Improving determinants of Australian sports talent identification and development: a multi-disciplinary approach. Sport is important to many Australians. Our sport successes enhance our national identity, generate community pride and attract mega sport events. Currently our sport talent identification and development (TID) systems have been surpassed by our international rivals who borrowed from and improved our knowledge. This project will help regain Australia's international advantage and aga ....Improving determinants of Australian sports talent identification and development: a multi-disciplinary approach. Sport is important to many Australians. Our sport successes enhance our national identity, generate community pride and attract mega sport events. Currently our sport talent identification and development (TID) systems have been surpassed by our international rivals who borrowed from and improved our knowledge. This project will help regain Australia's international advantage and again make Australian TID the international benchmark. Results will highlight the role of TID practices in improving recreational participation and maximising, attracting, developing and retaining sport talent. This will result in improved use of sports limited TID funding by providing greater understanding of factors that influence elite selection and sport development.Read moreRead less
Promoting physical activity and wellbeing of rural- and regional-living girls. This research will attempt to improve the physical activity levels and the physical and mental wellbeing of girls who live in disadvantaged and isolated rural and regional areas. This will be achieved by working with the girls to find ways to improve their involvement in sport and active recreation. This information will be used to develop, implement and evaluate a year-long sport and active recreation program that ....Promoting physical activity and wellbeing of rural- and regional-living girls. This research will attempt to improve the physical activity levels and the physical and mental wellbeing of girls who live in disadvantaged and isolated rural and regional areas. This will be achieved by working with the girls to find ways to improve their involvement in sport and active recreation. This information will be used to develop, implement and evaluate a year-long sport and active recreation program that is offered in both schools and the community. The research will occur in Victoria and will involve girls in years 7-9 of secondary school. It will involve the sports of tennis and football (soccer) as well as the active recreation opportunities offered by the YMCA.Read moreRead less
The impact of location-specific urban digital social information networks and public displays on the City of Melbourne. The purpose of this project is to enhance the city as a vibrant destination by taking digital content and anchoring it in the physical world. The outcomes will be physical nodes of interaction in urban cultural hubs - e.g., museums, libraries, cafes - allowing users to post media, stories and events that are locally relevant for others to consume.
Promoting and managing national parks into the 21st century. National parks protect two thirds of Australia's biodiversity. If society does not regard parks as important, biodiversity loss through neglect is inevitable. This project aims to improve our understanding of the place of parks in society. Methods from marketing research, assessing and shifting the 'market position' of parks and managing the quality of visitors' experiences in parks to increase visitor loyalty, will be refined and appl ....Promoting and managing national parks into the 21st century. National parks protect two thirds of Australia's biodiversity. If society does not regard parks as important, biodiversity loss through neglect is inevitable. This project aims to improve our understanding of the place of parks in society. Methods from marketing research, assessing and shifting the 'market position' of parks and managing the quality of visitors' experiences in parks to increase visitor loyalty, will be refined and applied in two Australian states; Victoria and Western Australia. The project will build on and improve theories, methodologies and instruments for positioning and managing parks and visitors to parks in these two states and beyond, to achieve better knowledge and support for parks in 21st century society.Read moreRead less
Informal sport as a health and social resource for diverse young people. This project aims to investigate the contribution that informal sports participation makes to wellbeing amongst diverse young people, and ways in which governments, sport and health agencies can effectively support this participation. The project expects to generate new knowledge of how informal sports are self-organised and sustained, factors enabling and inhibiting participation, and will provide a detailed evidence base ....Informal sport as a health and social resource for diverse young people. This project aims to investigate the contribution that informal sports participation makes to wellbeing amongst diverse young people, and ways in which governments, sport and health agencies can effectively support this participation. The project expects to generate new knowledge of how informal sports are self-organised and sustained, factors enabling and inhibiting participation, and will provide a detailed evidence base for the economic and social impact of informal participation. Expected outcomes include the provision of coherent guidance for government, sport and health agencies who will be better equipped to support informal sports opportunities for diverse young people that delivers an enhanced health outcome.Read moreRead less
Universal access playgrounds: Can purpose-built playgrounds for children with disabilities provide opportunities for play that enhance cognitive and social development? This study will investigate social, cultural and physical barriers to playground access and participation by children with different types of disabilities. The outcomes of this project will be a model for best-practice playground design based on research in the areas of disability, learning and development; children's social, c ....Universal access playgrounds: Can purpose-built playgrounds for children with disabilities provide opportunities for play that enhance cognitive and social development? This study will investigate social, cultural and physical barriers to playground access and participation by children with different types of disabilities. The outcomes of this project will be a model for best-practice playground design based on research in the areas of disability, learning and development; children's social, cultural, physical and sensory needs; and biomechanics and engineering. The research will be continued through an evaluation of the social and cognitive benefits for children with disabilities using a purpose-built playground constructed on the basis of these best-practice principles.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100119
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$372,218.00
Summary
Community Gardening in Australia: A Nationwide Study. By researching community gardeners’ experiences, food gardening media and government policies through digital and sensory ethnography, interviews and textual analysis, this project aims to produce a nationwide qualitative study of community gardening in Australia. The rise of community gardens is of major significance, emerging as it does out of a broader range of concerns over the environment, health and wellbeing, food security, social incl ....Community Gardening in Australia: A Nationwide Study. By researching community gardeners’ experiences, food gardening media and government policies through digital and sensory ethnography, interviews and textual analysis, this project aims to produce a nationwide qualitative study of community gardening in Australia. The rise of community gardens is of major significance, emerging as it does out of a broader range of concerns over the environment, health and wellbeing, food security, social inclusion, and community resilience. The intended outcomes of the project will provide an evidence base to enable the development of effective local, state and national policies on community gardening, and recommendations on how community, government, and media can work together to facilitate the expansion of sustainable lifestyles and wellbeing.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190101178
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$398,700.00
Summary
Understanding ecological sensibilities in recreational lifestyle sport. This project aims to understand environmental attitudes and behaviours that emerge through participation in recreational lifestyle sports. Linking the growth of lifestyle sports in Australia and the significance of oceans in humanities and social sciences research, the project will highlight how surfers and ocean swimmers develop relationships to, and produce knowledge about, Australian oceans and coasts. The project will co ....Understanding ecological sensibilities in recreational lifestyle sport. This project aims to understand environmental attitudes and behaviours that emerge through participation in recreational lifestyle sports. Linking the growth of lifestyle sports in Australia and the significance of oceans in humanities and social sciences research, the project will highlight how surfers and ocean swimmers develop relationships to, and produce knowledge about, Australian oceans and coasts. The project will consider everyday cultural practices relating to ethical consumption and will provide key insights for surfing and ocean swimming communities to enable them to make better choices about their attitudes and practices relating to sustainable oceans and coasts.Read moreRead less
Drug enhancement and experimentation. This project aims to research the chemical practices of sexual and gender minorities in Australia and investigate how health agencies have sought to deal with them. Drugs are increasingly and widely used in pharmaceutical markets and lifestyle practices. As pharmaceutical markets expand, the distinction between therapeutic and illicit drugs becomes unclear. Drug consumption can give rise to serious dangers in certain circumstances. This project is expected t ....Drug enhancement and experimentation. This project aims to research the chemical practices of sexual and gender minorities in Australia and investigate how health agencies have sought to deal with them. Drugs are increasingly and widely used in pharmaceutical markets and lifestyle practices. As pharmaceutical markets expand, the distinction between therapeutic and illicit drugs becomes unclear. Drug consumption can give rise to serious dangers in certain circumstances. This project is expected to better understand drugs and medication use and improve public health services.Read moreRead less
Childhood, Tradition and Change: a national study of the historical and contemporary practices and significance of Australian children's playlore. Through extending knowledge of children's playlore in the daily lives and social frameworks of Australians from the 1950s to the present, this project will contribute to broader public and policy discussions concerning educational, recreational and public health outcomes for children. It will enhance understanding of past and contemporary children's p ....Childhood, Tradition and Change: a national study of the historical and contemporary practices and significance of Australian children's playlore. Through extending knowledge of children's playlore in the daily lives and social frameworks of Australians from the 1950s to the present, this project will contribute to broader public and policy discussions concerning educational, recreational and public health outcomes for children. It will enhance understanding of past and contemporary children's play practices and the external influences shaping these, and assist UNESCO and the Australian government in defining intangible cultural heritage. Through partnerships with the National Library of Australia and Museum Victoria, the project will disseminate its findings to the community through publications, conferences and public exhibitions.Read moreRead less