Sound practice: Supporting sustainable careers in orchestral musicians through Occupational Health and Safety initiatives. This project will produce new knowledge about musician health, well-being and injury prevention and management. It will establish the first injury surveillance system for musicians internationally and the first set of rigorous studies to evaluate the effectiveness of injury management interventions for orchestral musicians. We will establish musician-specific assessment prot ....Sound practice: Supporting sustainable careers in orchestral musicians through Occupational Health and Safety initiatives. This project will produce new knowledge about musician health, well-being and injury prevention and management. It will establish the first injury surveillance system for musicians internationally and the first set of rigorous studies to evaluate the effectiveness of injury management interventions for orchestral musicians. We will establish musician-specific assessment protocols, practices and interventions leading to effective OHS policies, thus enabling global improvement in OHS in the music industry, preventing economic and personal loss from premature career termination due to injury, and assisting, through mentoring, the new generation of young orchestral musicians.Read moreRead less
Development of a Prothrombogenic Bone Graft Substitute. The clinical demand for bone is massive and to counter this bone can be either harvested from the patient or bone substitutes are used. The success or failure of a bone substitute is determined the instant it come into contact with blood. The surfaces of traditional biomaterials induce a foreign body reaction. The aim of this project is to test the bone forming capacity of a biomaterial that is optimised to produce a natural response from ....Development of a Prothrombogenic Bone Graft Substitute. The clinical demand for bone is massive and to counter this bone can be either harvested from the patient or bone substitutes are used. The success or failure of a bone substitute is determined the instant it come into contact with blood. The surfaces of traditional biomaterials induce a foreign body reaction. The aim of this project is to test the bone forming capacity of a biomaterial that is optimised to produce a natural response from the blood. This response will lead to the formation new viable tissue and eventually bone. Such a material will cause faster bone healing, less pain from graft sites, shorter hospital stays and shorter waiting lists. Read moreRead less
Identifying, attracting and retaining successful foster parents. This research project will improve Australian foster care systems. By developing tools to identify, attract and retain successful foster parents more effectively we will address two critical problems facing foster care organisations: decreasing numbers of foster parents and increasing numbers of 'placement breakdowns'. Improvements of these factors will (1) give foster children a more positive and healthier start to life; (2) reduc ....Identifying, attracting and retaining successful foster parents. This research project will improve Australian foster care systems. By developing tools to identify, attract and retain successful foster parents more effectively we will address two critical problems facing foster care organisations: decreasing numbers of foster parents and increasing numbers of 'placement breakdowns'. Improvements of these factors will (1) give foster children a more positive and healthier start to life; (2) reduce the extent to which foster children develop antisocial and emotional attachment problems; (3) reduce the incidence of criminal and antisocial behaviours among foster children; and consequently (4) have a positive long-term effect on the social fabric of Australia.Read moreRead less
Multi-modal, Multi-dimensional Virtual Microscopy for Diagnostic Quantitative Pathology. This project will contribute to the development of a new generation of virtual microscopy (VM) systems that provide new and innovative features capable of significantly increasing the adoption of digital imaging technology throughout the field of pathology. These systems have the potential to significantly enhance the efficiency and efficacy of not only primary diagnostic workflows, but also aspects of profi ....Multi-modal, Multi-dimensional Virtual Microscopy for Diagnostic Quantitative Pathology. This project will contribute to the development of a new generation of virtual microscopy (VM) systems that provide new and innovative features capable of significantly increasing the adoption of digital imaging technology throughout the field of pathology. These systems have the potential to significantly enhance the efficiency and efficacy of not only primary diagnostic workflows, but also aspects of proficiency testing and continuing education vital for a vibrant, well regulated discipline. In addition, the project will contribute to our knowledge of the pathology assessed in the screening and diagnosis of cancers such as cervical, lung and bladder cancers.Read moreRead less
A prospective evaluation of the impact of the nurse practitioner role on emergency department service and outcomes. The local hospital emergency department (ED) is a prominent and highly utilised service in Australian communities but demand on EDs is increasing, resulting in significant service delays. This project will study the composition of ED clinical teams around Australia and their impact on improving the timeliness and quality of emergency clinical care.
Design of an electronic guideline-driven decision support framework for home and community telehealth settings. With rapid advancements in the use of telecare-based health support in several emerging clinical areas, integrating these services within a stable guideline-driven decision support framework will support evidence-best practice in this setting, as well as improving efficiencies in clinical work practice and error minimisation through automation. The result could have a profound socio-ec ....Design of an electronic guideline-driven decision support framework for home and community telehealth settings. With rapid advancements in the use of telecare-based health support in several emerging clinical areas, integrating these services within a stable guideline-driven decision support framework will support evidence-best practice in this setting, as well as improving efficiencies in clinical work practice and error minimisation through automation. The result could have a profound socio-economic impact on the community and a sizable impact on healthcare outcomes; notwithstanding the substantial contribution it has to advancing the knowledge of medical decision support systems, supporting the national technology focus on health technology interoperability, and raising the profile of Australia as the foremost leader in the telecare area. Read moreRead less
The early communicative environment prior to and following cochlear implants: impact on children's early communicative and cognitive development. This research with children with cochlear implants will examine the effect on language development of being in an oral environment or one that also includes sign language. The outcomes will provide information for parents and professionals enabling informed decision about the management of the children to promote the best possible outcomes.
Fostering lifelong connections for children in permanent care. The out-of-home care sector in Australia is undergoing transformation to ensure children who cannot be restored to birth families exit care to permanent families. New South Wales is leading the way on these reforms. The emerging Australian policy model, permanency with lifelong connection to birth families, is distinctly different from the policy models in similar Western nations. While the Australian policy goal is clear, practices ....Fostering lifelong connections for children in permanent care. The out-of-home care sector in Australia is undergoing transformation to ensure children who cannot be restored to birth families exit care to permanent families. New South Wales is leading the way on these reforms. The emerging Australian policy model, permanency with lifelong connection to birth families, is distinctly different from the policy models in similar Western nations. While the Australian policy goal is clear, practices for achieving this goal are under-developed. This action research project will engage the New South Wales out-of-home care sector to design and trial relationship-building practices that promote positive relationships between children and their birth families.Read moreRead less
Numerical Modelling and Experimental Studies to Design and Engineer Nanoparticulate Systems for Bioapplications. Project outcomes will enhance Australia's reputation for scientific innovation in the field of bio-nanotechnology. The project will expand the knowledge base in this area and increase Australia's international profile in research on nanomaterials for bio-related applications. The project partners UNSW and Australian company (Minomic), integrating their skills, expertise and facilities ....Numerical Modelling and Experimental Studies to Design and Engineer Nanoparticulate Systems for Bioapplications. Project outcomes will enhance Australia's reputation for scientific innovation in the field of bio-nanotechnology. The project will expand the knowledge base in this area and increase Australia's international profile in research on nanomaterials for bio-related applications. The project partners UNSW and Australian company (Minomic), integrating their skills, expertise and facilities to address current limitations in understanding the stability of magnetic nanoparticles in biological fluids. The Australian partners will play a leading role in commercializing new applications for functionalized magnetic nanoparticles. The project will provide an excellent multidisciplinary research environment and training for early career researchers.Read moreRead less
Fate of micropollutants in water recycling: influence of dissolved organic matter. Access to safe drinking water is essential for the economic and social development of Australia. There is increasing interest in applying advanced water treatment processes, such as membrane filtration or ozonation, to treat secondary effluent to a potable standard. This project promotes improved organic pollutant removal and monitoring during advanced water treatment and will contribute to the National Research P ....Fate of micropollutants in water recycling: influence of dissolved organic matter. Access to safe drinking water is essential for the economic and social development of Australia. There is increasing interest in applying advanced water treatment processes, such as membrane filtration or ozonation, to treat secondary effluent to a potable standard. This project promotes improved organic pollutant removal and monitoring during advanced water treatment and will contribute to the National Research Priority goal, water - a critical resource, by providing the increased protection of receiving waters including rivers and seawater. Further, as very few studies consider the role of dissolved organic matter for organic pollutant fate in water reuse internationally, this project will help to advance Australia's position in science.Read moreRead less