Grand designs, grim reality : political representation, competition and equity in regional Victoria
- Authors: Tischler, Catherine
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This work brings new understanding to the subtle ways in which the ability of one rural community to change is curtailed by self-reinforcement of an ideology not entirely of their own making. In a political environment where economic returns and population growth appear to be the true indicators of value and success, the struggle of some rural communities to change a long term and seemingly intractable trajectory of decline is well documented. The historical importance of rural communities as a place where food and fibre are grown has been challenged by market forces, climatic conditions and the relative growth of cities and service-based industries over the last three decades. To people in rural areas experiencing population stasis or decline, the situation appears to be a competition that is not being won at a local level. This thesis employs critical ethnography to understand a layered investigation of the ideological paradigms internalised by leaders in this community in a place-based setting to explore how this influences political advocacy and action. The work focusses on the Wimmera Southern Mallee region in Victoria, Australia with a particular emphasis on the city of Horsham as the major regional centre. The purpose of this work is to understand how ideology and behaviours are used to reinforce a system of power that is dominated by prestige leadership. The work also considers how external political and ideological influences may further reinforce on to leaders in the region a set of values and expectations which negatively impact on action and outcomes. The findings of this work have implications for rural community engagement, regional development, place-based initiatives and regional advocacy.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Tischler, Catherine
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: This work brings new understanding to the subtle ways in which the ability of one rural community to change is curtailed by self-reinforcement of an ideology not entirely of their own making. In a political environment where economic returns and population growth appear to be the true indicators of value and success, the struggle of some rural communities to change a long term and seemingly intractable trajectory of decline is well documented. The historical importance of rural communities as a place where food and fibre are grown has been challenged by market forces, climatic conditions and the relative growth of cities and service-based industries over the last three decades. To people in rural areas experiencing population stasis or decline, the situation appears to be a competition that is not being won at a local level. This thesis employs critical ethnography to understand a layered investigation of the ideological paradigms internalised by leaders in this community in a place-based setting to explore how this influences political advocacy and action. The work focusses on the Wimmera Southern Mallee region in Victoria, Australia with a particular emphasis on the city of Horsham as the major regional centre. The purpose of this work is to understand how ideology and behaviours are used to reinforce a system of power that is dominated by prestige leadership. The work also considers how external political and ideological influences may further reinforce on to leaders in the region a set of values and expectations which negatively impact on action and outcomes. The findings of this work have implications for rural community engagement, regional development, place-based initiatives and regional advocacy.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Help-seeking by rural residents for mental health problems: The importance of agrarian values
- Judd, Fiona, Jackson, Henry, Komiti, Angela, Murray, Greg, Fraser, Caitlin, Grieve, Aaron, Gomez, Rapson
- Authors: Judd, Fiona , Jackson, Henry , Komiti, Angela , Murray, Greg , Fraser, Caitlin , Grieve, Aaron , Gomez, Rapson
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry Vol. 40, no. 9 (2006), p. 769-776
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objective: To examine the role of stoicism, self-efficacy and perceived stigma in predicting help-seeking by rural residents, for mental health problems. Method: A cross-sectional community survey was conducted with a sample of 467 rural residents (58% female), who completed self-report questionnaires assessing current levels of symptomatology, disability, perceived stigma, self-efficacy, stoicism, attitudes towards and experience of seeking help for psychological problems. Results: Overall, 7.6% (n = 129) of respondents had sought help from a general practitioner and/or mental health professional for psychological problems or a mental health issue. More women than men reported having sought such help. Lifetime help-seeking for a psychological problem or mental health issue was positively associated with higher levels of distress and lower levels of stoicism and, to a lesser extent, lower levels of self-efficacy. Conclusions: Efforts to improve help-seeking by rural residents for mental health problems should focus on understanding and addressing attitudes, such as stoicism which act as barriers to help-seeking. © 2006 The Authors; Journal compilation © 2006 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003002045
- Authors: Judd, Fiona , Jackson, Henry , Komiti, Angela , Murray, Greg , Fraser, Caitlin , Grieve, Aaron , Gomez, Rapson
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry Vol. 40, no. 9 (2006), p. 769-776
