ORCID Profile
0000-0002-0480-5215
Current Organisations
La Trobe University
,
La Trobe University - Bendigo Campus
,
University of Melbourne
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In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Sociology | Sociology not elsewhere classified | Race and Ethnic Relations | Social and Cultural Anthropology
Ethnicity, Multiculturalism and Migrant Development and Welfare | Religion and Society |
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 23-06-0006
Abstract: Although there is growing academic and business interest in autism employment programs, few studies have examined employee (manager and coworker) attitudes toward these programs. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of workload changes (a job demand) and perceived supervisor support (a job resource) on commitment to the program and employee engagement more broadly. A total of 229 employees from two Australian public sector organizations completed a survey about the autism employment program in their organization. Perceived workload increases were associated with lower affective commitment and higher continuance commitment to the program. Perceived supervisor support was associated with higher affective commitment to the program and employee engagement, but lower continuance commitment to the program. Perceived supervisor support moderated the effect of workload increase on employee engagement, but not in the expected direction. This research helps to fill a gap in the autism employment literature by focusing on commitment toward autism employment programs among existing employees. The research helps to provide a more complete and nuanced view of these programs within their broader organizational context.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-07-2020
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 17-01-2013
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-08-2020
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan UK
Date: 2017
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan UK
Date: 2017
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 17-08-2022
DOI: 10.1177/13623613221117911
Abstract: An autism diagnosis in adulthood can increase women’s self-compassion and inform appropriate supports. This study explored what helped and hindered autistic women when accessing an adulthood autism diagnosis in Australia. Ten autistic women diagnosed as adults within the past 5 years participated in a semi-structured interview about their experiences of accessing a diagnosis. Framework analysis was used to identify barriers and facilitators on person, provider and system levels. Person-level factors included women’s recognition of their autism, motivation, preparation, social support and approach during the assessment. Provider-level factors related to providers’ level of knowledge and skill in working with autistic women, as well as the women’s experience of being dismissed or misdiagnosed. Interactions between person- and provider-level factors highlighted that the diagnostic process is relational. System-level factors included the requirements of the diagnostic process (time, financial costs, and technology) and the nature of diagnostic criteria and assessment tools used. These factors provided the context in which person-level and provider-level factors operated. The experiences of participants highlight improvements that could be made to accessing an adulthood autism diagnosis for women in Australia, including provider knowledge of the heterogeneity of autism and the development of resources to help autistic women prepare for their diagnostic assessment. An autism diagnosis can have a big impact on women and make it possible to access support. This study explored women’s experiences of being diagnosed with autism as an adult in Australia, to try to understand what was helpful (facilitators) and unhelpful (barriers) for them during this process. We interviewed 10 autistic women who had been diagnosed in the last 5 years. Framework analysis was used to understand the data. We wanted to understand barriers and facilitators relating to the in idual participants, the professionals they saw and the system they went through for their diagnostic assessment. Women reported that being able to recognise they were autistic, being motivated, preparing for the assessment, having social support and unmasking to be themselves were helpful during the diagnostic process. They reported that having a knowledgeable diagnostician who made accommodations for their needs assisted them during the assessment process. When providers dismissed the participants when they first raised the possibility they were autistic, it delayed them in seeking an assessment. At the system level, the women in this study found some aspects of the healthcare system difficult to navigate, particularly costs and long waitlists. Some found the assessment tools used were not well suited to them. The experiences of the women in this study highlight improvements that could be made to accessing an adulthood autism diagnosis in Australia. These include improving provider knowledge of the varied presentation of autism and the development of resources to help autistic women prepare for their diagnostic assessment.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-07-2019
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 26-02-2020
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2013
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan UK
Date: 2017
Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert Inc
Date: 12-2021
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 15-02-2016
Abstract: In recent times, there has been a great deal of soul-searching about terms such as ‘deception’ and ‘informed consent’ and, consequently, ethics review boards have applied the biomedical ethics model to the ethnographic endeavour and the wider social sciences. However, these new strictures are problematic, particularly when undertaking politically sensitive research. Drawing on 13 months of ethnographic fieldwork in Turkey on the maligned religious organization known as the Gülen Movement, this paper will argue that informed consent is not always the most appropriate approach when researching hard-to-reach or hidden communities. Rather, it will seek to illustrate that rapport, trust, friendship and reciprocity are worthy substitutes.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-01-2018
