"Beyond home and sex?" : Gender and sexuality in Elizabeth Moon's
- Authors: O'Sullivan, Jennifer
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: Historically, fantasy fiction has tended to present sexuality and gender in a conservative light. Contemporary authors in this genre have the opportunity to imagine worlds in which they can critique these norms and offer new and subversive alternatives. Elizabeth Moon’s work has been seen by some readers and critics (Mains, et al, Bach) to challenge conservative gender roles, and while in some areas this is evident, a critical reading of her Paksworld series through a feminist lens reveals that her work is still largely restricted by normative notions of gender and heteronormative contexts and ideals. In this thesis I argue that while Moon’s female characters are allowed a certain amount of autonomy, they are still often repressed by those around them, silenced, or subject to male dominance and/or sexual violence. Those women in the novels who achieve a position of social, political or spiritual power are forced to make choices between roles: for example, between being a warrior and a mother, and are not allowed to ‘have it all’. Moon does subvert some familiar feminine tropes – her fantasy princesses for example avoid being married against their will, and her female warriors are more complex than simply being ‘sheroes’. Utilising masculinities and disability theory, I also analyse Moon’s treatment of men and masculinity. While Moon presents several familiar male fantasy tropes, she also portrays some surprisingly subversive men. These men are forced to reimagine and reinterpret their own masculine identities by having to confront ageing, disability, mutilation and loss of personal power while negotiating traditionally masculine homo-social environments. Finally, I argue that Moon’s presentation of sexuality in the Paksworld series is problematic and conservative in that very few of her characters are having pleasurable, consensual sex, especially not outside traditional marriage structures. Furthermore, the Paksworld series is largely heteronormative, with same-sex desire identified predominantly with a character who is presented as an antagonist to Paks. Paks herself is asexual, and I argue that Moon uses this as a way to avoid dealing with the issue of female sexual desire rather than an opportunity to explore asexuality as a valid sexual preference or identity. Overall, I argue that despite some subversive elements, Moon’s characters are still largely restricted by conservative expectations of genre, culture, gender and sexuality.
- Description: Masters by Research
- Authors: O'Sullivan, Jennifer
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: Historically, fantasy fiction has tended to present sexuality and gender in a conservative light. Contemporary authors in this genre have the opportunity to imagine worlds in which they can critique these norms and offer new and subversive alternatives. Elizabeth Moon’s work has been seen by some readers and critics (Mains, et al, Bach) to challenge conservative gender roles, and while in some areas this is evident, a critical reading of her Paksworld series through a feminist lens reveals that her work is still largely restricted by normative notions of gender and heteronormative contexts and ideals. In this thesis I argue that while Moon’s female characters are allowed a certain amount of autonomy, they are still often repressed by those around them, silenced, or subject to male dominance and/or sexual violence. Those women in the novels who achieve a position of social, political or spiritual power are forced to make choices between roles: for example, between being a warrior and a mother, and are not allowed to ‘have it all’. Moon does subvert some familiar feminine tropes – her fantasy princesses for example avoid being married against their will, and her female warriors are more complex than simply being ‘sheroes’. Utilising masculinities and disability theory, I also analyse Moon’s treatment of men and masculinity. While Moon presents several familiar male fantasy tropes, she also portrays some surprisingly subversive men. These men are forced to reimagine and reinterpret their own masculine identities by having to confront ageing, disability, mutilation and loss of personal power while negotiating traditionally masculine homo-social environments. Finally, I argue that Moon’s presentation of sexuality in the Paksworld series is problematic and conservative in that very few of her characters are having pleasurable, consensual sex, especially not outside traditional marriage structures. Furthermore, the Paksworld series is largely heteronormative, with same-sex desire identified predominantly with a character who is presented as an antagonist to Paks. Paks herself is asexual, and I argue that Moon uses this as a way to avoid dealing with the issue of female sexual desire rather than an opportunity to explore asexuality as a valid sexual preference or identity. Overall, I argue that despite some subversive elements, Moon’s characters are still largely restricted by conservative expectations of genre, culture, gender and sexuality.
- Description: Masters by Research
"Drugs on the mind" : dual diagnosis : the experience of mental health professionals
- Authors: Soar, Rod
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: Recent publicity has focused on the problems created by the usage of illicit drugs in the community. The growing use of illicit drugs throughout the Grampians region and the lack of resources and professional services available to regional and rural areas raise many questions as to treatment options and the accessibility and appropriateness of drug and alcohol and mental health services. Despite the fact that mental health professionals in rural/regional areas are expected to deliver the most appropriate care to individuals with a comorbid drug and alcohol and psychiatric disorder, a number of these rural/regional mental health professionals have limited preparation and experience in dealing with dual diagnosis issues. This phenomenological study focuses on the area of dual diagnosis, specifically the experiences of health professionals who care for clients diagnosed with a serious mental illness and a coexisting drug and alcohol disorder. Results are described in the form of four themes, which emerged from data collected during in-depth interviews with 13 mental health professionals who care for clients with a dual diagnosis. The themes captured in this research will be described using metaphors as headings. The first theme Sink or swim represents mental health professionals’ initial preparation to care for this group of complex clientele. Treading water symbolises mental health professionals’ endeavours to keep their head above water and reflects on their feelings while endeavouring to do so. Rowing against the tide describes mental health professionals’ understanding of clients’ drug misuse, which impacts greatly on the level of care.
- Description: Master of Nursing
- Authors: Soar, Rod
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: Recent publicity has focused on the problems created by the usage of illicit drugs in the community. The growing use of illicit drugs throughout the Grampians region and the lack of resources and professional services available to regional and rural areas raise many questions as to treatment options and the accessibility and appropriateness of drug and alcohol and mental health services. Despite the fact that mental health professionals in rural/regional areas are expected to deliver the most appropriate care to individuals with a comorbid drug and alcohol and psychiatric disorder, a number of these rural/regional mental health professionals have limited preparation and experience in dealing with dual diagnosis issues. This phenomenological study focuses on the area of dual diagnosis, specifically the experiences of health professionals who care for clients diagnosed with a serious mental illness and a coexisting drug and alcohol disorder. Results are described in the form of four themes, which emerged from data collected during in-depth interviews with 13 mental health professionals who care for clients with a dual diagnosis. The themes captured in this research will be described using metaphors as headings. The first theme Sink or swim represents mental health professionals’ initial preparation to care for this group of complex clientele. Treading water symbolises mental health professionals’ endeavours to keep their head above water and reflects on their feelings while endeavouring to do so. Rowing against the tide describes mental health professionals’ understanding of clients’ drug misuse, which impacts greatly on the level of care.
