Grand designs, grim reality : political representation, competition and equity in regional Victoria
- Authors: Tischler, Catherine
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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- Description: This work brings new understanding to the subtle ways in which the ability of one rural community to change is curtailed by self-reinforcement of an ideology not entirely of their own making. In a political environment where economic returns and population growth appear to be the true indicators of value and success, the struggle of some rural communities to change a long term and seemingly intractable trajectory of decline is well documented. The historical importance of rural communities as a place where food and fibre are grown has been challenged by market forces, climatic conditions and the relative growth of cities and service-based industries over the last three decades. To people in rural areas experiencing population stasis or decline, the situation appears to be a competition that is not being won at a local level. This thesis employs critical ethnography to understand a layered investigation of the ideological paradigms internalised by leaders in this community in a place-based setting to explore how this influences political advocacy and action. The work focusses on the Wimmera Southern Mallee region in Victoria, Australia with a particular emphasis on the city of Horsham as the major regional centre. The purpose of this work is to understand how ideology and behaviours are used to reinforce a system of power that is dominated by prestige leadership. The work also considers how external political and ideological influences may further reinforce on to leaders in the region a set of values and expectations which negatively impact on action and outcomes. The findings of this work have implications for rural community engagement, regional development, place-based initiatives and regional advocacy.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Help-seeking by rural residents for mental health problems: The importance of agrarian values
- Authors: Judd, Fiona , Jackson, Henry , Komiti, Angela , Murray, Greg , Fraser, Caitlin , Grieve, Aaron , Gomez, Rapson
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry Vol. 40, no. 9 (2006), p. 769-776
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- Description: Objective: To examine the role of stoicism, self-efficacy and perceived stigma in predicting help-seeking by rural residents, for mental health problems. Method: A cross-sectional community survey was conducted with a sample of 467 rural residents (58% female), who completed self-report questionnaires assessing current levels of symptomatology, disability, perceived stigma, self-efficacy, stoicism, attitudes towards and experience of seeking help for psychological problems. Results: Overall, 7.6% (n = 129) of respondents had sought help from a general practitioner and/or mental health professional for psychological problems or a mental health issue. More women than men reported having sought such help. Lifetime help-seeking for a psychological problem or mental health issue was positively associated with higher levels of distress and lower levels of stoicism and, to a lesser extent, lower levels of self-efficacy. Conclusions: Efforts to improve help-seeking by rural residents for mental health problems should focus on understanding and addressing attitudes, such as stoicism which act as barriers to help-seeking. © 2006 The Authors; Journal compilation © 2006 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003002045
Stories from the back paddock : Community building in the Pyrenees shire
- Authors: Harman, Jessie , Clark, David
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2nd National Conference on the Future of Australia's Country Towns, Bendigo, Victoria : 11th - 13th July, 2005
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- Description: In 2001 the Victorian Government launched its Community Building initiative. As part of this initiative the government funded 11 locally based community building demonstration projects. One of these projects is located within the Pyrenees Shire. In this discussion paper the authors examine the Pyrenees Shire’s Community Building Demonstration Project, describing the program and its objectives. They focus on the factors which have had a significant impact on the community building process within the municipality, identifying factors which have both facilitated and impeded the process. In terms of facilitating factors they identify a number: the involvement of community champions, strong local government support and community readiness, the capacity to deliver ‘runs on the board’ early in the life of the project, along with a flexible planning process. Conversely, they identify factors which have impeded the community building process in the Shire. Lack of continuity of personnel, an inability to develop shared understanding on occasions and difficulties associated with engaging disparate groups are described. This paper is significant for a number of reasons. In the first instance, it contributes useful, ‘real time’ insights into the implementation of community building in regional Victoria. Secondly it may, through its contribution to theory building and managerial practice, develop and strengthen community building programs in the future. Finally, at the level of public policy, it may contribute to the growing body of knowledge around the efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of these types of regional interventions.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001459
The agenda for change among female rural general practitioners
- Authors: Schwarz, Imogen
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Canberra : 1st - 4th March, 2003
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- Description: This paper presents the preliminary results of a qualitative study examining the agenda for change being pursued by key influential women in Australia to address male-centred rural general practitioner (GP) workforce policies. Many current recruitment and retention programs do not reflect the needs of female GPs as they are based on the traditional notions of a country GP — that is a full-time, on call doctor with a supporting spouse. As women become the majority in medicine, key women influentials in the rural general practice field are advocating for the restructuring of medicine so that women GPs can be part of the solution to rural health care issues. Previous empirical research and theoretical analyses have suggested that medicine and rural communities are patriarchal. To date data collection for this explorative study consists of 5 in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of key women activists across the spectrum of organised medicine. Preliminary results show how women are pressuring for change but also the sources of resistance they encounter from the dominant medical culture. Key women players use particular collective and individual strategies to advocate for female GP issues. These results reflect some research findings on women leaders and female rural GPs. In conclusion, it is important that women are given equal access to decision-making positions to enable their input into the structure and culture of rural general practice. The recommendation put forward is to build inclusive recruitment and retention rural workforce strategies for female rural GPs.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000514
Only in exceptional circumstances! : Education in Australia for rural social work and welfare practice
- Authors: Green, Rosemary
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Social Work Vol. 8, no. 1 (2003), p. 50-57
- Full Text: false
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- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000510
Older men's lifelong learning : Common threads/sheds
- Authors: Golding, Barry
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Researching transitions in lifelong learning Chapter 6 p. 65-75
- Full Text: false
- Description: This chapter is based on a suite of completed research in Australia into informal learning by older men (age over 45) in community contexts that forms the first part of an international comparative study of men’s informal learning. A number of research projects since 2002 in rural and remote Australian communities sought to look beyond what are conventionally regarded as education providers and to examine closely whether and what learning takes place informally by men, particularly by older men, who participate in community-based organisations.
- Description: 2003007969
Older class people - First class experience : Stories of ageing well in rural communities of Victoria
- Authors: Blume, Suzanne
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Diversity in Ageing Conference 2006, Sydney : 23rd November, 2006 p. 52-60
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- Description: Victorians aged 65 years and over are classified as ‘old’, yet many are able to remain living at home in a rural area, maintain health, retain a sense of wellbeing, and lead productive lives without requiring extraordinary assistance to do so. As such, these older people are exemplars of healthy ageing. This qualitative study examined the stories of older people who were living in that moment to answer questions about the meaning of ageing and living at home in a rural community for older people and the measures used to sustain that lifestyle. Rich descriptions were gathered through face-to-face interviews with ten older people living at home in various rural areas of Victoria. Their stories describe personal perceptions and philosophies of ageing and ‘being old’, life as a rural living older person and individual means of meeting declining physical dexterity. This study describes the acumen of a small group of rural living older people from whom much can be learnt. However, further research with larger populations of older people would enhance learning opportunities for other Australians who similarly wish to achieve positive healthy ageing whilst living at home in a rural community.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003002143
40 degrees above or 40 degrees below zero : Rural social work and context in Australia and Canada
- Authors: Bodor, Ralph , Green, Rosemary , Lonne, Robert , Zapf, Michael
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Social Work Vol. 9, no. December (2004), p. 49-59
- Full Text: false
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- Description: C1
- Description: 2003000963
Who's doing the hunting and gathering? An exploration of gender segmentation of adult learning in small remote communities
- Authors: Golding, Barry
- Date: 2004
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Equity in Vocational Education and Training: Research reading Chapter 17 p. 225-241
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Adults in Australia have tended to return relatively recently to learning in patterns that are significantly different by gender. These patterns of gender segmentation for adults are particularly noticeable in the findings of recent research by the author into adult, community and vocational learning in small and remote towns in Victoria. The issues associated with such patterns form the basis of this exploratory paper.
