Increasing the understanding and use of natural archives of ecosystem services, resilience and thresholds to improve policy, science and practice
- Authors: Pearson, Stuart , Lynch, Jasmyn , Plant, Roel , Cork, Steve , Taffs, Kathryn , Dodson, John , Maynard, Simone , Gergis, Joelle , Gell, Peter , Thackway, Richard , Sealie, Lynne , Donaldson, Jim
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Holocene Vol. 25, no. 2 (2015), p. 366-378
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Despite the great potential of palaeo-environmental information to strengthen natural resource policy, science and practical outcomes naturally occurring archives of palaeo-environmental and ecosystem service information have not been fully recognised or utilised to inform the development of environmental policy. In this paper, we describe how Australian palaeo-environmental science is improving environmental understanding through local studies and regional syntheses that inform us about past conditions, extreme conditions and altered ecosystem states. Australian innovations in ecosystem services research and palaeo-environmental science contribute in five important contexts: discussions about environmental understanding and management objectives, improving access to information, improved knowledge about the dynamics of ecosystem services, increasing understanding of environmental processes and resource availability, and engaging interdisciplinary approaches to manage ecosystem services. Knowledge of the past is an important starting point for setting present and future resource management objectives, anticipating consequences of trade-offs, sharing risk and evaluating and monitoring the ongoing availability of ecosystem services. Palaeo-environmental information helps reframe discussions about desirable futures and collaborative efforts between scientists, planners, managers and communities. However, further steps are needed to translate the ecosystem services concept into ecosystem services policy and tangible management objectives and actions that are useful, feasible and encompass the range of benefits to people from ecosystems. We argue that increased incorporation of palaeo-environmental information into policy and decision-making is needed for evidence-based adaptive management to enhance sustainability of ecosystem functions and reduce long-term risks.
How vocational education and training researchers use theory in their research
- Authors: Smith, Erica , Clayton, Berwyn
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Training Research Vol. 10, no. 3 (2012), p. 251-258
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- Description: This paper is a preliminary investigation of the place that theory plays in vocational education and training (VET) research. Vocational education and training is an academic discipline, whose theory base has not previously been analysed in detail. The VET research community considers itself to be somewhat undervalued both by the broader education discipline in Australia and by some stakeholder bodies. Yet the community and its experienced researchers have a high reputation overseas. It could be that a better articulation of the theoretical framework within which we work, and the bodies of knowledge upon which we draw, may lead to a greater utilisation of our work by the broader scholarly community and, importantly, by relevant policy-makers. © eContent Management Pty Ltd.
- Description: 2003010685
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
- Full Text: false
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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.
Teaching cultural humility for social workers serving LGBTQI Aboriginal communities in Australia
- Authors: Bennett, Bindi , Gates, Trevor
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Social work education Vol. 38, no. 5 (2019), p. 604-617
- Full Text: false
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- Description: It is well documented that colonization and subsequent repressive policies have wrought devastating changes in the lives of Aboriginal people in Australia. Social workers are an essential group for improving social justice and self-determination for Australian Aboriginal people. The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) acknowledges that Aboriginal people make a unique contribution to the life of the nation and mandates that social work educational programs provide culturally responsive content that acknowledges the value and contributions of Aboriginal people. Social work educators need to embed this content without reinforcing stereotypes or being tokenistic. This is a challenge when teaching about intersecting identities, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, and intersex (LGBTQI) Aboriginal people. We outline the terms used in this space and propose that cultural humility is an acceptable framework to consider. We introduce key conceptual terms used in LGBTQI Aboriginal communities. Finally, we provide recommendations for engaging with LGBTQI Aboriginal peoples.
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.
An exploratory and quantitative assessment of the sustainable competitiveness of supply chain: Evidence from Indian sugar industry
- Authors: Sheetal, , Singh, Randeep , Kumar, Rajiv
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of public affairs Vol. 22, no. 3 (2022), p. n/a
- Full Text: false
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- Description: The main aim of this paper is to examine the effect of prominent forces on the sustainable competitiveness of the Indian sugar supply chain with the role of government as a moderator. A survey involving managers working in Indian sugar companies was conducted and partial least square (PLS) method was used to test the proposed research model. The findings supported the positive relationshipbetween suppliers' power and competitiveness suppliers and industry rivalry buyers' power and industry rivalry and government dynamics and competitiveness in the discussed industry. Furthermore, entry barriers exerted a hypothesized negative relationship with competitiveness. The government is working as a moderator between the suppliers' (sugarcane growers') power and the competitiveness of the discussed industry as hypothesized. This study discerns the foundational literature from extant research work lays down basic underpinnings for contextual discussion on competitive forces in the discussed industry and adds empirical facet by surveying the industry professionals. These findings may draw the attention of incumbents, industry practitioners, academicians, and policy‐makers to the impact that selected environmental forces have on competitive landscape of the sugar industry.