- Description: Master of Nursing
"So what I do is bang in the search term and see how I go" The information-seeking approaches of Arts Academy students
- Authors: Claridge, Cheryl
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: In this qualitative research project I investigated the use of library systems by a cohort of students from the University of Ballarat Arts Academy. The purpose of the study was to build a clearer picture of how these students use the library resources for their information-seeking, with a view to improving the provision of library services, resources and training. In particular I aimed to identify whether this cohort had a common approach to information-seeking. In this study I thematically analysed the data from eight think-aloud protocols and semi- structured interviews. Participants were Arts Academy students studying Performing Arts, Visual Arts or a Visual Arts/Education dual-degree who were searching for information to complete an assessment task. With the exception of two second year dual-degree students all participants were first year students. The steps taken by participants in information-seeking were identified and the successes and difficulties they experienced with the library’s systems highlighted. The participants in this cohort did not share one specific ‘information-seeking style’ however I identified some common factors across this group of students. All of the participants engaged in a staged process to source the information they required, although in some cases this process was non-linear. They did not however utilise the full capabilities of the search tools they used or access potentially useful tools and resources which the library provides. A number of participants were reticent about using eResources as they had been instructed not to use internet resources for assessment tasks. As a result of this inquiry I have made recommendations relating to the provision of library training and services, collection maintenance and library record standards. Collaboration between library and academic staff would be required to implement these recommendations to ensure optimum outcomes. Areas highlighted for future research include similar studies with student cohorts from different disciplines and an examination of students’ approaches to choosing a topic or focus for assessment tasks.
- Description: Master of Education (Research)
- Authors: Claridge, Cheryl
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: In this qualitative research project I investigated the use of library systems by a cohort of students from the University of Ballarat Arts Academy. The purpose of the study was to build a clearer picture of how these students use the library resources for their information-seeking, with a view to improving the provision of library services, resources and training. In particular I aimed to identify whether this cohort had a common approach to information-seeking. In this study I thematically analysed the data from eight think-aloud protocols and semi- structured interviews. Participants were Arts Academy students studying Performing Arts, Visual Arts or a Visual Arts/Education dual-degree who were searching for information to complete an assessment task. With the exception of two second year dual-degree students all participants were first year students. The steps taken by participants in information-seeking were identified and the successes and difficulties they experienced with the library’s systems highlighted. The participants in this cohort did not share one specific ‘information-seeking style’ however I identified some common factors across this group of students. All of the participants engaged in a staged process to source the information they required, although in some cases this process was non-linear. They did not however utilise the full capabilities of the search tools they used or access potentially useful tools and resources which the library provides. A number of participants were reticent about using eResources as they had been instructed not to use internet resources for assessment tasks. As a result of this inquiry I have made recommendations relating to the provision of library training and services, collection maintenance and library record standards. Collaboration between library and academic staff would be required to implement these recommendations to ensure optimum outcomes. Areas highlighted for future research include similar studies with student cohorts from different disciplines and an examination of students’ approaches to choosing a topic or focus for assessment tasks.
- Description: Master of Education (Research)
"That fella paints like me" : exploring the relationship between Abstract art and Aboriginal art in Australia
- Authors: Brooks, Terri
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: "This research project explores the possibility of a relationship between Abstract art and Aboriginal art in Australia from the mid twentieth century to present. [...] The investigation commences with background information on the history and origins of Abstraction, including the influence of 'primitive art' upon leading practitioners in this field during the movement's formation, before moving to Australia and focussing on two Australian painters. [...] The text also reflects on the rise of the perception of Aboriginal art from being seen as cultural curios in the mid 20th century to its current status as an internationally recognised art movement."--p. 2.
- Description: Master of Arts (Visual Arts)
- Authors: Brooks, Terri
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: "This research project explores the possibility of a relationship between Abstract art and Aboriginal art in Australia from the mid twentieth century to present. [...] The investigation commences with background information on the history and origins of Abstraction, including the influence of 'primitive art' upon leading practitioners in this field during the movement's formation, before moving to Australia and focussing on two Australian painters. [...] The text also reflects on the rise of the perception of Aboriginal art from being seen as cultural curios in the mid 20th century to its current status as an internationally recognised art movement."--p. 2.
- Description: Master of Arts (Visual Arts)
"Working through it" : men's experiences of fatherhood following a life event / Allan H. Donelly
- Authors: Donelly, Allan H.
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "This study set out to determine if and how men change their approach to fatherhood for reasons other than those prescribed by society, that is, are fathers capable of change for personal and interpersonal reasons. ... The participants needed to have experienced a life event whist being a father."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Donelly, Allan H.
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "This study set out to determine if and how men change their approach to fatherhood for reasons other than those prescribed by society, that is, are fathers capable of change for personal and interpersonal reasons. ... The participants needed to have experienced a life event whist being a father."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
'And for harmony most ardently we long' : Musical life in Ballarat, 1851-1871
- Authors: Doggett, Anne
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "The study examines two decades in the musical life of Ballarat, a regional city in south-eastern Australia. Beginning at the time of the 1851 gold rush, it covers the period in which Ballarat grew from a rough mining camp to an established city with a socially and ethnically diverse population of over 40,000 people. The thesis pursues the aim of looking at the music practices of the community in ways that will further our understanding of the significance of music in the lives of the people."--Abstract.
- Description: Doctor of Philosphy
- Authors: Doggett, Anne
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "The study examines two decades in the musical life of Ballarat, a regional city in south-eastern Australia. Beginning at the time of the 1851 gold rush, it covers the period in which Ballarat grew from a rough mining camp to an established city with a socially and ethnically diverse population of over 40,000 people. The thesis pursues the aim of looking at the music practices of the community in ways that will further our understanding of the significance of music in the lives of the people."--Abstract.
- Description: Doctor of Philosphy
'I can be this' : Image, identity and investment in physical education
- Authors: Brown, Leann
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: This study investigated how student expectations, experiences and involvement in physical education teacher education impacted upon and shaped identity development. The research focused on student social interactions and identified a range of behaviours and practices which reinforced student notions of what it means to be a physical educator. [...] The research itself was conducted within a creative analytical practice framework resulting in the following research products: the thesis text; a collection of one act plays titled, 'Plays from the identity playground', written about student social experiences; a CD which includes the filmed production of one of the plays 'Boys' training', and 'I can be this: a phototext', which presents key 'photographic' themes as insights into PETE student social events and activities.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
'What's in a name?' : place and toponymic attachment, identity and dependence : a case study of the Grampians (Gariwerd) National Park name restoration process
- Authors: Kostanski, Laura
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The ultimate intention of this thesis is to propose the meta-theory of toponymic attachment, which is comprised of toponymic identity and dependence, and to explore ways in which it is related to , but distinct from, existing widely-published theories on place attachment.
