To be, or not to be, that is the question : stuttering into academia
- Authors: Meredith, Grant
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Research partners with lived experience : stories from patients and survivors Chapter 4 p. 43-56
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- Description: In this chapter Grant Meredith, the discipline leader of Information Technology for the Global Professional School at Federation University (Australia) outlines his journey as a person who stutters from his rural Australian upbringing through to being an Information Technology academic. This passage to academia is a reflection on an unconventional odyssey that has meandered from blue collar careers to a university education and beyond. The author discusses what it means to him to have vocal difference and how it may have influenced his research path. Along the way he questions his identity as a person who stutters and find his own “community” to engage within.
Exploring emotional and social competencies in undergraduate students: Perspectives from CALD and non-CALD students
- Authors: Yu, Mong-Lin , Brown, Ted , Hewitt, Alana , Cousland, Robert , Lyons, Carissa , Etherington, Jamie
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Educational Researcher Vol. 50, no. 3 (2023), p. 601-624
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- Description: With the internationalisation of higher education, students from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds represent a significant proportion of the university student body in Australia. Research literature indicates that the unique cultural and linguistic challenges experienced by these students may adversely impact their academic performance and social integration in university settings. However, less is known about how the socio-emotional competencies of undergraduate CALD and non-CALD domestic English-speaking students compare. This cross-sectional quantitative study compares the emotional and social competencies in a cohort of CALD and non-CALD occupational therapy undergraduates. Data were collected at one Australian university from a group of 360 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours) course. Participants completed the Emotional and Social Competency Inventory– University edition (ESCI-U). Multivariate regression analyses were used to compare between CALD and non-CALD students, controlling for students’ year level of study, age, and gender. Key findings from the regression analysis included the observation of indicate that non-CALD students having significant higher scores than CALD students on all the ESCI-U socio-emotional subscales, especially the Emotional Self-control, Achievement Orientation, Empathy and Teamwork from western perspectives. No difference was found between CALD and non-CALD student on two cognitive competencies- systems thinking and pattern recognition. These findings should be interpreted with caution considering CALD students may interpret the questions differently and demonstrate the competencies in different ways. Specific emotional and social competencies that need to be strengthened in students are discussed and recommendations are made to inform the preparation of evidence-based curricula.
Navigating the neo-academy : experiences of liminality and identity construction among early career researchers at one Australian regional university
- Authors: Larsen, Ellen , Brandenburg, Robyn
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Educational Researcher Vol. 50, no. 4 (2023), p. 1069-1087
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- Description: Across the world, many university-based early career researchers (ECRs) are experiencing an unprecedented intensification of research expectations on transition from doctoral research to academic life. Countries such as Australia have put into place national frameworks of research excellence to remain globally competitive. Pressure on universities to elevate global research rankings has soared, with many regional universities and disciplines such as education responding with a rapid escalation of research performance expectations for academics. Consequently, concerns have been raised for ECRs embroiled in intensified research agendas in these contexts. Framed by concepts of liminality and identity construction, we argue that intensified expectations do not take account of liminality experienced by ECRs during times of transition, compromising perceived academic progress. We report on the identity journeys of ECRs in a School of Education at one regional Australian university. Data was collected from nine ECRs using online focus groups and analysed using a hybrid thematic approach. Key findings indicate that ECRs transition into the Academy post-doctorate with varying experiences of identity liminality that impact their capacity to manage research expectations. ECRs experiencing shorter periods of liminality are best positioned to manage the intensified expectations of academic life while ECRs experiencing persistent liminality and identity ‘struggle’ are more likely to perceive a diminished sense of achievement and support. These findings have significant implications for university leadership and research supervisors, in Australia and globally, regarding the ways they support ECRs to productively navigate the hyper-invigilated audit cultures of what we have termed the neo-academy. © 2022, The Author(s).
