Building research capacity in gerontology : Experiences and lessons form Australia
- Bartlett, Helen, Carroll, Matthew
- Authors: Bartlett, Helen , Carroll, Matthew
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: The Asian gerontologial experience : Capacity building in social gerontology training and translational research in Asia Chapter 4 p. 76-90
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- Description: Over the past decade, increased policy attention on the consequences of demographic ageing in Australia has led to a more focused research agenda on ageing, greater funding opportunities and raised awareness and recognition of gerontology as an important field of study. Research capacity building efforts in ageing have been considerable and have improved collaboration between the policy, research and service sectors, raising expectations of research funding streams and translation of research into policy and practice. The discourse on ageing has also shifted gradually from a deficit model to focus more on healthy, active or productive ageing, indicating a broader multidisciplinary approach and more positive perceptions of ageing. This shift in focus has enabled social gerontology to flourish in Australia, with a number of ageing research centres having social gerontology streams. While much has been achieved over this period, there are ongoing challenges in sustaining the progress made to date and in building research capacity that has longer-term strategic prospects. This paper outlines Australia’s efforts to build research capacity in gerontology over the past decade, examining key successes and future challenges, with consideration of how this experience may be relevant to Asia.
- Authors: Bartlett, Helen , Carroll, Matthew
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: The Asian gerontologial experience : Capacity building in social gerontology training and translational research in Asia Chapter 4 p. 76-90
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Over the past decade, increased policy attention on the consequences of demographic ageing in Australia has led to a more focused research agenda on ageing, greater funding opportunities and raised awareness and recognition of gerontology as an important field of study. Research capacity building efforts in ageing have been considerable and have improved collaboration between the policy, research and service sectors, raising expectations of research funding streams and translation of research into policy and practice. The discourse on ageing has also shifted gradually from a deficit model to focus more on healthy, active or productive ageing, indicating a broader multidisciplinary approach and more positive perceptions of ageing. This shift in focus has enabled social gerontology to flourish in Australia, with a number of ageing research centres having social gerontology streams. While much has been achieved over this period, there are ongoing challenges in sustaining the progress made to date and in building research capacity that has longer-term strategic prospects. This paper outlines Australia’s efforts to build research capacity in gerontology over the past decade, examining key successes and future challenges, with consideration of how this experience may be relevant to Asia.
Population levels of sport participation : Implications for sport policy
- Eime, Rochelle, Harvey, Jack, Charity, Melanie, Payne, Warren
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Harvey, Jack , Charity, Melanie , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC Public Health Vol. 16, no. 1 (2016), p. 1-8
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- Description: Background: Participation in sport can contribute to health-enhancing levels of leisure-time physical activity. There are recent reports that participation in sport in Australia is decreasing. However, these studies are limited to ages 15 years and over. Methods: This study integrates sports club membership data from five popular team sports and investigates sport participation across the lifespan (4-100 years) by sex and region (metropolitan/non-metropolitan). Results: Overall participant numbers per annum increased from 414,167 in 2010 to 465,403 in 2012 corresponding to a rise in the proportion of Victorian's participating in these sports from 7.5 % in 2010 to 8.3 % in 2012. The highest proportion of participants was in the 10-14 year age range, with participation rates of 36 % in 2010 and 40 % in 2012. There was a considerably lower participation rate in the 15-19 year age group compared to the 10-14 age group, in all three years studied, and the decline continued progressively with increasing age. Male and female age profiles of participation were generally similar in shape, but the female peak at age 10-14 was sharper than for the males, and conversely there were very few 4 year old female participants. Participation rates were generally higher in non-metropolitan than metropolitan areas; the difference increased with increasing age from 4 to 34 years, then steadily declined, reaching parity at around 60 years of age. Conclusions: It is a positive sign that participation in these popular sports increased by over 50,000 participants from 2010 to 2012. Large proportions of the population aged 5-14 participate in club based sport. Participation rates decline sharply in late adolescence, particularly for females, and while this may not be a concern from a broad health perspective so long as they transition into other forms of physical activity, it is certainly a matter of concern for the sport sector. It is recommended that sport policy places a higher priority on grass-roots participation and that sporting organisations are supported to prioritise the retention issues occurring during adolescence, particularly for females so as to maximise the potential for sport to maintain its positive contribution to population wellbeing. © 2016 The Author(s).
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Harvey, Jack , Charity, Melanie , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC Public Health Vol. 16, no. 1 (2016), p. 1-8
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- Description: Background: Participation in sport can contribute to health-enhancing levels of leisure-time physical activity. There are recent reports that participation in sport in Australia is decreasing. However, these studies are limited to ages 15 years and over. Methods: This study integrates sports club membership data from five popular team sports and investigates sport participation across the lifespan (4-100 years) by sex and region (metropolitan/non-metropolitan). Results: Overall participant numbers per annum increased from 414,167 in 2010 to 465,403 in 2012 corresponding to a rise in the proportion of Victorian's participating in these sports from 7.5 % in 2010 to 8.3 % in 2012. The highest proportion of participants was in the 10-14 year age range, with participation rates of 36 % in 2010 and 40 % in 2012. There was a considerably lower participation rate in the 15-19 year age group compared to the 10-14 age group, in all three years studied, and the decline continued progressively with increasing age. Male and female age profiles of participation were generally similar in shape, but the female peak at age 10-14 was sharper than for the males, and conversely there were very few 4 year old female participants. Participation rates were generally higher in non-metropolitan than metropolitan areas; the difference increased with increasing age from 4 to 34 years, then steadily declined, reaching parity at around 60 years of age. Conclusions: It is a positive sign that participation in these popular sports increased by over 50,000 participants from 2010 to 2012. Large proportions of the population aged 5-14 participate in club based sport. Participation rates decline sharply in late adolescence, particularly for females, and while this may not be a concern from a broad health perspective so long as they transition into other forms of physical activity, it is certainly a matter of concern for the sport sector. It is recommended that sport policy places a higher priority on grass-roots participation and that sporting organisations are supported to prioritise the retention issues occurring during adolescence, particularly for females so as to maximise the potential for sport to maintain its positive contribution to population wellbeing. © 2016 The Author(s).
Livelihood activities and skills in rural areas of the Zambezi Region, Namibia : Implications for policy and poverty reduction
- Kamwi, Jonathan, Chirwa, Paxie, Graz, Patrick, Manda, Samuel, Mosimane, Alfons, Katsch, Christoph
- Authors: Kamwi, Jonathan , Chirwa, Paxie , Graz, Patrick , Manda, Samuel , Mosimane, Alfons , Katsch, Christoph
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development Vol. 18, no. 1 (2018), p. 13074-13094
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- Description: This paper examined livelihood activities and skill sets available within rural households in the Zambezi Region of Namibia. Specifically, the study addressed three key questions: (i) what livelihood activities do rural people pursue? (ii) what demographic factors are associated with these activities? and (iii) what measures can be taken to diversify and sustain income from these livelihood activities? In order to address these questions, semistructured interviews covering 424 households were used to collect the data. The questionnaire consisted of questions corresponding to the sustainable livelihood framework including (1) human assets (2) financial assets and major sources of income (3) physical and natural assets and (4) social assets. A series of logistic regressions were fitted from which the estimated odds ratios (y) were derived to ascertain the effect of the predictors on the livelihood activities and skills. Odds ratios were used to measure the magnitude of strength of association or non-independence between binary data values. The results showed that the use of various livelihood activities and skills in different combinations is of significant importance to rural livelihoods. Five percent of the respondents obtained income from only one source, with 95 % of the respondents engaged in a combination of farming and non-farming activities. Most of the respondents had various reasons for diversifying into other activities vis-a-vis agricultural income, limited skills, large family size, availability of opportunities, seasonal nature of agricultural produce, favourable demand for goods and services or a combination of these. In addition, the results showed that gender, age, designation and education significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the choice of household's skills. The study concludes that a combination of rural household activities and skills influenced by a variety of factors have led to improved livelihoods in the study area. For policy purposes, this suggests that state interventions in rural livelihood skill development can play a significant role in promoting more sustainable rural livelihoods. © 2018, African Scholarly Science Communications Trust (ASSCAT).
- Authors: Kamwi, Jonathan , Chirwa, Paxie , Graz, Patrick , Manda, Samuel , Mosimane, Alfons , Katsch, Christoph
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development Vol. 18, no. 1 (2018), p. 13074-13094
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper examined livelihood activities and skill sets available within rural households in the Zambezi Region of Namibia. Specifically, the study addressed three key questions: (i) what livelihood activities do rural people pursue? (ii) what demographic factors are associated with these activities? and (iii) what measures can be taken to diversify and sustain income from these livelihood activities? In order to address these questions, semistructured interviews covering 424 households were used to collect the data. The questionnaire consisted of questions corresponding to the sustainable livelihood framework including (1) human assets (2) financial assets and major sources of income (3) physical and natural assets and (4) social assets. A series of logistic regressions were fitted from which the estimated odds ratios (y) were derived to ascertain the effect of the predictors on the livelihood activities and skills. Odds ratios were used to measure the magnitude of strength of association or non-independence between binary data values. The results showed that the use of various livelihood activities and skills in different combinations is of significant importance to rural livelihoods. Five percent of the respondents obtained income from only one source, with 95 % of the respondents engaged in a combination of farming and non-farming activities. Most of the respondents had various reasons for diversifying into other activities vis-a-vis agricultural income, limited skills, large family size, availability of opportunities, seasonal nature of agricultural produce, favourable demand for goods and services or a combination of these. In addition, the results showed that gender, age, designation and education significantly (p < 0.05) influenced the choice of household's skills. The study concludes that a combination of rural household activities and skills influenced by a variety of factors have led to improved livelihoods in the study area. For policy purposes, this suggests that state interventions in rural livelihood skill development can play a significant role in promoting more sustainable rural livelihoods. © 2018, African Scholarly Science Communications Trust (ASSCAT).
The implications of female sport policy developments for the community-level sport sector : A perspective from Victoria, Australia
- Casey, Meghan, Fowlie, J., Charity, Melanie, Harvey, Jack, Eime, Rochelle
- Authors: Casey, Meghan , Fowlie, J. , Charity, Melanie , Harvey, Jack , Eime, Rochelle
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics Vol. 11, no. 4 (2019), p. 657-678
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- Description: This study examined trends in sport participation among females over a six-year period (2011-2016) within five popular sports, by age and region. It also identified future challenges community sports face in increasing female sport participation. De-identified participant registration data for the five sports were obtained and analysed according to age, gender and region (metropolitan v non-metropolitan) within the state of Victoria, Australia. Data for all sports were aggregated and analysed collectively to produce a broad participation profile. Interviews were held with community sport stakeholders (n = 17) across a low socio-economic metropolitan and non-metropolitan region to understand challenges associated with increasing female sport participation. Results showed that female sport participation levels increased over the six-year period, with greater proportional increases among the youngest age group (4-9 years) - the common entry age into the organised sport through modified sports programs. Retention of females in sport throughout adolescence and adulthood remains a challenge. Community-level sports face challenges to accommodate growth in female sport participation in terms of availability and quality of sport infrastructure and volunteer capacity - both human resources to deliver sport and organisational capacity to devise and implement strategies to recruit and retain females. They also face challenges associated with the social construction of gender within sport and club environments. Sport policies that encourage female sport participation need to also consider the supply of sport such as maximising infrastructure usage, gender equity facility usage policies and developing volunteer capacity.
- Authors: Casey, Meghan , Fowlie, J. , Charity, Melanie , Harvey, Jack , Eime, Rochelle
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics Vol. 11, no. 4 (2019), p. 657-678
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study examined trends in sport participation among females over a six-year period (2011-2016) within five popular sports, by age and region. It also identified future challenges community sports face in increasing female sport participation. De-identified participant registration data for the five sports were obtained and analysed according to age, gender and region (metropolitan v non-metropolitan) within the state of Victoria, Australia. Data for all sports were aggregated and analysed collectively to produce a broad participation profile. Interviews were held with community sport stakeholders (n = 17) across a low socio-economic metropolitan and non-metropolitan region to understand challenges associated with increasing female sport participation. Results showed that female sport participation levels increased over the six-year period, with greater proportional increases among the youngest age group (4-9 years) - the common entry age into the organised sport through modified sports programs. Retention of females in sport throughout adolescence and adulthood remains a challenge. Community-level sports face challenges to accommodate growth in female sport participation in terms of availability and quality of sport infrastructure and volunteer capacity - both human resources to deliver sport and organisational capacity to devise and implement strategies to recruit and retain females. They also face challenges associated with the social construction of gender within sport and club environments. Sport policies that encourage female sport participation need to also consider the supply of sport such as maximising infrastructure usage, gender equity facility usage policies and developing volunteer capacity.
Creating safety : intersection of healthcare and police response to violence against immigrant south asian women in British Columbia : a service provision model
- Authors: Kaur, Harjit
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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- Description: Background Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), is an internationally prevalent health and safety issue impacting women. Immigrant South Asian women (ISAW) in British Columbia (BC) remain vulnerable to serious injuries and homicides despite efforts of healthcare and police services. It is critical to improve these responses. Knowledge of the challenges to responses can inform and improve services and the well-being of ISAW. Aims This study aimed to explore the needs of ISAW and the challenges of healthcare and police responses, how these may inform responses and to compare the perspectives of survivors, responders and experts to improve the health and safety of ISAW. Methods Design: a two-phased, mixed methods study. Phase 1: a purposive sample of 4 focus groups of 22 ISAW survivors from four cities in BC. An additional focus group involved five subject matter experts. Also conducted were seven face-to-face semi-structured interviews with twelve key informants. Phase 2: a convenience sample of 128 provincial responders completed an online survey. Results The key emerging themes for survivors were the difficulties in identifying and disclosing IPV and the responses to IPV. Responders identified the gaps in services, culturally and linguistically inappropriate policies and uncoordinated and non-collaborative efforts. For the ISAW, perceptions, fears, and socio-cultural impediments hindered their disclosure of IPV. They required culturally and linguistically trauma informed responses, policies and practices to overcome multiple and complex challenges. Co-ordinated, collaborative systemic responses to improve the health and safety of ISAW were identified by all participants, including appropriate risk assessment. Conclusion This study adds to current knowledge by contributing to the understanding of IPV of ISAW from different perspectives: ISAW survivors, responders and experts. This knowledge offers potential improvements to services and policy developments to reduce the health and safety risks to IPV survivors.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Kaur, Harjit
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: Background Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), is an internationally prevalent health and safety issue impacting women. Immigrant South Asian women (ISAW) in British Columbia (BC) remain vulnerable to serious injuries and homicides despite efforts of healthcare and police services. It is critical to improve these responses. Knowledge of the challenges to responses can inform and improve services and the well-being of ISAW. Aims This study aimed to explore the needs of ISAW and the challenges of healthcare and police responses, how these may inform responses and to compare the perspectives of survivors, responders and experts to improve the health and safety of ISAW. Methods Design: a two-phased, mixed methods study. Phase 1: a purposive sample of 4 focus groups of 22 ISAW survivors from four cities in BC. An additional focus group involved five subject matter experts. Also conducted were seven face-to-face semi-structured interviews with twelve key informants. Phase 2: a convenience sample of 128 provincial responders completed an online survey. Results The key emerging themes for survivors were the difficulties in identifying and disclosing IPV and the responses to IPV. Responders identified the gaps in services, culturally and linguistically inappropriate policies and uncoordinated and non-collaborative efforts. For the ISAW, perceptions, fears, and socio-cultural impediments hindered their disclosure of IPV. They required culturally and linguistically trauma informed responses, policies and practices to overcome multiple and complex challenges. Co-ordinated, collaborative systemic responses to improve the health and safety of ISAW were identified by all participants, including appropriate risk assessment. Conclusion This study adds to current knowledge by contributing to the understanding of IPV of ISAW from different perspectives: ISAW survivors, responders and experts. This knowledge offers potential improvements to services and policy developments to reduce the health and safety risks to IPV survivors.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Tobacco retailer density and smoking behavior in a rural Australian jurisdiction without a tobacco retailer licensing system
- Baker, John, Masood, Mohd, Rahman, Muhammad Aziz, Thornton, Lukar, Begg, Stephen
- Authors: Baker, John , Masood, Mohd , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz , Thornton, Lukar , Begg, Stephen
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Tobacco Induced Diseases Vol. 19, no. (2021), p. 1-10
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- Description: INTRODUCTION An emerging body of research has developed around tobacco retailer density and its contribution to smoking behavior. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the association between tobacco retailer density and smoking behavior in a rural Australian jurisdiction without a tobacco retailer licensing system in place. METHODS A local government database (updated 2018) of listed tobacco retailers (n=93) was accessed and potential unlisted tobacco retailers (n=230) were added using online searches. All retailers (n=323) were visited in 2019 and GPS coordinates of retailers that sold tobacco (n=125) were assigned to suburbs in ArcMap. A community survey conducted in the Local Government Area provided smoking and sociodemographic data amongst adult respondents (n=8981). Associations between tobacco retailer density (calculated as the number of retailers per km2 based on respondents' suburb of residence) and daily, occasional and experimental smoking were assessed using multilevel logistic regression analysis. Separate models with and without covariates were undertaken. RESULTS Without adjusting for possible confounders, living in suburbs with greater retailer density did not increase the odds of daily smoking (OR=1.01; 95% CI: 0.92-1.12), occasional smoking (OR=1.05; 95% CI: 0.94-1.18), or experimental smoking (OR=0.98; 95% 0.92- 1.05). However, after adjustment, living in suburbs with greater retailer density increased the odds of occasional smoking behavior (AOR=1.37; 95% CI: 1.10-1.71) but not daily or experimental smoking. CONCLUSIONS This study found a significant positive association between tobacco retailer density and the likelihood of occasional smoking in a rural Australian jurisdiction without a tobacco retailer licensing system in place. The findings strengthen calls for the introduction of a comprehensive, positive tobacco retailer licensing system to provide a framework for improving compliance with legislation and to reduce the overall availability of tobacco products in the community. © 2021 Baker J. et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
- Authors: Baker, John , Masood, Mohd , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz , Thornton, Lukar , Begg, Stephen
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Tobacco Induced Diseases Vol. 19, no. (2021), p. 1-10
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- Description: INTRODUCTION An emerging body of research has developed around tobacco retailer density and its contribution to smoking behavior. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the association between tobacco retailer density and smoking behavior in a rural Australian jurisdiction without a tobacco retailer licensing system in place. METHODS A local government database (updated 2018) of listed tobacco retailers (n=93) was accessed and potential unlisted tobacco retailers (n=230) were added using online searches. All retailers (n=323) were visited in 2019 and GPS coordinates of retailers that sold tobacco (n=125) were assigned to suburbs in ArcMap. A community survey conducted in the Local Government Area provided smoking and sociodemographic data amongst adult respondents (n=8981). Associations between tobacco retailer density (calculated as the number of retailers per km2 based on respondents' suburb of residence) and daily, occasional and experimental smoking were assessed using multilevel logistic regression analysis. Separate models with and without covariates were undertaken. RESULTS Without adjusting for possible confounders, living in suburbs with greater retailer density did not increase the odds of daily smoking (OR=1.01; 95% CI: 0.92-1.12), occasional smoking (OR=1.05; 95% CI: 0.94-1.18), or experimental smoking (OR=0.98; 95% 0.92- 1.05). However, after adjustment, living in suburbs with greater retailer density increased the odds of occasional smoking behavior (AOR=1.37; 95% CI: 1.10-1.71) but not daily or experimental smoking. CONCLUSIONS This study found a significant positive association between tobacco retailer density and the likelihood of occasional smoking in a rural Australian jurisdiction without a tobacco retailer licensing system in place. The findings strengthen calls for the introduction of a comprehensive, positive tobacco retailer licensing system to provide a framework for improving compliance with legislation and to reduce the overall availability of tobacco products in the community. © 2021 Baker J. et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Ageing and learning in Australia : Arguing an evidence base for informed and equitable policy
- Cuthill, Michael, Buys, Laurie, Wilson, Bruce, Kimberley, Helen, Reghenzani, Denise, Kearns, Peter, Thompson, Sally, Golding, Barry, Root, Jo, Weston, Rhonda
- Authors: Cuthill, Michael , Buys, Laurie , Wilson, Bruce , Kimberley, Helen , Reghenzani, Denise , Kearns, Peter , Thompson, Sally , Golding, Barry , Root, Jo , Weston, Rhonda
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Current Aging Science Vol. 9, no. 3 (2016), p. 196-202
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- Description: Background: Given Australia’s population ageing and predicted impacts related to health, productivity, equity and enhancing quality of life outcomes for senior Australians, lifelong learning has been identified as a pathway for addressing the risks associated with an ageing population. To date Australian governments have paid little attention to addressing these needs and thus, there is an urgent need for policy development for lifelong learning as a national priority. The purpose of this article is to explore the current lifelong learning context in Australia and to propose a set of factors that are most likely to impact learning in later years. Conclusion: Evidence based policy that understands and incorporates learning opportunities for all citizens is required to meet emerging global challenges. Providing appropriate learning opportunities to seniors is one clear pathway for achieving diverse health, social and economic outcomes. © 2016 Bentham Science Publishers.
- Authors: Cuthill, Michael , Buys, Laurie , Wilson, Bruce , Kimberley, Helen , Reghenzani, Denise , Kearns, Peter , Thompson, Sally , Golding, Barry , Root, Jo , Weston, Rhonda
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Current Aging Science Vol. 9, no. 3 (2016), p. 196-202
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- Description: Background: Given Australia’s population ageing and predicted impacts related to health, productivity, equity and enhancing quality of life outcomes for senior Australians, lifelong learning has been identified as a pathway for addressing the risks associated with an ageing population. To date Australian governments have paid little attention to addressing these needs and thus, there is an urgent need for policy development for lifelong learning as a national priority. The purpose of this article is to explore the current lifelong learning context in Australia and to propose a set of factors that are most likely to impact learning in later years. Conclusion: Evidence based policy that understands and incorporates learning opportunities for all citizens is required to meet emerging global challenges. Providing appropriate learning opportunities to seniors is one clear pathway for achieving diverse health, social and economic outcomes. © 2016 Bentham Science Publishers.
Citizen science: Knowledge, networks and the boundaries of participation
- Authors: Bonney, Patrick
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
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- Description: The water-related challenges facing humanity are complex and urgent. Although solutions are not always clear, involving the public in localised knowledge production and policy development is widely recognised as a critical part of this larger effort. Such public engagement is increasingly achieved through “citizen science”—a practice that involves non-professionals in scientific research and monitoring. Academic literature has recognised that, while citizen science is both important and necessary to strengthen environmental policy, its acceptance and successful implementation is a difficult governance challenge. Researchers agree that overcoming this challenge depends on the ability of volunteers, coordinators, scientists and decision-makers to work together to convert the potential of citizen science into practice. However, little is known about the collaborative relationships or the broader social contexts that shape and define the practice. To address these shortfalls, this thesis advances a conceptual framework for the relational analysis of citizen science that illustrates social networks and the boundaries between expert and community-based knowledge as critical sites of investigation. Through its multi-phase and mixed-methods research design, the findings of this thesis shed light on the contributions of citizen science to key waterway governance objectives, including the social, political and cultural factors that influence its acceptance and uptake in governance contexts. By unpacking the relational dimensions of citizen science, this thesis provides both theoretical and practice-based insights into how actors within and outside citizen science programs work together to achieve collective aims to engender stronger connections between science, society and policy. This thesis will benefit practitioners, policymakers and participatory advocates interested in achieving practical social change in efforts to understand and manage natural resources.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Bonney, Patrick
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The water-related challenges facing humanity are complex and urgent. Although solutions are not always clear, involving the public in localised knowledge production and policy development is widely recognised as a critical part of this larger effort. Such public engagement is increasingly achieved through “citizen science”—a practice that involves non-professionals in scientific research and monitoring. Academic literature has recognised that, while citizen science is both important and necessary to strengthen environmental policy, its acceptance and successful implementation is a difficult governance challenge. Researchers agree that overcoming this challenge depends on the ability of volunteers, coordinators, scientists and decision-makers to work together to convert the potential of citizen science into practice. However, little is known about the collaborative relationships or the broader social contexts that shape and define the practice. To address these shortfalls, this thesis advances a conceptual framework for the relational analysis of citizen science that illustrates social networks and the boundaries between expert and community-based knowledge as critical sites of investigation. Through its multi-phase and mixed-methods research design, the findings of this thesis shed light on the contributions of citizen science to key waterway governance objectives, including the social, political and cultural factors that influence its acceptance and uptake in governance contexts. By unpacking the relational dimensions of citizen science, this thesis provides both theoretical and practice-based insights into how actors within and outside citizen science programs work together to achieve collective aims to engender stronger connections between science, society and policy. This thesis will benefit practitioners, policymakers and participatory advocates interested in achieving practical social change in efforts to understand and manage natural resources.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Five-year changes in community-level sport participation, and the role of gender strategies
- Eime, Rochelle, Charity, Melanie, Harvey, Jack, Westerbeek, Hans
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Charity, Melanie , Harvey, Jack , Westerbeek, Hans
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living Vol. 3, no. (2021), p.
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- Description: Background: The rate of participation in community-based sport by boys and men has been double that of girls and women. Contributing to this is the fact that some sports have been traditionally male-only or at least very male-dominated. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate changes in participation in sport by sex and age across 10 major sports in Australia over a 5-year period. In conjunction with the analysis of participation trends, the gender strategies that were developed and implemented during this time are reviewed. Methods: This study encompassed all sport participants registered with one of 10 State Sporting Associations in Victoria, Australia in 2015 and in 2019. Participation rates by region, age and sex were calculated. State sport and health policies relating to female participation in sport were reviewed. Results: There were 749,037 registrations in 2015 and 868,266 in 2019. A comparison between 2015 and 2019 shows increases in participation for women and girls across all age groups (4–84 years), and highest increases for those aged 4 (6.6%) and 5–9 (4.7%). For boys there was a considerable decrease in participation for those aged 5–9 years (−3.8%). Discussion: This study provides evidence that whilst participation in sport is still dominated by males, the gap might be gradually closing and this is in line with recent strategies and investments into sport and wider cultural developments in society. The implications of these findings are discussed. Copyright © 2021 Eime, Charity, Harvey and Westerbeek. Corrigendum: Five-Year Changes in Community-Level Sport Participation, and the Role of Gender Strategies (Front. Sports Act. Living., (2021), 3, (710666), https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.798271
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Charity, Melanie , Harvey, Jack , Westerbeek, Hans
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Frontiers in Sports and Active Living Vol. 3, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: The rate of participation in community-based sport by boys and men has been double that of girls and women. Contributing to this is the fact that some sports have been traditionally male-only or at least very male-dominated. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate changes in participation in sport by sex and age across 10 major sports in Australia over a 5-year period. In conjunction with the analysis of participation trends, the gender strategies that were developed and implemented during this time are reviewed. Methods: This study encompassed all sport participants registered with one of 10 State Sporting Associations in Victoria, Australia in 2015 and in 2019. Participation rates by region, age and sex were calculated. State sport and health policies relating to female participation in sport were reviewed. Results: There were 749,037 registrations in 2015 and 868,266 in 2019. A comparison between 2015 and 2019 shows increases in participation for women and girls across all age groups (4–84 years), and highest increases for those aged 4 (6.6%) and 5–9 (4.7%). For boys there was a considerable decrease in participation for those aged 5–9 years (−3.8%). Discussion: This study provides evidence that whilst participation in sport is still dominated by males, the gap might be gradually closing and this is in line with recent strategies and investments into sport and wider cultural developments in society. The implications of these findings are discussed. Copyright © 2021 Eime, Charity, Harvey and Westerbeek. Corrigendum: Five-Year Changes in Community-Level Sport Participation, and the Role of Gender Strategies (Front. Sports Act. Living., (2021), 3, (710666), https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.798271
ACE working within / outside VET
- Authors: 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: This paper looks at vocational education and training (VET) policy initiatives currently being circulated within the Victorian adult and community education (ACE) sector. It particularly explores how coordinators working and managing ACE organizations are being encouraged to meet policy requirements that are in some cases at odds with their traditional roles. The paper explores how ACE and VET frontline managers/coordinators are experiencing policy reform differently in some cases and how the central role of identity and identity change in the formation of VET and ACE is being understood from a different philosophical and cultural position. The reflections and perceptions from seven ACE coordinators, four ACE/RTO managers and fourteen VET frontline managers were examined with the aim of better understanding the working experiences and perceptions of people responsible for delivering and coordinating change within their organizations. The paper and its conclusions shed light on differences in ACE/VET discursive practices and interpretations of current policy directives and the implications this difference is having on ACE practice and ACE delivery.
- Description: 2003005540
- Authors: 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: This paper looks at vocational education and training (VET) policy initiatives currently being circulated within the Victorian adult and community education (ACE) sector. It particularly explores how coordinators working and managing ACE organizations are being encouraged to meet policy requirements that are in some cases at odds with their traditional roles. The paper explores how ACE and VET frontline managers/coordinators are experiencing policy reform differently in some cases and how the central role of identity and identity change in the formation of VET and ACE is being understood from a different philosophical and cultural position. The reflections and perceptions from seven ACE coordinators, four ACE/RTO managers and fourteen VET frontline managers were examined with the aim of better understanding the working experiences and perceptions of people responsible for delivering and coordinating change within their organizations. The paper and its conclusions shed light on differences in ACE/VET discursive practices and interpretations of current policy directives and the implications this difference is having on ACE practice and ACE delivery.
- Description: 2003005540
The Sport Participation Pathway Model (SPPM) : a conceptual model for participation and retention in community sport
- Eime, Rochelle, Charity, Melanie, Westerbeek, Hans
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Charity, Melanie , Westerbeek, Hans
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics Vol. 14, no. 2 (2022), p. 291-304
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: National sport policy has a dual focus on population-based participation, and elite performance. There are various models depicting the pathway to elite, however, there has not been a population-based sport participation pathway model to track, develop and facilitate holistic participation policies in sport. The aim of this study is to review sport participation trends, including new data on retention and drop-out across age groups in community club-based sport, and combine this data with evidence from literature about people moving in and out of sport, to develop the Sport Participation Pathway Model (SPPM), which provides a holistic view of sport participation. We conducted a 3-year analysis of sport participation for eight major sports from 2015–2017 for children and young people aged 4–29 years. The total number of participants was 579,696. Only half 50.8% played continuously for the three years, 44.7% dropped out, and 4.5% played discontinuously. Drop-out was highest for those aged 4 (57.0%), and lowest for those aged 10–14 years (39.3%). The SPPM demonstrates the movements of participation in sport and the drop-out at various stages out of competitive club-based sport and for those who are the main participants. The model is a standalone sport participation model that is a representation and integration of empirical sport participation. This model therefore is most useful for sports organisations to recognise issues around retention and drop-out. In developing sport policies, government can also use the model to make decisions on target groups and funding support. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Charity, Melanie , Westerbeek, Hans
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics Vol. 14, no. 2 (2022), p. 291-304
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: National sport policy has a dual focus on population-based participation, and elite performance. There are various models depicting the pathway to elite, however, there has not been a population-based sport participation pathway model to track, develop and facilitate holistic participation policies in sport. The aim of this study is to review sport participation trends, including new data on retention and drop-out across age groups in community club-based sport, and combine this data with evidence from literature about people moving in and out of sport, to develop the Sport Participation Pathway Model (SPPM), which provides a holistic view of sport participation. We conducted a 3-year analysis of sport participation for eight major sports from 2015–2017 for children and young people aged 4–29 years. The total number of participants was 579,696. Only half 50.8% played continuously for the three years, 44.7% dropped out, and 4.5% played discontinuously. Drop-out was highest for those aged 4 (57.0%), and lowest for those aged 10–14 years (39.3%). The SPPM demonstrates the movements of participation in sport and the drop-out at various stages out of competitive club-based sport and for those who are the main participants. The model is a standalone sport participation model that is a representation and integration of empirical sport participation. This model therefore is most useful for sports organisations to recognise issues around retention and drop-out. In developing sport policies, government can also use the model to make decisions on target groups and funding support. © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Policies and practices of early childhood education and care during the COVID-19 pandemic: Perspectives from five countries
- Visnjic-Jevtic, Adrijana, Varga Nagy, Anikó, Ozturk, Gulsah, Şahin-Sak, İkbal, Toran, Mehmet, Sánchez-Pérez, Noelia
- Authors: Visnjic-Jevtic, Adrijana , Varga Nagy, Anikó , Ozturk, Gulsah , Şahin-Sak, İkbal , Toran, Mehmet , Sánchez-Pérez, Noelia
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Childhood, Education & Society Vol. 2, no. 2 (2021), p. 200-216
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The COVID-19 pandemic, which affects all areas of life, has also affected children in need of education and care. It is of great importance to develop policies that take into account the best interests of children in this process. In this review article, the policies developed for early childhood education and care during the pandemic period in five countries (Australia, Croatia, Hungary, Spain, and Turkey), how they are implemented, the problems that arose, and the solutions produced are discussed. As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that we need to focus on eliminating the educational inequalities, set policies for the welfare of children on foundations that are more realistic, rebuild teacher training, and improve the welfare of families. Priorizating the best interests of the child in the policies to be developed and building the social ecology on justice will ease overcoming the crises that will be faced.
- Authors: Visnjic-Jevtic, Adrijana , Varga Nagy, Anikó , Ozturk, Gulsah , Şahin-Sak, İkbal , Toran, Mehmet , Sánchez-Pérez, Noelia
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Childhood, Education & Society Vol. 2, no. 2 (2021), p. 200-216
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The COVID-19 pandemic, which affects all areas of life, has also affected children in need of education and care. It is of great importance to develop policies that take into account the best interests of children in this process. In this review article, the policies developed for early childhood education and care during the pandemic period in five countries (Australia, Croatia, Hungary, Spain, and Turkey), how they are implemented, the problems that arose, and the solutions produced are discussed. As a result, the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that we need to focus on eliminating the educational inequalities, set policies for the welfare of children on foundations that are more realistic, rebuild teacher training, and improve the welfare of families. Priorizating the best interests of the child in the policies to be developed and building the social ecology on justice will ease overcoming the crises that will be faced.
Continuing professional development for accredited mental health social workers : an evaluative study
- Martin, Jennifer, Paul, Lauren, Robertson, Melissa
- Authors: Martin, Jennifer , Paul, Lauren , Robertson, Melissa
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Advances in social work and welfare education Vol. 20, no. 2 (2018), p. 129-143
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This article considers how the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) has responded to the recommendations made by accredited mental health social workers in the first national study on continuing professional development needs in 2010. The aim of the study was to ascertain the responsiveness of the AASW to the recommendations made so that members knew if their concerns had been listened to. A five-year timeframe was considered timely for such a review. An evaluative approach was used in August 2015 sourcing data from both public and private domains from 2010 to 2015 to identify, and not appraise or critique, how the AASW had responded to the recommendations in the 2010 review. This is in acknowledgment that there may be other reasons influencing changes made and that these may not be a direct response to the 2010 survey recommendations. The study found that all recommendations made in the 2010 review were responded to by the AASW. [Author abstract]
- Authors: Martin, Jennifer , Paul, Lauren , Robertson, Melissa
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Advances in social work and welfare education Vol. 20, no. 2 (2018), p. 129-143
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This article considers how the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) has responded to the recommendations made by accredited mental health social workers in the first national study on continuing professional development needs in 2010. The aim of the study was to ascertain the responsiveness of the AASW to the recommendations made so that members knew if their concerns had been listened to. A five-year timeframe was considered timely for such a review. An evaluative approach was used in August 2015 sourcing data from both public and private domains from 2010 to 2015 to identify, and not appraise or critique, how the AASW had responded to the recommendations in the 2010 review. This is in acknowledgment that there may be other reasons influencing changes made and that these may not be a direct response to the 2010 survey recommendations. The study found that all recommendations made in the 2010 review were responded to by the AASW. [Author abstract]
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