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objective: To examine the role of stoicism, self-efficacy and perceived stigma in predicting help-seeking by rural residents, for mental health problems. Method: A cross-sectional community survey was conducted with a sample of 467 rural residents (58% female), who completed self-report questionnaires assessing current levels of symptomatology, disability, perceived stigma, self-efficacy, stoicism, attitudes towards and experience of seeking help for psychological problems. Results: Overall, 7.6% (n = 129) of respondents had sought help from a general practitioner and/or mental health professional for psychological problems or a mental health issue. More women than men reported having sought such help. Lifetime help-seeking for a psychological problem or mental health issue was positively associated with higher levels of distress and lower levels of stoicism and, to a lesser extent, lower levels of self-efficacy. Conclusions: Efforts to improve help-seeking by rural residents for mental health problems should focus on understanding and addressing attitudes, such as stoicism which act as barriers to help-seeking. © 2006 The Authors; Journal compilation © 2006 The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003002045
Stories from the back paddock : Community building in the Pyrenees shire
- Harman, Jessie, Clark, David
- Authors: Harman, Jessie , Clark, David
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2nd National Conference on the Future of Australia's Country Towns, Bendigo, Victoria : 11th - 13th July, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In 2001 the Victorian Government launched its Community Building initiative. As part of this initiative the government funded 11 locally based community building demonstration projects. One of these projects is located within the Pyrenees Shire. In this discussion paper the authors examine the Pyrenees Shire’s Community Building Demonstration Project, describing the program and its objectives. They focus on the factors which have had a significant impact on the community building process within the municipality, identifying factors which have both facilitated and impeded the process. In terms of facilitating factors they identify a number: the involvement of community champions, strong local government support and community readiness, the capacity to deliver ‘runs on the board’ early in the life of the project, along with a flexible planning process. Conversely, they identify factors which have impeded the community building process in the Shire. Lack of continuity of personnel, an inability to develop shared understanding on occasions and difficulties associated with engaging disparate groups are described. This paper is significant for a number of reasons. In the first instance, it contributes useful, ‘real time’ insights into the implementation of community building in regional Victoria. Secondly it may, through its contribution to theory building and managerial practice, develop and strengthen community building programs in the future. Finally, at the level of public policy, it may contribute to the growing body of knowledge around the efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of these types of regional interventions.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001459
- Authors: Harman, Jessie , Clark, David
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2nd National Conference on the Future of Australia's Country Towns, Bendigo, Victoria : 11th - 13th July, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In 2001 the Victorian Government launched its Community Building initiative. As part of this initiative the government funded 11 locally based community building demonstration projects. One of these projects is located within the Pyrenees Shire. In this discussion paper the authors examine the Pyrenees Shire’s Community Building Demonstration Project, describing the program and its objectives. They focus on the factors which have had a significant impact on the community building process within the municipality, identifying factors which have both facilitated and impeded the process. In terms of facilitating factors they identify a number: the involvement of community champions, strong local government support and community readiness, the capacity to deliver ‘runs on the board’ early in the life of the project, along with a flexible planning process. Conversely, they identify factors which have impeded the community building process in the Shire. Lack of continuity of personnel, an inability to develop shared understanding on occasions and difficulties associated with engaging disparate groups are described. This paper is significant for a number of reasons. In the first instance, it contributes useful, ‘real time’ insights into the implementation of community building in regional Victoria. Secondly it may, through its contribution to theory building and managerial practice, develop and strengthen community building programs in the future. Finally, at the level of public policy, it may contribute to the growing body of knowledge around the efficiency, effectiveness and appropriateness of these types of regional interventions.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001459
The agenda for change among female rural general practitioners
- Authors: Schwarz, Imogen
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Canberra : 1st - 4th March, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper presents the preliminary results of a qualitative study examining the agenda for change being pursued by key influential women in Australia to address male-centred rural general practitioner (GP) workforce policies. Many current recruitment and retention programs do not reflect the needs of female GPs as they are based on the traditional notions of a country GP — that is a full-time, on call doctor with a supporting spouse. As women become the majority in medicine, key women influentials in the rural general practice field are advocating for the restructuring of medicine so that women GPs can be part of the solution to rural health care issues. Previous empirical research and theoretical analyses have suggested that medicine and rural communities are patriarchal. To date data collection for this explorative study consists of 5 in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of key women activists across the spectrum of organised medicine. Preliminary results show how women are pressuring for change but also the sources of resistance they encounter from the dominant medical culture. Key women players use particular collective and individual strategies to advocate for female GP issues. These results reflect some research findings on women leaders and female rural GPs. In conclusion, it is important that women are given equal access to decision-making positions to enable their input into the structure and culture of rural general practice. The recommendation put forward is to build inclusive recruitment and retention rural workforce strategies for female rural GPs.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000514
- Authors: Schwarz, Imogen
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Canberra : 1st - 4th March, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper presents the preliminary results of a qualitative study examining the agenda for change being pursued by key influential women in Australia to address male-centred rural general practitioner (GP) workforce policies. Many current recruitment and retention programs do not reflect the needs of female GPs as they are based on the traditional notions of a country GP — that is a full-time, on call doctor with a supporting spouse. As women become the majority in medicine, key women influentials in the rural general practice field are advocating for the restructuring of medicine so that women GPs can be part of the solution to rural health care issues. Previous empirical research and theoretical analyses have suggested that medicine and rural communities are patriarchal. To date data collection for this explorative study consists of 5 in-depth interviews with a purposive sample of key women activists across the spectrum of organised medicine. Preliminary results show how women are pressuring for change but also the sources of resistance they encounter from the dominant medical culture. Key women players use particular collective and individual strategies to advocate for female GP issues. These results reflect some research findings on women leaders and female rural GPs. In conclusion, it is important that women are given equal access to decision-making positions to enable their input into the structure and culture of rural general practice. The recommendation put forward is to build inclusive recruitment and retention rural workforce strategies for female rural GPs.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000514
Older class people - First class experience : Stories of ageing well in rural communities of Victoria
- Authors: Blume, Suzanne
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Diversity in Ageing Conference 2006, Sydney : 23rd November, 2006 p. 52-60
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Victorians aged 65 years and over are classified as ‘old’, yet many are able to remain living at home in a rural area, maintain health, retain a sense of wellbeing, and lead productive lives without requiring extraordinary assistance to do so. As such, these older people are exemplars of healthy ageing. This qualitative study examined the stories of older people who were living in that moment to answer questions about the meaning of ageing and living at home in a rural community for older people and the measures used to sustain that lifestyle. Rich descriptions were gathered through face-to-face interviews with ten older people living at home in various rural areas of Victoria. Their stories describe personal perceptions and philosophies of ageing and ‘being old’, life as a rural living older person and individual means of meeting declining physical dexterity. This study describes the acumen of a small group of rural living older people from whom much can be learnt. However, further research with larger populations of older people would enhance learning opportunities for other Australians who similarly wish to achieve positive healthy ageing whilst living at home in a rural community.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003002143
- Authors: Blume, Suzanne
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at Diversity in Ageing Conference 2006, Sydney : 23rd November, 2006 p. 52-60
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Victorians aged 65 years and over are classified as ‘old’, yet many are able to remain living at home in a rural area, maintain health, retain a sense of wellbeing, and lead productive lives without requiring extraordinary assistance to do so. As such, these older people are exemplars of healthy ageing. This qualitative study examined the stories of older people who were living in that moment to answer questions about the meaning of ageing and living at home in a rural community for older people and the measures used to sustain that lifestyle. Rich descriptions were gathered through face-to-face interviews with ten older people living at home in various rural areas of Victoria. Their stories describe personal perceptions and philosophies of ageing and ‘being old’, life as a rural living older person and individual means of meeting declining physical dexterity. This study describes the acumen of a small group of rural living older people from whom much can be learnt. However, further research with larger populations of older people would enhance learning opportunities for other Australians who similarly wish to achieve positive healthy ageing whilst living at home in a rural community.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003002143
The emergence of water markets in Australia and implications for rural social work
- Mason, Robyn, McDonald, John, Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Authors: Mason, Robyn , McDonald, John , Ollerenshaw, Alison
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Social Work and Community Practice Vol. 11, no. (2006), p. 6- 17
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The aim of this paper is to consider the implications for rural social work practice of the widespread and severe drought coupled with the emergence of water markets in Australia. The National Water Initiative was signed at the June 2004 Council of Australian Governments meeting with the aim of producing a nationally-compatible, market, regulatory and planning-based system of managing water resources to optimise economic, social and environmental outcomes. The National Water Commission and the National Competition Council have since assessed progress on the implementation of the initiative: none of their reports gives adequate consideration to the impact of water reform on rural communities. In this paper, we draw upon previous research and written submissions made to the Commission and the Council to examine the social and political consequences of the drought and the emergence of water markets. We discuss the implications for rural practice, and conclude by proposing seven recommendations to assert the role of rural social workers as change agents. This role could encompass community education and advocacy, piloting schemes such as community water banks, reinstating community development in social work curriculum, and facilitating collaborative rural partnerships.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001997
The development of 'expert-ness': Rural practitioners and role boundaries
- Gregory, Raeleene, Green, Rosemary, McLaren, Suzanne
- Authors: Gregory, Raeleene , Green, Rosemary , McLaren, Suzanne
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Social Work and Community Practice Vol. 12, no. 2 (2007), p. 16-21
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Health and welfare practitioners have reported challenges in their personal and professional lives brought about by the realities of dual and multiple relationships in small communities. This paper reports the findings of a qualitative grounded theory study of 70 such practitioners living and working in rural Victoria. Australia, with regard to the development of worker expertise in dealing with personal and professional role boundary issues. The research findings suggested that this group of rural health and welfare practitioners dealt with personal and professional boundary issues through a process of sensitive decision-making and strategic behaviour that became increasingly intuitive over time. Participants oftern adopted elastic and fluid boundaries using their personal experience and local knowledge to inform their professional judgement. These findings have implications for practitioners, for employers, and for educators.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005777
- Authors: Gregory, Raeleene , Green, Rosemary , McLaren, Suzanne
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Social Work and Community Practice Vol. 12, no. 2 (2007), p. 16-21
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Health and welfare practitioners have reported challenges in their personal and professional lives brought about by the realities of dual and multiple relationships in small communities. This paper reports the findings of a qualitative grounded theory study of 70 such practitioners living and working in rural Victoria. Australia, with regard to the development of worker expertise in dealing with personal and professional role boundary issues. The research findings suggested that this group of rural health and welfare practitioners dealt with personal and professional boundary issues through a process of sensitive decision-making and strategic behaviour that became increasingly intuitive over time. Participants oftern adopted elastic and fluid boundaries using their personal experience and local knowledge to inform their professional judgement. These findings have implications for practitioners, for employers, and for educators.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005777
Place matters! Rural as an ‘enabling culture’ for female GPs
- Schwarz, Imogen, McDonald, John
- Authors: Schwarz, Imogen , McDonald, John
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 9th National rural health conference: Standing up for rural health., Albury, Australia : March, 2007 p. 1-9
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003005837
- Authors: Schwarz, Imogen , McDonald, John
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 9th National rural health conference: Standing up for rural health., Albury, Australia : March, 2007 p. 1-9
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003005837
What is evidence-based practice anyway? A rural survey
- Authors: Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Canberra : 1st - 4th March, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Health service system developments in recent decades have, both nationally and internationally, been increasingly focused on quality service delivery and the attainment of improved health outcomes. Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been promoted as a central mechanism through which to achieve improved quality and safety in health service delivery (World Health Organisation, 1999; Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council,1996).
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000515
- Authors: Murphy, Angela
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Canberra : 1st - 4th March, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Health service system developments in recent decades have, both nationally and internationally, been increasingly focused on quality service delivery and the attainment of improved health outcomes. Evidence-based practice (EBP) has been promoted as a central mechanism through which to achieve improved quality and safety in health service delivery (World Health Organisation, 1999; Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council,1996).
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000515
Coping with stigma : Coming out and living as lesbians and gay men in regional and rural areas in the context of rural confidentiality and social exclusion
- Authors: Gottschalk, Lorene
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Social Work and Community Practice Vol. 12, no. 2 (2007), p. 31-46
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The lesbian and gay community largely depend on each other to organise services and support. This informal system (in that it is removed from the State) enjoys some success in Melbourne where there is a sizeable lesbian and gay population, but does not work so well in regional and rural Victoria where the lesbian and gay population is smaller and more dispersed. This study, conducted for the Department of Human Services (Grampians Region) in Victoria, found that gay men and lesbians experience similar types of stigma and discrimination in rural areas as those in urban centres, but that this was exacerbated by the lack of anonymity in the smaller communities. Furthermore it was found that few services and little support were available for lesbians and gay men in regional and rural areas and indeed were difficult to provide in the context of rural confidentiality and social exclusion.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005681
- Authors: Gottschalk, Lorene
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Social Work and Community Practice Vol. 12, no. 2 (2007), p. 31-46
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The lesbian and gay community largely depend on each other to organise services and support. This informal system (in that it is removed from the State) enjoys some success in Melbourne where there is a sizeable lesbian and gay population, but does not work so well in regional and rural Victoria where the lesbian and gay population is smaller and more dispersed. This study, conducted for the Department of Human Services (Grampians Region) in Victoria, found that gay men and lesbians experience similar types of stigma and discrimination in rural areas as those in urban centres, but that this was exacerbated by the lack of anonymity in the smaller communities. Furthermore it was found that few services and little support were available for lesbians and gay men in regional and rural areas and indeed were difficult to provide in the context of rural confidentiality and social exclusion.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005681
Trust in rural areas
- Braun, Patrice, Lowe, Julian
- Authors: Braun, Patrice , Lowe, Julian
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2nd National Conference on the Future of Country Towns, Bendigo, Australia : 11th July, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001148
- Authors: Braun, Patrice , Lowe, Julian
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 2nd National Conference on the Future of Country Towns, Bendigo, Australia : 11th July, 2005
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003001148
Mental health problems in rural contexts : A broader perspective
- Boyd, Candice, Hayes, Louise, Sewell, Jessica, Caldwell, Kirra, Kemp, Evan, Harvie, Lisa, Aisbett, Damon, Nurse, Sarah
- Authors: Boyd, Candice , Hayes, Louise , Sewell, Jessica , Caldwell, Kirra , Kemp, Evan , Harvie, Lisa , Aisbett, Damon , Nurse, Sarah
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Psychologist Vol. 43, no. 1 (2008), p. 2-6
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The objectives of this article are to expand and comment upon a recent review in Australian Psychologist of the literature in relation to mental health problems in rural contexts by Jackson et al. (2007). In the present article we review recently published qualitative research on the help-seeking attitudes and experiences of rural Australian adolescents. While we agree on the utility of the Macintyre, Ellaway, and Cummins (2002) conceptual framework based on notions of health and place, we note that this framework specifically emphasises the importance of the collective dimension. We present a broader perspective on health and place than Jackson et al. (2007) by incorporating social geographic research. We argue that rural mental health research has been hampered by a simplistic view of social stigma of mental illness and that a more thorough conceptualisation of the phenomenon is needed. Finally, we make some further recommendations based on a broader perspective of mental health in rural contexts: one that incorporates an in-depth understanding of the help-seeking attitudes and experiences of rural adolescents as well as an appreciation of the collective social functioning of rural communities.
- Description: C1
- Authors: Boyd, Candice , Hayes, Louise , Sewell, Jessica , Caldwell, Kirra , Kemp, Evan , Harvie, Lisa , Aisbett, Damon , Nurse, Sarah
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Psychologist Vol. 43, no. 1 (2008), p. 2-6
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The objectives of this article are to expand and comment upon a recent review in Australian Psychologist of the literature in relation to mental health problems in rural contexts by Jackson et al. (2007). In the present article we review recently published qualitative research on the help-seeking attitudes and experiences of rural Australian adolescents. While we agree on the utility of the Macintyre, Ellaway, and Cummins (2002) conceptual framework based on notions of health and place, we note that this framework specifically emphasises the importance of the collective dimension. We present a broader perspective on health and place than Jackson et al. (2007) by incorporating social geographic research. We argue that rural mental health research has been hampered by a simplistic view of social stigma of mental illness and that a more thorough conceptualisation of the phenomenon is needed. Finally, we make some further recommendations based on a broader perspective of mental health in rural contexts: one that incorporates an in-depth understanding of the help-seeking attitudes and experiences of rural adolescents as well as an appreciation of the collective social functioning of rural communities.
- Description: C1
Welfare workers' experiences of rural practice - similar but different
- Authors: Green, Rosemary
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Social Work and Community Practice Vol. 12, no. 1 (2007), p. 41-46
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This research project investigated the experiences of six rural welfare professionals living in the Western region of Victoria, Australia. In particular, this paper reports on their experiences of managing dual and multiple roles, confidentiality and their privacy. The six participants, five women and one man, were purposely chosen for in-depth interviews using criterion sampling from 23 survey respondents who participated in a larger rural practice study. Issues of particular interest to participants were managing confidential information gathered from formal and informal sources, providing services that are non-stigmatising, managing complex ethical dilemmas arising from fual and multiple roles, and lack of anonymity and privacy. Participants' experiences of these issues had varied considerably. Some expressed feeling of anxiety and stress, while others expressed strong confidence about their management of these matters in their daily practice. Many participants were anxious about whethr their practice fully met the ethical guidelines of the profession, however they felt their practice appropriate to the context. Most of the participants commented that their pre-service education did not adequately address rural issues or prepare them for their work role in small communities.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005771
- Authors: Green, Rosemary
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Social Work and Community Practice Vol. 12, no. 1 (2007), p. 41-46
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This research project investigated the experiences of six rural welfare professionals living in the Western region of Victoria, Australia. In particular, this paper reports on their experiences of managing dual and multiple roles, confidentiality and their privacy. The six participants, five women and one man, were purposely chosen for in-depth interviews using criterion sampling from 23 survey respondents who participated in a larger rural practice study. Issues of particular interest to participants were managing confidential information gathered from formal and informal sources, providing services that are non-stigmatising, managing complex ethical dilemmas arising from fual and multiple roles, and lack of anonymity and privacy. Participants' experiences of these issues had varied considerably. Some expressed feeling of anxiety and stress, while others expressed strong confidence about their management of these matters in their daily practice. Many participants were anxious about whethr their practice fully met the ethical guidelines of the profession, however they felt their practice appropriate to the context. Most of the participants commented that their pre-service education did not adequately address rural issues or prepare them for their work role in small communities.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003005771
Social geography and rural mental health research
- Authors: Boyd, Candice , Parr, H
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural and Remote Health Vol. 8, no. (2008), p. 1-5
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: C1
- Authors: Boyd, Candice , Parr, H
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural and Remote Health Vol. 8, no. (2008), p. 1-5
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: C1
Health workers' perceptions of psychosocial support services for cancer patients in rural Victoria
- Authors: Lee, Jillian
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Cancer Forum Vol. 31, no. 2 (2007), p. 94-98
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Literature attests to the fact that psychosocial needs for cancer patients are not being adequately addressed. The tools, frameworks and guidelines developed, reflect differing professional perspectives and models of disease. Most studies have usually looked at what is happening from the patient and family's viewpoint in terms of medical and other needs. New national initiatives in psychosocial care include the organisation of nationwide practitioner workshops to encourage the implementation of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Psychosocial Care of Adults with Cancer. These guidelines focus mainly on the emotional and existential areas of need. The aim of this study was to: understand how a diversity of approaches and professional perspectives play out in everyday practice within a rural context; see how issues of distance and access affect this process; and highlight the deficiencies in the delivery of psychosocial services for cancer patients in rural Victoria. The study involved 59 questionnaire respondents (a 71% response rate), from which two interviews and six focus group discussions were drawn. Key findings were: regional and metropolitan hospitals and specialists not referring for support services; private patients missing out; general practitioners not referring to support services; late referrals to palliative care and district nursing; haphazard continuity of care for support needs of patients; and disputed responsibility for initial assessment.
- Description: C1
- Authors: Lee, Jillian
- Date: 2007
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Cancer Forum Vol. 31, no. 2 (2007), p. 94-98
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Literature attests to the fact that psychosocial needs for cancer patients are not being adequately addressed. The tools, frameworks and guidelines developed, reflect differing professional perspectives and models of disease. Most studies have usually looked at what is happening from the patient and family's viewpoint in terms of medical and other needs. New national initiatives in psychosocial care include the organisation of nationwide practitioner workshops to encourage the implementation of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Psychosocial Care of Adults with Cancer. These guidelines focus mainly on the emotional and existential areas of need. The aim of this study was to: understand how a diversity of approaches and professional perspectives play out in everyday practice within a rural context; see how issues of distance and access affect this process; and highlight the deficiencies in the delivery of psychosocial services for cancer patients in rural Victoria. The study involved 59 questionnaire respondents (a 71% response rate), from which two interviews and six focus group discussions were drawn. Key findings were: regional and metropolitan hospitals and specialists not referring for support services; private patients missing out; general practitioners not referring to support services; late referrals to palliative care and district nursing; haphazard continuity of care for support needs of patients; and disputed responsibility for initial assessment.
- Description: C1
Rural social welfare practice : Stories from the western region of Victoria
- Authors: Green, Rosemary
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Canberra : 1st - 4th March, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study explored rural welfare practice issues with six welfare professionals working in contentious fields of practice such as child welfare, family violence and the justice system in the western region of Victoria. Participants were selected on the basis of difference to provide a range of experiences. The six participants completed a questionnaire and were subsequently interviewed in depth about their own experiences. The study asked participants about issues of concern to them and strategies that they find useful in their professional practice in small communities. Issues of concern included: risk and experience of violence and harassment, managing confidential information gathered from formal and informal sources, providing services that are non stigmatising, managing dual and multiple roles and lack of anonymity and privacy. Participants were concerned about the dilemmas of personal privacy versus community “right to know” particularly when they had privileged information about perpetrators of violence and child sexual assault within their communities. Participants shared their practical solutions and personal survival strategies, as well as their concerns. Many employing organisations did not recognise these factors effectively in work practices, and supervision was focused on agency accountability rather than professional development and support. On a broader level, workplaces and educators need to recognise the impact of the occupational demands and stressors relevant for rural practitioners, where anonymity and privacy are frequently compromised, and respond sensitively to these issues. This paper includes a number of recommendations for educators and organisations employing welfare staff in rural areas. The author sincerely thanks the six welfare professionals for sharing their stories in such rich detail and with such honesty and frankness. Identifying details have been altered to protect their privacy.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000562
- Authors: Green, Rosemary
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at the 7th National Rural Health Conference, Canberra : 1st - 4th March, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study explored rural welfare practice issues with six welfare professionals working in contentious fields of practice such as child welfare, family violence and the justice system in the western region of Victoria. Participants were selected on the basis of difference to provide a range of experiences. The six participants completed a questionnaire and were subsequently interviewed in depth about their own experiences. The study asked participants about issues of concern to them and strategies that they find useful in their professional practice in small communities. Issues of concern included: risk and experience of violence and harassment, managing confidential information gathered from formal and informal sources, providing services that are non stigmatising, managing dual and multiple roles and lack of anonymity and privacy. Participants were concerned about the dilemmas of personal privacy versus community “right to know” particularly when they had privileged information about perpetrators of violence and child sexual assault within their communities. Participants shared their practical solutions and personal survival strategies, as well as their concerns. Many employing organisations did not recognise these factors effectively in work practices, and supervision was focused on agency accountability rather than professional development and support. On a broader level, workplaces and educators need to recognise the impact of the occupational demands and stressors relevant for rural practitioners, where anonymity and privacy are frequently compromised, and respond sensitively to these issues. This paper includes a number of recommendations for educators and organisations employing welfare staff in rural areas. The author sincerely thanks the six welfare professionals for sharing their stories in such rich detail and with such honesty and frankness. Identifying details have been altered to protect their privacy.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000562
Barriers to higher education for Australian rural students
- Authors: Sewell, Jessica
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Rural Social Work and Community Practice Vol. 10, no. 2 (2006), p. 23-27
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This article considers the barriers to higher education currently faced by rural students in Australia. Three barriers to participation in higher education for rural students that appear consistently in the literature are financial pressures, family and community attributes, and physical location. Results of recent studies in this area suggest that these factors often coexist to create one, complex and intertwined barrier which needs to be approach by all involved in a collaborative and cooperative way in order to provide rural people with equitable access to higher education.
- Description: C1
- Description: 2003001979
Who's doing the hunting and gathering? : An exploration of gender segmentation in adult learning in small and remote Australian communities
- Authors: Golding, Barry
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 2003 AVETRA Conference, Sydney : 10th -11th April, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Adults in Australia have tended to return relatively recently to learning in patterns that are significantly different by gender. These patterns of gender segmentation for adults are particularly noticeable in the findings of recent research by the author into adult, community and vocational learning in small and remote towns in Victoria. The issues associated with such patterns form the basis of this exploratory paper.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000498
- Authors: Golding, Barry
- Date: 2003
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 2003 AVETRA Conference, Sydney : 10th -11th April, 2003
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Adults in Australia have tended to return relatively recently to learning in patterns that are significantly different by gender. These patterns of gender segmentation for adults are particularly noticeable in the findings of recent research by the author into adult, community and vocational learning in small and remote towns in Victoria. The issues associated with such patterns form the basis of this exploratory paper.
- Description: E1
- Description: 2003000498
Too close for comfort? : personal and professional role boundaries in rural health and welfare practice
- Authors: Gregory, Raeleene
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "'Too close for comfort?' explores the challenges of working and living in Australian rural communities for a group of health and welfare professionals. Personal and professional role overlap is a key concern particularly as it has implications for ethical practice. This project [...] used a qualitative grounded theory approach to develop a theory about the adoption and management of professional role boundaries within ethical service delivery. "
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Gregory, Raeleene
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: "'Too close for comfort?' explores the challenges of working and living in Australian rural communities for a group of health and welfare professionals. Personal and professional role overlap is a key concern particularly as it has implications for ethical practice. This project [...] used a qualitative grounded theory approach to develop a theory about the adoption and management of professional role boundaries within ethical service delivery. "
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
Houses and sheds in Australia : an exploration of the genesis and growth of neighbourhood houses and men's sheds in community settings
- Golding, Barry, Kimberley, Helen, Foley, Annette, Brown, Michael
- Authors: Golding, Barry , Kimberley, Helen , Foley, Annette , Brown, Michael
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Adult Learning Vol. 48, no. 2 (Jul 2008), p. 237-262
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This article reviews research into the genesis and spread of both neighbourhood houses and learning centres in Victoria and community-based men's sheds in Australia to identify some similarities and differences. Our article asks questions about the gendered communities of practice that underpin houses for women on the one hand, and sheds for men on the other. Our particular interest is with the gender issues associated with the development of the relatively mature neighbourhood house 'sector', and those associated with the very recent and developing community-based men's sheds 'sector'. Our underpinning research question has to do with the desirability (or otherwise) in each of these sectors of political and strategic decisions being either gender specific or gender neutral. We identify a number of tantalising parallels between the rationale behind the establishment of both sectors,for women and men, albeit in very different circumstances, along with some obvious differences.
- Description: C1
- Authors: Golding, Barry , Kimberley, Helen , Foley, Annette , Brown, Michael
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Adult Learning Vol. 48, no. 2 (Jul 2008), p. 237-262
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This article reviews research into the genesis and spread of both neighbourhood houses and learning centres in Victoria and community-based men's sheds in Australia to identify some similarities and differences. Our article asks questions about the gendered communities of practice that underpin houses for women on the one hand, and sheds for men on the other. Our particular interest is with the gender issues associated with the development of the relatively mature neighbourhood house 'sector', and those associated with the very recent and developing community-based men's sheds 'sector'. Our underpinning research question has to do with the desirability (or otherwise) in each of these sectors of political and strategic decisions being either gender specific or gender neutral. We identify a number of tantalising parallels between the rationale behind the establishment of both sectors,for women and men, albeit in very different circumstances, along with some obvious differences.
- Description: C1