Effects Of Circadian Disruption And Sleep Deprivation In Respiratory Disorders
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$408,000.00
Summary
This project aims to determine the impact of reduced sleep hours and jet lag-sleep time shift in two very common breathing disorders; sleep apnea (snoring sickness) and asthma. We will also make measurements in healthy normal people as well. Reduced sleep hours are common in many sections of society due to a number of factors, including increased work hours, overtime, shiftwork, medical conditions (sleep and other medical disorders), caring for a new baby, and other family and social demands. In ....This project aims to determine the impact of reduced sleep hours and jet lag-sleep time shift in two very common breathing disorders; sleep apnea (snoring sickness) and asthma. We will also make measurements in healthy normal people as well. Reduced sleep hours are common in many sections of society due to a number of factors, including increased work hours, overtime, shiftwork, medical conditions (sleep and other medical disorders), caring for a new baby, and other family and social demands. In addition, body clock disruption due to shiftwork, transmeridien travel, circadian based sleep disorders and other factors that shift the timing of normal sleep-wake behaviour is also very prevalent in today's society. The effects of reduced sleep hours and jet lag-sleep time shift effect a number of body systems but have only been studied to a limited extent in the breathing system. Jet lag-sleep time shift changes are result of changes to the body clock rhythms - these rhythms effect coordinate activities of essentially all bodily functions, vigilance and thinking, heart, breathing, hormones, bowel function and the immune system that fights off infection and cancer. Together, this body clock system and sleep coordinate the majority of systems of the body and brain. This project will address a number of questions including whether reduced sleep hours worsen brain function in sleep apnea or whether shifting sleep (jet lag effect) can worsen airway function and increase risk of asthma. We will use two types of study - simulated jet lag and reduced sleep hours under complete laboratory supervision to test our theoriesRead moreRead less
A Case-control Study Of Environment And Breast Cancer
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$808,948.00
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Australian women and there have been a number of recent events which have raised public concern that occupational exposures are contributing to the increasing occurrence of this cancer. In this study, we will investigate occupational causes of breast cancer, particularly shift work, industrial solvent use and combustion products. We will compare occupations of 1000 women with breast cancer and 2000 women without cancer.
How to do more and be more with less? Exploring Paucity Management strategies for resource poor community organisations in NSW. The research will examine the managerial strengths community organisations have developed and specialised to survive and strive under conditions of financial hardship. The aim is to develop a set of management strategies whereby organisations can do better with fewer resources. The concept of 'Paucity Management' will be tested to examine how community organisations can ....How to do more and be more with less? Exploring Paucity Management strategies for resource poor community organisations in NSW. The research will examine the managerial strengths community organisations have developed and specialised to survive and strive under conditions of financial hardship. The aim is to develop a set of management strategies whereby organisations can do better with fewer resources. The concept of 'Paucity Management' will be tested to examine how community organisations can operate with greater efficiency and ethically under such conditions.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100391
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$418,228.00
Summary
Reducing Gendered Harm in Involuntary Mental Health Service Provision. Involuntary mental health treatment is often traumatising, with women reporting additional gendered dimensions of harm. Using an action research framework that draws upon the voices of service users, families and professionals, this study aims to develop improved strategies for responding to acute mental distress in women, with a focus on reducing coercion. Expected outcomes include enhanced understandings of the experiences ....Reducing Gendered Harm in Involuntary Mental Health Service Provision. Involuntary mental health treatment is often traumatising, with women reporting additional gendered dimensions of harm. Using an action research framework that draws upon the voices of service users, families and professionals, this study aims to develop improved strategies for responding to acute mental distress in women, with a focus on reducing coercion. Expected outcomes include enhanced understandings of the experiences and impacts of compulsory mental health treatment on women and a co-designed online resource that will support the development of effective, realistic and non-coercive practices in frontline mental healthcare. The project will provide substantial benefits to mental health reform at a national and international level.Read moreRead less
A theoretical framework for elder abuse to guide social work practice. This project aims to develop a theoretical framework to assist health social workers to effectively assess and intervene in elder abuse. Social workers have responsibility in health settings to respond when abuse is noticed. Elder abuse damages trust, increases health costs and hastens death. Improving practice to assist older people who are abused relies on the knowledge, experiences and wishes of older people, social worker ....A theoretical framework for elder abuse to guide social work practice. This project aims to develop a theoretical framework to assist health social workers to effectively assess and intervene in elder abuse. Social workers have responsibility in health settings to respond when abuse is noticed. Elder abuse damages trust, increases health costs and hastens death. Improving practice to assist older people who are abused relies on the knowledge, experiences and wishes of older people, social workers and international experts to provide an effective and efficient theoretical model to address elder abuse.
A new framework will allow practitioners to assist vulnerable older people and improve the quality of their lives. Further, this information will assist the government to address elder abuse in Australia.Read moreRead less
Virtuous Practitioners: Empowering Social Workers. The project aims to analyse and develop core virtues of social workers to strengthen the social fabric of individuals, families and communities. The increasing demand for sound judgement and appropriate decision making, often in the unpredictable and uncertain contexts, necessitates a focus on virtue-led social workers’ action. The interdisciplinary and mixed method analysis will demonstrate the largely neglected role of virtues and or character ....Virtuous Practitioners: Empowering Social Workers. The project aims to analyse and develop core virtues of social workers to strengthen the social fabric of individuals, families and communities. The increasing demand for sound judgement and appropriate decision making, often in the unpredictable and uncertain contexts, necessitates a focus on virtue-led social workers’ action. The interdisciplinary and mixed method analysis will demonstrate the largely neglected role of virtues and or character dispositions in facilitating improved social services and in building stronger communities. The research will have both theoretical and practical implications for virtue-led social work practice that will result in communities living healthy, productive and fulfilling lives. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE130100047
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$309,150.00
Summary
Electronic information systems and human service organisations: the development of systems for the future. There is growing concern that current forms of electronic information systems (IS) being used in social welfare agencies are undermining rather than supporting service delivery. This project will contribute to the development of new forms of IS that support frontline practitioners and thereby improve welfare services.
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