Safer Sex Beliefs and Practices in Multi-Partner Heterosexuals. Recent Australian research has indicated that heterosexuals with multiple or concurrent partners require targeted safer sex messages, and sexual health promotion resources. This is the first Australian study to address these groups, gaining community input into resource development. It is also the first local qualitative study to examine the attitudes, beliefs and safer sex practices of non-lesbian women seeking same-sex partners. T ....Safer Sex Beliefs and Practices in Multi-Partner Heterosexuals. Recent Australian research has indicated that heterosexuals with multiple or concurrent partners require targeted safer sex messages, and sexual health promotion resources. This is the first Australian study to address these groups, gaining community input into resource development. It is also the first local qualitative study to examine the attitudes, beliefs and safer sex practices of non-lesbian women seeking same-sex partners. The information gathered will assist researchers and educators nationally. Identification of media networks will also aid service provision in rural or regional areas.Read moreRead less
Elucidating the increasing demand for genital cosmetic surgery among girls and women in Australia. This project will identify the psychosocial context of and public communication about the dramatic rise in female genital cosmetic surgery in Australia. Results will contribute to programs for sexuality and body image education, public health campaigns about normal genital diversity, and professional development for doctors and beauty therapists.
Speaking Hmong in diaspora: language contact, resilience, and change. The project aims to investigate the how the Hmong language survives in the diaspora, with special focus on how the language transforms itself depending on the environment it finds itself in. We focus on the structure and maintenance of Hmong within the immigrant community in North Queensland across several generations of speakers, within the context of multilingual repertoires involving Australian English and Lao. The outcomes ....Speaking Hmong in diaspora: language contact, resilience, and change. The project aims to investigate the how the Hmong language survives in the diaspora, with special focus on how the language transforms itself depending on the environment it finds itself in. We focus on the structure and maintenance of Hmong within the immigrant community in North Queensland across several generations of speakers, within the context of multilingual repertoires involving Australian English and Lao. The outcomes will reveal the processes and results of language change such as the emergence of a new blend of Green and White Hmong. The project will provide significant benefits for the maintenance of diasporic Hmong within a larger context of multilingual immigrant communities.Read moreRead less
The Lively Regional City: Mapping City Centre ‘Assemblages’ that Work. This project analyses city centre revitalisation processes and policies in the context of regional Australia. Working with Wollongong City Council, the project aims to provide an evidence-based analysis of how the Wollongong city centre is perceived, regarded and used by its residents and visitors, paying particular attention to those aspects considered either 'lively' or 'dead'; its goal is to interrogate revitalisation poli ....The Lively Regional City: Mapping City Centre ‘Assemblages’ that Work. This project analyses city centre revitalisation processes and policies in the context of regional Australia. Working with Wollongong City Council, the project aims to provide an evidence-based analysis of how the Wollongong city centre is perceived, regarded and used by its residents and visitors, paying particular attention to those aspects considered either 'lively' or 'dead'; its goal is to interrogate revitalisation policy frameworks and create decision-making tools to inform planning processes for long-term city centre revitalisation and sustainable economic growth; and identify opportunities for innovative city centre planning in Wollongong to contribute to the regions sustainable transformation, long-term growth, employment and community development.Read moreRead less
Peer Based Mentoring in Sport: Strategies for Best Practice. Federal and state governments and agencies have acknowleged the need to increase participation in sport. This project will support this important aim because it will generate empirical data about the value and best practice design of mentoring programs in elite and community or school based sport.Such programs are designed to ensure that sport is a forum for promoting positive social behaviours on and off the field and to increase part ....Peer Based Mentoring in Sport: Strategies for Best Practice. Federal and state governments and agencies have acknowleged the need to increase participation in sport. This project will support this important aim because it will generate empirical data about the value and best practice design of mentoring programs in elite and community or school based sport.Such programs are designed to ensure that sport is a forum for promoting positive social behaviours on and off the field and to increase participation in sport by reducing any negative behaviours associated with sporting cultures.Read moreRead less
The economic and cultural value of Australian music exports. The project aims to investigate the cultural and economic value of Australian music exports. It will be the first methodical study on how Australian artists are developed internationally through government and industry programs. It intends to provide a detailed picture of entrepreneurial activity within and between industries, not-for-profit sectors and governments. The project aims to assess the effects of globalisation and digitisati ....The economic and cultural value of Australian music exports. The project aims to investigate the cultural and economic value of Australian music exports. It will be the first methodical study on how Australian artists are developed internationally through government and industry programs. It intends to provide a detailed picture of entrepreneurial activity within and between industries, not-for-profit sectors and governments. The project aims to assess the effects of globalisation and digitisation in the creation of a music export, and the impact of cultural and economic value chains on an Australian music export. The intended outcomes are strategies for improving the audibility and visibility of Australian music within increasingly complex international networks and systems of music production, consumption and governance.Read moreRead less
Pancreatic Differentiation of Cord Blood Stem Cells using Smart Surfaces. Cord blood cells obtained at the time of delivery of a baby are a valuable resource that have the potential to develop into many cell types. This Project entails attaching stem cells derived from cord blood to appropriate 3 dimensional smart surfaces, and examining the ability of such cells to develop into insulin-producing cells. An understanding of how to coax stem cells, seeded on to smart surfaces, to develop into ma ....Pancreatic Differentiation of Cord Blood Stem Cells using Smart Surfaces. Cord blood cells obtained at the time of delivery of a baby are a valuable resource that have the potential to develop into many cell types. This Project entails attaching stem cells derived from cord blood to appropriate 3 dimensional smart surfaces, and examining the ability of such cells to develop into insulin-producing cells. An understanding of how to coax stem cells, seeded on to smart surfaces, to develop into mature cells with different functions will enhance our ability to understand how cells develop. As well, it enhance the potential usefulness of cord blood for research purposes. Read moreRead less
Promoting ethical non-violent relationships of young women and men. The research aims to contribute to the prevention of sexual violence between young women and men aged 16-25years to promote their ability to live healthy, productive and fulfilling lives. It will provide a multidisciplinary approach to developing an evaluated educational training programme based on young people's experiences of sexual intimacy, sexuality and anti-violence education, delivery of a training programme in three rura ....Promoting ethical non-violent relationships of young women and men. The research aims to contribute to the prevention of sexual violence between young women and men aged 16-25years to promote their ability to live healthy, productive and fulfilling lives. It will provide a multidisciplinary approach to developing an evaluated educational training programme based on young people's experiences of sexual intimacy, sexuality and anti-violence education, delivery of a training programme in three rural and metropolitan sites and follow up interviews with young people six months after completion of the course.The findings of the research will inform policy makers, educators and community organisations working with young women and men.Read moreRead less
Media treatment and communication needs of Sudanese-Australians. Working with industry partners the ABC and Adult Multicultural Education Services, the purpose of this research project is twofold: to investigate the media's coverage of the Sudanese community in Australia and to establish and assess an innovative journalism training program and news website providing Sudanese Australians with a real media voice.
Investigating the future of Australian television. This project investigates the future of Australian television and the society 'served' by it. Regulation of free-to-air TV has tightly controlled the production and dissemination of news, information and entertainment in Australia. Now digital technology offers audio-visual content on many extra platforms, fixed and mobile. This sets up profound changes in Australian economics, politics and culture. Yet there is a marked lack of independent rese ....Investigating the future of Australian television. This project investigates the future of Australian television and the society 'served' by it. Regulation of free-to-air TV has tightly controlled the production and dissemination of news, information and entertainment in Australia. Now digital technology offers audio-visual content on many extra platforms, fixed and mobile. This sets up profound changes in Australian economics, politics and culture. Yet there is a marked lack of independent research available to Government and Industry to assist them to plan for the changes. And there is almost no context for careful public debate about these crucial changes. This project will play a vital role in promoting knowledge and informed, strategic decision-making for all constituencies.Read moreRead less