If I Belong Here...How Did That Come To Be?
- Authors: Lambeth, Paul
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The purpose of this research is to contribute a non indigenous perspective to current discourse on sense of place in contemporary Australia. The research employs a number of strategies to investigate current responses to our geographic and historical time position. Within the exegesis there is a vers libre poem, written from the imagined viewpoint of members of the Burke and Wills’ expedition. The poem is supported by a superimposition of the Don Quixote story over that of the ill-fated inland Australian explorers. [...]
- Description: Master of Arts (Visual Arts)
Innovation policy framework for sustainable development in regional economies : An Australian perspective
- Authors: Courvisanos, Jerry
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 2008 Pacific Northwest Regional Economic Conference : Spirit of Innovation III Forum, Tacoma, Washington, USA : 14th-16th May 2008
- Full Text:
- Description: The paper develops a broad macroeconomic innovation policy framework for ecologically sustainable economic development that can be applied to regional economies, from the perspective of Australia. Australia is one of the three huge per capita greenhouse emitting nations in the world. The increased frequency of drought and dramatic storms, together with mounting international scientific evidence, has raised the spectre of greenhouse gas emissions significantly deteriorating the economic viability of regional communities. Up until now from a regional perspective, ecological concerns of pollution and resource depletion have generally been part of the overall management approach to agriculture and regional economic development – more successful in some places and some time periods than others, but still part of the existing economic paradigm. Greenhouse is “the inconvenient truth” that now faces all regional communities, but its existing economic paradigm is clearly inappropriate for responding effectively and timely to this ecological concern. A completely different economic framework, based on economic activity that is satisficing (under conditions of ecological uncertainty) rather than optimising (under conditions of calculable risk) is required to address the ecological concerns of the future. An “eco-sustainable framework” is developed in this paper which sets out an innovation policy aimed at satisficing towards sustainable regional development from an Australian high-emission economy perspective. The framework is based on the work of two economists, Micha
- Description: 2003006404
iPod therefore I can : Enhancing the learning of children with intellectual disabilities through emerging technologies
- Authors: Marks, Genee , Milne, Jay
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at ICICTE 2008: International Conference on Information Communication Technologies in Education, Corfu, Greece : 10th-12th July 2008
- Full Text:
- Description: This paper explores the pedagogical and social potential of emerging technologies, in particular the iPod, in facilitating the learning of young Australians with severe intellectual and social disabilities. The study, which was carried out in a segregated educational setting in Victoria, Australia, sought to establish whether the intrinsic portable, multi-media capabilities of the iPod particularly lent themselves to a practical application for students with severe disabilities. It was concluded that such new technology has considerable power and potential as an emerging pedagogy with students with severe intellectual and physical disabilities.
- Description: 2003006449
Learning by men not in work : A review of research
- Authors: Golding, Barry
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 5th International Lifelong Learning Conference, Yepoon, Queensland : 16th-19th June 2008 p. 176-181
- Full Text:
- Description: This brief review of learning by men not in work in Australia and the UK is undertaken in the context of recent increases in the population share of such men. It explores difficulties they experience equitably accessing lifelong learning as well as the wellbeing benefits accrued from learning informally.
- Description: 2003006689
Psychosocial support use among men with cancer living in rural and regional areas
- Authors: Corboy, Denise
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The main aim of the current study was to investigate formal and informal psychosocial support use among a sample of men with cancer living in rural and regional Australia, and to examine how use of psychosocial support is related to psychological, physical and social wellbeing.
- Description: Master of Applied Science (Psychology)
Shedding school early insights from school : Community shed collaboration in Australia
- Authors: Golding, Barry , Foley, Annette , Brown, Michael
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Full Text:
- Description: Our paper focuses on evidence of positive interactions between schools and community sheds in Australia to examine what it is about shed-based community programs and pedagogies that are attractive to some early school leavers and school resisters. It is based primarily on interview data from the subset of men’s sheds across Australia with school programs that formed part of our 2007 research into men’s sheds. It is complemented by insights from interviews with men’s sheds participants and rural fire volunteers about what it was that also led many of them to also ‘shed’ school early. Our paper identifies links between the success factors associated with informal learning pedagogies in voluntary and community groups identified in the UK and success factors associated with community-based shed programs in Australia. We identify the potential benefits of sheds in engaging both early school leavers and older men with negative recollections of school, in enjoyable, regular, hands-on activity. We also discuss ways in which some of the difficulties associated with shed-based school programs that seek to engage and reintegrate early school leavers might be avoided or minimised. Finally, we pose some unanswered questions about the implications of our research findings for education and training providers.
- Description: .
