Time of day, time awake and alcohol: the effects on fatigue and performance. The results of this study will clarify the effects of sleep deprivation and time of day on the experiences of fatigue and on performance. This information will have a direct impact on policy and practice relating to the management of fatigue. The results will have a direct impact on community safety, especially on the road and in the workplace. The study therefore has direct relevance for guidelines and regulations de ....Time of day, time awake and alcohol: the effects on fatigue and performance. The results of this study will clarify the effects of sleep deprivation and time of day on the experiences of fatigue and on performance. This information will have a direct impact on policy and practice relating to the management of fatigue. The results will have a direct impact on community safety, especially on the road and in the workplace. The study therefore has direct relevance for guidelines and regulations deveoped by bodies such as national and state road safety and workplace health and safety bodies.Read moreRead less
Excessive sitting and population health: strengthening the science and the relevance to policy and practice. The majority of Australian adults spend most of their waking hours sitting; this increases the likelihood of developing diseases of inactivity, including diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. New research will investigate what factors encourage excessive sitting and what the health benefits are for people who deliberately do less sitting.
Brief naps as a countermeasure to fatigue. The proposed research will be necessary in order to identify the best length of nap to reduce fatigue both in the afternoon and in the early morning hours. It may also discover that naps of certain lengths may impair performance and safety under some conditions. Thus the proposed research is crucial in order to develop a non-drug countermeasure for fatigue in conditions of impaired performance and safety. Therefore, it will play an important occupati ....Brief naps as a countermeasure to fatigue. The proposed research will be necessary in order to identify the best length of nap to reduce fatigue both in the afternoon and in the early morning hours. It may also discover that naps of certain lengths may impair performance and safety under some conditions. Thus the proposed research is crucial in order to develop a non-drug countermeasure for fatigue in conditions of impaired performance and safety. Therefore, it will play an important occupational health and safety role on the job in the afternoon day shift and the early morning during night shift work.. Furthermore, it will improve general quality and productivity of life in a culture of increasing fatigue.Read moreRead less
Assessing the social and environmental determinants of seasonal influenza outbreaks. This project aims to examine the potential social and environmental predictors of seasonal influenza outbreaks across temperate and tropical climates. It will develop a spatiotemporal model to identify where, when and who is most susceptible to changes of risk in influenza epidemic-prone regions of Queensland, Australia and Gansu province and Shanghai City, China. A spatiotemporal predictive model for influenza ....Assessing the social and environmental determinants of seasonal influenza outbreaks. This project aims to examine the potential social and environmental predictors of seasonal influenza outbreaks across temperate and tropical climates. It will develop a spatiotemporal model to identify where, when and who is most susceptible to changes of risk in influenza epidemic-prone regions of Queensland, Australia and Gansu province and Shanghai City, China. A spatiotemporal predictive model for influenza will be useful for the early identification of impending epidemics, which will lead to a more rapid and efficiently targeted response than is possible with the current system, thereby reducing the magnitude and health and economic impact of epidemics.Read moreRead less
Terrorism, Pandemic Influenza, and Global Warming: Future Conceptualisations and Societal Resilience. Understanding the potential and actual impact of mass adversity on individual and societal resilience and conceptualisation of the future will help improve the preparedness, response, and recovery by emergency workers, individuals, and society to these events. Guiding likely individual and social behaviours at an appropriate time will help to avoid or mitigate negative social, economic, and heal ....Terrorism, Pandemic Influenza, and Global Warming: Future Conceptualisations and Societal Resilience. Understanding the potential and actual impact of mass adversity on individual and societal resilience and conceptualisation of the future will help improve the preparedness, response, and recovery by emergency workers, individuals, and society to these events. Guiding likely individual and social behaviours at an appropriate time will help to avoid or mitigate negative social, economic, and health impacts. Studying Bali survivors will lead to an understanding of how their experiences and recoveries have impacted their behaviours and perception of the future, and will identify the most effective professional and community responses to future threat. Read moreRead less
Improving Outcome after Stroke through Earlier Rehabilitation: The Very Early Rehabilitation Research Program. Stroke presents a major, growing global public health challenge accounting for 25% of all chronic disability. Treatments that reduce the burden of stroke are urgently needed, and early rehabilitation may significantly reduce chronic disability. A large, high quality, National Health and Medical Research Council funded clinical trial is at the heart of the A Very Early Rehabilitation Tri ....Improving Outcome after Stroke through Earlier Rehabilitation: The Very Early Rehabilitation Research Program. Stroke presents a major, growing global public health challenge accounting for 25% of all chronic disability. Treatments that reduce the burden of stroke are urgently needed, and early rehabilitation may significantly reduce chronic disability. A large, high quality, National Health and Medical Research Council funded clinical trial is at the heart of the A Very Early Rehabilitation Trial (AVERT) program. The trial tests whether a simple, rehabilitation intervention (early and intensive out of bed activity) results in fewer deaths and less disability for stroke sufferers and is cost effective. If effective the intervention could be adopted across different health services both here and overseas, reducing the global burden of stroke.Read moreRead less
Investigating older Australians' beliefs about and understanding of mental health and their practice of relevant protective behaviours. Healthy ageing and mental health are acknowledged national priorities. This project will generate new knowledge relating to older Australians' mental health literacy and the motivators and barriers influencing their engagement in protective behaviours. The resulting communications strategy will provide tangible outcomes for the industry partners to utilise. The ....Investigating older Australians' beliefs about and understanding of mental health and their practice of relevant protective behaviours. Healthy ageing and mental health are acknowledged national priorities. This project will generate new knowledge relating to older Australians' mental health literacy and the motivators and barriers influencing their engagement in protective behaviours. The resulting communications strategy will provide tangible outcomes for the industry partners to utilise. The project will thus produce knowledge advancement and tools for practitioners, both of which will enhance public welfare and reduce long-term healthcare costs. While this project focuses on older Australians, those of all ages will benefit from a communications campaign that provides individuals with knowledge to protect and strengthen their mental health.Read moreRead less
Geelong Healthy Eating and Active Play for Under Fives. Helping children achieve a healthier weight is a major national health priority. About 30% of 4 and 5 year old children are already overweight or obese. Action is urgently needed to prevent further increases yet there have been very few studies in the area. The Geelong Under-5s project in will measure the impact of a comprehensive intervention designed to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity by modifying day care and kindergarte ....Geelong Healthy Eating and Active Play for Under Fives. Helping children achieve a healthier weight is a major national health priority. About 30% of 4 and 5 year old children are already overweight or obese. Action is urgently needed to prevent further increases yet there have been very few studies in the area. The Geelong Under-5s project in will measure the impact of a comprehensive intervention designed to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity by modifying day care and kindergarten settings, by increasing the capacity of staff to teach and model healthy eating and physical activity patterns, and by educating parents at receptive moments in their child's life.Read moreRead less
Understanding fertility management in contemporary Australia. Fertility management, including unintended pregnancy and infertility carry substantial public costs including increased health service use and reduced economic participation. Both are experienced in individual lives, contributing to disappointed life goals, altered social and family relationships, the burden of stigma, and compromised physical and mental health. The goal of this research is to reduce the public and personal costs of s ....Understanding fertility management in contemporary Australia. Fertility management, including unintended pregnancy and infertility carry substantial public costs including increased health service use and reduced economic participation. Both are experienced in individual lives, contributing to disappointed life goals, altered social and family relationships, the burden of stigma, and compromised physical and mental health. The goal of this research is to reduce the public and personal costs of sub-optimal fertility management by providing the knowledge for improving national reproductive and sexual health promotion strategies. The consequence will be increased likelihood that pregnancies are intended and reproductive hopes realised. Data will contribute to National Research Priorities of promoting health and strengthening families.Read moreRead less
The impact of park renewal on park usage and park-based physical activity. The study will examine whether the refurbishment of a park located in a low socio-economic area of Melbourne has an impact on park usage and park-based physical activity. The findings will help inform the design of future parks to optimise park usage and physical activity performed within the park.