) between 1919 and 1922. The journeys intersect significances in alternate timeframes as they traverse ancient pathways where events interrupted history before, after and during the research period. With this, Harland’s archive tells of his achievements but also becomes a conduit to multiple concurring and conflicting experiences. The effects of interactions are uncovered in a rich social, cultural and environmental history that considers cultural practices and adaptability, culturally distinct interactions, culture and religion. What appeared to be the journey of one man is the experiences on country of generations of people, forming a complex narrative of travel across ‘shared’ storyline pathways in the Lake Eyre Basin. Evidence for the thesis draws on Harland’s extensive private archive supported by published and public records. Underpinning the archive is 12 years of research and numerous visits to the research area. Importantly, the photographs and documents from the Harland archive form a scaffold of places, events, names and dates that unlock diverse experiences of numerous peoples on country in a much broader timeframe. First, the deep interpretation of a private archive of photographs, documents and maps penned 100 years ago by Harland forms a micro-history that fills a knowledge gap. Framing this place-based thesis is the comprehensive theory of landscape experience, complemented by Indigenous métissage that enhances the navigation of alternative worldviews. The evidence includes and highlights people, systems and organisations of national significance for numerous cultural groups. Notably, it exposes evidence of sustainable and unsustainable practices and harmony and disharmony because of previous landscape conventions. It also contributes to knowledge of life in Australia’s desert zone, the driest inhabited place on Earth, where lifestyles differ remarkably from most of the Australian population. Initially, I questioned the role of Harland and Williamson as Christian missioners in Central Australia. However, while travelling to the places they went and talking to the people there, the concerns soon turned to pride and inspiration because their work and gift involved far more than religion as this thesis will demonstrate. The memory of their involvement in Central Australia prompted the research and a commitment to the country and peoples of inland Australia. This thesis delivers a snapshot of life and landscape in central Australia exposing information on Australia’s relatively short colonial past, the deep and everpresent interconnections of Aboriginal peoples with country and the links and entanglements in the present. The thesis also highlights the importance of sustainable management of scarce resources and informs future discussions on sustainable practices across Australia in the drying climate.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: McCoy, Jennifer
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: This thesis explores the contribution of Scottish selectors to the social development of the Omeo region of remote eastern Victoria, Australia, during the period 1875 to 1900, drawing on the experiences of people with familial connection to the McCoy family. These people were mostly agricultural labourers, prevented from land ownership in Scotland, and handloom weavers whose skills had been lost to the industrial revolution. Their lives had been changed by economic circumstances in Scotland, and by taking advantage of the Victorian Selection Acts, they achieved economic security while contributing to the development of the area. This thesis positions land as central to the economic and social development of this area. It was a remote, geographically isolated area where communication and climate challenges had defeated many. Using a documentary historical methodology, it examines the impact of each wave of Europeans, explorers, squatters, miners, and selectors on the land, with the corresponding dispossession of Aboriginal people, revealing the agency of those Aboriginal people in their responses, as well as the resilience of the settlers. Land records and demographic data have been used extensively to chart the land holdings and businesses of selected Scottish family members, positioning their place in the developing society, as community centres and activities flourished in response to a secure and growing population. As part of the Scottish diaspora in Australia, it highlights some of the qualities they brought with them to their new environment; it demonstrates the resilience people could bring to challenging circumstances; and it reveals the wealth of creative opportunities that grew and were encouraged, when limited communication to the outside world demanded a call on their own resources. The study also uncovers questions for further research, amongst them: a more detailed investigation of the role of newspapers, which are the primary source of historical information available; and the role played by women in building and supporting families even through crises, and whose records are buried in personal family records or diminished in newspaper stories.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Olson, Ashley
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: A fundamental goal of biogeography is to determine how communities of species assemble. Islands offer an excellent opportunity to study community assembly because they have discrete boundaries, their species compliment can be readily quantified, and biogeographic processes operating at broad spatial scales can be separated from the effects of local interactions. Indeed, islands have contributed extensively to the development of biogeographical theory. Historically, the focus of island biogeography studies has been to predict the species richness of their communities. Yet, species richness provides no information about the ecological differences among the species that comprise a community, and thus cannot explain why different types of species do, or do not, appear in island communities. The niche of any particular species represents all of the abiotic and interspecific interactions that determine the survival of that species in a given location. Thus, a niche-based description of island communities differs from a richness-only description as it can link biogeography to the ecological interactions that ultimately drive successful colonisation and evolution on an island. However, island isolation and island area - the key predictors of species immigration and extinction, respectively - and the influence of the composition of the regional species pool have rarely been investigated for their effect on niche differences among species occupying an island. Understanding how the regional species pool, isolation and area influence niche-based diversity on islands provides an important link between biogeography and the ecological interactions that ultimately determine the composition of island communities. I used data on the island birds across Melanesian archipelagos to explore the role of biogeography in driving the niche-based structure of island communities. Specifically, I studied how the composition of the regional species pool, island isolation and island area influence: i) variation in a key functional trait (body size), ii) occupancy and saturation of niches, and iii) the phylogenetic structure of island communities. To do so, I studied three Melanesian archipelagos; the Bismarck, Solomon and Vanuatu islands, each of which represent a separate biogeographic region with a different degree of isolation from the primary source of avian colonists, mainland New Guinea. As such, the influence of oceanic dispersal barriers on the composition of the avifauna of each archipelago can be clearly distinguished. Using this model system, I demonstrate that the effects of island isolation and island area extend beyond determining the number of species on an island to influencing maximum body size, niche occupancy and the phylogenetic structure of island communities. Further, the research I describe in this thesis demonstrates that the influence of island isolation and area on the ecological and evolutionary differences among species that comprise each island community is mediated by the diversity of the regional species pool. Thus, the species observed in island communities, and the niches they occupy, may not be a product of local ecological interactions. Rather, immigration from the regional species pool may determine the persistence of a species on an island.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Goulding, Carmel
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: A fundamental condition of modernity is the expansion of choice, with the range of options widening on how we live our lives, and whom we spend our time with. We are no longer defined by a clear set of social ties which bind us to our life situation. We can choose our friends, geographic locality, employment and, perhaps, our gender and that of our children. We can if we choose, substantially alter the way we live, and some people do as is evidenced by the phenomenon popularly known as downshifting. Downshifting involves a voluntary reduction in working time and income, in return for a slower pace of life and increased free time and is generally conceived as a conscious change in ways of consuming, working and relating. This thesis seeks to explore the questions why people downshift and how the decision is sustained over the life course. It does this through a two-staged, longitudinal qualitative study of people who have downshifted in Australia and the United Kingdom. The thesis is built on the assumption that downshifting is a rational choice. People do calculate risk and constraints and the range of options as part of the decision process. However, explanations of action firmly rooted in economic rationality do not adequately account for what influences and shapes preferences and pays little attention to the micro worlds of individual choice-making. This dissertation offers an account of social action built around the concept of bounded rationality whereby the fluid, linked communities evident in modern life, act as a mediating factor in the initial choice and as well as over the downshifter life course. To date, there has been limited empirical research on the life course of downshifters. This doctoral study fills the knowledge gap.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy