Digital Commons Network^™

Language Maintenance And Bilingualism In The Indian Migrant Community In Australia, Ragni Ranjini Prasad

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

This study is a sociolinguistic investigation into the maintenance of heritage languages in Indian migrants residing in Sydney, Australia. Underpinned by Fishman’s (1972) Sociology of language theory and partly by Spolsky’s (2004) Language policy theory, it investigates the patterns of language use across and between the first and second- generation Indian migrants in a variety of situations and with various family members and other interlocutors. It focuses on both home and public domains. It also investigates the factors that influence the maintenance of Indian heritage languages in the Australian context. As far as we are aware, there are very few …

Straddling Two Worlds: How Linguistic Backgrounds And Sociocultural Norms Influence The Experiences Of Saudi Female Expats In Australia, Lamia Alhassoun

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

This study constructs a collective story of Saudi female expats (SFEs) as they navigate the transition from their conservative society in Saudi Arabia to a new one in Australia. It examines the impact of the SFE’s Arabic background and their English learning experiences in Australia on their lives and explores SFEs perceptions of their self-representation in the social and educational milieu in Australia. Additionally, it sheds light on the intricate relationships between language, culture, gender and self-representation.

The study employs a demographic questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with twenty-two SFEs in Australia. The study adopts lenses from social identity theory (Erikson …

The Impact Of Education On The Sustainable Development Goals Through Critical Pedagogy On Nursing Graduates, Lorraine Fields

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

The world as we know it is becoming increasingly impacted by complex and interconnected global challenges. From poverty, hunger and global pandemics to climate change and widespread inequities, people and planet are being affected. The ambitious goals for global betterment set by the United Nations (UN) in 2015 aim to address these global challenges as well as numerous others through the targets of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the year 2030 (UN, 2015). With the 2030 deadline fast approaching, time is running out for achieving the SDGs.

Nurses are recognised as key players in achievement of the SDGs, …

Diabetes And Virtual Care: How Covid-19 Impacted On A Digital Transformation, Gideon Meyerowitz-Katz

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Mobile phone applications and other virtual care interventions such as telehealth present both a big problem and a big opportunity for improving the health of people with chronic diseases, in particular type 2 diabetes. These diseases have become more common in recent years, and with this increasing prevalence despite prevention efforts one thing is clear: we must adapt our healthcare methods to meet this growing pressure. The advent of COVID-19 has only made this problem worse, as people’s care has been fragmented and fractured during the outbreak of a global pandemic.

The downside to apps and other virtual care interventions …

Towards A Theoretical Model Of Successful Employment Outcomes For People With Disabilities, Paul Ochuko Ikutegbe

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

This research responds to calls internationally and within Australia for research and initiatives that effectively increase the participation of people with disabilities in meaningful work – as a human right, a health determinant and an economic impetus. Disability, seen through the social model of disability which underpins this research, is a heterogeneous and ever-evolving concept that emanates from suboptimal interactions between individuals with impairments and aspects of their environment that impede their full participation in society. In contrast, often in medical and some governmental settings, these ‘impairments’ are often defined and categorised into ‘loss’ of bodily or mental function, loss …

Deep One-Class Learning For Anomalous Short-Text Classification, Saugata Bose

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

In the expansive digital realm, the task of detecting anomalous speech patterns within concise texts presents multifaceted challenges. These challenges stem from the inherent ambiguity in defining what constitutes anomalous speech, the evolution of malicious linguistic tactics, and the intricacies involved in discerning nuanced expressions such as sarcasm or subtle deviations from the norm. Traditional methodologies that often categorize content into binary or multiclass frameworks struggle to encapsulate the rich tapestry of emotions and sentiments embedded within daily online communications. Furthermore, facing these challenges is the challenge of data-related hurdles, including the scarcity of labeled datasets, the imbalances within the …

Critical Questioning: Tracking Hegemonic Meaning Transformations Across Semiotic Modes In The History Classrooms Of Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Schools In Chile, Carolina Andrea Badillo Vargas

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Critical questioning in history is essential for Chilean secondary students studying hegemonic multimodal discourses in a discipline involving interpretation. Being able to question, however, presents significant challenges for learners, particularly those enrolled in socioeconomically disadvantaged schools. One of the main challenges involves cultivating the skill and proficiency in composing written content that relies on both primary and secondary sources. Although existing literature examines the role of questions in the development of historical thinking, pedagogies of multiliteracies in which students learn to pose questions after viewing texts comprising multiple semiotic modes have not been investigated. The present study examines the potential …

The Effect Of Type 2 Diabetes Risk Communication And Risk Perception On Health Behaviour Intentions In A Substance Dependence Population, Choon Wee Melvin Goh

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Background: The risk and burden of diabetes is greatest among vulnerable populations such as people living with mental health and substance use disorders. However, there is a paucity of research examining Type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk in this population. There is a wealth of research in health risk communication which suggest the effectiveness of message framing and tailored risk feedback; however, little is known about their potential utility when used concurrently for T2D prevention in people with substance use problems.

Methods: Study 1 was a systematic review, comprised of 5 empirical studies, that examined health risk communication in people who …

Investigating The Relationship Between Post-Injury Occupational Change And Persistent Occupational Identity: A Mixed Methodological Study Combining Quantitative Analysis Of A Survey Of Adult Australians With Qualitative Analysis Of Interviews With Truck Drivers Who Have Experienced Occupational Change, Ross Girdler

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

The literature regarding occupational change indicates that identification with one occupation can present a barrier to making the change to another. Rehabilitation Counsellors are often given the responsibility of assisting individuals to make that change, usually through vocational counselling. The principles which underpin the conduct of vocational counselling commonly do not include consideration of the effect of persistent occupational identity on occupational change. While the concept of occupational identity has been the topic of extensive research for several decades there is no consensus regarding its definition, or how it is different from related concepts and very limited research into how …

Investigation On Design And Development Methods For Internet Of Things, Yazeed Al Zahrani

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

The thesis work majorly focuses on the development methodologies of the Internet of Things (IoT). A detailed literature survey is presented for the discussion of various challenges in the development of software and design and deployment of hardware. The thesis work deals with the efficient development methodologies for the deployment of IoT system. Efficient hardware and software development reduces the risk of the system bugs and faults. The optimal placement of the IoT devices is the major challenge for the monitoring application. A Qualitative Spatial Reasoning (QSR) and Qualitative Temporal Reasoning (QTR) methodologies are proposed to build software systems. The …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of The Interpersonal Theory Of Suicide In Youth Suicide Prevention, Atanas Janackovski

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Suicide is the primary cause of death among adolescents in Australia, and it continues to be a significant cause of mortality globally, with rates on the rise. The Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (ITS) posits that thwarted belongingness (low-belongingness) and perceived burdensomeness (burdensomeness) lead to suicide desire, and hopelessness moderates the intensity of the wish to die. Acquired capability (capability) is theorised to moderate the relationship between these factors and suicide desire, and is positively associated with resoluteness to enact a lethal suicide attempt. While the ITS posits that capability heightens the risk of lethal suicidal behaviour, the theory suggests that …

Surrogate Accountability In Humanitarian Aid: A Critical Examination Of The Vulnerability Assessment Framework For Syrian Refugees In Jordan, Jwana Jireis

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Purpose: The global refugee crisis affects an estimated 32.5 million refugees worldwide. However, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimated budget of USD10 billion in 2022 and 2023 to cover the basic needs of all refugees is only funded at 50-53% from international donors (UNHCR 2023a). This problem of limited resources forces humanitarian aid organisations to make critical decisions about the allocation of funds and services to refugee communities. Thus, the humanitarian aid context is infused with unequal and competing interests since the decisions made can significantly impact the lives of individuals and communities, raising questions of accountability. …

What Is The Relationship Between Professional Registration, Identity And Professionalisation In Australian Paramedics?, Buchanan Christopher Reed

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

This dissertation examines the relationship between identity, professionalism and regulation in Australian paramedics. This project specifically focuses on the period during the transition to national registration of paramedics in Australia. Paramedicine has existed in some form in Australia for almost a century and a half with origin in 19th century military and civil ambulance corps. Major reforms in the latter half of the 20th century led to the advent of “modern” paramedicine and seen the profession grow exponentially in size, scope and complexity. University education for paramedics was introduced in Australia in the mid-1990s. Advanced medical skills considered ground-breaking in …

Exploring Autistic Girls’ Perceptions Of The Ways They Navigate Their Social Relationships: A Grounded Theory Study, Rebecca Skye Vine Foggo

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

The aim of this study was to engage with adolescent autistic girls to gain their perceptions about social interactions and the navigation of social relationships with their female peers. The unique nature of social experiences of autistic girls and women is an emerging field of interest, particularly during adolescence due to the importance of social relationships with peers during this life stage. However, previous researchers have often focused on comparing the social experiences of autistic girls with those of either autistic boys or neurotypical girls, which could be interpreted as focusing on what autistic girls cannot do, rather than what …

The Ethical Professional Identities Of Ilp Lawyer Directors: Integrated, Leveraged, Or Problematic?, Karina Murray

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

This thesis examines the central question of how the responsibilities of being a director of an incorporated legal practice (ILP) may impact upon the lawyer’s ethical professional identity. It investigates how the participants construct their director identity and explores the motivations behind the decision to become an ILP director. Additionally, it considers how these lawyer directors view and manage the ‘duality’ involved between the roles of lawyer and director, particularly in relation to their ethical obligations owed to their clients, the administration of justice, and the legal profession.

This research seeks to fill a gap in empirical study investigating a …

‘Remember The Time’… Family Mental Health And Associations With Parent-Child Conversations, Sophie Russell

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Parent-child reminiscing about emotional events is an important interaction associated with socio-cognitive and emotional outcomes (Fivush et al., 2006; Fivush et al., 2009; Wareham & Salmon, 2006). Emotion reminiscing may be a potential pathway for the transmission of mental health difficulties from parent to child (Goodman & Gotlib, 1999; Swetlitz et al., 2021). However, there is a significant gap in the literature regarding emotion reminiscing within populations of children experiencing mental health difficulties. Child mental health difficulties have been widely conceptualised as clustering into two groups: internalising (difficulties with anxiety, mood, and somatic symptoms) and externalising (difficulties with impulse control, …

The Convoluted Face Of Rejection: A Program Of Research Into The Role Of Rejection Sensitivity In Romantic Relationships, Mandira Mishra

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

The fundamental need to belong has likely led to protective behaviours such as an increased awareness to cues of rejection. However, being hypervigilant to rejection can have downsides and might contribute to disruptions in interpersonal relationships. The current program of research aimed to investigate how an oversensitivity to rejection, termed rejection sensitivity, relates to the quality of romantic relationships. Over six chapters, findings from six independent studies are reported that explore rejection sensitivity as it relates to romantic relationship outcomes in adults.

Impact And Sustainability Through Alignment Of Fisheries Management And Rural Development In Solomon Islands, Senoveva Mauli

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Globally, community-based resource management (CBRM) is viewed as an effective tool for management because it enables a bottom-up approach and acknowledges the role of communities as a key ingredient in governance. However, ensuring that CBRM contributes to wider development goals has remained challenging. One facet of this has been a disconnect between CBRM and rural development (RD) initiatives.

Solomon Islands has a rural base that makes up 80% of its population, and numerous communities have participated in resource management efforts over the past two decades. However, among coastal communities in Solomon Islands, the wider development impact of CBRM (which is …

Perceptions Of Leadership Intelligence, Safoora Pitsi

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

In this thesis, leadership perceptions refer to assessments made by followers or potential leaders themselves that a target individual has both the qualities typical of leaders and the potential to exhibit leadership in a specific situation. Perceptions play a crucial role in leadership, as individuals who are perceived as leaders possess a heightened potential to influence both organisational processes and outcomes. In this thesis, leadership is described as a process of being perceived as a leader by followers. It results from an individual’s social-cognitive process to categorise others. Leadership Categorisation Theory (LCT) maintains followers’ implicit leadership theory (ILT) or leadership …

Investigating The Relations Between Youth Sport Participation And Parental Mental Health, Jordan T. Sutcliffe

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Parents are active participants in their child’s youth sport endeavours and can influence their athlete’s experience through their parenting practices, styles, and interactions. However, parents experience their own range of outcomes as a result of their involvement in their child’s sport activities. In fact, recent decades have brought forth a rich body of literature that point to the benefits and challenges of having a child involved in organised sport. Despite this, the mental health experiences of parents in youth sport have yet to be investigated explicitly. As such, the overarching purpose of this doctoral research was to further the understanding …

Conservative Management Of Hip And Knee Osteoarthritis: Feasibility And Acceptability Of A Multidisciplinary Case Conference Model, Timothy D. Miller

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent, costly and often debilitating chronic condition. Whilst clinical guidelines for OA recommend the conservative management strategies of exercise and weight loss, such interventions remain significantly underutilised in Australia. As such, there is a need for new models of care that facilitate the translation of clinical guidelines for OA into real-world practice.

Research question: The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a novel multidisciplinary model of care for the conservative management of hip and knee OA within a community setting.

Methods: Two separate studies were conducted, which are …

Step Length Estimation In Daily Activities Using Rssi-Based Techniques, Zanru Yang

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Step length, an essential component in gait analysis, is becoming appealing in many aspects of our life. It can reflect physical fitness among the young and the senior, e.g., obesity, falling probability and severity. It can also help predict the life expectancy of the elderly. Moreover, the disabled or patients with impaired cognitive functions also behave differently from healthy people in terms of step length. Another application of step length estimation is that it leverages non-GPS localisation where the global positioning system (GPS) is restricted or prohibited.

Accurate measurements of step length are thus important in numerous applications. Unfortunately, the …

Saudi Teachers’ Attitudes Towards The Inclusion Of Students With Special Needs In Regular Classes, Wafa Naif Almutairi

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

The ongoing transition towards greater implementation of inclusive education in mainstream schools in Saudi Arabia has meant that general education teachers are increasingly responsible for ensuring that the academic and social needs of students with special needs are met in their classrooms. Notwithstanding the positive intent of inclusive policies, little is understood about Saudi teachers’ attitudes, beliefs, and intentions to implement inclusive education. Further understanding in this area is vital to improve inclusive policy as well as the ability of staff to implement these policies and support implementation of the academic and social benefits of inclusive education for students with …

High Anxiety: Writing The Ill Self In The Expanded Field Of Nonfiction, Lucinda Strahan

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

This thesis of creative practice research presents a collection of texts arising from two intersecting themes of enquiry in the field of creative writing. It investigates experimental modes of creative nonfiction that break with the convention of longform narrative, and asks how these experimental affordances might be used to write an anxious self, fragmented by various illness states. Emboldened by a movement of experimental nonfiction declared by Shields’ (2010) Reality Hunger: a manifesto, poetic fragmentation, lyric association, photomontage, erasure, and portraiture are used to write this ill self and its accompanying provocations to reality, identity, and selfhood. An autobiographical …

Queer Catholics As Living Human Documents: Henri J.M. Nouwen, Self-Availability And The Therapeutic Turn In Dutch Catholicism, Philip John Bewley

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

This thesis reconstructs a missing part of queer history, particularly as it pertains to the Catholic Church in the Netherlands, and the part Dutch Catholic priest Henri J.M. Nouwen (1932-1996) played within it. In the 1950s and 1960s an alternative narrative emerged within Dutch Catholicism which contributed to the emancipation of homosexual men and women, helping them to integrate into Dutch society. Nouwen’s own involvement in this movement is a story which has remained largely untold; few people are aware that Nouwen studied the topic of homosexuality in great detail. Nouwen’s research led him to develop a therapeutic framework designed …

Using Radiomics To Improve The 2-Year Survival Of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients, Alanna Heather Therese Vial

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

This thesis both exploits and further contributes enhancements to the utilization of radiomics (extracted quantitative features of radiological imaging data) for improving cancer survival prediction. Several machine learning methods were compared in this analysis, including but not limited to support vector machines, convolutional neural networks and logistic regression.A technique for analysing prognostic image characteristics, for non-small cell lung cancer based on the edge regions, as well as tissues immediately surrounding visible tumours is developed. Regions external to and neighbouring a tumour were shown to also have prognostic value. By using the additional texture features an increase in accuracy, of 3%, …

Reversing And Preventing Academic Underachievement In Gifted Students Viewed Through The Lens Of Lived Experience, Jodi Lamanna

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

The purpose of this research was to investigate the phenomenon of underachievement in gifted students. This research was viewed through the lens of lived experience and underpinned by Bronfenbrenner’s (1979) Ecological Systems Theory which recognises the importance of linked systems in society.

The research literature showed that underachievement was a prevalent issue for gifted students (Figg et al., 2012; Siegle, 2013) and that appropriate interventions needed to be in place to mitigate the disadvantage caused by underachievement. Factors that contributed to underachievement included inappropriate curriculum (Olenchak, 2001; Rimm & Lovance, 1992b), poor self-regulation (Baum et al., 1995a), and boredom (Bennett-Rappell …

International Labour Migration And The Children Left Behind: Hearing The Voices Of Young People Traversing Transnational Parenting In Tonga, Julie Irene Cunningham

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

International labour migration is occurring at a phenomenal rate, generating global social transformations with unequal effect. Limited consideration has been given to the children navigating transnational parenting arrangements. Existing studies have predominantly relied on adult accounts, or when young people’s accounts are utilised, information has primarily been elicited through survey instruments. Findings have indicated the duration of transnational parenting is often underestimated, visits can be confusing, household roles are altered, while transnational communications can be curtailed by geography, infrastructure, and gendered expectations. Young people in some regions can be at increased risk of poor behavioural and educational outcomes. However, the …

S-Values For Holmium-166, Lutetium-177 And Yttrium-90 For The Icrp 110 Voxel Phantom And Icrp 145 Mesh Phantom Using The Geant4/Gate Monte Carlo Tool, Samuel Montgomery Lilli

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

In Molecular Radiation Therapy, the estimation of energy absorbed within tissue is critical for the assessment of the e cacy of radiopharmaceuticals. Computational phantoms are a valuable tool to estimate radiation dose and to ensure that radiation dose to healthy tissue is minimised whilst still achieving a therapeutic level of radiation dose to disease cells.

The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has published several computational phantoms for the radiation protection of the population, amongst these are female and male adult voxelised phantoms (ICRP Publication 110) and adult mesh reference phantoms (ICRP Publication 145). The ICRP 110 voxelised phantoms have …

Environmental Effects On Health: Ignorance And Undone Science, Don Want

University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+

Considerable research has been completed showing that environmental exposures can have significant effects on people’s health, especially in terms of autoimmune conditions, cancers, and neurological and psychological conditions. Health effects are possible at exposure levels far below those generally considered safe by orthodox health authorities. A prime example is multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), where sufferers themselves have made clear, short-term associations between health effects and low-level environmental exposures. The condition of MCS is not clearly definable and significantly overlaps with other, largely unrecognised health conditions including fibromyalgia (FMS), chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), electro hypersensitivity syndrome (EHS) and chronic inflammatory response …