Addressing time scarcity: feasible strategies for a healthy future. Lack of time is the main reason people say they don't exercise, take public transport or eat healthy food, and for many Australians (especially parents who combine working with raising children) time pressure is acute. This program of research will provide ways to reduce time barriers, to make healthy and sustainable living more feasible.
A Multi-setting Intervention To Reduce Sedentary Behaviour, Promote Physical Activity And Improve Childrens Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$860,343.00
Summary
Sedentary behaviours and physical inactivity play a major role in the rising prevalence of obesity among children in Australia. This intervention study will take place in the school and family settings which play a critical role in shaping children's health behaviours. The objective is to determine whether a 2-year behavioural intervention reduces sedentary behaviour and promotes physical activity and results in improved health among 8-9 year old children.
Centre Of Research Excellence On Sitting Time And Chronic Disease Prevention – Mechanisms, Measurement And Interventions
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$2,657,874.00
Summary
Australian research has identified serious health consequences arising from the 7 to 10 hours of daily sitting that most people do, especially in relation to ‘diseases of inactivity’ – type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and breast and colon cancer – that are an unwelcome burden on individuals, families and health systems. This new research examines the practical feasibility and the preventive-health benefits of changing children’s and adults’ sitting time in schools, workplaces and the home ....Australian research has identified serious health consequences arising from the 7 to 10 hours of daily sitting that most people do, especially in relation to ‘diseases of inactivity’ – type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and breast and colon cancer – that are an unwelcome burden on individuals, families and health systems. This new research examines the practical feasibility and the preventive-health benefits of changing children’s and adults’ sitting time in schools, workplaces and the home environment.Read moreRead less
RFIDS: Identifying The Health And Well-being Benefits Of Recreational Fishing
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$29,459.89
Summary
Recreational fishing is a form of outdoor recreation providing physiological, psychological and social benefits to the community. These benefits, while widely recognised, are inherently difficult to identify and quantify. This project will collate research efforts, initiatives and programs currently underway in Australia around the topic of recreational fishing, health and well-being. This investigation will increase understanding of the health and well-being benefits derived from recreational f ....Recreational fishing is a form of outdoor recreation providing physiological, psychological and social benefits to the community. These benefits, while widely recognised, are inherently difficult to identify and quantify. This project will collate research efforts, initiatives and programs currently underway in Australia around the topic of recreational fishing, health and well-being. This investigation will increase understanding of the health and well-being benefits derived from recreational fishing for different community sectors and stages of life. Determination of the health and well-being benefits to communities from recreational fishing will allow for consideration of these factors in allocation of resources. As an outdoor pursuit that can be enjoyed throughout life, it is important that the recreational fishing sector is recognised for promotion of well-being. Factors requiring consideration include a positive impact on mental health, perceived well-being, prevention of chronic disease and associated reductions in health care burden. These and other factors need to be considered for the true value of recreational fishing to be recognised. Recreational fishing is one of the few outdoor recreational activites that can be enjoyed at almost any age regrardless of skill, experieince or disability. Outcomes of Australian Institute of Criminology research investigating sport, physical activity and antisocial behaviour in youth, as well as international efforts such as the UK 'Get Hooked on Fishing' initiative aimed at providing diversions for youth from antisocial behaviour, will be included in the final analysis. This project represents a first step in consolidating the value of recreational fishing across Australia.
Objectives: 1. Identify current research activities and programs in Australia relating to recreational fishing and health or well-being. 2. Investigate the impact of recreational fishing on the health and well-being of Australian Society Read moreRead less
'Digital Natives': Growing up with new and old media in Australia. Developing a sophisticated digital literacy is important for both the future of children, the cultural, social and economic well-being of the nation. Digital literacy requires not only communications infrastructure but targeted investment in human skills. Investing in the development of a digitally literate Australian population has become an explicit means for promoting the future economic and social well-being of the nation. Th ....'Digital Natives': Growing up with new and old media in Australia. Developing a sophisticated digital literacy is important for both the future of children, the cultural, social and economic well-being of the nation. Digital literacy requires not only communications infrastructure but targeted investment in human skills. Investing in the development of a digitally literate Australian population has become an explicit means for promoting the future economic and social well-being of the nation. The information provided by this project has the potential to contribute significantly to giving children 'a healthy start to life' in their early years. Read moreRead less
Development Of Fish Health Indicators For The Gladstone Harbour Report Card
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$156,370.69
Summary
This application answers a request for Expressions of Interest for an FRDC and GHHP project to develop a fish sampling program and fish health indicators for the Gladstone Harbour Report Card. The project will review and test approaches, drawing on earlier work commissioned by GHHP (Cowled, 2016; Kroon et al., 2016).
Fish are key biological indicators of environmental contamination, as they are continuously exposed, ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystems, and play an important ecological rol ....This application answers a request for Expressions of Interest for an FRDC and GHHP project to develop a fish sampling program and fish health indicators for the Gladstone Harbour Report Card. The project will review and test approaches, drawing on earlier work commissioned by GHHP (Cowled, 2016; Kroon et al., 2016).
Fish are key biological indicators of environmental contamination, as they are continuously exposed, ubiquitous in aquatic ecosystems, and play an important ecological role (van der Oost et al., 2003). When employing fish as indicators of ecosystem health, most Australian programs consider assemblages and community structure. This approach is well-tested and simple to deploy. Its limitations are that extensive sampling can be required to ensure the monitoring program is spatially and temporally representative, avoids sampling gear bias and guarantees sufficient statistical power to detect change. The alternative approach is to measure indicators of individual fish health, such as morphometry, gross pathology, histopathology (Mishra and Mohanty, 2009), fish parasite load and diversity (Sasal et al., 2007) or chromosomal mutations (Pak et al., 2012). Other measures, such as bioaccumulation of contaminants, do not necessarily indicate poor fish health but can be useful for assessing ecosystem condition. Fish health indicators range from relatively low cost to high cost and complexity.
For this project, the preference is for testing and development of low-medium categories of indicators such as external examination, morphometry, gross pathology, parasite count and application of the health assessment index (Cowled, 2016). We will review suitable fish monitoring methods, develop and test cost-effective data collection approaches for Gladstone Harbour using adaptive sampling, evaluate the potential to transfer methods and indicators to similar areas, and produce fish indicators for inclusion in the 2017-18 Gladstone Harbour Report Card.
Future monitoring costs for 2019 are estimated at $45,324 (ex GST), not included in the budget.
Objectives: 1. To review and identify suitable methods to monitor fish health in the Gladstone Harbour. 2. To develop and implement a data collection approach by the end of June 2018 to monitor fish health in the Gladstone Harbour that is both cost-effective and suitable for a fish health indicator. 3. To evaluate the potential to adapt and transfer the methods and indicators developed to monitor fish health in other estuaries and ports in Northern Australia. 4. To develop fish health indicator(s) based on the data collected and apply them to the 2017-18 Gladstone Harbour Report Card. Read moreRead less
A Study Of Fishery-induced Mortality Of Under-sized Rock Lobsters
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Summary
Objectives: 1. Collect & analyse data on fishing practice in handling under-sized western rock lobsters; , & 2. study behaviour, survival rate & subsequent growth rates after return to sea 3. effect of fishing practice on survey & subsequent growth of eff-bearing ("berried") rock lobsters
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100829
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$353,000.00
Summary
The effects of parental education on child health outcomes. This project aims to understand how public education policies can improve health. Common economic analysis of returns to education fails to capture the critical secondary beneficial effects of parental education on future generations’ health. These positive effects are systematically undercounted in the cost-benefit analysis of Australia’s investment in education. This project will use Australian datasets and natural experiments to iden ....The effects of parental education on child health outcomes. This project aims to understand how public education policies can improve health. Common economic analysis of returns to education fails to capture the critical secondary beneficial effects of parental education on future generations’ health. These positive effects are systematically undercounted in the cost-benefit analysis of Australia’s investment in education. This project will use Australian datasets and natural experiments to identify how parental education affects the health outcomes of the second generation. This project expects to provide policy recommendations to maximise health, wellbeing and economic outcomes for Australia.Read moreRead less
Importance Of Shallow Water Reef/algal Habitats As Nursery Areas For Commercial Fish From Temperate Australia
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$425,993.00
Summary
Objectives: 1. To describe and quantify patterns of utilisation of shallow water reef/algal habitats in SE Australia by juvenile fishes of commercial significance.
Tactical Research Fund: Spreading The Risk: Management Strategies For Multi-method Inshore Fisheries In A Changing Climate
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$14,900.00
Summary
The NSW Department of Primary Industries continues to work with the NSW commercial fishing industry to investigate structural changes to the management of commercial fisheries which will lead to improvements in efficiency and profitability. One issue that requires consideration in these deliberations is the highly variable inshore-offshore production that is linked with rainfall in coastal NSW. Such changes are exacerbated during periods of drought or flood and result in significant shifts in th ....The NSW Department of Primary Industries continues to work with the NSW commercial fishing industry to investigate structural changes to the management of commercial fisheries which will lead to improvements in efficiency and profitability. One issue that requires consideration in these deliberations is the highly variable inshore-offshore production that is linked with rainfall in coastal NSW. Such changes are exacerbated during periods of drought or flood and result in significant shifts in the behaviour of fishers. It is expected that such variations in rainfall will continue, and are likely to become more extreme, under projected climate change scenarios.
This project will examine the NSW commercial catch records and ascertain if there are patterns of endorsement holdings that are the basis of more robust fishing businesses during periods of drought or flood. We expect that many fishers will understand these patterns based upon extensive practical experience, but an empirical confirmation of such patterns will lend additional weight to any associated decisions by government and industry.
This project will also shed light upon an important facet of risk management in fisheries. The textbook economic argument that increased specialisation results in increased efficiency must be contrasted with potential lost opportunities for fisheries production in a highly variable environment. The adage "don't put all your eggs in one basket" is likely to be highly applicable for inshore and coastal fisheries in NSW. Increased specialisation will likely be associated with costs as well as benefits.
Objectives: 1. Identify the patterns of fishing endorsements that will make NSW fishing businesses more robust to the likely changes in freshwater flow that will result from climate change. Read moreRead less