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 13-03-2020
Abstract: Autistic adults experience a higher rate of physical and mental health conditions and lower rates of employment and post-secondary education participation than their non-autistic counterparts, which may affect negatively quality of life. Limited information exists on predictors of quality of life for autistic in iduals, or how quality of life compares to non-autistic in iduals. Our aims were to (a) examine and compare indicators of physical (e.g. sleep quality) and mental health (e.g. anxiety) on quality of life among a s le of 244 autistic and 165 non-autistic in iduals aged 15–80 years and (b) examine factors contributing to quality of life 2 years later among the autistic s le ( n = 93). Participants were from two Australian longitudinal studies. The pattern of results for quality of life was similar across the autistic and non-autistic groups, with depression symptomatology, psychological well-being, sleep quality and autonomic symptoms all significantly predicting quality of life. In addition, among the autistic group, baseline quality of life had the greatest influence on quality of life 2 years later. These findings have implications for support services for autistic in iduals, implying that in order to improve quality of life, mental health, particularly depression, needs addressing. Given known relationships between sleep and mental health, an intervention addressing these may have greatest clinical impact on quality of life among autistic in iduals. Research shows that autistic adults are at risk of a range of physical (e.g. sleep difficulties) and mental health (e.g. anxiety) conditions, as well as lower employment and post-secondary education participation these all can affect one’s quality of life. However, we have little information about what affects quality of life for autistic in iduals across the lifespan and whether this differs from non-autistic people. We determined what factors (e.g. mental or physical health challenges) affected quality of life in a large group of autistic in iduals aged 15–80 years compared with similar age non-autistic in iduals. We also examined what factors affected quality of life of the autistic group 2 years later. We found a similar pattern of results for the autistic and non-autistic groups depression symptoms, psychological well-being, sleep quality and autonomic symptoms (e.g. sweating) were all significant predictors of quality of life. In addition, among the autistic group, baseline quality of life had the most influence on quality of life 2 years later. These results have implications for support services, as they highlight the relationship between mental health (especially depression) and quality of life. Given that sleep challenges (e.g. insomnia) are related to mental health, an intervention addressing both insomnia and mental health may be most useful in helping autistic in iduals improve their quality of life.
Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert Inc
Date: 16-05-2023
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-12-2017
DOI: 10.1007/S10803-017-3427-3
Abstract: Although depression and anxiety are the most common comorbidities in in iduals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), descriptive data for their prevalence among autistic adults are limited. This study provides descriptive data for a cohort of 155 autistic adults (mean age = 27.1 years, SD = 11.9) of average IQ on the short-form version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales and the Mini Social Phobia Inventory. Also included were 79 non-ASD participants (mean age = 26.2, SD = 10.2) who completed the mini-SPIN. A substantial percentage (39-46%) of autistic adults scored within the 'Moderate' to 'Extremely Severe' range on the DASS-21. The DASS-21 would be a valuable rapid screening device for these comorbid conditions in autistic adults.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-07-2021
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Date: 13-06-2023
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Date: 09-08-2013
DOI: 10.1111/JONM.12086
Abstract: To assess the antecedents of workplace aggression (bullying and violence) among nurses and administration staff. As a result of power structures within the healthcare industry, nurses and administration staff may be more vulnerable to workplace aggression. Environmental and in idual characteristics have been linked to the occurrence of such aggression among other groups. However, most research focuses on bullying, rarely extending these ideas to violence or nurses and administration staff specifically. Surveys were distributed to nurses and administration staff employed by an Australian healthcare organisation. Aggression types (bullying and violence), as well as environmental (demands, control and support) and in idual (negative affectivity, NA) characteristics were measured. External emotional abuse was most frequently reported for nurses (29%) and bullying for administration staff (27%). Demands, support and NA were associated with different aggression types in nurses, whereas for administration staff, control, support and NA were linked. Low support and high NA are particularly important to nurses and administration staff and their experiences of aggression. Appropriate training for managers in providing support and acknowledging in idual factors associated with aggression is essential. Further, managers should monitor aggression risk from patients and their associations towards staff in busy times.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 04-2012
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 16-02-2023
DOI: 10.1177/13623613231153480
Abstract: Autistic people face many challenges entering the workforce, for ex le, during job interviews where performance is reliant on particular social skills. To be competitive during job interviews, autistic people may experience pressure to conceal or ‘camouflage’ their autistic traits and behaviour. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews to explore the job interview experiences of 10 autistic people. Based on the literature, we were curious as to whether participants would report behaviour consistent with the camouflaging hypothesis. Thematic analysis identified six themes reflecting in idual and environmental factors. Participants reported engaging in camouflaging behaviour during job interviews, with external factors (e.g. avoid being treated differently) cited as the primary reason. Participants reported that camouflaging required effort, leading to stress, anxiety, exhaustion and feeling ‘burnt out’. They expressed a desire for an inclusive, understanding and accommodating environment where they would feel more comfortable disclosing their diagnosis without feeling they needed to conceal their autistic traits and behaviour. These preliminary findings add to the current literature regarding autism, camouflaging and employment. When applying for a job, autistic job candidates are likely to face a number of challenges. Job interviews are one of these challenges – they require communicating and relationship-building with unfamiliar people and involve expectations about behaviour (that may vary between companies and are not made clear to job candidates). Given autistic people communicate differently to non-autistic people, autistic job candidates may be disadvantaged in the interview process. Autistic candidates may not feel comfortable or safe sharing with organisations their autistic identity and may feel pressure to hide any characteristics or behaviour they feel might indicate they are autistic. To explore this issue, we interviewed 10 autistic adults about their job interview experiences in Australia. We analysed the content of the interviews and found three themes that related to the in idual person and three themes that related to environmental factors. Participants told us that they engaged in camouflaging behaviour during job interviews, feeling pressure to conceal aspects of themselves. Those who camouflaged during job interviews reported that it took a lot of effort, which resulted in increased stress, anxiety and exhaustion. The autistic adults we spoke to reported a need for inclusive, understanding and accommodating employers to help them feel more comfortable disclosing their autism diagnosis in the job application process. These findings add to current research that has explored camouflaging behaviour and barriers to employment for autistic people.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-07-2023
DOI: 10.1007/S40489-023-00388-0
Abstract: The current Disability Employment Service (DES) model serving autistic job seekers in Australia will end in the year 2023. The Australian Government is exploring new options for a replacement model. Aiding these efforts a systematic review of the literature examined the evidence base of effective assisted employment supports for autistic people in Australia. Using PRISMA guidelines, of 1839 search results, eight papers met inclusion criteria concerning: (a) autistic in iduals, (b) assisted employment in Australia, (c) enablers to employment gain or retention, and (d) original evidence. All effective activities require providers to understand autism and the needs of autistic adults. We suggest the first steps in enhancing DES include educating providers and their staff in autism and hiring autistic employment consultants.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-07-2019
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 28-01-2015
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 06-2015
DOI: 10.1108/APJBA-03-2015-0022
Abstract: – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between components of the psychological contract, organisational justice, and negative affectivity (NA), with key employee outcomes (i.e. organisational commitment, job satisfaction, depression, and psychological distress) among allied health professionals. – In total, 134 (response rate of 46 per cent) Australian allied health professional completed a questionnaire. – Multiple regressions revealed that higher NA was associated with lower organisational commitment, lower job satisfaction, and higher levels of depression. The psychological contract variable, breach, was associated with depression. Informational justice was associated with organisational commitment. Distributive justice was associated with job satisfaction. – This research is limited by its cross-sectional design and that the data were self-reported. The results obtained suggest the potential utility of collecting longitudinal data to replicate and extend the results. – While NA may be beyond management control, it may be ameliorated by attention to improving communication of management decisions and by sensitivity to the elements implicit in psychological contracts. The negative consequences of contract breach may be offset by informational and distributive justice. – This study is one of the first to examine multiple measures of the psychological contract in addition to organisational justice and NA. Further, this study adds to the literature for allied health professionals, where little is known about factors contributing to their turnover.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 13-07-2021
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 13-01-2023
DOI: 10.1177/13623613221147346
Abstract: In a recent editorial, Mandy declared an autism mental health crisis and proposed six ideas for how this might be addressed, with which we agree. However, we propose that for these ideas (e.g. training for mental health professionals) to be implemented for psychologists, assumptions about best practice need to be assessed considering the evolving conceptualisation of autism. The formation and development of a therapeutic alliance between a psychologist and client has been established as an important ‘common factor’ that impacts the efficacy of therapy. If one considers the double empathy problem and views autism through a neuro ersity lens, the development of a therapeutic alliance between a psychologist and client of different neurotypes might require an alternative approach to standard practice. We propose that psychologists (if they are, for ex le, non-autistic and working with an autistic client), are at risk of misinterpreting their clients’ communication and needs. As such, we consider the notion of cultural competency, and how the profession of psychology can move forward to help psychologists work effectively with autistic clients, learning from autistic people, including autistic psychologists. In a recent editorial, Mandy described an autism mental health crisis because autistic people are more likely to experience mental health concerns, yet they are less likely to get help. When autistic people do seek support, services tend not to be well matched to their needs. Alongside the six ideas Mandy suggested for addressing the mental health crisis, we think it is essential for psychologists to start changing the way they work to improve the person-environment fit for autistic clients. The relationship between a psychologist and their client influences the gains a client makes from engaging in therapy. The way psychologists are trained to build an effective working relationship with clients is based on neurotypical communication styles. The double empathy problem tells us that autistic clients relate to others differently to non-autistic clients, and so we propose that psychologists, especially when not autistic themselves, need to build the therapeutic relationship in a different way. We feel this is important, as the relationship between a psychologist and client is understood to be an important factor in how much the client can benefit from therapy. In this letter, we draw upon Bulluss’ call for cultural competency when working with autistic clients, and further insights from autistic psychologists, and propose that psychologists rethink some taken-for-granted aspects of practice to be better able to create a sense of interpersonal safety when working with autistic clients.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: 04-2014
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 11-11-2015
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-11-2007
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Date: 31-01-2013
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 13-07-2015
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 28-09-2022
DOI: 10.1007/S10803-022-05762-1
Abstract: The efficacy of the Australian Disability Employment Services (DES) for autistic jobseekers has not been examined and is currently undergoing Government reform. To help inform the new DES strategy, we sought the views of: 24 autistic in iduals seven family members of autistic in iduals, and 46 DES employees. Data were collected using surveys and interviews. Data were analysed using Mann Whitney tests plus deductive thematic analysis based on Nicholas and colleagues’ ecosystems model. Participants highlighted a need to adapt existing policies to enhance flexibility of the DES model. There was participant consensus that DES staff require specific education and training to meet the needs of autistic people. Suggestions to inform the new model of DES for autistic people are made.
Publisher: Emerald
Date: 03-08-2015
Abstract: – The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of three components of the psychological contract (i.e. obligations, fulfillment and breach) and the in idual characteristic negative affectivity (NA) onto three key outcomes, namely, job satisfaction, organizational identification and psychological distress. – Questionnaires were completed by 222 Australian nurses and midwives from a medium-sized metropolitan Australian hospital. The response rate for the study was 39 percent. – Structural equation modeling revealed that perceptions of psychological contract fulfillment were positively linked to organizational identification and job satisfaction, while psychological contract breach was negatively linked to these outcomes. NA was negatively linked to job satisfaction and positively linked to psychological distress. Psychological contract obligations were not associated with any of the employee outcomes. – Psychological contract fulfillment is an important driver of employee satisfaction and organizational identification and the findings highlight the importance of including NA in psychological contract research. The occupation and context, being in-demand employees, appeared to neutralize the impact of one dimension of the psychological contract, employer promises and obligations. – Explicitly managing employees’ psychological contracts by focussing on fulfilling realistic promises will enable managers to improve employee outcomes and facilitate employees embracing their organization. – This study is one of the first to explore all three components of the psychological contract. These results may assist in the development of strategies to retain in-demand employees such as nurses, particularly highlighting the need to make and fulfill realistic promises.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 14-03-2014
DOI: 10.1080/00981389.2013.873517
Abstract: Workplace aggression research has typically focused on groups in the health care industry considered to be high risk (e.g., nursing) however, aggression also occurs among other health care professional groups, such as those in allied health. This study aimed to investigate the antecedents and consequences of workplace aggression among allied health professionals. Allied health professionals working for an Australian health care organization were surveyed, with 134 (49%) responding. The largest group of allied health professionals surveyed were social workers (49%). Job demands, job control, and social support were linked to different types of aggression. Different sources of aggression were linked to various employee outcomes. The importance of considering stressors surrounding employee work conditions is highlighted.
Start Date: 07-2022
End Date: 06-2025
Amount: $421,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity