Attraction and retention: the role of mobility in educational pathways and human capital development. This project will examine the factors that attract and retain school leavers and tertiary graduates in cities, towns and rural areas of non-metropolitan Victoria. It will increase understanding of how spatial mobility shapes young people's transition through higher education to adulthood and guide regional development policy to enhance human capital.
Evaluating the effectiveness of fire safety programs in emergency services management. Measuring the effectiveness of fire safety programs is critical to minimising economic costs, optimising resource utilisation and mitigating risk to individuals of injury and death. This project will be the first study to develop a methodological framework that integrates geographical, statistical and temporal analyses for their evaluation.
Designing dendrimer-based lymphatic drug vectors as improved treatments for metastatic cancer. This project builds on areas of research strength in Australia (nanotechnology and biotechnology/biomaterials) and will add considerably to the expanding Australian expertise-base in dendrimer technology (in which it is a world leader). The project will advance the fundamental science base that underpins dendrimer design and has the potential to deliver substantial benefits in improved drug delivery an ....Designing dendrimer-based lymphatic drug vectors as improved treatments for metastatic cancer. This project builds on areas of research strength in Australia (nanotechnology and biotechnology/biomaterials) and will add considerably to the expanding Australian expertise-base in dendrimer technology (in which it is a world leader). The project will advance the fundamental science base that underpins dendrimer design and has the potential to deliver substantial benefits in improved drug delivery and therefore health outcomes for Australia. The interdisciplinary nature of this project will also result in a unique training program for the researchers involved. Such experience is in great demand in Australia where the developing biotechnology and nanotechnology industry is critically short of scientists with skills in drug delivery.Read moreRead less
Enhanced agency response strategies through modelling geo-temporal characteristics of emergency services calls. Understanding the timing and geographic distribution of emergency calls to agencies such as Fire, Police and Ambulance, is critical to improving emergency response and developing effective preventive strategies. In turn, improved response and prevention strategies can help save lives and minimise economic costs. This project uses advanced geographic and statistical methods to analyse f ....Enhanced agency response strategies through modelling geo-temporal characteristics of emergency services calls. Understanding the timing and geographic distribution of emergency calls to agencies such as Fire, Police and Ambulance, is critical to improving emergency response and developing effective preventive strategies. In turn, improved response and prevention strategies can help save lives and minimise economic costs. This project uses advanced geographic and statistical methods to analyse fire incidents and develop the evidence base necessary to inform effective response and prevention strategies. The project will critically assist emergency fire response, but will also provide a case study that can be adapted for other kinds of emergency response.Read moreRead less
Employment Relations Practices and Business Outcomes in a Chain of Hotels. We will investigate links between organisational behaviour and business outcomes by using employment-relations key performance indicators (KPIs). This is significant as we will develop such KPIs (building on the balanced score card approach) and evaluate the practices of Accor, a chain of hotels in Australia. Later, we will conduct international collaboration to draw international comparisons too. This research is valuabl ....Employment Relations Practices and Business Outcomes in a Chain of Hotels. We will investigate links between organisational behaviour and business outcomes by using employment-relations key performance indicators (KPIs). This is significant as we will develop such KPIs (building on the balanced score card approach) and evaluate the practices of Accor, a chain of hotels in Australia. Later, we will conduct international collaboration to draw international comparisons too. This research is valuable because hotels are important employers, especially in regional areas. The results should contribute to debates about high-performance work systems. We should be able to help to improve the quality of working lives, organisational performance, business outcomes, competitiveness and job opportunities.Read moreRead less
Development and application of wearable micro technologies for the assessment of swimming performance and activity. Australia's sporting performance at a national and international level are ingrained in the psyche of everyday Australians. It encourages sporting activity at every level of our society contributing to our well being and the development of tommorrow's athletes.
This research project will develop important tools for the assessment and servicing of our nations elite athletes, includ ....Development and application of wearable micro technologies for the assessment of swimming performance and activity. Australia's sporting performance at a national and international level are ingrained in the psyche of everyday Australians. It encourages sporting activity at every level of our society contributing to our well being and the development of tommorrow's athletes.
This research project will develop important tools for the assessment and servicing of our nations elite athletes, including those in regional areas. These tools will encompass the very latest in wearable technology and allow athletes to be measured under performance conditions rather than in the laboratory.
Assessment of human motion is also desirable as we seek to assess and aid a progressively aging population and a growing epidemic of obesity in our children.Read moreRead less
Bridging the Gap Between the Provision and Utilisation of Work-life Policies. The provision of work-life policies in Australian organisations is not enough to guarantee widespread utilisation. Under-utilisation may lead to role conflict and sub-optimal work-life balance for many employees. The aims of the project are to: (i) identify the barriers and enablers of policy usage; (ii) implement a multi-level strategic intervention; and (iii) develop a comprehensive, best-practice program which addr ....Bridging the Gap Between the Provision and Utilisation of Work-life Policies. The provision of work-life policies in Australian organisations is not enough to guarantee widespread utilisation. Under-utilisation may lead to role conflict and sub-optimal work-life balance for many employees. The aims of the project are to: (i) identify the barriers and enablers of policy usage; (ii) implement a multi-level strategic intervention; and (iii) develop a comprehensive, best-practice program which addresses under-utilisation. The significance of the research is its development and evaluation of implementation strategies, using a quasi-experimental design, which will result in a program allowing employees and organisations to utlilise work-life policies for maximum benefit with minimal negative consequences.Read moreRead less
An investigation into factors influencing coach retention and coaching career pathways. Organised sport is central to the social fabric and health of Australian communities and enhances national pride. The project will provide significant social and economic benefits for sport organisations which depend on coaches to build and sustain capacity. More coaches will enable more Australians to participate in sport which contributes to personal well being, social cohesion and success of Australian ath ....An investigation into factors influencing coach retention and coaching career pathways. Organised sport is central to the social fabric and health of Australian communities and enhances national pride. The project will provide significant social and economic benefits for sport organisations which depend on coaches to build and sustain capacity. More coaches will enable more Australians to participate in sport which contributes to personal well being, social cohesion and success of Australian athletes. The project will enhance the international reputation of Australian sport research sport and also has implications for volunteer retention in the nonprofit sector. This is critical given the policy emphasis on building social capital, making communities more resilient, and the social coalition approach to meeting community needs.Read moreRead less
Work-life balance in the construction industry: Innovative strategies for improving employee well-being and performance in project management teams. The need to balance work and family is an important social issue facing Australia. The aim of the project is to develop specific strategies to improve work-life balance outcomes, particularly in relation to performance and well-being for employees in the highly competitive construction industry. The significance of the research is in the (i) develop ....Work-life balance in the construction industry: Innovative strategies for improving employee well-being and performance in project management teams. The need to balance work and family is an important social issue facing Australia. The aim of the project is to develop specific strategies to improve work-life balance outcomes, particularly in relation to performance and well-being for employees in the highly competitive construction industry. The significance of the research is in the (i) development of the work-life balance construct as a multidimensional one based on time, involvement and satisfaction; (ii) focus on under-researched male employees and (iii) use of an innovative, applied, experimental design. The research will yield new insights into the determinants of successful work-life balance and inform policy development which is consistent with employee needs.Read moreRead less
Tracking the musculoskeletal health and performance of talented adolescent female athletes. The vision is to gain an innovative understanding of risk factors for the early detection or prevention of injury, and to identify factors that promote participation longevity in young athletes. The biomechanics explored in this study will provide a basis for larger studies in future years. Large economic and social benefits can be gained from increased knowledge of injury prevention early in life. Lowere ....Tracking the musculoskeletal health and performance of talented adolescent female athletes. The vision is to gain an innovative understanding of risk factors for the early detection or prevention of injury, and to identify factors that promote participation longevity in young athletes. The biomechanics explored in this study will provide a basis for larger studies in future years. Large economic and social benefits can be gained from increased knowledge of injury prevention early in life. Lowered injury costs provide immediate cost benefits to the nation. Ultimately, in a nation familiar with the high costs of cardiovascular and musculoskeletal diseases, the health sector of Australia will be the greatest benefactor of this project.Read moreRead less