Are nurse academics technology ready? A mixed methods study of Australian nurse academics’ attitudes to technologies in teaching
- Authors: Browning, Mark
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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- Description: Technology use in higher education teaching has become widespread and ubiquitous, affecting many areas of teaching and learning (Bond et al., 2020). Nurse education has been impacted by this shift with increasing use of technologies in the classroom (Koch, 2014). Although there has been a large research focus relating to students’ elearning, there has been less focus on the academic and their elearning role, in particular, how academic attitudes influence technology use in teaching (Drysdale et al., 2013; Martin, Polly, et al., 2020). The aim of this study was to explore nurse academics’ attitudes to technology and the influence attitude has on their use of technologies in teaching. There were three objectives: 1) To investigate nurse academics’ attitudes to technology through the Technology Readiness Index 2.0 (TRI 2). 2) To develop an understanding of how and why nurse academics engage with technology through individual interviews. 3) To integrate the quantitative (Objective 1) and qualitative (Objective 2) findings in order to gain a holistic understanding of academics’ use of technologies in teaching. A mixed methods sequential explanatory design consisting of two phases was used to address the aim. The first phase was a survey based on a previously validated, 16 item questionnaire, the Technology Readiness Index 2.0 (TRI 2), which was distributed to Australian nurse academics. The second phase included semi-structured individual interviews focussed on academics’ use and attitudes to technology, incorporating elements from the survey. The Technology Readiness Index 2.0 (TRI 2) was used in this study for the first time with nurse academics. The phase one findings indicate that nurse academics were technology ready, had higher overall TRI mean score than the general population (Parasuraman & Colby, 2015), but with similar outcomes to previous nurse academic research. Of note was that TRI was significantly associated with frequency of technology use, number of technologies used and self-rated confidence to use technology. The findings revealed three main Technology Readiness groups, representing three attitudes to technology in teaching: Explorers, Sceptics and Hesitators. Explorers were found to be innovative, positive and confident in their use of technology; Sceptics showed aversion to technology, were cautious when considering the impact on pedagogy and concerned about the impact on interpersonal skills; Hesitators showed preference for traditional teaching and distrust and were anxious about technology use. Overall, attitudes were found to be complex, based on experience and the potential impact technology may have on nursing students. The groups identified in this thesis explain behaviours and enable institutes to support academics in their engagement with technology. Recommendations include flexible training to meet the needs of academics, the use of simple and reliable technology across TR groups and adjusting workloads to account for the time-consuming nature of technology. There is also a need for academics to consider their attitudes to technology and the impact this may have on their teaching. This thesis demonstrates that technology engagement is not a binary choice but a complex process based on attitudes and other factors.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Continuity of care experiences : a national cross-sectional survey exploring the views and experiences of Australian students and academics
- Authors: Newton, Michelle , Faulks, Fiona , Bailey, Carolyn , Davis, Jenny , Vermeulen, Monique , Tremayne, Anne , Kruger, Gina
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Women and Birth Vol. 35, no. 3 (2022), p. e253-e262
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- Description: Background: Continuity of Care Experiences (CoCEs) are a component of all entry-to-practice midwifery programs in Australia and facilitate an understanding of the central midwifery philosophy of woman-centred care and continuity of the therapeutic relationship. The aim of this research was to explore how CoCEs are viewed and experienced by students and academics across Australia. Methods: Students enrolled in Australian midwifery programs and academics who teach into these programs were invited to participate in a cross sectional, web-based survey. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and free text responses were analysed using content analysis. Findings: Four hundred and five students and 61 academics responded to the survey. The CoCE was viewed as a positive and unique learning experience, preparing students to work in midwifery-led continuity models and developing confidence in their midwifery role. Challenges in recruitment, participation in care, and balancing the workload with other course requirements were evident in reports from students, but less understood by academics. Significant personal impact on finances, health and wellbeing of students were also reported. Discussion: The value of CoCEs as an experiential learning opportunity is clear, however, many students report being challenged by elements of the CoCE within current models as they try to maintain study-work-life balance. Conclusion: Innovative course structure that considers and embeds the CoCE requirements within the curricula, in addition to a collective commitment from regulatory bodies, the maternity care sector and Universities to facilitate CoCEs for students may address some of the significant student impacts that are reported by this research. © 2021 Australian College of Midwives
Nurses, physicians and patients' knowledge and attitudes about nurse prescribing
- Authors: Haririan, Hamidreza , Seresht, Deniz Manie , Hassankhani, Hadi , Porter, Joanne E. , Wytenbroek, Lydia
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC Nursing Vol. 21, no. 1 (2022), p. 112-112
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- Description: One of the roles that nurses have acquired in recent years is the role of prescribing. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and attitudes of critical care nurses, physicians and patients about nurse prescribing. A descriptive cross-sectional study with the participation of 152 nurses, 53 physicians and 75 patients was carried out. Participants were selected by stratified random sampling from the critical care units of six hospitals in Tabriz, Iran. Demographics and participants' knowledge and attitudes about nurse prescribing questionnaires were used to collect data. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS-22 software. The mean scores of total knowledge about nurse prescribing in nurses, patients and physicians' were 15.41 ± 1.85,16.45 ± 2.31, 14.74 ± 1.7 respectively (from a range of 10 -20), and the mean score of knowledge by physicians was significantly higher than others (P = 0.000) and they had more knowledge about nurse prescribing. The mean scores of the attitudes towards nurse prescribing in nurses, physicians and patients were 40.62 ± 3.68, 37.98 ± 5.92 and 39.38 ± 4.39 respectively (from a range of 10 -50). However, the total mean score of attitudes among nurses was significantly higher than others (P = 0.000) and nurses had more positive attitudes toward prescribing. The results showed that the participants have a good understanding and attitudes toward nurse prescribing. Nurse prescribing as a new duty and authority can be considered in providing more effective care by specialist nurses. The results of this study can also be used in the future planning of health policy for nurses to have the right to prescribe and ultimately improve the quality of patient care.
Peer educators in the facilitation of sexuality and respectful relationship education for people with an intellectual disability : a scoping review and narrative synthesis
- Authors: James, Michelle , Porter, Joanne , Kattel, Sumitra , Prokopiv, Valerie , Hopwood, Peter
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sexuality and Disability Vol. 40, no. 3 (2022), p. 487-502
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- Description: A scoping review was conducted to identify how peer-education models are being used in sexuality and respectful relationship education for people with a disability. The search was conducted in August 2021 using the Joanna Briggs framework to scope and map the literature and research activity. Using strict criteria, 7 online databases, grey literature and reference lists were searched for resources written or published in the last 15 years (2006–2021). Relevant sources were shortlisted and assessed by the two authors. Six sources met the criteria for inclusion in this review. In total, four educational programs are described and discussed. The results identify four sexuality and respectful relationship programs that met screening criteria: (1) “Telling it like it is!”, (2) “Sexual Lives and Respectful Relationships”, (3) “Talking about sex and relationships: the views of young people with learning disabilities”, and (4) “Health, Safety & Sexuality Training for You & Me”. Peer-educators experienced increased confidence and feelings of empowerment, while people without an intellectual disability reported a greater understanding of the challenges and experiences of people with a disability. The use of peer educators to deliver sexuality and respectful relationship education for people with intellectual disability is a promising education model with multiple potential benefits for participants. However, more research is needed to understand the consequences and limitations of such programs. © 2022, Crown.
Shaping science, technology, engineering and mathematics curriculum in Australian schools: An ecological systems analysis
- Authors: Falloon, Garry , Powling, Markus , Fraser, Sharon , Hatisaru, Vesife
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The Australian journal of education Vol. 66, no. 2 (2022), p. 171-195
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- Description: Improving young people's engagement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is being promoted worldwide as a means of addressing projected shortfalls in expertise needed to further nations' economic, social and environmental goals. Responding to this, schools are reforming traditional discipline-based curricula into interdisciplinary approaches based on problem and project-based designs, to make STEM learning more relevant and meaningful for students. This study drew on a dataset of 449 Australian principal and teacher interviews, to identify factors influencing STEM curriculum in their schools. It utilised Ecological Systems Theory to build understanding relating to the influence of activities and outputs originating at macro, exo and meso system levels, on STEM curriculum and practices in classrooms. Results demonstrated how many innovative schools were able to successfully leverage community, business and national resources to enhance their STEM curriculum, while others struggled due to limitations imposed by geographic or socio-economic factors, or limited access to resources, expertise or advice. Central to achieving this was the powerful influence of principals' and teachers' 'proximal processes and developmental assets' in establishing effective and engaging interdisciplinary STEM curricula, despite constraints imposed by, at best, ambiguous national and state curriculum and policies, rigid assessment regimes and compliance-focused reporting requirements.
STEM in the Making? Investigating STEM Learning in Junior School Makerspaces
- Authors: Falloon, Garry , Forbes, Anne , Stevenson, Michael , Bower, Matt , Hatzigianni, Maria
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Research in science education (Australasian Science Education Research Association) Vol. 52, no. 2 (2022), p. 511-537
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- Description: Makerspaces are recent additions to schools and have been promoted as a means of developing STEM knowledge and skills. According to literature, the practical nature of making supports deeper engagement with STEM concepts and enhances development of STEM capabilities such as creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration. However, to date, limited empirical work has been completed investigating STEM learning in school makerspaces. This article reports outcomes from a study of 24 classroom makerspaces, where 5-8-year olds used 3D printing technology to design and develop artefacts responding to different problems, needs and opportunities. Findings were mixed, with evidence supporting makerspaces as effective for STEM skill and disposition development but more limited in their capacity to build STEM knowledge, unless this was explicitly identified and targeted by teachers. This paper questions assumptions about makerspaces as implicitly effective for STEM knowledge-building, arguing that teachers must specifically target conceptual outcomes in planning and teaching if makerspaces are to be effective for this purpose. Also, findings suggest the need to rethink how makerspaces contribute to holistic STEM literacy development, moving beyond current perspectives focused on learning about STEM, to one where makerspaces are viewed as epistemic environments beneficial to knowledge-building, of STEM. Findings will be of value to educators considering makerspaces as a component of STEM curriculum and infrastructure development. [Author abstract]
What do they do digitally? Identifying the home digital literacy practices of young children in Turkey
- Authors: Ozturk, Gulsah , Ohi, Sarah
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Early years Vol. 42, no. 2 (2022), p. 151-166
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- Description: Young children develop understandings about literacy from birth through experiences of print in their home environments. Today, written text is often present in children's homes in both print and digital forms. What kind of technologies are young children accessing at home and for what purposes? This paper discusses research findings from questionnaires completed by parents about the home digital literacy practices of 105 Turkish children aged 5-7 years and the nature of parental support for digital technology use at home. Parent interviews with five families further identified the technologies used, the children's repertoire of digital literacy practices and issues confronting parents about children's use of technology. The study revealed that children were actively engaged in multimodal practices through the use of digital technologies in play and learning in their homes. The main implications of this study are that it is important that educators be aware of children's existing digital home literacy practices as a foundation for further literacy learning and that parents may need support in understanding how technology use can contribute to children's literacy learning. Further research is warranted in this area.
Applied aspirations : design and applied art at the Ballarat Technical Art School during the early twentieth century
- Authors: Whetter, Elise
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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- Description: Applied art and design schools operate at the nexus of art, industry, and education. During the early decades of the twentieth century, the regionally located Ballarat Technical Art School (BTAS) was the leading institution of its kind in Victoria, Australia, amid shifting economic, cultural, and pedagogical conditions. Emerging from a 1907 amalgamation of institutions, and subsequently administrated by the School of Mines Ballarat (SMB), BTAS was equipped with the assets, experience, and historic reputation necessary to surpass its provincial and metropolitan rivals. This micro-historical case-study employs qualitative analysis of primary sources to investigate the aims, outputs, and importance of BTAS, contextualised by the expectations and influences it operated under during the inaugural principalship of artist and educator, Herbert Henry Smith. Smith oversaw the training of designers, craftspeople, artists, and teachers from 1907 until his retirement in early 1940—a period of tumultuous events, fiscal obstacles, and social and cultural debate. The institution was accountable to diverse stakeholders and arbiters of taste, and successive cohorts learned in a contested space between tradition, origination, and modernisation. Pierre Bourdieu’s cultural theory serves to navigate this web of hierarchies, assumptions, and tensions, while secondary sources help contextualise findings. This thesis also discusses the suite of drawing, design and material-based disciplines delivered at BTAS as single subjects, full courses, and supplementary art-trade training. Throughout, featured students provide examples of regionally trained, Australian designer-maker and artist-teacher experiences. BTAS students learned from ambitious and skilled men and women, benefited from strong professional networks, and fostered a notable esprit-de-corps. The school was significant for its contribution to female technical training. The school’s pre-eminent position was modified during the late 1920s, when much art and art-teacher training was re-centred in Melbourne. Yet, the valuable, compelling, and widespread influence of Ballarat Technical Art School graduates resonated for decades.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Building STEM in Schools: An Australian Cross-case Analysis
- Authors: Falloon, Garry , Stevenson, Michael , Beswick, Kim , Fraser, Sharon , Geiger, Vincent
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Educational Technology Vol. 24, no. 4 (2021), p. 110-122
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- Description: The Principals as STEM Leaders (PASL) project was an Australian Government-funded national research and professional learning programme for principals, aimed at building STEM leadership capacity. The project involved cluster-based delivery of six learning modules and generation of case studies outlining schools' different approaches to STEM education and STEM leadership. This article analyses factors contributing to the development of four contrasting schools' STEM profiles, identifying the unique approaches and leadership strategies each adopted in designing STEM curriculum for meeting the learning needs of their diverse students. It positions these schools' endeavours within the broader PASL professional learning programme, adding to the limited body of empirical work detailing different approaches schools take to the
Investing in sustainable and resilient rural social space: Lessons for teacher education
- Authors: White, Simone , Lock, Graeme , Hastings, Wendy , Cooper, Maxine , Reid, Jo-Anne , Green, Bill
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian and International Journal of Rural Education Vol. 31, no. 2 (2021), p. 46-55
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- Description: Attracting and retaining effective education leaders and teaching staff for regional, rural and remote schools in Australia is a major sustainability and quality issue facing every State and Territory. It is also a major concern in pre-service teacher education, particularly for those universities which have a commitment to rural and regional areas.
Making #blacklivesmatter in universities: a viewpoint on social policy education
- Authors: Bennett, Bindi , Ravulo, Jioji , Ife, Jim , Gates, Trevor
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International journal of sociology and social policy Vol. 41, no. 11/12 (2021), p. 1257-1263
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- Description: Purpose The purpose of this viewpoint article is to consider the #BlackLivesMatter movement within the Aboriginal Australian struggle for equality, sovereignty and human rights. Indigenous sovereignty has been threatened throughout Australia's history of colonization. We provide a viewpoint and recommendations for social policy education and practice.Design/methodology/approach. We provide commentary and interpretation based upon the lived experience of Black, Indigenous and Other People of Color (BIPOC) co-authors, co-authors who are Allies, extant literature and practice wisdom as social policy educators. FindingsUniversities are sources of knowledge production, transmission and consumption within society. We provide critical recommendations for what social policy education within universities can address human rights and the #BlackLivesMatter movement.Originality/valueCulturally responsive inclusion for BIPOC has only just begun in Australia and globally within the context of the #BlackLivesMatter movement. This paper adds critical conversation and recommendations for what social policy programs might do better to achieve universities' teaching and learning missions.
Nurse educator knowledge, attitude and skills towards using high-fidelity simulation : a study in the vocational education sector
- Authors: Akhter, Zainab , Malik, Gulzar , Plummer, Virginia
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nurse Education in Practice Vol. 53, no. (2021), p.
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- Description: High-fidelity simulation has become an essential educational approach in nurse education globally. Several studies have explored the experience of undergraduate nursing students and educators with high-fidelity simulation; however, none have explored the experience of students in the vocational educational sector. The aim of the study was to explore nurse educators’ knowledge, attitude and skills toward using high-fidelity simulation in the setting of vocational education. An anonymous on-line survey design was conducted at three campuses of a major Australian Technical and Further Education vocational education setting. Forty-eight nurse educators teaching into Diploma of Nursing program for at least six months were invited to participate, 29 participated in the study, a response rate of 60%. Participants expressed lack of knowledge in managing technological issues, simulation facilitation procedures and conducting scenarios. Most participants had positive attitude towards high-fidelity simulation and rated their skills as ‘novice’. An urgent need for nurse educator training was identified to enhance knowledge and skills in technical and scenario management of high-fidelity simulation. A program of supportive mentoring by nurse educator mentors experienced in high-fidelity simulation, engaging with existing simulation associations, will enhance and sustain nurse educator knowledge, attitude and skills in a protected environment further, so that they can optimise training they provide to students for safe quality care of patients in the future. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
Nurses’ experience of caring for patients with delirium: Systematic review and qualitative evidence synthesis
- Authors: Thomas, Nissy , Coleman, Mardhie , Terry, Daniel
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nursing Reports Vol. 11, no. 1 (2021), p. 164-174
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- Description: Delirium is an acute deterioration in attention, conscious state, perception, and cognition of a person. While nurses possess the theoretical understanding of the condition, they lack insight into its early recognition and management. This systematic review aims to understand what factors influence nurses as they care for patients with delirium, and to identify best practices to improve overall clinical care. The Qualitative Evidence Synthesis (QES), as a strategy process to identify gaps in research, formulate new models or strategies for care, underpinned the review. In addition to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, a methodological assessment, data were analysed using QES, as informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute Review process. Ten studies were identified and synthesised to generate four key themes. The themes included (1) nurse's knowledge deficit (2) increased workload and stress (3) safety concerns among nurse when caring for patients with delirium and (4) strategies used when caring for patients with delirium. Overall, the review has highlighted the need for increased delirium education and coping strategies among nurses to effectively care for patients with delirium. This may be augmented through regular education sessions to provide nurses with the confidence and competence to care for the acutely confused person.
Nursing degree students’ clinical placement experiences in Australia: A survey design
- Authors: Luders, Elise , Cooper, Simon J. , Cant, Robyn , Waters, Donna , Tower, Marion
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Nurse Education in Practice Vol. 54, no. (2021), p.
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- Description: Aim: This study aimed to evaluate Australian nursing students’ views of placements at seven tertiary education institutions with the use of the Placement Evaluation Tool (PET). Background: Clinical placements are a core element of healthcare education programs around the world (Chuan and Barnett, 2012) with undergraduate nursing students required to complete a prescribed number of hours as part of their degree. The quality of nursing clinical placements varies with a range of positive and negative learning experiences. Design: A survey design was used with a contemporary survey tool– the Placement Evaluation Tool (PET). Using Qualtrics software (Qualtrics, 2005) the on-line survey was distributed to approximately 6265 undergraduate nursing students at six Australian universities and one Technical and Further Education (TAFE) college where Bachelor of Nursing degree students were enrolled. Three Australian States were covered. Sites were selected where a project team member was employed. Methods: A total of 1263 nursing students completed the Placement Evaluation Tool (PET) − 19 items (rated 1–5), one global rating (rated 1–10) − following placement in three Australian States (July 2019−February 2020). Most - 618 (48.9%) completed a placement in acute care with placements positively rated overall. Results: The total PET mean score was 78.3% with 29.8% being ‘extremely satisfied’ (10 out of 10 – Item 20). However, 11.0% were dissatisfied with global ratings of four or less, whilst ratings between States differed significantly (p = <0.001). One third of respondents answered a free text statement relating to placement experiences, with significantly more comments from older students (p = <0.001) and from those with ratings in the lower range (p = <0.001). Three core themes emerged: 1. Staff Attitudes to Students, 2. Environment and 3. Lifestyle. Conclusions: Whilst students’ clinical experiences in Australia tend to be positive a minority reported exposure to negative staff attitudes, in unsafe environments, with lifestyle detriments. Further work is required to understand and enhance student experiences. © 2021. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Elise Luders, Simon Cooper, Robyn Cant" is provided in this record**
Palliative care education and its effectiveness: a systematic review
- Authors: Li, Wendy , Chhabra, Jasleen , Singh, Smita.
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Public Health Vol. 194, no. (2021), p. 96-108
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- Description: Palliative care education (PCE) is an important public health approach to palliative care and is crucial to improving its utilisation. The present study aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of PCE and its effectiveness. A systematic review approach, including narrative synthesis, was used to review qualitative and quantitative studies published in the English language between January 1969 and January 2019, focussing on PCE programs. Thirty-nine research studies were included in the systematic review. The target audience of the included studies were mostly healthcare professionals, followed by family caregivers. Definitions of death and palliative care, symptom management and communication were leading themes in the reviewed PCE programs. The educational resources used in PCE programs were mainly self-developed teaching materials, with some programs utilising eLearning resources. The included PCE programs were effective in improving knowledge, attitude and confidence in palliative care and the satisfaction of participant learning experience. PCE is a useful tool to improve knowledge of, confidence in and attitudes towards palliative care amongst healthcare professionals and carers. To make palliative care a public health issue, PCE should be expanded to the public and policy-makers.
Policies and practices of early childhood education and care during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives from five countries
- Authors: Visnjic-Jevtic, Adrijana , Varga Nagy, Anikó , Ozturk, Gulsah , Şahin-Sak, İkbal , Toran, Mehmet , Sánchez-Pérez, Noelia
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Childhood, Education & Society Vol. 2, no. 2 (2021), p. 200-216
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- Description: The COVID-19 pandemic, which affects all areas of life, has also affected children in need of education and care. It is of great importance to develop policies that take into account the best interests of children in this process. In this review article, the policies developed for early childhood education and care during the pandemic period in five countries (Australia, Croatia, Hungary, Spain, and Turkey), how they are implemented, the problems that arose, and the solutions produced are discussed. As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that we need to focus on eliminating the educational inequalities, set policies for the welfare of children on foundations that are more realistic, rebuild teacher training, and improve the welfare of families. Priorizating the best interests of the child in the policies to be developed and building the social ecology on justice will ease overcoming the crises that will be faced.
Social value systems and the mental health of international students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Authors: Humphrey, Ashley , Forbes-Mewett, Helen
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of international students Vol. 11, no. S2 (2021), p.
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- Description: Australian universities are understood to have the highest number of international students per capita worldwide. The sector contributes over $40 billion to the national economy and sustains many thousands of jobs. Despite their importance to the Australian economy and society, international students are often overlooked in mainstream health promotion and support services. Of the many difficulties and hardships international students experience, mental health presents a significant problem. Evidence indicates that the mental health of international students was declining before the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in Australia. The impact of the pandemic appears to have exacerbated this issue. Our findings from an online survey (n=135) and semi-structured interviews (n=20) reinforce the importance of international students maintaining close social connections for optimizing their mental health. They also bring clarity to the challenges students from highly socially engaged (collectivistic) cultures face, when studying in individualistic environments like Australia amid the COVID-19 pandemic.