Individual, social and physical environmental influences on children's active transport and independent mobility. Childhood obesity is likely to have significant economic and social impacts on Australian society. Preventing further increases in this disease is crucial, particularly among children at high risk such as those living in rural or disadvantaged areas. The promotion of behaviours such as active transport may have a significant benefit for public health; however little is known about wh ....Individual, social and physical environmental influences on children's active transport and independent mobility. Childhood obesity is likely to have significant economic and social impacts on Australian society. Preventing further increases in this disease is crucial, particularly among children at high risk such as those living in rural or disadvantaged areas. The promotion of behaviours such as active transport may have a significant benefit for public health; however little is known about what influences active transport among children in rural or disadvantaged areas. This study will identify important factors influencing active transport and will directly inform strategies aiming to promote health and wellbeing, thereby creating a healthier generation of Australian children.Read moreRead less
Student retention beyond the compulsory schooling years in rural, regional and disadvantaged communities. This project will incorporate longitudinal mixed-methods study to investigate the factors that influence student retention in schooling beyond the compulsory years in rural, regional and disadvantaged communities. Research outcomes will identify best-practice educational strategies to enhance retention in such communities across Australia.
Improving Regional Low SES Students' Learning and Wellbeing. This study aims to address the learning and wellbeing needs of over 7000 predominantly low socio-economic status students in regional Australia by researching the conditions that enable refinement and extension of a successful curricular and wellbeing program. The current low educational performance of this student cohort has significant negative effects on individual employment prospects and broader national productivity. Their under- ....Improving Regional Low SES Students' Learning and Wellbeing. This study aims to address the learning and wellbeing needs of over 7000 predominantly low socio-economic status students in regional Australia by researching the conditions that enable refinement and extension of a successful curricular and wellbeing program. The current low educational performance of this student cohort has significant negative effects on individual employment prospects and broader national productivity. Their under-achievement and disengagement from schooling also contribute to many antisocial, harmful short-and long-term outcomes for individuals, with significant health and other costs to the broader community. Outcomes from the project have the potential to improve these current outcomes and to be applicable to similar settings.Read moreRead less
Building futures for young Australians at risk: a coordinated measurement framework and data archive. This project will build a national data base of evidence about and for programs that address the needs of the 16 per cent of young Australians currently at risk of school non-completion. It will generate important knowledge for program improvement and sustainability and coordination of evidence across diverse and fragmented programs.
Architectural Work Cultures: professional identity, education and wellbeing. This project aims to examine the work and study cultures of architecture in Australia, in relation to professional identity, and in terms of impact on wellbeing, with a whole-of-career scope spanning education to retirement. It will generate the first comprehensive account of work-related wellbeing problems for both architectural practitioners and students, via qualitative and quantitative methods and a vigorous engagem ....Architectural Work Cultures: professional identity, education and wellbeing. This project aims to examine the work and study cultures of architecture in Australia, in relation to professional identity, and in terms of impact on wellbeing, with a whole-of-career scope spanning education to retirement. It will generate the first comprehensive account of work-related wellbeing problems for both architectural practitioners and students, via qualitative and quantitative methods and a vigorous engagement with the profession. Expected outcomes include two toolkits to assist the profession to support cultural change across educational, workplace and institutional settings. This should provide significant benefits for the wellbeing of architects at all career stages, and also support the long-term viability of the sector.Read moreRead less
Community Engagement for Productive Ageing: Models to support rural healthy ageing through the maintenance of community involvement and contribution. Governments at all levels are concerned about the looming social and economic challenges flowing from an ageing population. At present, ageing services are largely focussed on caring for the frail dependent aged. Yet, ultimately, the key to meeting the ageing challenge will lie in how successful we are in supporting our healthy independent aged to ....Community Engagement for Productive Ageing: Models to support rural healthy ageing through the maintenance of community involvement and contribution. Governments at all levels are concerned about the looming social and economic challenges flowing from an ageing population. At present, ageing services are largely focussed on caring for the frail dependent aged. Yet, ultimately, the key to meeting the ageing challenge will lie in how successful we are in supporting our healthy independent aged to stay contributing and productive members of their community. By developing evidence-based interventions that focus on preventing social disengagement before it occurs, the project provides a cost effective approach to ensuring that Australia's rapidly growing aged cohort remain social assets and do not become social burdens.Read moreRead less
The effects of maternal attachment, marital satisfaction and sensitivity to infants on infants attachment and adjustment: A longitudinal-structural equation study. This study will examine how family and attachment factors effect the adjustment of infant at 24 months of age. A longitudinal study, using structural equation method, will examine how maternal attachment and marital satisfaction when infants are 4 months of age will effect maternal parenting behaviors two months later, and how all thr ....The effects of maternal attachment, marital satisfaction and sensitivity to infants on infants attachment and adjustment: A longitudinal-structural equation study. This study will examine how family and attachment factors effect the adjustment of infant at 24 months of age. A longitudinal study, using structural equation method, will examine how maternal attachment and marital satisfaction when infants are 4 months of age will effect maternal parenting behaviors two months later, and how all three of these measures will effect infant attachment 6 months later. It will then examine how all four of these measures will effect the adjustment of infants 12 months later. The study will have important implications for early intervention and prevention of psychological problems in infants and children.Read moreRead less
Modeling Healthcare Systems. An efficient healthcare system is essential for the well-being of any society. The aim of the project is to develop major advances in the mathematical modelling of healthcare systems, in order to improve efficiency, and ultimately, patient health. The first expected outcome is the development of mathematical models that constitute a high-level description of patient flow through hospitals and subacute care, so that demands for emergency and elective capacity are met ....Modeling Healthcare Systems. An efficient healthcare system is essential for the well-being of any society. The aim of the project is to develop major advances in the mathematical modelling of healthcare systems, in order to improve efficiency, and ultimately, patient health. The first expected outcome is the development of mathematical models that constitute a high-level description of patient flow through hospitals and subacute care, so that demands for emergency and elective capacity are met given limited resources. The second is the development of a bed allocation algorithm that allocates patients to appropriate wards, so as to optimise the set of performance indicators of the system under appropriate constraints, given the current ward occupancy.Read moreRead less
Navigating an uncertain antimicrobial future: a sociological study. This project aims to develop a unique understanding of what governs antibiotic use in the health sector and how it can be governed more effectively. The project will critically assess the implementation of governance, and how regulatory and legislative environments may resonate or contrast with the demands of practice. This will support the development of strategies to improve antibiotic use and reduce resistance.
Estimating per capita use and release of chemicals by wastewater analysis. This project aims to systematically collect and analyse wastewater to assess human exposure to chemicals including drugs, pharmaceuticals, lifestyle chemicals and environmental pollutants. By combining temporal sampling from key sewage treatment plants with comprehensive nationwide sampling over the week of the 2016 census day, the project expects to estimate the per-capita human exposure to chemicals in the Australian po ....Estimating per capita use and release of chemicals by wastewater analysis. This project aims to systematically collect and analyse wastewater to assess human exposure to chemicals including drugs, pharmaceuticals, lifestyle chemicals and environmental pollutants. By combining temporal sampling from key sewage treatment plants with comprehensive nationwide sampling over the week of the 2016 census day, the project expects to estimate the per-capita human exposure to chemicals in the Australian population. Accurate and objective per-capita based consumption and release estimates for a wide range of chemicals is intended to provide a baseline against which to measure changes in our chemosphere.Read moreRead less