- Description: B1
- Description: 2003000772
The emergence of water markets in Australia and implications for rural social work
- Authors: Mason, Robyn , McDonald, John , Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Social Work and Community Practice Vol. 11, no. (2006), p. 6- 17
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- Description: The aim of this paper is to consider the implications for rural social work practice of the widespread and severe drought coupled with the emergence of water markets in Australia. The National Water Initiative was signed at the June 2004 Council of Australian Governments meeting with the aim of producing a nationally-compatible, market, regulatory and planning-based system of managing water resources to optimise economic, social and environmental outcomes. The National Water Commission and the National Competition Council have since assessed progress on the implementation of the initiative: none of their reports gives adequate consideration to the impact of water reform on rural communities. In this paper, we draw upon previous research and written submissions made to the Commission and the Council to examine the social and political consequences of the drought and the emergence of water markets. We discuss the implications for rural practice, and conclude by proposing seven recommendations to assert the role of rural social workers as change agents. This role could encompass community education and advocacy, piloting schemes such as community water banks, reinstating community development in social work curriculum, and facilitating collaborative rural partnerships.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001997
Participation in sport and physical activity for rural adolescent girls : A socio-ecological approach
- Authors: Casey, Meghan , Eime, Rochelle , Payne, Warren , Harvey, Jack , Bellamy, M. , Maher, Shelley
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at ASICS Conference of science and medicine in sport 2008, Hamilton Island : 16th-18th October 2008
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- Description: Adolescence is a critical time for developing lifelong healthy behaviours including regular participation in sport and physical activity. Participation in sport and physical activity, however, declines during adolescence and few studies have comprehensively identified why; particularly amongst rural girls. This study identifies a range of independent and interacting factors that influence sport and physical activity participation in rural adolescent girls. Methodology: The socio-ecological model of health was used to conduct four focus group discussions with Grade 7 girls (n = 34). Four secondary schools were randomly selected and checked for remoteness using SEIFA and ARIA+ Indexes. Results: Adolescent girls were positively influenced when sport or physical activities were fun, they involved being with friends, and were supported by families and teachers through role modelling and positive feedback. A range of intrapersonal and organisational factors affected perceived self-competence; particularly the co-educational nature of school physical education classes and peer teasing which supported social comparisons of skill level. Conclusions: In the promotion of sport and physical activity to rural adolescent girls, focus must be directed upon developmentally appropriate activities that are fun, opportunities for single-sex classes, and generating cultural changes that encourage non-competitive, and self-referencing activities.
- Description: 2003007623
The development of 'expert-ness': Rural practitioners and role boundaries
- Authors: Gregory, Raeleene , Green, Rosemary , McLaren, Suzanne
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Social Work and Community Practice Vol. 12, no. 2 (2007), p. 16-21
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- Description: Health and welfare practitioners have reported challenges in their personal and professional lives brought about by the realities of dual and multiple relationships in small communities. This paper reports the findings of a qualitative grounded theory study of 70 such practitioners living and working in rural Victoria. Australia, with regard to the development of worker expertise in dealing with personal and professional role boundary issues. The research findings suggested that this group of rural health and welfare practitioners dealt with personal and professional boundary issues through a process of sensitive decision-making and strategic behaviour that became increasingly intuitive over time. Participants oftern adopted elastic and fluid boundaries using their personal experience and local knowledge to inform their professional judgement. These findings have implications for practitioners, for employers, and for educators.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005777
A comparative study of antipsychotic medication taking in people with schizophrenia
- Authors: McCann, Terence , Deans, Cecil , Clark, Eileen , Lu, Sai
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Mental Health Nursing Vol. 17, no. 6 (2008), p. 428-438
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Medication adherence is problematic in all chronic illnesses, none more so than in individuals with schizophrenia. The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine the factors that impacted upon antipsychotic medication taking in people with schizophrenia living in regional-rural and metropolitan Victoria, Australia, and to assess if differences existed between these two groups of participants in the factors that affected medication taking. The Factors Influencing Neuroleptic Medication Taking Scale was used with a non-probability survey sample of 81 people with schizophrenia. Ethics approval was given by university and hospital ethics committees. The results showed, overall, that there were no significant differences between the sets of participants in several demographic characteristics, insight, stigma, substance abuse, types of antipsychotic medications, significant others' support, and access to case managers and general practitioners. There were statistically significant differences between the two groups concerning living circumstances, involvement in religious/spiritual activities, perceived impact of medication side-effects, and access to psychiatrists. However, there were no statistically significant relationships between these factors and medication omission. The implications of the findings for consumers, mental health nurse case managers, families, mental health service provision, and further research, are considered. © 2008 The Authors.
Men's learning in small remote towns in Australia
- Authors: Golding, Barry
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Lifelong Learning, Participation and Equity Chapter 16 p. 175-203
- Full Text: false
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- Description: B1
- Description: 2003007641
- Description: 2003002084
Ensuring the future of rural social work in Australia
- Authors: Brown, Grace , Green, Rosemary
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Society Vol. 19, no. 4 (2009), p. 293-295
- Full Text: false
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- Description: The article focuses on several approaches to improve social work in remote, rural and regional locales in Australia. It says that despite the need for social work services, human service agencies face difficulty in retention and recruitment of qualified staff. To address such problems in rural social work, it suggests the involvement of urban universities, which provide social work education, by supporting rural student placements. It mentions the need for industry support to encourage and assists student in rural placements. It also states that distance education can be an alternative for students from rural locales. Moreover, it says that continuing professional development opportunities should be provided for rural social workers.
- Description: 2003007962
Place matters! Rural as an ‘enabling culture’ for female GPs
- Authors: Schwarz, Imogen , McDonald, John
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 9th National rural health conference: Standing up for rural health., Albury, Australia : March, 2007 p. 1-9
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- Description: E1
- Description: 2003005837
'Train the trainer' model : Implications for health professionals and farm family health in Australia
- Authors: Brumby, Susan , Smith, Andrew
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal Of Agromedicine Vol. 14, no. 2 (2009), p. 112-118
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Australia is a large country with 60% of land used for agricultural production. Its interior is sparsely populated, with higher morbidity and mortality recorded in rural areas, particularly farmers, farm families, and agricultural workers. Rural health professionals in addressing health education gaps of farming groups have reported using behavioralist approaches. These approaches in isolation have been criticized as disempowering for participants who are identified as passive learners or 'empty vessels.' A major challenge in rural health practice is to develop more inclusive and innovative models in building improved health outcomes. The Sustainable Farm Families Train the Trainer (SFFTTT) model is a 5-day program developed by Western District Health Service designed to enhance practice among health professionals working with farm families in Australia. This innovative model of addressing farmer health asks health professionals to understand the context of the farm family and encourages them to value the experience and existing knowledge of the farmer, the family and the farm business. The SFFTTT program has engaged with health agencies, community, government, and industry groups across Australia and over 120 rural nurses have been trained since 2005. These trainers have successfully delivered programs to 1000 farm families, with high participant completion, positive evaluation, and improved health indicators. Rural professionals report changes in how they approach health education, clinical practice, and promotion with farm families and agricultural industries. This paper highlights the success of SFFTTT as an effective tool in enhancing primary health practice in rural and remote settings. The program is benefiting not only drought ravaged farmers but assisting rural nurses, health agencies, and health boards to engage with farm families at a level not identified previously. Furthermore, nurses and health professionals are now embracing a more 'farmer-centered model of care.'
- Description: 2003008066
You don’t have other teachers to bounce ideas off
- Authors: Tytler, Russell , Mousley, Judith , Tobias, Steve , MacMillan, Agnes , Marks, Genee
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Science, ICT and Mathematics Education in Rural and Regional Australia: State and Territory Case Studies Chapter p. 44-64
- Full Text: false
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- Description: B1
- Description: 2003002390
What is evidence-based practice anyway? A rural survey
- Authors: Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Canberra : 1st - 4th March, 2003
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- Description: Health service system developments in recent decades have, both nationally and internationally, been increasingly focused on quality service delivery and the attainment of improved health outcomes. Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been promoted as a central mechanism through which to achieve improved quality and safety in health service delivery (World Health Organisation, 1999; Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council,1996).
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000515
Parent-mediated pathways to care for rural adolescents with depression
- Authors: Jamieson, Rachel
- Date: 2008
- Type: Thesis , PhD
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- Description: This research aimed to explore the role of parents in seeking help for rural adolescents with depression.
- Description: Doctor of Psychology (Clinical)