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From inns to hotels : The evolution of public houses in Colonial Victoria

  • Authors: O'Mahony, Barry , Clark, Ian
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management Vol. 25, no. 2 (2013), p. 172-186
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  • Description: Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine travellers' experiences with public houses in Colonial Victoria, to determine how the hospitality industry in the colony was transformed from primitive hospitality provision to sophisticated, well managed hotels in a relatively short time. Design/methodology/approach: The article reviews public records, newspapers of the period, eye-witness accounts and key texts to chart the development of the hospitality industry in Colonial Victoria and to demonstrate how primitive inns became modern hotels within the space of three decades. Findings: This paper highlights how the discovery of gold in 1851 prompted an unprecedented influx of travellers whose expectations of hospitality provision led to the transformation of existing hostelries from crude and primitive inns to modern, sophisticated hotels. Research limitations/implications: The research is confined to Colonial Victoria and therefore, not necessarily a reflection of the colonies in general or general trends in hospitality provision at that time. Practical implications: Tracing the roots of hospitality provision and the traditions of hospitality management can provide a greater understanding of modern hospitality practice. As O'Gorman argues "[...] with historical literature contributing to informing industry practices today and tomorrow: awareness of the past always helps to guide the future". Originality/value: This paper adds to the body of knowledge in relation to the roots and evolution of commercial hospitality. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
  • Description: 2003010821

Increasing incidence of hospitalisation for sport-related concussion in Victoria, Australia

  • Authors: Finch, Caroline , Clapperton, Angela , McCrory, Paul
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Medical Journal of Australia Vol. 198, no. 8 (2013), p. 427-430
  • Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
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  • Description: Objective: To describe trends in hospitalisation for sport-related concussion. Design, setting and patients: Analysis of routinely collected hospital admissions data from all Victorian hospitals (public and private) over the 2002-03 to 2010-11 financial years for patients aged ≥15 years with a diagnosis of concussion and an ICD-10-AM external cause activity code indicating sport. Main outcome measures: Number and cost of hospitalisations; rate of hospitalisation per 100000 participants overall and for specific sports; and percentage change in frequency and hospitalisation rate per 100000 participants over 9 years. Results: There were 4745 hospitalisations of people aged ≥15 years for sport-related concussion, with a total hospital treatment cost of $17944799. The frequency of hospitalisation increased by 60.5% (95% CI, 41.7%-77.3%) over the 9 years, but could only partially be explained by increases in sports participation, as the rate per 100000 participants also increased significantly, by 38.9% (95% CI, 17.5%-61.7%). After adjustment for participation, rates were highest for motor sports, equestrian activities, Australian football, rugby and roller sports. The greatest significant increases in rates were seen in roller sports, rugby, soccer and cycling. Conclusions: The frequency and participation-adjusted rate of hospitalisation for sport-related concussion, both overall and across several sports, increased significantly over the 9 years. These findings, along with high levels of public concern, make prevention of head injury in sport a population health priority in Australia.
  • Description: 2003011025

Learning the past to participate in the future : Regional discourses of Australian colonial history

  • Authors: Koerner, Catherine
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Critical Indigenous Studies Vol. 6, no. 2 (2013), p. 29-40
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  • Description: Indigenous curricula content, including particular narratives of Australian colonial history are highly contested in contemporary Australia. How do white Australians understand Australia’s colonial past and its relevance today? An empirical study was conducted with 29 rural Australians who self-identified as white. Critical race and whiteness studies provided the framework for analysis of the interviews. I argue that they revealed a delimited understanding of colonial history and a general inability to link this to the present, which limited their capacity to think crossculturally in their everyday living - activities considered crucial in the contemporary move to Reconciliation in Australia. The normative discourse of white settler Australians to be ‘Australian’ is invested in the denial of Indigenous sovereignty to protect white settler Australian claims to national sovereignty. The findings support arguments for a national curriculum that incorporates Indigenous history as well as an Indigenous presence throughout all subject areas.

Least square support vector and multi-linear regression for statistically downscaling general circulation model outputs to catchment streamflows

  • Authors: Sachindra, D. A. , Huang, Fuchun , Barton, Andrew , Perera, Bimalka
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Climatology Vol. 33, no. 5 (2013), p. 1087-1106
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  • Description: This study employed least square support vector machine regression (LS-SVM-R) and multi-linear regression (MLR) for statistically downscaling monthly general circulation model (GCM) outputs directly to monthly catchment streamflows. The scope of the study was limited to calibration and validation of the downscaling models. The methodology was demonstrated by its application to a streamflow site in the Grampian water supply system in northwestern Victoria, Australia. Probable predictors for the study were selected from the National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis data set based on the past literature and hydrology. Probable variables that displayed the best significant correlations, consistently with the streamflows over the entire period of the study (1950-2010) and under three 20-year time slices (1950-1969, 1970-1989 and 1990-2010) were selected as potential predictors. To better capture seasonal variations of streamflows, downscaling models were developed for each calendar month. The standardized potential predictors were introduced to the LS-SVM-R and MLR models, starting from the best correlated three and then, others one by one, based on their correlations with the streamflows, until the model performance in validation was maximized. This stepwise model development enabled the identification of the optimum number of potential variables for each month. The model calibration was performed over the period 1950-1989 and validation was done for 1990-2010. LS-SVM-R model parameter optimization was achieved using simplex algorithm and leave-one-out cross-validation. The MLR models were optimized by minimizing the sum of squared errors. In both modelling techniques, validation was performed as an independent simulation. In calibration, LS-SVM-R and MLR models displayed equally good performances with a trend of under-predicting high flows. During validation, LS-SVM-R outperformed MLR, though both techniques over-predicted most of the streamflows. It was concluded that LS-SVM-R is a better technique for statistically downscaling GCM outputs to streamflows than MLR, but still MLR is a potential technique for the same task. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society.

Puberty, health and sexual education in Australian regional primary schools : Year 5 and 6 teacher perceptions

  • Authors: Duffy, Bernadette , Fotinatos, Nina , Smith, Amanda , Burke, Jenene
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Sex Education Vol. 13, no. 2 (2013), p. 186-203
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  • Description: The research reported in this paper investigates why teachers in regional primary schools in the Ballarat region of Victoria, Australia, are choosing to outsource the teaching of sexuality education. A survey was conducted of 29 Year 5 and Year 6 teachers from local primary schools. The teachers provided information about: their confidence in delivering sexuality-related topics; their perceptions of the relevance of given sexuality topics to their students; the teachers' own professional development preferences; and what they saw as their personal limitations in teaching sexuality education. Teachers tended to report low confidence in teaching topics that are considered 'sensitive', such as menstruation, wet dreams and sexual intercourse. Furthermore, they indicated a need for professional development in teaching sexuality education. The greatest hurdle identified lies in identifying how to motivate, engage and support teachers to take a professional interest in teaching sexuality education. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
  • Description: 2003009651

Sea-level trend analysis for coastal management

  • Authors: Parker, Albert , Saad Saleem, Muhammad , Lawson, M.
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Ocean and Coastal Management Vol. 73, no. (2013), p. 63-81
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  • Description: A proper coastal management requires an accurate estimation of sea level trends locally and globally. It is claimed that the sea levels are rising following an exponential growth since the 1990s, and because of that coastal communities are facing huge challenges. Many local governments throughout Australia, including those on the coast, have responded to the various warnings about changes in climate and increases in sea levels by undertaking detailed climate change risk management exercises. These exercises, which use projections passed on by the relevant state bodies, are expensive, but still a fraction of the cost of the capital works that they recommend. Several councils have complained to an Australian Productivity Commission report on climate change adaptation they do not have the money for the capital works required. It is shown here that the exponential growth claim is not supported by any measurement of enough length and quality when properly analysed. The tide gauge results do not support the exponential growth theory. The projections by the relevant state bodies should therefore be revised by considering the measurements and not the models to compute the future sea level rises for the next 30 years following the same trend experienced over the last 30 years. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Socio-ecological value of wetlands: The dilemma of balancing human and ecological water needs

  • Authors: Graymore, Michelle , McBride, Dawn
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Australasian Journal of Environmental Management Vol. 20, no. 3 (2013), p. 225-241
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  • Description: Humans' need for water has changed flow regimes, degraded ecosystems and depleted water resources. In the Wimmera Mallee in Victoria, the dilemma between human and ecological water requirements began in the colonial era when a channel and dam system was built to transport water. Prolonged drought prompted government to replace this with the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline. This pipeline produced a closed system, reducing water available for the environment, including on-farm wetlands. This study identifies the socio-ecological values of on-farm wetlands and the impact the changed water regime had on these. An interpretative landscape approach was used to integrate geophysical, ecological and social information on nine on-farm wetlands. This identified a range of socio-ecological values on-farm wetlands provide, including aesthetic, amenity, production and biodiversity, that are impacted by the pipeline system. A range of implications for on-farm wetland management were also identified. © 2013 Copyright Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand Inc.
  • Description: C1

The Audit We Had to Have : The Economic Record, 1960-2009

  • Authors: Millmow, Alex , Tuck, Jacqueline
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Economic Record Vol. 88, no. 284 (2013), p. 112-128
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  • Description: The Economic Record, one of the world's oldest economic journals, has a distinguished history. The flagship journal of the Economic Society of Australia and New Zealand was launched in 1925 and is approaching its 100th birthday. We undertake a forensic examination of the journal over the last 50 years, exploring issues like its content, most-cited articles and most frequent contributors. This article discusses the journal's internationalisation but also identifies how Australia's top economists have, for the most part, faithfully persisted with it. The changing nature of academic publishing is explored through the patterns of collaboration, citations and dry holes. © 2013 Economic Society of Australia.
  • Description: 2003010823

The baby, the bath water and the future of IMGs

  • Authors: Terry, Daniel , Lê, Quynh
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Innovative Interdisciplinary Research Vol. 2, no. 1 (2013), p. 51-62
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  • Description: Migration has significantly accelerated over in the past few decades, with the migration of doctors and other health professionals from developed countries forming a large part of the globalisation of health care. As such, migrant labour has been observed as a means of meeting job shortages within developed countries, from low-skilled to highly-skilled professional occupations, such as International Medical Graduates (IMG). Australia, like many other developed countries, has trained insufficient doctors in the past. This has led to the immigration of IMGs to fill this gap, particularly in rural and remote areas. As countries, such as Australia has developed an ongoing need for IMGs, so too the policies and regulations have developed over the decades to meet those needs. However, as Australia now begins to train more local medical graduates, the future for IMGs remains less conceivable. The aim of this paper is to discuss the increased use of IMGs and the development of legislation and policy to regulate this cohort of migrant labour in Australia while examining what the future may be for IMGs.

The provision of sexual health education in Australia : primary school teachers' perspectives in rural Victoria

  • Authors: Smith, Amanda , Fotinatos, Nina , Duffy, Bernadette , Burke, Jenene
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Sex Education Vol. 13, no. 3 (2013), p. 247-262
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  • Description: In Australian schools, one significant component of whole-school learning in sexuality education is to provide students with developmentally appropriate curriculum and learning opportunities, with the intention of influencing positive health and well-being. In the situation where the usual classroom teacher is under-prepared or unwilling to teach sexuality education to their students, the use of external providers who are experts in puberty and sexual health is crucial. While the provider is a key influential factor in any sexual health programme, reliance on external providers for the provision of sexuality education in regional Australian cities is not well documented. This mixed-method study aims to address this gap in the literature with a specific focus on Ballarat, where the provision of sexuality education, particularly in primary schools, is heavily reliant on several external providers. Participant schools highlight the need for further positive synergies between the classroom teachers, external agencies and the accessibility of a rigorous curriculum to sustain the delivery of an effective programme to young people in schools. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.
  • Description: 1117 Public Health And Health Services
  • Description: 1302 Curriculum And Pedagogy
  • Description: 1699 Other Studies in Human Society
  • Description: 2003010671

Top university managers and affirmative action

  • Authors: Carvalho, Teresa , White, Kate , Machado-Taylor, Maria
  • Date: 2013
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Vol. 32, no. 4 (2013), p. 394-409
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  • Description: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyse if the existence of equal opportunity legislative frameworks and affirmative action programs make any difference to the way senior managers perceive the role of top university managers in influencing women's position in their institutions. A comparative study was therefore undertaken between a country with traditions in implementing AA in universities - Australia - and another which has no tradition in this domain - Portugal. Design/methodology/approach - A qualitative methodology was chosen to collect and analyse data. A total of 44 interviews with male and female university senior managers - 21 in Australia and 23 in Portugal - were conducted by the principal researcher in each country. Findings - When describing the role of top managers, gender equality was not often mentioned, suggesting that it may not be a topic on the current institutional political agenda either in Australia or in Portugal. When specifically asked about gender, respondents considered that Rectors and VCs in the two countries took opposite positions with Australian VCs being more aware of their role in improving gender equality. The study therefore concluded that the existence of equal opportunities frameworks and AA policies may have an influence in increasing top managers' awareness of their roles in improving women's representation in management teams. Research limitations/implications - The research was restricted to public universities. In Portugal the system is more diverse and comparing HE with private and polytechnic institutions could provide important insights about senior managers' roles in relation to improving women's position in HE. More in-depth qualitative studies are needed, to obtain top managers' perceptions of the variables that impact on their views and attitudes to women in senior management. Practical implications - This study provides new and innovative contributions to knowledge about the perceptions of senior managers of their top managers and their roles in eliminating gender discrimination and the influence of affirmative action in HE in these perceptions. Originality/value - This paper contributes to the discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of using affirmative action programmes by analyzing a dimension which has not been explored - its impact on senior managers' perceptions of their role in promoting gender equality in HEIs.

Assessing the wave energy converter potential for Australian coastal regions

  • Authors: Behrens, Sam , Hayward, Jennifer , Hemer, Mark , Osman, Peter
  • Date: 2012
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Renewable Energy Vol. 43, no. (2012), p. 210-217
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  • Description: Wave energy is particularly abundant along the Australian southern coastline. Harvesting wave energy using a converter could provide a sustainable alternative for electricity generation for Australia. In this paper, the performance of three different types of wave energy converter (WEC) has been evaluated spatially for Australian coastal regions using Australian Renewable Energy Atlas wave energy data. It was found one of the WECs operated with a capacity factor greater than 54.3% for a large portion of the Tasmanian western coastline, while being located close to transmission infrastructure. The levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) for the WECs for these regions was in the order of $78/MWh. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.

Cancer incidence and soil arsenic exposure in a historical gold mining area in Victoria, Australia : A geospatial analysis

  • Authors: Pearce, Dora , Dowling, Kim , Sim, Malcolm
  • Date: 2012
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology Vol. 22, no. 3 (2012), p. 248-257
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  • Description: Soil and mine waste around historical gold mining sites may have elevated arsenic concentrations. Recent evidence suggests some systemic arsenic absorption by residents in the goldfields region of Victoria, Australia. Victorian Cancer Registry and geochemical data were accessed for an ecological geographical correlation study, 1984-2003. Spatial empirical Bayes smoothing was applied when estimating standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) for cancers in 61 statistical local areas. The derived soil arsenic exposure metric ranged from 1.4 to 1857 mg/kg. Spatial autoregressive modelling detected increases in smoothed SIRs for all cancers of 0.05 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.02-0.08) and 0.04 (0.01-0.07) per 2.7-fold increase in the natural log-transformed exposure metric for males and females, respectively, in more socioeconomically disadvantaged areas; for melanoma in males (0.05 (0.01-0.08) adjusted for disadvantage) and females (0.05 (0.02-0.09) in disadvantaged areas). Excess risks were estimated for all cancers (relative risk 1.21 (95% CI, 1.15-1.27) and 1.08 (1.03-1.14)), and melanoma (1.52 (1.25-1.85) and 1.29 (1.08-1.55)), for males and females, respectively, in disadvantaged areas in the highest quintile of the exposure metric relative to the lowest. Our findings suggest small but significant increases in past cancer risk associated with increasing soil arsenic in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas and demonstrate the robustness of this geospatial approach. Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology advance online publication, 21 March 2012.

Causes of morbidity and mortality of wild aquatic birds at billabong sanctuary, Townsville, North Queensland, Australia

  • Authors: Hoque, Md Ahasanul , Burgess, Graham , Greenhill, Andrew , Hedlefs, Robert , Skerratt, Lee
  • Date: 2012
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Avian Diseases Vol. 56, no. 1 (2012), p. 249-256
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  • Description: Infectious diseases are common causes of significant morbidity and mortality events of wild aquatic birds (WABs) worldwide. Reports of Australian events are infrequent. A 3-yr passive surveillance program investigating the common causes of morbidity and mortality of WABs was conducted at Billabong Sanctuary near Townsville, North Queensland, from April 2007 to March 2010. Forty-two carcasses were obtained and evaluated by clinico-pathologic, histologic, bacteriologic, and virologic (molecular) examinations. Morbidity and mortality were sporadic and more commonly observed in chicks and juvenile birds in April than other months of the year. Morbid birds were frequently unable to walk. Hemorrhagic lesions and infiltration of lymphocytes in various organs were the most common findings in dead birds. Identified bacterial diseases that could cause bird mortality were colibacillosis, pasteurellosis, and salmonellosis. Salmonella serotypes Virchow and Hvittingfoss were isolated from an Australian white ibis (Threskiornis molucca) chick and two juvenile plumed whistling ducks (Dendrocygna eytoni) in April 2007. These strains have been previously isolated from humans in North Queensland. A multiplex real time reverse transcriptasePCR (rRT-PCR) detected Newcastle disease viral RNA (class 2 type) in one adult Australian pelican (Pelecanus conspicillatus) and a juvenile plumed whistling duck. No avian influenza viral RNA was detected from any sampled birds by the rRT-PCR for avian influenza. This study identified the public health importance of Salmonella in WABs but did not detect the introduction of the high pathogenicity avian influenza H5N1 virus in the population. A successful network was established between the property owner and the James Cook University research team through which dead birds, with accompanying information, were readily obtained for analysis. There is an opportunity for establishing a long-term passive disease surveillance program for WABs in North Queensland, an important region in Australian biosecurity, thus potentially significantly benefitting public health in the region and the country. © 2012 American Association of Avian Pathologists.

Characterising and predicting cyber attacks using the Cyber Attacker Model Profile (CAMP)

  • Authors: Watters, Paul , McCombie, Stephen , Layton, Robert , Pieprzyk, Josef
  • Date: 2012
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Money Laundering Control Vol. 15, no. 4 (2012), p. 430-441
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  • Description: Purpose – Ethnographic studies of cyber attacks typically aim to explain a particular profile of attackers in qualitative terms. The purpose of this paper is to formalise some of the approaches to build a Cyber Attacker Model Profile (CAMP) that can be used to characterise and predict cyber attacks. Design/methodology/approach – The paper builds a model using social and economic independent or predictive variables from several eastern European countries and benchmarks indicators of cybercrime within the Australian financial services system. Findings – The paper found a very strong link between perceived corruption and GDP in two distinct groups of countries – corruption in Russia was closely linked to the GDP of Belarus, Moldova and Russia, while corruption in Lithuania was linked to GDP in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine. At the same time corruption in Russia and Ukraine were also closely linked. These results support previous research that indicates a strong link between been legitimate economy and the black economy in many countries of Eastern Europe and the Baltic states. The results of the regression analysis suggest that a highly skilled workforce which is mobile and working in an environment of high perceived corruption in the target countries is related to increases in cybercrime even within Australia. It is important to note that the data used for the dependent and independent variables were gathered over a seven year time period, which included large economic shocks such as the global financial crisis. Originality/value – This is the first paper to use a modelling approach to directly show the relationship between various social, economic and demographic factors in the Baltic states and Eastern Europe, and the level of card skimming and card not present fraud in Australia. Acknowledgements: Paul A. Watters and Robert Layton are funded by IBM, Westpac, the State Government of Victoria and the Australian Federal Police.
  • Description: 2003011112

Colin Clark and Australia

  • Authors: Millmow, Alex
  • Date: 2012
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: History of Economics Review Vol. 56, no. 1 (2012), p. 56-70
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  • Description: Colin Clark was a rather quixotic figure. Much of his complex character is captured not only in his varied career choices but also the comments made of him by various referees over the years. While Clark spent half of his career in England and half in Australia it was to the latter that he was drawn. He was happy to be identified as an Australian economist. Despite his eminent academic record he was never to occupy a professorial chair in Australia. This was largely attributable to his own choices in career and his penchant for a doctrinaire brand of economics.

Governance and accountability in Australian charitable organisations: Perceptions from CFOs

  • Authors: Dellaportas, Steven , Langton, Jonathan , West, Brian
  • Date: 2012
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: International Journal of Accounting and Information Management Vol. 20, no. 3 (2012), p. 238-254
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  • Description: Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions of senior accounting officers on governance, performance and accountability issues in the charity sector. Design/methodology/approach - The empirical data presented in this paper were collected via a mail-out survey to Chief Financial Officers (CFO) of large charity organisations in Australia. Findings - The executives surveyed agreed that the public is entitled to receive high quality financial disclosures from charities, favouring "programme accountability", "fiscal accountability" and "profit" as relevant performance indicators rather than cash surplus/deficit. The respondents also considered that charities warrant a dedicated accounting standard but were less enthusiastic about an independent regulator with stronger control functions. Research limitations/implications - The data in this study report the opinions of financial executives which may not represent the view of all managing executives. Originality/value - While governance in charities has been examined previously from an organisational or management perspective, this is one of the few papers that emphasises how members of the accounting profession view this important topic.

Hydraulic heterogeneity in a highly weathered basaltic regolith : Impact on lateral-flow and solute transport

  • Authors: Rasiah, Velu , Armour, John , Florentine, Singarayer
  • Date: 2012
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Environmental Hydrology Vol. 20, no. 13 (2012), p.
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  • Description: Reliable on-ground information on groundwater (GW) hydraulic heterogeneity is required to determine flow direction and quantities, but its experimental characterization is difficult because of the complexities associated with the interaction involving the temporal changes in space modified by regolith stratigraphy. The impact of the aforementioned variables, particularly stratigraphy in a 51 m thick highly weathered basaltic regolith in the northeast humid tropics of Queensland, Australia, on flow gradients and directions was investigated in this study. Regolith cores at 1 m increments indicated that there were 3 different major strata. The temporal changes in water table, hydraulic- and pressure- heads, and solute concentrations in space indicated the top 51 m aquifer was contiguous, dynamic and hydraulically differentiated into three segments which approximately corresponded with the regolith strata. The lateralflow and solute transport from each aquifer segment was controlled by depth to water table, the number of regolith layers the segment covered, and the solute concentration.
  • Description: 2003010399

Interaction between a river and its wetland : Evidence from the Murray River for spatial variability in diatom and radioisotope records

  • Authors: Grundell, Rosie , Gell, Peter , Mills, Keely , Zawadzki, Atun
  • Date: 2012
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Journal of Paleolimnology Vol. 47, no. 2 (2012), p. 205-219
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  • Description: Sinclair Flat is small wetland, located within the gorge section of the Murray River floodplain. situated near Blanchetown, South Australia, the wetland is closely linked to the River and, since regulation, has become permanently inundated. High summer evaporation rates deplete the volume of water within the wetland. However, this is compensated by perennial inflow via a permanent inlet from the River. This site provides an opportunity to explore the relative contribution of river and wetland diatom flora to the sediment record, and the fluvial and aerial contribution of radiometric isotopes to the system. The geochronological and biostratigraphic data provide an insight into the history of the water quality of Sinclair Flat. Evidence exists for the River being a source of sediments and isotopes and of diatom species typical of the main river channel. Prior to 1950, Sinclair Flat was an oligotrophic, oligosaline, clear-water wetland. The wetland shifted gradually to an environment that favoured clear-water benthic species, most likely as a consequence of changes following river regulation in the 1920s, although the capacity to date these sediments is limited. During the 1950s, the wetland became plankton dominated. Peaks in epiphytic diatoms during the 1960s suggest increased emergent macrophyte cover. The contemporary condition is of a connected, turbid, eutrophic and mesosaline lagoon. The ecological condition of Sinclair Flat has diverged considerably from its historical range of condition. This record supports evidence from upstream of widespread state switches in the Murray-Darling Basin floodplain wetlands. This record also lends considerable weight to modern studies attesting to the degraded state of the waterways of the Murray-Darling Basin and the impact of river regulation practices on the water quality of these ecosystems. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Pedagogical concerns in doctoral supervision : A challenge for pedagogy

  • Authors: Zeegers, Margaret , Barron, Deirdre
  • Date: 2012
  • Type: Text , Journal article
  • Relation: Quality Assurance in Education Vol. 20, no. 1 (2012), p. 20-30
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  • Description: Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to focus on pedagogy as a crucial element in postgraduate research undertakings, implying active involvement of both student and supervisor in process of teaching and learning. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on Australian higher degree research supervision practice to illustrate their argument, the authors take issue with reliance on traditional Oxbridge conventions as informing dominant practices of supervision of postgraduate research studies and suggest pedagogy as intentional and systematic intervention that acknowledges the problematic natures of relationships between teaching, learning, and knowledge production as integral to supervision and research studies. Findings: The authors examine issues of discursive practice and the problematic nature of power differentials in supervisor-supervisee relationships, and the taken-for-grantedness of discursive practice of such relationships. The authors do this from the perspective of the student involved in higher degree research programs, a departure from the bulk of the literature that has as its focus the perspective of the supervisor and/or the institution. Originality/value: The paper examines the perspective of the student involved in higher degree research programs, a departure from the bulk of the literature that has as its focus the perspective of the supervisor and/or the institution. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.