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Building Teacher Capital In Pre-Service Teachers: Reflections On A New Teacher-Education Initiative., Tania Ferfolja May 2008

Building Teacher Capital In Pre-Service Teachers: Reflections On A New Teacher-Education Initiative., Tania Ferfolja

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This discussion considers a new pre-service teacher education initiative at the University of Western Sydney, called Classmates. Classmates aims to prepare pre-service teachers to work in diverse and challenging schools. The paper argues that the neo-liberal industrial model of mass teacher education may be limited in its capacity to adequately prepare pre-service teachers for the difficulties they may encounter in a society where socio-cultural inequality is growing. It points out that pre-service teacher-education needs to build teacher capital to better prepare graduates and to buffer the transition from tertiary student to beginning teacher. Classmates offers one way that this may …


Cultural Factors Affecting Smoking Intentions In Sri Lankan Immigrant Adolescents: An Exploratory Study, Raguragavan Ganeshasundaram, Nadine Henley Jan 2008

Cultural Factors Affecting Smoking Intentions In Sri Lankan Immigrant Adolescents: An Exploratory Study, Raguragavan Ganeshasundaram, Nadine Henley

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper reports a small exploratory investigation into smoking intentions amongst Sri Lankan immigrant adolescents living in Perth, Western Australia. Four focus group discussions were conducted to explore how cultural values are expressed in this group's beliefs and attitudes towards smoking and non-smoking and how these values may influence their smoking-related behaviour. Females and males attached similar negative values to smoking per se. However, generally, males saw peers' smoking as a way to be cool and popular while females saw peers' smoking as a way to solve stress and other personal problems. Males had strong positive associations with their favourite …


Photography After The Incidents: We're Not Afraid, Panizza Allmark Jan 2008

Photography After The Incidents: We're Not Afraid, Panizza Allmark

Research outputs pre 2011

This article will look at the use of personal photographs that attempt to convey a sense of social activism as a reaction against global terrorism. Moreover, I argue that the photographs uploaded to the site “We’re Not Afraid”, which began after the London bombings in 2005, presents a forum to promote the pleasures of western cultural values as a defence against the anxiety of terror. What is compelling are the ways in which the Website promotes, seemingly, everyday modalities through what may be deemed as the domestic snapshot. Nevertheless, the aura from the context of these images operates to arouse …


Less Than Equal: Secularism, Religious Pluralism And Privilege, Anne Aly, Lelia Rosalind Green Jan 2008

Less Than Equal: Secularism, Religious Pluralism And Privilege, Anne Aly, Lelia Rosalind Green

Research outputs pre 2011

In its preamble, The Western Australian Charter of Multiculturalism (WA) commits the state to becoming: “A society in which respect for mutual difference is accompanied by equality of opportunity within a framework of democratic citizenship”. One of the principles of multiculturalism, as enunciated in the Charter, is “equality of opportunity for all members of society to achieve their full potential in a free and democratic society where every individual is equal before and under the law”. An important element of this principle is the “equality of opportunity ... to achieve ... full potential”. The implication here is that those who …


Mad About The Boy, Debra Mayrhofer Jan 2008

Mad About The Boy, Debra Mayrhofer

Research outputs pre 2011

The media coverage of an out-of-control teenage party in the Melbourne suburb of Narre Warren on 12 January 2008, and its construction of the protagonist who threw the party, has highlighted once again the inequitable treatment of youth, particularly adolescent males, in the Australian media. This paper examines the coverage in terms of the discursive strategies used by the mainstream Australian media to legitimise and naturalise the denigration and humiliation of the boy involved. It will discuss the ongoing demonisation of young males in general, and the concomitant ‘panics’ about their degeneration into moral lassitude, as well as the particular …


Men Of Steel Or Plastic Cops: The Use Of Ethnography As A Transformative Agent, Christine Teague, David Leith Jan 2008

Men Of Steel Or Plastic Cops: The Use Of Ethnography As A Transformative Agent, Christine Teague, David Leith

Research outputs pre 2011

The Perth urban rail system, like many other rail systems in Australia and overseas, is subject to crime and anti-social behaviour around the railway environs from a small minority of the travelling public. The transit officers, who form part of the security section of the Public Transport Authority, are the people employed to deal with these incidents, which can result in transit officers being injured. To fully understand the violence and antisocial behaviour that they deal with on a regular basis and develop strategies to reduce this risk of injury, it was necessary to enter their world. The researcher in …


Domestic Space: Virtually Underestimated?, Julie Dare Jan 2008

Domestic Space: Virtually Underestimated?, Julie Dare

Research outputs pre 2011

This paper discusses the concept of domestic space as a transformative communications environment; a space in which relationships among individuals, families and ultimately the community are sustained, and in some cases transformed. Drawing on a research project currently being conducted in Western Australia, this paper explores communication within domestic space from an historical (Fischer, 1992; Moyal, 1992) and empirical perspective (Frissen, 1995; Holloway & Green, 2004), and contends that the seemingly mundane quality of the domestic sphere has resulted in it being underestimated as an avenue for research. Moreover, a research focus on young people’s uptake of information and communications …


Unmasking Albany : Addressing Social Issues Through Mask-Work With Young People In A Western Australian Regional Centre, Fleur Hockey Jan 2008

Unmasking Albany : Addressing Social Issues Through Mask-Work With Young People In A Western Australian Regional Centre, Fleur Hockey

Theses : Honours

My research looked at whether mask-work could be used to address social issues affecting young people in a Western Australian regional centre. It consisted of a case study, where I ran a six day workshop series in two Albany primary schools, with students who had been selected by their school to participate. Throughout the workshops, the young participants each made a full expressive mask, learnt how to perform in different mask styles, developed a character and took part in a small performance at their school. I employed a performance ethnography methodology and utilised methods such as participant observation, structured interviews …


Factors That Influence Perception Of Seriousness Of Crime : The Application Of Race, Type Of Offence And Dispositional Empathy To An Australian Context, Giselle Larkins Jan 2008

Factors That Influence Perception Of Seriousness Of Crime : The Application Of Race, Type Of Offence And Dispositional Empathy To An Australian Context, Giselle Larkins

Theses : Honours

The perception of seriousness of crime may be altered by numerous extra-legal factors within the criminal justice system. It is of significant importance to understand the ways in which various factors contribute to the differential treatment of defendants. Prejudicial attitudes towards Indigenous people pervade all areas of Australian society, including the criminal justice system (Paradies, 2005). For instance, although Indigenous people form approximately 2.4% of the general Australian population, they contribute to 24% of the total prison population (ABS, 2007; Paradies). Despite this, few studies have actively sought to better understand the factors that may contribute to varied perceptions of …


What Role Can Indigenous Child Care Training Play In Ameliorating Disadvantage For Indigenous People?, Susan Teather Jan 2008

What Role Can Indigenous Child Care Training Play In Ameliorating Disadvantage For Indigenous People?, Susan Teather

Theses : Honours

The early years of children's lives are vitally important to their long term outcomes. Yet, in Australian, not all children have access to the same opportunities to enhance their development and achieve their fullest potential, as Australian Indigenous children experience considerable disadvantage in comparison to other Australian children. The multifaceted approach required to eliminate this disadvantage, and the associated oppression, has education central to it. Emancipatory education is powerful as it assists learners to develop skills and, within the context of the educational philosopher Freire, also develop their ability to confront their oppression. This research paper explores Indigenous child care …


Developing New And Alternative Quality Of Life Indicators For Older People: A Case Study From Community Vision And A Cohort Of Their Aged Clients In Perth, Wa, Jonathan Georgiou Jan 2008

Developing New And Alternative Quality Of Life Indicators For Older People: A Case Study From Community Vision And A Cohort Of Their Aged Clients In Perth, Wa, Jonathan Georgiou

Theses : Honours

This Honours thesis explored the highly debated construct of Quality of Life and in particular, how this concept was perceived amongst a small cohort of aged clients from Community Vision, a peak Non-Government Organisation operating in the northern suburbs of Perth, W A. The Analytical Framework utilised in this Honours study consisted of two phases; an analysis of existing academic literature and the development of a new qualitative inquiry. Semi-structured interviews and electronic surveys were conducted with a group of aged clients, staff and managers from Community Vision and key informants representing three peak W A aged care service providers. …


Understanding Children's Exposure To Domestic Violence: A Review Of The Literature; And, Situational-Contextual Factors That Mediate The Impact Of Exposure Of Domestic Violence On Children: A Retrospective Study Of Adult Women Residing In Perth, Kristy Lee O'Bryan Jan 2008

Understanding Children's Exposure To Domestic Violence: A Review Of The Literature; And, Situational-Contextual Factors That Mediate The Impact Of Exposure Of Domestic Violence On Children: A Retrospective Study Of Adult Women Residing In Perth, Kristy Lee O'Bryan

Theses : Honours

Based on the available theoretical and empirical research literature, this review examines the complexity of children's exposure to domestic violence. In addition to identifying numerous theories which have been used in the literature to help understand how exposure to domestic violence may affect children's adjustment and functioning, this review provides an in depth overview of the research investigating the short and long-term impact of domestic violence exposure on children and young people. Despite the consistent finding across studies that children's witnessing of domestic violence is associated with a host of psychological, social and behavioural problems, there is also evidence in …


The Effects Of An Offender's Ethnicity As Well As The Type Of Crime Committed, On Public Perceptions Regarding Seriousness, And The Sentencing Principles Seen As Most Appropriate, Andrea Kysely Jan 2008

The Effects Of An Offender's Ethnicity As Well As The Type Of Crime Committed, On Public Perceptions Regarding Seriousness, And The Sentencing Principles Seen As Most Appropriate, Andrea Kysely

Theses : Honours

Public opinion has been evidenced as exerting significant influence over the development of, and alteration to, policies dealing with offenders (Roberts, 1992). Research suggests that an offender's ethnicity, as well as the seriousness of a crime, have a significant effect on public opinion regarding the appropriateness of an imposed sentence, and the goals of sentencing seen as most important (Herzog & Rattner, 2003). However whilst research in the United States and Europe has continued to expand, there is a significant lack of research directly related to the Australian context. The significant over-representation of Indigenous Australians in Australian prisons, potentially reflects …


A Changing Cultural Landscape: Yanchep National Park, Western Australia, Darren P. Venn Jan 2008

A Changing Cultural Landscape: Yanchep National Park, Western Australia, Darren P. Venn

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study depicts the changing landscape of Western Australia's Yanchep National Park as it has evolved in response to natural processes and human activities. The study also serves to evaluate the level of input Indigenous people have in the management of Australian natural and cultural heritage. The Park was examined by utilising a methodology that combined a cultural geography approach with Structuration Theory. Yanchep National Park is highly suited to this type of investigation because of its close proximity to a major urban centre ( Perth ) and because of the importance of the area to Indigenous people, resulting in …


Dancing On The Edge Of Silence : Steps Towards Articulating The Experience Of Childhood Rape, Brenda Joy Downing Jan 2008

Dancing On The Edge Of Silence : Steps Towards Articulating The Experience Of Childhood Rape, Brenda Joy Downing

Theses : Honours

The experience and aftermath of male sexual violence is a lived reality for many girls and women. This qualitative study explores the subjective experience of childhood rape and its long-term impact focusing in particular on the implications of the silencing that continues to surround what is a deeply-felt and traumatic experience with profound life-altering consequences. The study thematically and theoretically reads the subjective experience of childhood rape within current feminist understandings of rape as a crime of violence and form of social control through the use of evocative autoethnographic writing and an exegesis.


An Exploration Of Generation Y'S Experiences Of Offshore Fly-In/Fly-Out (Fifo) Employment, Tayla Carter Jan 2008

An Exploration Of Generation Y'S Experiences Of Offshore Fly-In/Fly-Out (Fifo) Employment, Tayla Carter

Theses : Honours

Australia is currently experiencing an ageing of its population, which has the potential to significantly impact on society, namely, employment. With the entry of Generation Y (Gen Y), the Australian workforce consists of four generations who are working increasingly longer hours. Extended working hours has been recognised as a risk factor for several undesirable consequences and is distinctive of fly in/fly out (FIFO) employment. The purpose of the review is to explore the literature which addresses the impact of FIFO employment with a following emphasis on issues surrounding Gen Y. A range of published work was incorporated from the fields …


The 'Good Mother Syndrome' And Playgroup: The Lived Experience Of A Group Of Mothers, Bronwyn Harman Jan 2008

The 'Good Mother Syndrome' And Playgroup: The Lived Experience Of A Group Of Mothers, Bronwyn Harman

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Using a qualitative approach, utilising a semi-structured narrative interviewing technique, I interviewed 21 participants through one-on-one interviews and focus groups to examine how participants experience parenting and playgroup. The good mother syndrome refers to the social, historical and cultural determination of how mothers are supposed to act. It defines what a good mother is supposed to be, subject to political, cultural and economic influences. Further, the good mother syndrome is inextricably linked to challenges to identity, support in the mothering role, and expectations of motherhood. Playgroups are communities of women bounded by internal and external demands, where they support each …