Digital Commons Network^™

Perceptions Of Ischaemic Heart Disease Risk Among Indian Migrants In Australia: A Qualitative Study, Kunwar Kaur, Ma'en Zaid Abu-Qamar, Amineh Rashidi, Nilufeur Mckay, Rosemary Saunders

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is a global health issue, with people of Indian origin facing earlier onset and more severe cases, leading to higher mortality at younger ages compared to Western countries. Indian migrants maintain similar risks post-migration. Managing modifiable risk factors and improving risk knowledge and health-seeking behaviours are essential, but research on IHD risk perceptions among Indian migrants is limited. Aim: This study explores how first-generation Indian migrants perceive their IHD risk and the factors influencing these perceptions. Methods: As a component of a mixed- method study, a qualitative descriptive study design was employed to examine study …

Immediate Skin-To-Skin Contact At Very Preterm Birth And Effect On Infant Socio-Emotional Stress Response And Mother–Infant Cortisol Co-Regulation: Secondary Outcomes From The Randomised Clinical Immediate Parent-Infant Skin-To-Skin Study (Ipistoss), Karoline Lode-Kolz, Siri Lillieskold, Hanne Brit Hetland, Eleonora Mascheroni, Stina Klemming, Hanne Pike, Agnes Linner, Nils J. Bergman, Bjorn Westrup, Ulrika Ådén, Evalotte Morelius, Rosario Montirosso, Wibke Jonas, Siren Rettedal

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective To explore the effects of immediate parent–infant skin-to-skin contact (iSSC) at very preterm birth on maternal–infant behavioural responses and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis reactivity to age-appropriate socio-emotional stress at 4months corrected age. Design Two secondary outcomes from a multicentre randomised controlled trial with two non-blinded parallel groups. Setting Three Scandinavian neonatal intensive care units, level 2 and level 3. Participants 91 infants born at gestational age 28+0to 32+6 from April 2018 to June 2021. Singletons and twins with a second caregiver present were included, regardless of mode of birth. Higher-order births, infants with congenital infections and major malformations were excluded. …

Overtourism In Bali And Lombok: A Governance And Community Perspective On Challenges And Strategies For Sustainable Development, Rudy Pramono, Juliana Juliana, Meitolo Hulu, Arifin Djakasaputra, Ferry Jie

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The rapid expansion of tourism in Bali and Lombok has precipitated a state of overtourism, critically challenging their ecological and socio-cultural carrying capacities. This study, conducted between 2023 and 2024, employs a qualitative case study approach to investigate the manifestations of overtourism and the efficacy of prevailing mitigation strategies. Data were collected through 32 in-depth interviews, four focus group discussions, and extensive field observations across key destinations in both islands. The findings reveal that overtourism is not merely a function of high visitor numbers but a symptom of systemic governance failure. Key manifestations include acute environmental degradation, the commodification of …

Personal Resources Among Pre-Service Teachers: An Examination Of Links With Subjective Vitality And Occupational Commitment, Helena Granziera, Rebecca J. Collie, Caroline Mansfield

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The retention of pre-service teachers presents persistent and significant challenges for education and society alike. An emerging body of research suggests that the cultivation of personal resources may serve as a means to foster PSTs wellbeing, which is integral to fostering positive experiences within teacher education. We sought to examine this potential association in a sample of 664 Australian teachers by investigating the associations between five personal resources - adaptability, workplace buoyancy, psychological detachment, optimism, and social self-efficacy - and two teaching-related outcomes: subjective vitality at work and occupational commitment. Using structural equation modelling, analysis of data collected from PSTs …

Humanitarian Hospitality: A Framework For Ethical Encounters In Crisis Tourism, Georges El Hajal, Rodney Westerlaken, Erwin Losekoot

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper introduces humanitarian hospitality as a conceptual framework for understanding relational ethics and care practices in crisis-affected tourism. While volunteer tourism, disaster recovery travel, and solidarity-based travel bring individuals into crisis-affected destinations, the hospitality that unfolds in these non-commercial encounters remains under-theorised. Drawing on philosophical perspectives and exploratory qualitative insights from 145 Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and aid workers, the study examines how emotional labour, ethical care, and informal hosting are enacted in contexts of conflict and displacement. The findings both parallel and complicate conventional host–guest dynamics, highlighting the ethical and emotional complexities of providing care under …

Back-On-Track: Protocol For Randomised Controlled Feasibility Trial Of Behavioural Activation In Farmers With Mood Problems, Alison Kennedy, Richard Gray, Martin Jones, Anna Greene, Lauren Mitchell, Meera Senthuren, Suzy Malseed, Feby Savira, Kelly Barnes, Kate Gunn, Susan Brumby

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The mental health of people living in farming communities has been identified as an important public health issue. Cumulative exposure to a range of situational factors contributes to heightened risk of poor mental health and suicide. Access to evidence-based psychological treatments is limited by the availability of skilled mental health professionals. The aim of this trial—co-designed by members of the farming community—is to establish the feasibility of conducting randomised controlled, trial-testing, peer-worker-delivered Behavioural Activation in the farming community. We will undertake a single-blind, parallel group, randomised controlled feasibility trial in rural Australia. People living in farming communities aged over 15 …

Harmonizing Neuropsychological Test Data Across Prospective Studies, Rosita Shishegar, James D. Doecke, Yen Ying Lim, Pierrick Bourgeat, Vincent Dore, Bhargav Tallapragada, Simon M. Laws, Tenielle Porter, Samantha Burnham, Azadeh Feizpour, Ashley Gillman, Michael Weiner, Jason Hassenstab, Christopher C. Rowe, Victor L. Villemagne, Colin L. Masters, Jurgen Fripp, Hamid Sohrabi, Paul Maruff

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) research relies on large datasets and advanced statistical models. However, individual population studies often lack sufficient sample size for conclusive results. Harmonizing cognitive test data across studies can address this gap, despite differences in testing protocols. This study harmonizes cognitive data from three major AD cohorts to support robust clinical–pathological modelling. Methods: Information from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (N = 1446); Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle (N = 1764); and Open Access Series of Imaging Studies-3 (N = 440) were integrated, including cognitive scores, demographics, genetics, and clinical and neuroimaging data. Neuropsychological tests relevant to …

Evaluating The Efficacy Of Aerobic Exercise As Therapy For Depression And Anxiety In Women With Pcos: A Systematic Review, Lorna Evelyn Mansell, Caitlin Fox-Harding, Robert U. Newton, Pedro Lopez Da Cruz, Sara Bayes, Favil Singh

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objective This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise interventions in alleviating depression and anxiety symptoms in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Data sources PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, SportDiscus, EMBASE and Web of Science databases were searched from their inception to July 2025. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Randomised controlled trials were eligible if they examined the effects of exercise lasting ≥4 weeks on validated measures of depression and/or anxiety in women aged 18–45 with PCOS diagnosed using the Rotterdam criteria. Publications not written in English were excluded. Data extraction and synthesis Two reviewers independently extracted data …

Student Perspectives On Learning With Teaching-Research Methods In Initial Teacher Education, Paulo Marinho, Carlinda Leite, Fátima Sousa-Pereira

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This article explores the perceptions of student teachers enrolled in an initial teacher education programme who attended a curricular unit organised around research-based teaching strategies. Data were gathered from reflective class diaries produced during one semester and analysed through qualitative content analysis. The findings suggest that, from the participants’ perspective, the curricular unit supported investigative autonomy, critical reflection and argumentation, links between theory and school-based observations, and perceived preparation for the future teaching profession. At the same time, the diaries highlighted time pressure and workload as important constraints. Highlighting student teachers’ voices on how a research-based unit was experienced during …

The Role Of Coursework In Promoting Doctoral Candidates’ Research Competence: A Case Study Of Professional Doctorates In Education, Fred Y. Mgata, Luqman Hakeem, Justo M. Lemesaya, Zhiyong Zhu, Huan Song, Jimmy E. Kihwele

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Doctorate programs with coursework aim to develop research-competent graduates who can contribute knowledge and work outside academia. This study explored the influence of coursework on doctoral candidates' development of research competence. The study employed a qualitative case study approach within the Professional Doctorate in Education programs at a Chinese university. The researchers interviewed 13 doctoral candidates, reviewed 10 course syllabi, and conducted a thematic analysis of the data. The findings revealed that coursework contributes to candidates' knowledge base, research direction, skills, and critical thinking. Instructors and peers promote candidates' research competence through instruction, mentoring, collaborative research projects, and peer feedback. …

Research-Based Learning For Pre-Service Teachers’ Meta-Reflexivity: Insights From English Language Teacher Education In Türkiye, İrem Çomoğlu, Eda Ceylan, Eda Akgün-Özpolat, Kenan Dikilitaş

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Drawing on Cramer et al.’s (2023) framework for meta-reflexive teacher education, we conducted a case study to examine how research-based learning (RbL) helps pre-service teachers (PSTs) develop meta-reflexivity. The data was collected in an undergraduate course in Türkiye where 81 PSTs engaged in RbL through developing, explaining, and exploring their pedagogical puzzles (PPs). Analysis of data from written reflections and class recordings generated themes indicating that PSTs began to adopt a meta-reflexive stance through a set of research and reflection practices involved in their puzzle exploration processes. The study suggests that RbL may be a promising approach for fostering PSTs’ …

Developing A Socio-Ecological Thriving Resilience Model For Student Teachers In Myanmar, A Crises-Affected Context, Shwe Ye Phyo, Erika Kopp

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The teacher education journey of student teachers in Myanmar has become more challenging due to the combined effects of COVID-19 and political unrest. Preparing resilient teachers in such contexts requires an understanding of the challenges student teachers face and the strategies they employ. Through focus group interviews with 12 final-year student teachers, the study explored their challenges and strategies during their teacher education journey. Using constructivist grounded theory, data were analysed, and a Socio-Ecological Thriving Resilience Model was proposed. Student teachers overcame both professional and personal challenges through the active use of their own resources and contextual ones. This demonstrates …

Initial Teacher Education For Inclusion: Does Practicum Bring Pre-Service Teachers Closer To An Inclusive Approach?, Constanza Herrera-Seda, Constanza Cárdenas Alarcón, Carlos Vanegas-Ortega

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Practicum is considered an essential element of initial teacher education for inclusive education. In this article, we explore its contribution to the pre-service teachers' adoption of an inclusive approach. We conducted a qualitative, multicase study of three primary teacher education programmes in Chile. Through episodic interviews, we produced data from 18 pre-service teachers. The main results showed that practicum causes various emotions, cognitions, and actions that interact with the adoption of an inclusive approach. Overwhelming pre-service teachers’ emotions related to exclusion can undermine their self-efficacy, leading them to avoid an inclusive approach. Also, the practicum tends to reproduce deficit- …

Pre-Service Teachers’ Self-Perceptions Of Relationship Skills For Future Work In Schools, Melissa Newberry, Elizabeth B. Hinchcliff, Chelsea Cole, Michael Richardson

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study focuses on the perceptions pre-service teachers hold about their own abilities to form relationships with four stakeholders of schools: students, parents, teachers and administrators. Survey data from 257 students enrolled in teacher preparation programs in a mid-sized, private university in the Western US were collected, including their beliefs about relationship skills, experience with children/youth, and conceptions of relationship formation as practicing teachers. Results indicate high confidence in relationship skills, yet few ideas on how to translate those into action when it comes to forming professional relationships. These findings suggest that pre-service teachers may be underprepared regarding the relational …

Investigating The Changes In Attitudes Towards Science Among Pre-Service Elementary Teachers Enrolled In A Science Methods Course Using A New Version Of The Test Of Science Related Attitudes, Christopher S. Long, Becky Sinclair

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This article examines the changes in student attitudes towards science among pre-service elementary teachers (PSETs), who were enrolled in a science methods course at a large public university in Texas, USA. A new version of the Test of Science Related Attitudes (TOSRA) called TOSRA-3 was used to measure six dimensions of attitudes towards science. TOSRA-3 was created in an effort to create a more economical, 35 items versus 70 items, version of the original TOSRA. TOSRA-3 was found to be valid and reliable for use with PSETs. Factor analysis suggests a six scale structure with a Cronbach’s Alpha for each …

'Raissing’ Teacher Practice: A Case Study Of A Living Model Of Professional Learning In Mentoring Pre-Service Teachers, Joanne Yoo, Pauline Kohlhoff, Cathryn Moore, Susan Rowley

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Mentoring is essential for equipping beginner teachers with the skills to navigate the complexities of the classroom. It is paramount to any teacher education program, particularly in relation to learning the practical skills of teaching during placement. This current research presents a case study of a living model of professional learning undertaken within a practicum setting. It introduces a ‘RAISS’ model of professional learning in mentoring, which incorporates relevant, agile, impactful, sustainable and scalable activities that maximise learning for all stakeholders. This case study sheds insight into two pilot deliveries of a mentoring program that can be adopted by other …

Postgraduate Secondary Teacher Training Programs: A Global Scoping Review, Susan Ledger, Claire Bates, Jordan Smith, Elena Prieto, David Roy, Wayne Cotton

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

: Initial teacher education (ITE) programs are shaped by diverse political, cultural, and policy contexts, resulting in varied approaches to preparing secondary teachers. This study presents a global scoping review of postgraduate ITE (PG-ITE) programs across 58 countries, examining four key characteristics: program duration, entry requirements, curriculum, and practicum structure. Findings reveal substantial variation across all dimensions, reflecting differing national priorities and workforce pressures. While common structural features are evident, program design is shaped by underlying policy logics and assumptions about teacher preparation. By systematically mapping these patterns, this study provides a comparative contribution to the field and offers insights …

The Role Of Kindergartens In Promoting Educational Moral Values In Children Through Storytelling, Reem Al-Hajj, Marwan Abu-Alrob, Osama Tawfeeq Jarrar

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study examines the role of kindergartens in promoting educational moral values in children through storytelling. The research employs a quantitative approach with questionnaires as a study tool. The study sample, selected randomly, consists of 135 kindergarten teachers from Jenin Directorate, Palestine, analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (Smart-PLS4). The results show that kindergartens have a significant role in fostering educational moral values through storytelling, supported by strong path coefficients (e.g., β = 0.361, p = 0.002 for proposed suggestions) and a high explained variance (R² = 0.673). This framework, which positions children as active meaning-makers rather than passive recipients of …

Teachers’ Greater Perceived Knowledge Of Trauma Linked With More Favourable Attitudes And Less Burnout, Belinda Cicco, Donnah L. Anderson

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Teachers are required to meet the needs of trauma-affected students. While training improves teachers’ knowledge of trauma-informed care, it is not systematically implemented, risking teacher burnout and student progress. This cross-sectional survey investigated teachers’ perceived knowledge and attitudes regarding teaching students affected by trauma and three aspects of burnout (personal, work-related, and student-related). Australian primary and secondary teachers (N = 542) were recruited via social media and snowball sampling. Mediation analyses showed significant indirect paths, whereby greater perceived knowledge was associated with more favourable attitudes, which in turn was associated with less work-related, student-related, and personal burnout. Younger teacher age …

(In)Visible Diverse Gender And Sexual Identities Of Pre-Service Teachers: Disclosure, Emotional Labour And Safety Work Within Initial Teacher Education(In)Visible Diverse Gender And Sexual Identities Of Pre-Service Teachers: Disclosure, Emotional Labour And Safety Work Within Initial Teacher Education, Saul A. Karnovsky, Matthew J. Phillips, Breeanna Melville

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Australia is currently facing a significant teacher attrition crisis, with early career educators increasingly leaving the profession due to burnout, demoralisation, and adverse working conditions. This issue is exacerbated for teachers of diverse genders and sexualities (DGS), who encounter heightened levels of discrimination, exclusion, and mental health challenges within educational institutions. Despite broader societal progress, Australian schools and universities remain sites of persistent queerphobia, contributing to unsafe and unsupportive environments for DGS individuals. This article focuses on pre-service teachers (PSTs) enrolled in initial teacher education (ITE) programs. The study addresses an important gap in the literature by exploring how emotional …

An Examination Of The Cognitive Levels And Content Dimensions In Activities Developed By Pre-Service Mathematics Teachers Within The Math Taxonomy Framework, Ayşe Tuğçe Bodur, Mevhibe Kobak Demi̇r

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The purpose of this study is to analyze the questions included in three-dimensional modeling activities developed by pre-service mathematics teachers in terms of the cognitive levels and mathematical content dimensions of the MATH taxonomy. This analysis aims to reveal which mathematical processes and skills the pre-service teachers prioritize in their instructional materials. Adopting a case study design, one of the qualitative research methods, this research examined activities developed by 26 secondary pre-service mathematics teachers, selected through convenience sampling, for teaching three-dimensional geometric shapes. Descriptive analysis was used to evaluate a total of 122 activity questions. Regarding content dimensions, it …

Reciprocal Translanguaging In Peer Interaction: An Interactional Analysis Of Grammatical Co-Construction Among Indonesian Efl Learners, Erwin Ashari, Berlin Sibarani, Masitowarni Siregar

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study examines how reciprocal translanguaging operates in small-group peer interaction to support the co-construction of English grammatical understanding among Indonesian EFL learners. Conceptualized as a structured interactional process in which participants draw on their full linguistic repertoires to build grammatical meaning across turns, reciprocal translanguaging is analyzed through five excerpts of naturally occurring peer discussion focusing on observable moves of questioning, repair, metalinguistic elaboration, and confirmation among three fifth-semester university students at Universitas Riau Kepulauan, Indonesia. Drawing on qualitative interactional discourse analysis of recorded online peer discussions, the study examines how participants flexibly deploy Indonesian and English resources to …

Hope As Affect: Engaging With Crisis And Collapse Through Collaborative Performance Making, Bronte Frances

Theses : Honours

The project is interested in how hope can operate as an affective, embodied force within collaborative performance-making processes. In this specific context it was to see how, where and why the concept of hope was possible in the collaborative making of a new and original full length theatre work that was addressing themes of crisis and collapse. Invoking key theorists – Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone (2022), Donna Haraway (2016), Kathleen Stewart (2007), Jonathan Lear (2006), and Rebecca Solnit (2016) – the research investigated how hope can be consistently enacted. Centred on investigating hope as affect experienced in the present …

The Role Of Games In Hospitality Management Education, Arghavan Hadinejad, Samira Zare

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Building upon game-based learning, this study compares hospitality students’ cognition, metacognition, engagement, satisfaction, and performance in a course across two academic terms at an Australian university. One term featured teaching content without any games while the second term incorporated gamification. A quasi-experimental design was used in which surveys, interviews and students’ evaluation reports were utilized. Students demonstrated more favorable cognitive thoughts, and higher levels of engagement and satisfaction in the gamified course. Students’ performance in assessments across the two courses as well as their metacognition were found to be similar. This study presents a game effectiveness matrix with Kahoot as …

From Flexibility To Friction: Intended And Unintended Consequences Of Hot-Desking In Workplaces, Cheuk Hang Au, Lin Yue, Siqi Gao, Guanglei Cheng

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study aims to theorize the tensions of hot-desking. Moving beyond its surface-level effects, we explain its complex impact on employee well-being and organizational conflict.

Design/methodology/approach: Using a multi-platform netnographic approach, we analyzed unsolicited discussions from online communities to capture diverse, authentic experiences across Eastern and Western contexts.

Findings: Grounded in technology affordance and constraints theory (TACT), our central finding is that hot-desking's affordances and constraints are dynamically co-produced. The organizational affordance of space efficiency is directly experienced by employees as a constraint of spatial insecurity and resource deprivation. This core tension fuels emergent social conflicts, such as senior …

Beyond Assumptions: What Students Really Think About School Wellbeing Programs, Amanda Madden

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The study examined students’ perceptions of effective components in school-based wellbeing programs, addressing a critical gap where adolescent voices are absent. Data was gathered through a questionnaire, individual interviews, and focus groups conducted with 36 Year 12 students across three independent co-educational schools in Western Australia. Thematic analysis identified seven key components essential for effective wellbeing programming: targeted content providing respite from academic pressures, engaging and relatable presenters, strategic timing, developmental appropriateness, meaningful measurement, genuine teacher engagement, and authentic incorporation of student voice. Students valued practical, non-academic content and expressed scepticisms about teacher-delivered programs. Timing emerged as a previously underexplored …

Women Are Discriminated Against On The Basis Of Sex: Anti-Trans Epistemologies In Australian Universities, Emily M. Gray, Jacqueline Ullman, Mindy Blaise

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article offers an analysis of qualitative data from a multi-phased project entitled Understanding and Addressing Everyday Sexisms in Australian Universities. The project’s key aim was to improve the ways in which gender-based discrimination is understood and addressed in Australian universities. It achieved this aim through adopting a situated, intersectional, and creative approach to data generation and analysis. The authors examine data from phase three of the project, a large-scale survey that was distributed across 12 of Australia’s 39 public universities, yielding 1257 responses. The survey was designed to encourage academic staff of all genders to participate and aimed to …

A Critical Review Of The Theory Of Planned Behaviour In Tourism Research, Kourosh Esfandiar, Arghavan Hadinejad

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) has received considerable attention across various academic disciplines and remains one of the most widely applied–yet increasingly critiqued–theoretical frameworks in tourism research. Despite its widespread use, there is a notable lack of critical reflection on its adequacy in capturing the complexity of tourist behaviour and a limited exploration of alternative theoretical pathways. This paper addresses this gap by critically evaluating the appropriateness and limitations of the TPB in tourism research. Special attention is given to the Theory of Reasoned Goal Pursuit (TRGP), a recent extension of the TPB, alongside complementary frameworks from parent disciplines …

Strengthening Social Structures To Improve Informal Care For Older People With Chronic Life-Limiting Illnesses In Rural Ghana, Barbara Adonteng-Kissi, Obed Adonteng-Kissi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Traditional family-based care for older people in Ghana is declining as globalization and social change weaken historical support systems. This analysis is informed by a review of scholarly literature concerning the implications of globalization for the provision of caregiving for older people managing chronic life-limiting illnesses. We aimed to explore ways of strengthening social structures to enhancing the quality of lives of older people with chronic life-limiting illnesses in rural Ghana amongst 15 older people; 15 family caregivers; 10 healthcare professionals. Critical Social Theory (CST) functions as the primary theoretical framework for conducting an interrogation of the systemic structures that …

Trial Tribulations: Lessons Learned From An Unsuccessful Pilot Trial Of Behavioural Activation In Young People With Early Or Emerging Psychosis At A Regional Mental Health Service, Janina Catalao Dionisio Murta, Bróna Nic Giolla Easpaig, Mitchell K. Byrne, Richard Gray, Martin Jones, David Mitchell, Rebecca Creek, Ellie Brown, Jing Yu Tan, Shaun Dennis, Daniel Bressington

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

AimThe experience of conducting an unsuccessful pilot trial of behavioural activation (BA) to improve depressive symptoms in young clients with early or emerging psychosis is reported on. We aimed to identify barriers and enablers to inform the conduct of future trials with this client group.MethodsClinicians completed BA training with the aim of delivering this to suitable clients. Feasibility outcomes were calculated as proportions of feasibility targets. The various stages of the pilot randomised trial were examined, informed by interviews with five young people with early or emerging psychosis and four clinicians. Interviews were content analysed.ResultsClient recruitment and retention targets were …