- Description: Adelaide :
- Description: 3rd - 4th April 2008
- Description: 0
Virtual teams : Worlds apart
- Authors: Knox, Ian , Wilmott, Deirdre
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings
- Full Text:
- Description: Virtual teams are a relatively new phenomenon. A number of studies have focused on the description of team development and the group process of virtual learning teams as they form. This paper is a study of how Australian and American undergraduates worked together in virtual teams to respond to ethical and business practice problems for a given scenario. The study specifically examined the communication methods, task completion methodology and cultural differences exhibited by two undergraduate classes from the University of Ballarat, Ballarat Australia and Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama, United States. Both synchronous and asynchronous communications methods were used with differing levels of enthusiasm and acceptance. Although the study was based on a small sample, which limits its generalisability, there are implications to inform those who are considering similar methods in their teaching. © 2008 Ian Knox and Deirdre Wilmott.
- Description: 2003010647
Australian children's literature
- Authors: Mills, Alice
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: A companion to Australian literature since 1900 Chapter 30 p. 417-428
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: B1
- Description: 2003005825
Australian plays for the colonial stage
- Authors: Tasker, Meg
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of the Association for the Study of Australian Literature Vol. 6, no. (2007), p. 128-131
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005795
Exploring risk-awareness as a cultural approach to safety : An ethnographic study of a contract maintenance environment
- Authors: Borys, David
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Safety culture has risen to prominence over the past two decades as a means by which organisations may enhance their safety performance. Safety culture may be conceptualised as an interpretive device that mediates between organisational safety rhetoric and safety programs on the one hand, and local workplace cultures on the other. More recently, risk-awareness has emerged as a cultural approach to safety. Front line workers are encouraged to become risk-aware through programs designed to prompt them to undertake mental or informal risk assessments before commencing work. The problem is that risk-awareness programs have not been the subject of systematic research and the impact of these programs on the culture of safety and the resultant level of risk is unknown. Therefore, this ethnographic study of two sites within a large contract maintenance organisation in Australia explored what impact risk-awareness programs have upon the culture of safety and the resultant level of risk. The researcher spent two months in the field and data was collected through participant observation, semistructured interviews and through a review of organisational documents. This study found that managers focused upon collecting the paperwork associated with the program as proof that workers had a safer workplace, whereas workers preferred to rely upon their common sense rather than the paperwork to keep them safe. As a consequence, the riskawareness program resulted in a culture of paperwork and varying levels of risk reduction because the paperwork associated with the program created an illusion of safety for managers as much as common sense did for workers. The results of this study have implications for safety culture, risk-awareness programs and for organisational learning. They also have implications for organisations wishing to improve their safety culture by encouraging risk-awareness in front-line workers.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
How important is the role of the chancellor in the appointment of Australian vice-chancellors and university governance?
- Authors: O'Meara, Bernard , Petzall, Stanley
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Educational Management Vol. 21, no. 3 (2007), p. 213-231
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Purpose - This paper seeks to investigate the role of the university chancellor in the appointment of Australian vice-chancellors. Design/methodology/approach - Prior to this research it was evident that little research had been undertaken on the role of the chancellor. While the chancellor chairs Council, the incumbent also presides over quite a complex selection process, including chairing the selection Panel, when the need to appoint a new VC arises. Research into the recruitment and selection practices used to appoint vice-chancellors in Australia, undertaken as part of a PhD, yielded a wide range of useful material. The research also exposed some unexpected surprises, one of which was the role of the chancellor in the appointment process. Findings - The chancellor not only appeared to lead these processes, as would be expected, but was viewed as the key, if not sole, person who determined the successful candidate. It was found that the relationship between the chancellor and vice-chancellor was crucial and this was evident both in determining successful candidates and the decision for incumbents to seek a role elsewhere. However, in almost all cases the chancellor made the final decision when appointing a new VC. In some cases it appeared that selection panels considered their role as being simply to assist the chancellor to make a decision. This contrasted with the expectation that the panel as a whole would make a decision and recommend it to Council. Originality/value - Thus understanding the role of the chancellor is important when considering university governance and VC succession. This paper provides the findings of the research highlighting the significance of the chancellor's role in the context of appointing a new VC. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005164
Old dogs, new shed tricks : An exploration of innovative, workshop-based learning practice in Australia
- Authors: Golding, Barry , Brown, Michael , Foley, Annette
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at AVETRA 2007 Conference, Victoria University, Footscray, Victoria: 11th-13th April 2007
- Full Text:
- Description: Our paper explores some recent innovations in workshop-based learning practice that come out of community-based men's sheds in Australia. It deliberately goes beyond an exploration of the typical community-based men's shed, already explored in our recent NCVER research report and looks at some new and productive interactions between sheds and other informal learning organisations. We go to the margins of rapidly evolving shed practice and single out three types of shed-based organisations that work with school resisters, Vietnam Veterans and older men in aged care. Our aim is to illustrate, using new Australian narrative data, some theoretical and practical implications and benefits of reciprocal, workshop-based mentoring relationships involving men of different ages. Our focus is on ways in which men with a skill or trade are able, in a situated and authentic learning context, to informally weave magic for and with other men, and in some cases with young people. Our paper provides pointers to some of the principles underpinning successful informal and community-based learning practice for older men: particularly the need for a high level of engagement; the choice of an appropriate and safe setting; and to account for the differences associated with age and gender. We articulate an imperative for bringing more blokes into all forms of learning in Australia including through more informal, community-based learning as well as through adult and community education. Our paper and its conclusions have implications for other workshop and shed-based learning practice in vocational education and training as well as informal and community-based learning by volunteers in the quintessential and ubiquitous Australian fire and football sheds.
- Description: 2003005537
Shedding some new light on gender : Evidence about men's informal learning preferences from Australian men's sheds in community contexts
- Authors: Golding, Barry , Foley, Annette , Brown, Michael
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 37th Annual SCUTREA Conference, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland : 3rd-5th July 2007 p. 169-176
- Full Text:
- Description: Our research identifies some gender-related implications of men gathering, learning and sharing skills in shed-based community contexts with a raft of positive outcomes. (author abstract)
- Description: 2003005528
Stock market predictions based on quantified intermarket influences
- Authors: Tilakaratne, Chandima
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This research investigated the feasibility and capability of neural network-based approaches for predicting the direction of the Australian Stock market index (the target market). It includes several aspects: univariate feature selection from the historical time series of the target market, inter-market analysis for finding the most relevant influential markets, investigations of the effect of time cycles on the target market and the discovery of the optimal neural network architectures. Previous research on US stock markets and other international markets have shown that the neural network approach is one of most powerful techniques for predicting stock market behaviour. Neural networks are capable of capturing the non-linear stochastic and chaotic patterns in the stock market time series data. This study discovered that the relative return series of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market, show 6-day cycles during the studied period of about 14 years. Multi-layer feedforward neural networks trained with a backpropagation algorithm were used for the experiments. Two major testing methods: testing with randomly selected test data and forward testing, were examined and compared. The best neural network developed in this study has achieved 87%, 81% 83% and 81% accuracy respectively in predicting the next-day direction of the relative return of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market. The architecture of this network consists of 33 input features, one hidden layer with 3 neurons and 4 output neurons. The best input features set includes the relative returns from 1 to 6 days in the past of the Open, High, Low and Close prices of the target market, the day of the week, and the previous day’s relative return of the Close prices of the US S&P 500 Index, US Dow Jones Industrial Average Index, US Gold/Silver Index, and the US Oil Index.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Student perceptions of podcasting to enhance learning and teaching in an information systems course
- Authors: Miller, Charlynn , Newnham, Leon
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 14th International Conference ALT-C 2007: Beyond Control. Learning Technology for the social network generation, Nottingham University EMCC, Nottingham, England, UK : 4th-6th September 2007 p. 104-115
- Full Text:
- Description: Universities are challenged to seek methods to improve student learning. Leading edge technologies, such as podcasts, that put the focus on learner-chosen activities may be one way to accomplish this. This study explored student perceptions of podcasting as a learning and teaching tool in a first semester information systems course within an Australian university. Students were provided with a short podcast to supplement face-to-face lectures. Students were then surveyed to determine their perceptions of the impact of this podcast on their learning. A high number of respondents agreed that they used the podcast, that it increased their understanding of the lecture material and that it assisted their learning in the unit overall. The findings in this preliminary study lend support to the concept that podcasting can enhance learning when used as a supplement to traditional teaching methods.
- Description: 2003002687
The association of depression and sense of belonging with suicidal ideation among older adults : Applicability of resiliency models
- Authors: McLaren, Suzanne , Gomez, Rapson , Bailey, Maria , Vanderhorst, Renee
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior Vol. 37, no. 1 (2007), p. 89-102
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Suicide among older people, especially men, is a significant problem. In this study the applicability of the compensatory, the risk-protective, the challenge, and the protective-protective models of resiliency for the prediction of suicidal ideation from depression (the risk factor) and sense of belonging to the community (the protective factor) was investigated. A total of 351 retired Australians (130 males and 221 females), with a mean age of 71.31 years (SD = 7.99), completed the Zung Depression Scale, the suicide subscale of the General Health Questionnaire, and the Sense of Belonging Instrument. When sense of belonging (psychological) was the protective factor, results indicated support for the risk-protective model for men and women, and for the compensatory model for women only. In contrast, when sense of belonging (antecedents) was the protective factor, support was evident for the compensatory model for men and women, and for the challenge model for women only. Results indicate that interventions should be developed to enhance sense of belonging among aging adults. © 2007 The American Association of Suicidology.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005765
The international potential for men's shed-based learning
- Authors: Golding, Barry , Foley, Annette , Brown, Michael
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ad-lib: Journal for Continuing Liberal Adult Education Vol. 34, no. (2007), p. 9-13
- Full Text:
- Description: This paper uses new data from research into informal learning through community-based 'men's sheds' organisations, that have proliferated rapidly and recently across much of southern Australia, to ask 'What is the potential for shed-based community learning in other countries?' It is based on a continuing suite of Australian research into informal learning occurring in community contexts for men, particularly research into men not in paid work.
The landscape of my life
- Authors: Woodfield, Linda
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , Masters
- Full Text:
- Description: The investigations surrounding the topic ‘The Landscape of My Life’ questions whether it is possible for a landscape to delineate the way in which we live our lives. For a period of thirty-two years my home has been a historic rural property comprising a dwelling and outbuildings on twenty acres of undulating countryside at Carngham. The work conveys the story of my life at this locale and pursues the motives behind the purchase of the country property, the experiences and remembrances that exist from this period of time and reflects upon the implications of a way of life over the last three decades. While considering the impact that a landscape can have on individual lives, it became important to consolidate the insights that surfaced for me with respect to my own life and works and compare it with that of other selected landscape artists. This comparison took into account personal and family backgrounds, artistic techniques, relationships with the land and the motivations that resulted in the depiction of particular landscapes. The result of these observations led to a consideration that not only can a landscape define the way in which we live our lives but, also identifies an affinity between human beings and the environment.
- Description: Master of Arts
The social characteristics and demographics of Australian Vice-Chancellors, 1960-2000
- Authors: O'Meara, Bernard , Petzall, Stanley
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Educational Administration Vol. 45, no. 5 (2007), p. 621-634
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to identify the key demographics and social characteristics of Vice-Chancellors of Australian universities so that an accurate profile of Vice-Chancellors can be established. At present, there is no contemporary profile of incumbents despite the high level of responsibility associated with these roles. Design/methodology/approach - A qualitative approach was used in the research that required the collation and analysis of public domain material regarding vice-chancellors. Multiple sources were used in order to ensure depth, breadth and accuracy of data collected. A questionnaire that was used as part of the PhD research allowed new data to be accessed and existing data verified. Finally, interviews with various incumbents allowed pertinent information to be discussed where applicable. Findings - The research outlines the changes in the roles of Vice-Chancellors that have occurred since 1960. The changes in the role reflect changes in government policy and social trends. Further, the research demonstrates that incumbents are now chief executive officers and require a broader range of business competencies and academic experience compared to their predecessors in order to meet contemporary challenges. These changes are reflected in the demographics and social characteristics of incumbents. Originality/value - This paper addresses this gap in knowledge and provides information about the people who are appointed vice-chancellors. The research gives an insight into all incumbents between 1960 and 2000 and where possible, examples of post-2000 trends have also been given. The creation of this profile will allow further and more in-depth research to be undertaken. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005163
Work/life balance through a critical ‘gender lens’ : A cross-country comparison of parental leave provisions and take-up in Australia and Sweden
- Authors: Zacharias, Nadine
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Work/life balance researchers have documented the low take-up rates of corporate work/life balance policies at the same time as there are reports of persistent work/life pressures. This research aims to provide more comprehensive explanations of the phenomenon of low policy take-up than those currently available in the work/life balance literature which focus on organisational and individual factors. The research project is based on a critical review of the work/life balance literature which focuses on organisational solutions and starts from the assumption that the organisational approach to researching and addressing work/life conflicts is inherently limited, mainly because it does not theorise gender as a social structure and does not take into consideration the social and political context in which work/life arrangements are negotiated but focuses, instead, on individual employees and organisations. I integrated my critical review of the organisational work/life balance literature with concepts in the feminist literature, most importantly the gendered public/private divide, to create an explicit ‘gender lens’ which guides the interpretations of my findings. I applied this gender lens to Habermas’ model of societal evolution to operationalise it as an analytical tool for this research. From this theoretical basis, I designed a comparative research project, using Australia and Sweden as country case studies, which compares the approaches to work/life balance in the two countries. The focus of the analysis is on parental leave as one important example of work/life balance policies. The data for this research includes the parental leave legislation, public documents released by governments and associated bodies as well as national surveys on the take-up of parental leave provisions in both countries. This material is analysed in the light of the conceptual framework. [...]
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy