Airborne ultrafine particles in Australian cities. There is an acute deficiency of knowledge in Australia on urban airborne ultrafine particles, originating from transport and other anthropogenic sources, which pose significant health and environmental risks. The aim of this project is to address this deficiency by an extensive multi-city, cross-disciplinary study using state of the art instrumentation and data analytic techniques. The outcome will be an in depth, quantitative insight into the c ....Airborne ultrafine particles in Australian cities. There is an acute deficiency of knowledge in Australia on urban airborne ultrafine particles, originating from transport and other anthropogenic sources, which pose significant health and environmental risks. The aim of this project is to address this deficiency by an extensive multi-city, cross-disciplinary study using state of the art instrumentation and data analytic techniques. The outcome will be an in depth, quantitative insight into the characteristics of the particles, their sources and spatial and temporal variation across different urban areas and time scales. Further, the impacts of changing fuels, vehicle technologies, and climate on future trends of the particles will be elucidated.Read moreRead less
Accessing the family violence provision: enhancing migrant women’s safety. This project aims to investigate the operation of the Family Violence Provision (Migration Regulations (Clth) 1994), designed to act as a safety net for women on temporary visas whose relationships break down due to family violence. The project expects to generate new knowledge about awareness and application processes and outcomes. Using a multi-method approach this will be the first study to examine the operation of the ....Accessing the family violence provision: enhancing migrant women’s safety. This project aims to investigate the operation of the Family Violence Provision (Migration Regulations (Clth) 1994), designed to act as a safety net for women on temporary visas whose relationships break down due to family violence. The project expects to generate new knowledge about awareness and application processes and outcomes. Using a multi-method approach this will be the first study to examine the operation of the Provision. The outcomes will offer direct benefit to the Partner Organisations, and to national stakeholders providing support to migrant women. The project is expected to strengthen support for women who have experienced family violence for whom this provision was designed. Read moreRead less
3D seismic velocity structure for geothermal exploration: a novel approach combining ambient and passive seismic methods. Australia hosts many geological locations that have the potential for geothermal energy production. This is a sustainable power resource and employs diverse technological approaches depending on local conditions. We aim to pilot a new seismic imaging method, which could become a standard in geothermal exploration around the world, to investigate natural heat sources buried ....3D seismic velocity structure for geothermal exploration: a novel approach combining ambient and passive seismic methods. Australia hosts many geological locations that have the potential for geothermal energy production. This is a sustainable power resource and employs diverse technological approaches depending on local conditions. We aim to pilot a new seismic imaging method, which could become a standard in geothermal exploration around the world, to investigate natural heat sources buried in the crust. Tasmania is an ideal pilot location with active geothermal exploration tenements held by a locally-based company.Read moreRead less
Enabling three dimensional stochastic geological modelling. This project aims to develop technologies to mitigate three dimensional (3D) geological risk in resources management. This project expects to create new knowledge and methods in the field of 3D geological modelling through the innovative application of mathematical methods, structural geology concepts and probabilistic programming. The expected outcomes are an enhanced capability to model the subsurface, characterise model uncertainty a ....Enabling three dimensional stochastic geological modelling. This project aims to develop technologies to mitigate three dimensional (3D) geological risk in resources management. This project expects to create new knowledge and methods in the field of 3D geological modelling through the innovative application of mathematical methods, structural geology concepts and probabilistic programming. The expected outcomes are an enhanced capability to model the subsurface, characterise model uncertainty and test multiple geological scenarios. This enhanced capability is important for the future of Australia's subsurface management, including urban geology and our continuously growing sustainable resources industry.Read moreRead less
New Environmental Policy Instruments and Government-Industry Strategies in Queensland. This study will examine the hypothesized benefits of environmental policy instruments such as voluntary agreements, taxes and incentives, which augment or supplant traditional regulatory approaches. It will focus on a State experiencing economic prosperity by exporting resources, and designing new institutional responses to the challenges of creating a sustainable society. The anticipated outcomes are to pro ....New Environmental Policy Instruments and Government-Industry Strategies in Queensland. This study will examine the hypothesized benefits of environmental policy instruments such as voluntary agreements, taxes and incentives, which augment or supplant traditional regulatory approaches. It will focus on a State experiencing economic prosperity by exporting resources, and designing new institutional responses to the challenges of creating a sustainable society. The anticipated outcomes are to provide research perspectives to central State government agencies that offer strategic policy advice and coordination, and concepts for understanding and influencing changes aimed at balancing the imperatives for economic development and environmental protection as well as redefining the relationship between government and industry.Read moreRead less
Effective clinical handover communication: improving patient safety, experiences and outcomes. Communication in clinical handover (transfer of responsibility for patient care) plays a causal role in many adverse events. This project will contribute new knowledge for improvements in handover communication which will be shared across hospitals and health departments nationally to improve patient safety and reduce healthcare costs.
The role of location on the effectiveness of smoke alarms. Smoke alarms in buildings are required by the Building Code of Australia (BCA), but the current requirements are less than optimal. This project will provide the basis for optimisation of smoke alarms and the number, interconnection and positioning of smoke alarms in residential buildings. This is expected to lead to reductions in fire fatalities, injuries and property loss.
The Identification and Development of Strategies for Increasing Engineering Enrolments. There is a continuing nation-wide decline in high school student enrolment in higher level mathematics and science. This is already leading to a reduction in the number of students undertaking university engineering programs in Australia and the situation is expected to worsen. This project is directed toward a better understanding of the reasons for the trend and the development of strategies to reverse it. ....The Identification and Development of Strategies for Increasing Engineering Enrolments. There is a continuing nation-wide decline in high school student enrolment in higher level mathematics and science. This is already leading to a reduction in the number of students undertaking university engineering programs in Australia and the situation is expected to worsen. This project is directed toward a better understanding of the reasons for the trend and the development of strategies to reverse it. It aims to 1. Evaluate the most effective strategies that increase student's interests and understanding of engineering and increase participation in engineering studies. 2. Develop an optimised national communication strategy for promoting engineering studies to secondary students.Read moreRead less
Silent witness: New analytical approaches to advance and enhance the forensic value of human hair. The Australian criminal justice system is under ever-increasing scrutiny with recent threats to national security. Courtroom evidence is expected to carry an objective indication of its value, largely as a result of the success and widespread application of DNA evidence. This is problematic for conventional human hair evidence which has traditionally been presented as the expert opinion of a hair e ....Silent witness: New analytical approaches to advance and enhance the forensic value of human hair. The Australian criminal justice system is under ever-increasing scrutiny with recent threats to national security. Courtroom evidence is expected to carry an objective indication of its value, largely as a result of the success and widespread application of DNA evidence. This is problematic for conventional human hair evidence which has traditionally been presented as the expert opinion of a hair examiner who has conducted a microscopic comparison. A recent wrongful conviction in Canada and an associated Royal Commission has highlighted these problems. A comprehensive new hair examination sequence employing objective techniques will increase the forensic value of human hair, one of the most common evidence types found at crime scenes.Read moreRead less
Three-dimensional Bayesian Modelling of Geological and Geophysical data. The project aims to develop technologies enabling rapid informed decision-making related to the management of natural resources, including critical metals, copper and water. This new technology will support a greener future, securing our energy future, our access to clean water and reduce the mining footprint. Expected outcomes include an enhanced capability in interoperable, integrated three-dimensional geological and geop ....Three-dimensional Bayesian Modelling of Geological and Geophysical data. The project aims to develop technologies enabling rapid informed decision-making related to the management of natural resources, including critical metals, copper and water. This new technology will support a greener future, securing our energy future, our access to clean water and reduce the mining footprint. Expected outcomes include an enhanced capability in interoperable, integrated three-dimensional geological and geophysical modelling in order to predictively characterise sub-surface geology. The outcome will be an open-source forecasting dashboard enabling decision making while considering underlying risk related to resource extractions and management with significant benefits to the Australian society (lower emissions, clean water).Read moreRead less