- Description: Doctorate of Philosophy
- Authors: Kostanski, Laura
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The ultimate intention of this thesis is to propose the meta-theory of toponymic attachment, which is comprised of toponymic identity and dependence, and to explore ways in which it is related to , but distinct from, existing widely-published theories on place attachment.
- Description: Doctorate of Philosophy
'You Beauty' Alex Jesaulenko An historical exploration of the migrant who became a legend
- Authors: Eddy, Daniel
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text: false
- Description: The Austrian-born Alex Jesaulenko played football in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1967 to 1981. His rise to national prominence emerged during a period of great change within both Australian society and Australian rules football. This thesis, through a critical biographical approach, examines for the first time Jesaulenko’s early life, looking at his migrant experience and the role that Australian rules football played in aiding his integration into Australian society. It is not a kick-and-handball analysis of Jesaulenko’s entire football career; that has been extensively covered within copious amounts of primary and secondary sources. Instead, it explores his migrant journey – an important aspect of Jesaulenko’s life which has been largely overlooked – and the key developmental years of sporting education prior to emerging as a VFL champion. It concludes with one of, if not the most, iconic moments in the game’s history: Jesaulenko’s mark in the 1970 VFL grand final, which cemented his name within the Australian sporting consciousness. Australian rules football, and sport more generally, holds a unique place within society. Footballers, it can be argued, are archetypes for our daily dreams and aspirations; exalted figures that we afford status which few will experience in their everyday lives. Therefore, it is through the prism of Jesaulenko’s journey that we can learn more about the role Australian rules football has played for migrants integrating into Australian society.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
(Re)creating spaces within rural general practice : Women as agents of change at the organisational and practitioner levels
- Authors: Schwarz, Imogen
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis examines how women, as agents of change, contest the male-dominated structures at the organisational and practitioner levels of rural medicine in Australia. The premises for this study are that females now outnumber males as medical graduates and general practice trainees, yet women are significantly less likely than men to occupy rural and remote practice positions in Australia. Furthermore, the organisation of medicine remains strongly patriarchal. A feminist qualitative design underpins this empirical study involving: in-depth interviews with seventeen women activists and thirteen rural women general practitioners; grounded theory analysis of transcribed interviews; and interpretation of findings through a feminist poststructural lens. Findings uncover the gendered organisational and practitioner environment through which change is negotiated. At the organisational level, male exclusionary practices – played out through the ‘male as norm’ and the ‘problem is women’ discourses – position women in highly contradictory ways and marginalise their voices. Yet simultaneously, activists are challenging entrenched interests through individual and collective strategies of change which include: initiating gender-awareness projects; claiming legitimacy by using male-centred tactics and women-defined discourses; developing female-friendly initiatives; and mentoring of and building alliances between women. At the practitioner level, results reveal how women’s everyday lives as rural general practitioners are shaped by oppositional tensions. However, beyond the struggle of ‘fitting in’, women are altering rural medicine by (re)shaping meanings and (re)constructing work practices. Furthermore, their narratives suggest that rural spaces are integral to ways women carve out women-defined practice. A key innovation of this thesis is analysis of change at dual levels, both organisational and practitioner. This thesis marks a significant advancement upon the usual themes that attend only to the marginalisation of women and rural areas. It highlights the transformative process through which women (re)create the discursive spaces of rural general practice.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Schwarz, Imogen
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis examines how women, as agents of change, contest the male-dominated structures at the organisational and practitioner levels of rural medicine in Australia. The premises for this study are that females now outnumber males as medical graduates and general practice trainees, yet women are significantly less likely than men to occupy rural and remote practice positions in Australia. Furthermore, the organisation of medicine remains strongly patriarchal. A feminist qualitative design underpins this empirical study involving: in-depth interviews with seventeen women activists and thirteen rural women general practitioners; grounded theory analysis of transcribed interviews; and interpretation of findings through a feminist poststructural lens. Findings uncover the gendered organisational and practitioner environment through which change is negotiated. At the organisational level, male exclusionary practices – played out through the ‘male as norm’ and the ‘problem is women’ discourses – position women in highly contradictory ways and marginalise their voices. Yet simultaneously, activists are challenging entrenched interests through individual and collective strategies of change which include: initiating gender-awareness projects; claiming legitimacy by using male-centred tactics and women-defined discourses; developing female-friendly initiatives; and mentoring of and building alliances between women. At the practitioner level, results reveal how women’s everyday lives as rural general practitioners are shaped by oppositional tensions. However, beyond the struggle of ‘fitting in’, women are altering rural medicine by (re)shaping meanings and (re)constructing work practices. Furthermore, their narratives suggest that rural spaces are integral to ways women carve out women-defined practice. A key innovation of this thesis is analysis of change at dual levels, both organisational and practitioner. This thesis marks a significant advancement upon the usual themes that attend only to the marginalisation of women and rural areas. It highlights the transformative process through which women (re)create the discursive spaces of rural general practice.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
.comUnity : A study on the adoption and diffusion of internet technologies in a regional tourism network
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis describes the initiation and evolution of an action research project, which investigates the adoption and diffusion of Internet technologies in a regional Australian tourism network. The research evolved out of a portal development consultancy. The aim of the study was two-fold: to investigate the nature of the change process when a collaborative network seeks to adopt e-commerce; and to determine how the change process differed in the face of incremental change (adding some e-commerce solutions to the network), or radical change (changing the overall business model). The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of the economic, strategic and social potential of regional business networks in the current techno-economic climate. The study builds on Rogers' (1995) seminal work on the diffusion of innovations and makes a unique contribution to existing diffusion studies by its focus on the nature of the network links as the unit of analysis; and by its application of an action-oriented methodology to untangle the effects of the embedded network structure on diffusion. The study suggests a strong relationship between diffusion and network positioning, both in terms of place (status and position in the network) and space (the geographic make-up of the network). Diffusion further hinged on network cohesion, actors' trust in and engagement with the network. Adoption of e-commerce was obstructed by actors’ worldview; lack of time, reflexive learning, and commitment to change. The incorporation in the study’s diffusion framework of contextual moderators such as network position, worldview, trust, time and commitment considerably extends Rogers’ traditional diffusion framework. Based on its emergent analysis framework, the study introduces a dynamic change model towards sustainable regional network development. It is suggested that both the diffusion framework and the regional innovation model developed in this study may, either jointly or separately, be applicable beyond the tourism and service sector.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Braun, Patrice
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis describes the initiation and evolution of an action research project, which investigates the adoption and diffusion of Internet technologies in a regional Australian tourism network. The research evolved out of a portal development consultancy. The aim of the study was two-fold: to investigate the nature of the change process when a collaborative network seeks to adopt e-commerce; and to determine how the change process differed in the face of incremental change (adding some e-commerce solutions to the network), or radical change (changing the overall business model). The purpose of the study was to gain a better understanding of the economic, strategic and social potential of regional business networks in the current techno-economic climate. The study builds on Rogers' (1995) seminal work on the diffusion of innovations and makes a unique contribution to existing diffusion studies by its focus on the nature of the network links as the unit of analysis; and by its application of an action-oriented methodology to untangle the effects of the embedded network structure on diffusion. The study suggests a strong relationship between diffusion and network positioning, both in terms of place (status and position in the network) and space (the geographic make-up of the network). Diffusion further hinged on network cohesion, actors' trust in and engagement with the network. Adoption of e-commerce was obstructed by actors’ worldview; lack of time, reflexive learning, and commitment to change. The incorporation in the study’s diffusion framework of contextual moderators such as network position, worldview, trust, time and commitment considerably extends Rogers’ traditional diffusion framework. Based on its emergent analysis framework, the study introduces a dynamic change model towards sustainable regional network development. It is suggested that both the diffusion framework and the regional innovation model developed in this study may, either jointly or separately, be applicable beyond the tourism and service sector.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
10 Days in 2009 : An auto-ethnographical study of "Communical Resistance" taken by international students in Australia
- Authors: Saunders, Owen
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The early millennium saw the rise of an educational system in Australia where unchartered private educational provider institutions teach degree courses via contractual arrangements with parent universities. This study examines an incident where students at several such institutions collectively declined to submit a required online assessment piece to the possible detriment of the successful completion of their degrees. The research questions that arose from this incident were; what went wrong; how can we understand what happened here; and, what does this mean for me personally? Students’ perceptions of an online assessment piece are examined in the study of this incident. The study covers identical units offered at six private providers in three different Australian cities and the parent university. The students at the private institutions were all international students; those at the parent were a mix of international and domestic students. The assessment piece, a mandatory requirement for completion of the degree, was given to a collective cohort of approximately 400 students. The majority of students from four of the private institutions declined to submit the assessment piece. Initial research indicated that the students were uncomfortable with the format of a new blended-learning delivery introduced that year (2009). Upon deeper investigation, it was revealed that the declination to submit was, in fact, a complex situation involving conflicts, cultural clashes, social upheaval, and legislative misunderstandings that combined to create an environment where the students felt they had no option but to openly protest against perceived injustices. The author of this work is also the educator at the centre of this event, thus the thesis has been written in an auto-ethnographical method, viewed through the educator’s lens. To protect sensitive information, pseudonyms have been used and identifying details removed. The parent university at the centre of the event, named Newgarth University, is fictitious. Auto-ethnography has been used to present the empirical data (quantitative and qualitative), and the reader will be taken through a “detective story” that reveals various characters, plots, and protest. The study documents a previously unrecorded incident in the international student education industry in Australia. The study offers explanations as to why this incident occurred and adds to the cumulative knowledge of the international student education industry in Australia by offering suggestions to prevent such incidents occurring again. The study demonstrates that when a group of students are placed in an unfamiliar uncomfortable environment with little or no access to pastoral care or welfare services, they will create support groups of allegiance to protect their interests. These allegiance groups will employ tried and tested methods of communal resistance practised by the dominant culture of that field of endeavour.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Saunders, Owen
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The early millennium saw the rise of an educational system in Australia where unchartered private educational provider institutions teach degree courses via contractual arrangements with parent universities. This study examines an incident where students at several such institutions collectively declined to submit a required online assessment piece to the possible detriment of the successful completion of their degrees. The research questions that arose from this incident were; what went wrong; how can we understand what happened here; and, what does this mean for me personally? Students’ perceptions of an online assessment piece are examined in the study of this incident. The study covers identical units offered at six private providers in three different Australian cities and the parent university. The students at the private institutions were all international students; those at the parent were a mix of international and domestic students. The assessment piece, a mandatory requirement for completion of the degree, was given to a collective cohort of approximately 400 students. The majority of students from four of the private institutions declined to submit the assessment piece. Initial research indicated that the students were uncomfortable with the format of a new blended-learning delivery introduced that year (2009). Upon deeper investigation, it was revealed that the declination to submit was, in fact, a complex situation involving conflicts, cultural clashes, social upheaval, and legislative misunderstandings that combined to create an environment where the students felt they had no option but to openly protest against perceived injustices. The author of this work is also the educator at the centre of this event, thus the thesis has been written in an auto-ethnographical method, viewed through the educator’s lens. To protect sensitive information, pseudonyms have been used and identifying details removed. The parent university at the centre of the event, named Newgarth University, is fictitious. Auto-ethnography has been used to present the empirical data (quantitative and qualitative), and the reader will be taken through a “detective story” that reveals various characters, plots, and protest. The study documents a previously unrecorded incident in the international student education industry in Australia. The study offers explanations as to why this incident occurred and adds to the cumulative knowledge of the international student education industry in Australia by offering suggestions to prevent such incidents occurring again. The study demonstrates that when a group of students are placed in an unfamiliar uncomfortable environment with little or no access to pastoral care or welfare services, they will create support groups of allegiance to protect their interests. These allegiance groups will employ tried and tested methods of communal resistance practised by the dominant culture of that field of endeavour.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
100 years of annual reporting by Australian Red Cross : Accountability amidst wars, disasters and loss of life
- Authors: Langton, Jonathan
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Purpose: This critical interpretive and historical case study of Australian Red Cross extends from the organisation’s beginning in 1914 through to the present day. The overarching purpose is to reveal and analyse the annual reporting practices of one of Australia’s oldest and most important humanitarian organisations in the discharge of accountability over the course of a century. Design/methodology/approach: A Political Economy of Accounting theoretical framework guides the content analysis and interpretation of findings. Background: While the review of literature acknowledges the annual report as a crucial element in the discharge of accountability, studies investigating the evolution of annual reports of International nongovernmental development and humanitarian aid organisations (INGDHOs) over extended periods of time appear to be absent from the literature. Findings: The annual reports were found to be responsive to the changing social, political, economic and institutional environment, casting doubt on any claims to objectivity in organisational management’s disclosures, including assertions regarding unadulterated adherence to its Fundamental Principles. Furthermore, sources of pressure from the wider environmental context impacted upon the development of accountability regimes and shaped the way in which organisational management reported to stakeholders. These regimes evidence the alignment of mission preservation and emotive disclosures with strategic priorities. Implications: This study extends understandings of how INGDHOs discharge accountability through annual reporting practices. It provides a more holistic framework for understanding the role of accountability in organisational management reporting, the development of accountability regimes and the implications for organisational and social functioning. Originality/value (significance): The contribution is distinctive not only for the context and extensive period covered, but also for the significant institutional setting of Australian Red Cross – encompassing deep social, political, economic and institutional changes. This adds to the extant literature and provides significant insights into the contested interplay between annual reporting practices and accountability regimes.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Langton, Jonathan
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Purpose: This critical interpretive and historical case study of Australian Red Cross extends from the organisation’s beginning in 1914 through to the present day. The overarching purpose is to reveal and analyse the annual reporting practices of one of Australia’s oldest and most important humanitarian organisations in the discharge of accountability over the course of a century. Design/methodology/approach: A Political Economy of Accounting theoretical framework guides the content analysis and interpretation of findings. Background: While the review of literature acknowledges the annual report as a crucial element in the discharge of accountability, studies investigating the evolution of annual reports of International nongovernmental development and humanitarian aid organisations (INGDHOs) over extended periods of time appear to be absent from the literature. Findings: The annual reports were found to be responsive to the changing social, political, economic and institutional environment, casting doubt on any claims to objectivity in organisational management’s disclosures, including assertions regarding unadulterated adherence to its Fundamental Principles. Furthermore, sources of pressure from the wider environmental context impacted upon the development of accountability regimes and shaped the way in which organisational management reported to stakeholders. These regimes evidence the alignment of mission preservation and emotive disclosures with strategic priorities. Implications: This study extends understandings of how INGDHOs discharge accountability through annual reporting practices. It provides a more holistic framework for understanding the role of accountability in organisational management reporting, the development of accountability regimes and the implications for organisational and social functioning. Originality/value (significance): The contribution is distinctive not only for the context and extensive period covered, but also for the significant institutional setting of Australian Red Cross – encompassing deep social, political, economic and institutional changes. This adds to the extant literature and provides significant insights into the contested interplay between annual reporting practices and accountability regimes.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
[Dis]Abled justice: Why reports of sexual assault made by adults with cognitive impairment fail to proceed through the justice system
- Authors: Camilleri, Marg
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Description: This study considers why, despite increased prevalence of sexual assault perpetrated against adults with cognitive impairment, reports of sexual assault made by adults in this cohort to the police seldom progress beyond the investigation stage. The study is informed by a triangulation of theoretical perspectives consisting of radical feminist theory, symbolic interactionism and the social model of disability. A combined qualitative and quantitative methodological approach is underpinned by the social constructionist epistemology. Data was gathered through 13 focus group discussions conducted with Victoria Police members, including members of the Sex Offences and Child Abuse Unit, Criminal Investigation Unit and Sex Crimes Squad, as well as with staff from the Office of Public Prosecutions and advocates consisting of disability and victim support workers. The other main sources of data were 76 police case file narratives and a case study involving an adult victim whose report of sexual assault was successfully prosecuted. Qualitative data from focus group interviews and file narratives were subjected to thematic analysis and critical discourse analysis. Basic frequencies and correlations of the case file data were analysed using SPSS and the case study was analysed utilising Yin’s (2003) explanatory case study framework. The research indicates that there are seven points in the course of police investigations at which decisions are made about sexual assault reports. Discretion is applied by police at all stages of decision making. Decisions are informed by an influence cycle consisting of social forces, the justice system, the police organisation, and the culture of the police unit. Police decisions are therefore subject to a range of influences, which perpetuate negative patriarchal and ableist stereotypes and disabling generalised assumptions about adults with cognitive impairment. The primary assumption is they are not credible. The result is that opportunities for people with cognitive impairment to access justice are extinguished prematurely.
- Authors: Camilleri, Marg
- Date: 2010
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Description: This study considers why, despite increased prevalence of sexual assault perpetrated against adults with cognitive impairment, reports of sexual assault made by adults in this cohort to the police seldom progress beyond the investigation stage. The study is informed by a triangulation of theoretical perspectives consisting of radical feminist theory, symbolic interactionism and the social model of disability. A combined qualitative and quantitative methodological approach is underpinned by the social constructionist epistemology. Data was gathered through 13 focus group discussions conducted with Victoria Police members, including members of the Sex Offences and Child Abuse Unit, Criminal Investigation Unit and Sex Crimes Squad, as well as with staff from the Office of Public Prosecutions and advocates consisting of disability and victim support workers. The other main sources of data were 76 police case file narratives and a case study involving an adult victim whose report of sexual assault was successfully prosecuted. Qualitative data from focus group interviews and file narratives were subjected to thematic analysis and critical discourse analysis. Basic frequencies and correlations of the case file data were analysed using SPSS and the case study was analysed utilising Yin’s (2003) explanatory case study framework. The research indicates that there are seven points in the course of police investigations at which decisions are made about sexual assault reports. Discretion is applied by police at all stages of decision making. Decisions are informed by an influence cycle consisting of social forces, the justice system, the police organisation, and the culture of the police unit. Police decisions are therefore subject to a range of influences, which perpetuate negative patriarchal and ableist stereotypes and disabling generalised assumptions about adults with cognitive impairment. The primary assumption is they are not credible. The result is that opportunities for people with cognitive impairment to access justice are extinguished prematurely.
A Ballarat chinese family biography – an intergenerational study
- Authors: Horsfield, Yvonne
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis addresses the gap that has existed in Ballarat’s historiography regarding the historical neglect and ignorance of Chinese family narratives and their life experiences. In doing so this thesis presents a longitudinal, three generational study of an immigrant Ballarat Chinese family from the early 1860s until the 1950s. It examines how members of each Tong Way generation strove to gain acceptance and establish an enduring sense of cultural belonging in a former regional, Victorian gold mining city. An ancestor, Liu Chou Hock, was a sojourner who arrived on the Haddon goldfield in 1862 and successfully worked a claim. Within three years, he returned to his village, Wang Tung, in Taishan, China. His experience was in sharp contrast to that of his son John Tong Way (Liu’ Zongwei) who permanently settled in Ballarat. The family strived to integrate against a background of migrant adjustment, ethnic discrimination and later a policy of assimilation. These factors represented a challenge for all Chinese who remained until the White Australia Policy was abandoned by the Whitlam Labor government in 1973. Unlike Caucasian immigrants, who could assimilate, whilst retaining certain features of their ethnic identification, the Chinese were culturally alienated and often excluded from everyday cultural life and practice. They represented a demographically significant ethnic minority. The thesis also compares the experiences of the Ballarat and Bendigo Chinese communities in order to examine the similarities and differences. In doing so, it analyses how they were able to establish a sense of belonging in their respective communities. The analysis of the Ballarat family’s experiences, combined with that of other Chinese descent families forms the basis of an extended case study. One that argues that adaptation was necessitated by their individual aspirations for acceptance, respectability and success.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Horsfield, Yvonne
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis addresses the gap that has existed in Ballarat’s historiography regarding the historical neglect and ignorance of Chinese family narratives and their life experiences. In doing so this thesis presents a longitudinal, three generational study of an immigrant Ballarat Chinese family from the early 1860s until the 1950s. It examines how members of each Tong Way generation strove to gain acceptance and establish an enduring sense of cultural belonging in a former regional, Victorian gold mining city. An ancestor, Liu Chou Hock, was a sojourner who arrived on the Haddon goldfield in 1862 and successfully worked a claim. Within three years, he returned to his village, Wang Tung, in Taishan, China. His experience was in sharp contrast to that of his son John Tong Way (Liu’ Zongwei) who permanently settled in Ballarat. The family strived to integrate against a background of migrant adjustment, ethnic discrimination and later a policy of assimilation. These factors represented a challenge for all Chinese who remained until the White Australia Policy was abandoned by the Whitlam Labor government in 1973. Unlike Caucasian immigrants, who could assimilate, whilst retaining certain features of their ethnic identification, the Chinese were culturally alienated and often excluded from everyday cultural life and practice. They represented a demographically significant ethnic minority. The thesis also compares the experiences of the Ballarat and Bendigo Chinese communities in order to examine the similarities and differences. In doing so, it analyses how they were able to establish a sense of belonging in their respective communities. The analysis of the Ballarat family’s experiences, combined with that of other Chinese descent families forms the basis of an extended case study. One that argues that adaptation was necessitated by their individual aspirations for acceptance, respectability and success.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A blockchain-based distributed peer-to-peer ecosystem for energy trading
- Authors: Islam, Mohammad
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Blockchain technologies are revolutionising peer-to-peer (P2P) distributed energy trading. These technologies can leverage microgrid decentralisation and immutable data storage to provide efficient and secure trading to benefit prosumers. A double auction mechanism is best suited for energy trading in a P2P microgrid. This mechanism requires a solvent cryptocurrency reserve for payment settlement. Double auctions give rise to unspent auction reservations (UARs). Existing mechanisms can settle further auctions with UARs but need improvements to do this without affecting trading efficiency. Keeping a cryptocurrency reserve solvent also requires adaptations to existing mechanisms. Auction settlements within a microgrid leave UARs, meaning that other microgrids must join for further auction settlements, and this leads to security vulnerabilities. It is important to develop an ecosystem that can enhance trading efficiency, ensure the solvency of the cryptocurrency reserve and provide security for multi-microgrid energy trading. In distributed energy trading, an auctioneer passes UARs to the next auctioneer as specified by the passing mechanism. Traditional energy trading systems use simple passing mechanisms and basic pricing mechanisms, but this adversely affects trading efficiency and buyers’ economic surplus. Traditional P2P energy trading systems use passing mechanisms that only partially consider the auction capacity of the next auctioneer. We propose a blockchain-based energy trading mechanism using a smart passing mechanism (SPM) that uses an unspent reservation profile (URP) to represent the auctioneers’ capability to pass UARs within a P2P microgrid. We further propose an intelligent passing mechanism (iPass) that incorporates price information into URPs to enhance trading efficiency. We applied three metrics to measure trading efficiency: convergence time, auction settlements and the economic surplus of buyers and sellers. We simulated our mechanisms in Hyperledger Fabric, a permissioned blockchain framework that managed the data storage and smart contracts. Experiments showed that our SPM reduces the convergence time, increases auction settlements and increases the economic surplus of buyers compared with existing mechanisms. Experiments showed that iPass is even more efficient than other passing mechanisms, including SPM, further reducing the convergence time, increasing auction settlements and increasing the economic surplus of buyers and sellers. Settling payments in blockchain-based P2P energy trading requires maintaining the solvency of the cryptocurrency reserve to ensure a stable medium of exchange and reduce price volatility. Stablecoins, as a form of cryptocurrency—the most suitable medium of exchange—are gaining attention from central banks. A consortium of central banks has recommended compliance with capital and liquidity standards for high-quality liquid assets (HQLA). Stablecoins, as a form of HQLA, require the adaptation of these standards for P2P energy trading. We propose a mechanism (NF90) to control the inflow of stablecoins in response to the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) for reserve resilience and to maintain solvency. The Basel III Accord recommends 100% LCR. We measured the effectiveness of NF90 using LCR as a metric simulating the mechanism in Hyperledger Fabric to manage deceni tralisation, data storage and smart contracts. NF90 was the most effective inflow control mechanism. The use of iPass for a P2P microgrid leaves UARs. Traditional trading mechanisms settle further auctions with UARs within a microgrid, which affects the economic surplus of prosumers. Auction settlements with neighbouring microgrids increase prosumers’ economic surplus, but the usual pricing of double auction mechanisms reduces their economic surplus. Other pricing mechanisms are needed in a multi-microgrid paradigm. Settling auctions for microgrids requires common computational resources that are close to microgrids. Edge computing technologies suit this need, and blockchain technology leverages immutable data storage in cloud servers. However, communication with a cloud server through proprietary edge computing devices exposes the ecosystem to security vulnerabilities. It is important to control access by prosumers and forensic users. Immutable data storage and the retrieval of data are essential. Two challenges in information security are incorporating reliable access control for users and devices while granting access to confidential data for relevant users and maintaining data persistence. This research used a blockchain structure for data persistence. We propose a framework of novel protocols to authenticate users (prosumers and auctioneers) by the edge server and of the edge server by the cloud server. Our framework also provides access to forensic users using immutable blockchain-based data storage with endpoint authentication and a role-based user access control system. We simulated the framework using the Automated Validation of Internet Security Protocols and Applications and showed that it can deal effectively with several security issues.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Islam, Mohammad
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Blockchain technologies are revolutionising peer-to-peer (P2P) distributed energy trading. These technologies can leverage microgrid decentralisation and immutable data storage to provide efficient and secure trading to benefit prosumers. A double auction mechanism is best suited for energy trading in a P2P microgrid. This mechanism requires a solvent cryptocurrency reserve for payment settlement. Double auctions give rise to unspent auction reservations (UARs). Existing mechanisms can settle further auctions with UARs but need improvements to do this without affecting trading efficiency. Keeping a cryptocurrency reserve solvent also requires adaptations to existing mechanisms. Auction settlements within a microgrid leave UARs, meaning that other microgrids must join for further auction settlements, and this leads to security vulnerabilities. It is important to develop an ecosystem that can enhance trading efficiency, ensure the solvency of the cryptocurrency reserve and provide security for multi-microgrid energy trading. In distributed energy trading, an auctioneer passes UARs to the next auctioneer as specified by the passing mechanism. Traditional energy trading systems use simple passing mechanisms and basic pricing mechanisms, but this adversely affects trading efficiency and buyers’ economic surplus. Traditional P2P energy trading systems use passing mechanisms that only partially consider the auction capacity of the next auctioneer. We propose a blockchain-based energy trading mechanism using a smart passing mechanism (SPM) that uses an unspent reservation profile (URP) to represent the auctioneers’ capability to pass UARs within a P2P microgrid. We further propose an intelligent passing mechanism (iPass) that incorporates price information into URPs to enhance trading efficiency. We applied three metrics to measure trading efficiency: convergence time, auction settlements and the economic surplus of buyers and sellers. We simulated our mechanisms in Hyperledger Fabric, a permissioned blockchain framework that managed the data storage and smart contracts. Experiments showed that our SPM reduces the convergence time, increases auction settlements and increases the economic surplus of buyers compared with existing mechanisms. Experiments showed that iPass is even more efficient than other passing mechanisms, including SPM, further reducing the convergence time, increasing auction settlements and increasing the economic surplus of buyers and sellers. Settling payments in blockchain-based P2P energy trading requires maintaining the solvency of the cryptocurrency reserve to ensure a stable medium of exchange and reduce price volatility. Stablecoins, as a form of cryptocurrency—the most suitable medium of exchange—are gaining attention from central banks. A consortium of central banks has recommended compliance with capital and liquidity standards for high-quality liquid assets (HQLA). Stablecoins, as a form of HQLA, require the adaptation of these standards for P2P energy trading. We propose a mechanism (NF90) to control the inflow of stablecoins in response to the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) for reserve resilience and to maintain solvency. The Basel III Accord recommends 100% LCR. We measured the effectiveness of NF90 using LCR as a metric simulating the mechanism in Hyperledger Fabric to manage deceni tralisation, data storage and smart contracts. NF90 was the most effective inflow control mechanism. The use of iPass for a P2P microgrid leaves UARs. Traditional trading mechanisms settle further auctions with UARs within a microgrid, which affects the economic surplus of prosumers. Auction settlements with neighbouring microgrids increase prosumers’ economic surplus, but the usual pricing of double auction mechanisms reduces their economic surplus. Other pricing mechanisms are needed in a multi-microgrid paradigm. Settling auctions for microgrids requires common computational resources that are close to microgrids. Edge computing technologies suit this need, and blockchain technology leverages immutable data storage in cloud servers. However, communication with a cloud server through proprietary edge computing devices exposes the ecosystem to security vulnerabilities. It is important to control access by prosumers and forensic users. Immutable data storage and the retrieval of data are essential. Two challenges in information security are incorporating reliable access control for users and devices while granting access to confidential data for relevant users and maintaining data persistence. This research used a blockchain structure for data persistence. We propose a framework of novel protocols to authenticate users (prosumers and auctioneers) by the edge server and of the edge server by the cloud server. Our framework also provides access to forensic users using immutable blockchain-based data storage with endpoint authentication and a role-based user access control system. We simulated the framework using the Automated Validation of Internet Security Protocols and Applications and showed that it can deal effectively with several security issues.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A case study of teacher roles in engaging with student aspirations
- Authors: Walker, Amy
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis investigated the complex role teachers play, both formally and informally, in relation to engaging and supporting student aspirations. Due to the links that have been established between aspirations and school completion and involvement in tertiary education, aspirations are important in an educational context. Yet, despite the abundance of aspiration related research, most has focused on student or parent perspectives, with few scholars targeting teacher perceptions of their roles in relation to student aspirations. This research is therefore significant as it addresses this gap through a single case study investigating perceptions of P-12 teachers from a peri-urban independent school in Victoria, Australia. Data were collected from 57 teachers via survey, interviews, and school document analysis. A lens of research-as-bricoleur, incorporating the theoretical frameworks of Bronfenbrenner (1979; 1994), Turner (2001), Gottfredson (1981, 1996), and Patton and McMahon (2015), provided the interpretative basis for the applied thematic analysis of the different data sets. Findings demonstrated differences in the way that teachers conceptualised their role in engaging with student aspirations. While teacher participants identified various formal and informal roles that they played in relation to engaging student aspirations, they also reported a lack of clear guidance or guidelines, necessitating the development of personal processes to direct their involvement. Other important findings highlighted a number of factors that teacher participants perceived as facilitating or impeding possible roles they could play in engaging student aspirations. The understandings emanating from this research provide substantive assistance to stakeholders, including school administrators and teacher educators, in appreciating and appropriately responding to an area of practice which remains misunderstood and without clear policy or guidelines. Ultimately, this research adds to the growing body of research into student aspirations and the concomitant importance of teachers in helping students aspire to and achieve their goals.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Walker, Amy
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This thesis investigated the complex role teachers play, both formally and informally, in relation to engaging and supporting student aspirations. Due to the links that have been established between aspirations and school completion and involvement in tertiary education, aspirations are important in an educational context. Yet, despite the abundance of aspiration related research, most has focused on student or parent perspectives, with few scholars targeting teacher perceptions of their roles in relation to student aspirations. This research is therefore significant as it addresses this gap through a single case study investigating perceptions of P-12 teachers from a peri-urban independent school in Victoria, Australia. Data were collected from 57 teachers via survey, interviews, and school document analysis. A lens of research-as-bricoleur, incorporating the theoretical frameworks of Bronfenbrenner (1979; 1994), Turner (2001), Gottfredson (1981, 1996), and Patton and McMahon (2015), provided the interpretative basis for the applied thematic analysis of the different data sets. Findings demonstrated differences in the way that teachers conceptualised their role in engaging with student aspirations. While teacher participants identified various formal and informal roles that they played in relation to engaging student aspirations, they also reported a lack of clear guidance or guidelines, necessitating the development of personal processes to direct their involvement. Other important findings highlighted a number of factors that teacher participants perceived as facilitating or impeding possible roles they could play in engaging student aspirations. The understandings emanating from this research provide substantive assistance to stakeholders, including school administrators and teacher educators, in appreciating and appropriately responding to an area of practice which remains misunderstood and without clear policy or guidelines. Ultimately, this research adds to the growing body of research into student aspirations and the concomitant importance of teachers in helping students aspire to and achieve their goals.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A case study to evaluate the effectiveness of chronic disease management plan on self-management among patients with diabetes mellitus at general practice settings
- Authors: Ghasemi, Maryam
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The chronic disease management (CDM) plan is designed to support people with chronic medical conditions. This plan provides a targeted, comprehensive approach, allowing individuals to receive the necessary care and support to manage their condition. With this plan, patients can access various health services, including visits to their general practitioner and allied health services. These provide the necessary support and care to manage their condition effectively. However, patients with chronic conditions are often poorly served by the current Australian healthcare system, which fails to coordinate care across different service providers. Aim The primary aim of this study was to examine whether the use of CDM plans can improve self-management among patients with diabetes. Method A mixed method collective case study was undertaken. It focused on identifying patients’ predisposing and biometric factors, exploring patients’ and health professionals’ perceptions of the CDM plan and examining the CDM plan’s clinical documentation. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken among patients with diabetes and healthcare professionals in a general practice setting in Victoria, Australia. Results Three main issues emerged from the study: the rigidity of the funding model, system and organisational constraints and the lack of person-centred care. Conclusion To enhance self-management support through CDM plans, it is crucial to understand interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary interactions between patients and healthcare professionals. Organisational structures can apply a powerful contextual influence on how patients and healthcare professionals interact, but individualised CDM plans with tailored allied health services, regular follow-up and review are essential for the sustainability of health outcomes. Primary care settings and services in Australia need to be reformed to meet the needs of high-cost health users with complex chronic conditions. Moving beyond fee-for-service funding can stimulate innovation in service delivery and configuring person-centred care. Payment and funding reform is needed, particularly for people with ongoing complex needs and comorbidities. The study has highlighted the lack of a clear coordination framework guiding CDM plans, lead to inconsistency and poorer patient outcomes. Keywords: Self-management, diabetes mellitus, diabetes self-management, chronic disease management plan, person-centred care plan, integrated care plan, multidisciplinary care plan approach, Andersen Behavioural Model of Health Service Use
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Ghasemi, Maryam
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The chronic disease management (CDM) plan is designed to support people with chronic medical conditions. This plan provides a targeted, comprehensive approach, allowing individuals to receive the necessary care and support to manage their condition. With this plan, patients can access various health services, including visits to their general practitioner and allied health services. These provide the necessary support and care to manage their condition effectively. However, patients with chronic conditions are often poorly served by the current Australian healthcare system, which fails to coordinate care across different service providers. Aim The primary aim of this study was to examine whether the use of CDM plans can improve self-management among patients with diabetes. Method A mixed method collective case study was undertaken. It focused on identifying patients’ predisposing and biometric factors, exploring patients’ and health professionals’ perceptions of the CDM plan and examining the CDM plan’s clinical documentation. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken among patients with diabetes and healthcare professionals in a general practice setting in Victoria, Australia. Results Three main issues emerged from the study: the rigidity of the funding model, system and organisational constraints and the lack of person-centred care. Conclusion To enhance self-management support through CDM plans, it is crucial to understand interdisciplinary and intradisciplinary interactions between patients and healthcare professionals. Organisational structures can apply a powerful contextual influence on how patients and healthcare professionals interact, but individualised CDM plans with tailored allied health services, regular follow-up and review are essential for the sustainability of health outcomes. Primary care settings and services in Australia need to be reformed to meet the needs of high-cost health users with complex chronic conditions. Moving beyond fee-for-service funding can stimulate innovation in service delivery and configuring person-centred care. Payment and funding reform is needed, particularly for people with ongoing complex needs and comorbidities. The study has highlighted the lack of a clear coordination framework guiding CDM plans, lead to inconsistency and poorer patient outcomes. Keywords: Self-management, diabetes mellitus, diabetes self-management, chronic disease management plan, person-centred care plan, integrated care plan, multidisciplinary care plan approach, Andersen Behavioural Model of Health Service Use
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
A class of Increasing Positively Homogeneous functions for which global optimization problem is NP-hard
- Authors: Sultanova, Nargiz
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: It is well known that global optimization problems are, generally speaking, computationally infeasible, that is solving them would require an unreasonably large amount of time and/or space. In certain cases, for example, when objective functions and constraints are convex, it is possible to construct a feasible algorithm for solving global optimization problem successfully. Convexity, however, is not a phenomenon to be often expected in the applications. Nonconvex problems frequently arise in many industrial and scienti¯c areas. Therefore, it is only natural to try to replace convexity with some other structure at least for some classes of nonconvex optimization problems to render the global optimization problem feasible. A theory of abstract convexity has been developed as a result of the above considerations. Monotonic analysis, a branch of abstract convex analysis, is analogous in many ways to convex analysis, and sometimes is even simpler. It turned out that many problems of nonconvex optimization encountered in applications can be described in terms of monotonic functions. The analogies with convex analysis were considered to aid in solving some classes of nonconvex optimization problems. In this thesis we will focus on one of the elements of monotonic analysis - Increasing Positively Homogeneous functions of degree one or in short IPH functions. The aim of present research is to show that finding the solution and ²-approximation to the solution of the global optimization problem for IPH functions restricted to a unit simplex is an NP-hard problem. These results can be further extended to positively homogeneous functions of degree ´, ´ > 0.
- Description: Master of Mathematical Sciences (Research)
- Authors: Sultanova, Nargiz
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: It is well known that global optimization problems are, generally speaking, computationally infeasible, that is solving them would require an unreasonably large amount of time and/or space. In certain cases, for example, when objective functions and constraints are convex, it is possible to construct a feasible algorithm for solving global optimization problem successfully. Convexity, however, is not a phenomenon to be often expected in the applications. Nonconvex problems frequently arise in many industrial and scienti¯c areas. Therefore, it is only natural to try to replace convexity with some other structure at least for some classes of nonconvex optimization problems to render the global optimization problem feasible. A theory of abstract convexity has been developed as a result of the above considerations. Monotonic analysis, a branch of abstract convex analysis, is analogous in many ways to convex analysis, and sometimes is even simpler. It turned out that many problems of nonconvex optimization encountered in applications can be described in terms of monotonic functions. The analogies with convex analysis were considered to aid in solving some classes of nonconvex optimization problems. In this thesis we will focus on one of the elements of monotonic analysis - Increasing Positively Homogeneous functions of degree one or in short IPH functions. The aim of present research is to show that finding the solution and ²-approximation to the solution of the global optimization problem for IPH functions restricted to a unit simplex is an NP-hard problem. These results can be further extended to positively homogeneous functions of degree ´, ´ > 0.
- Description: Master of Mathematical Sciences (Research)
A cognitive diagnostic system for explaining algebra errors
- Authors: Mays, Heather
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "This thesis presents a new approach to cognitive diagnosis within the domain of algebra that has greater power than existing techniques."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Mays, Heather
- Date: 2002
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "This thesis presents a new approach to cognitive diagnosis within the domain of algebra that has greater power than existing techniques."
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy