Digital Commons Network^™

Tackling Australia’S Male Teacher Shortage: Insights From Initial Teacher Education (Ite) Completion Data, Loan Dao, Jeanne M. Allen, Darren Pullen, Scott Cowie

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The under-representation of males in the Australian teaching profession has been an issue of concern for some time. With predictions that the situation will worsen due to an aging male teacher population and the enduring perception that teaching is females’ work, this paper explores trends in male initial teacher education (ITE) degree completion in a sample of Australian ITE programs from 2001 to 2021 to gain insights into which types of teaching degrees and delivery modes of study are most likely to attract potential pre-service male teachers. Open access and non-identifiable male ITE completion data were obtained from the Australian …

Chinese Secondary School Teachers' Perceptions Of Teacher Candidates' Teaching Ability And Performance, Liyuan Chen, Chia Ching Tu

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

: This study investigated secondary school teachers' beliefs about teacher educators’ teaching competencies and performance. Additionally, it compared the differences between the perceived importance of teaching competencies and the teaching performance level among teachers from different backgrounds. The Delphi method was first used to identify teaching competency items followed by a questionnaire survey to collect data from secondary school teachers in Hebei Province, China. Out of 700 questionnaires that were sent out, 539 valid questionnaires were returned. Secondary school teachers were highly aware of the importance of teaching competencies but did not possess these competencies. An importance-performance analysis (IPA) showed …

Unveiling Raciolinguistic Ideologies: Pre-Service Teachers’ Insights On Refugee Integration In Schools, Tuba Yilmaz, Rosanna Ellis

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This study investigates pre-service teachers' ideologies about refugee students' belonging and integration in Türkiye and examines how these ideologies shape their anticipated pedagogical practices. Using the framework of raciolinguistic ideologies, the study highlights how linguistic and cultural hierarchies influence educational practices, often perpetuating systemic exclusion. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 13 pre-service teachers from various educational programs, utilizing a qualitative, phenomenological design. The findings reveal a predominant reliance on deficit-based perspectives, with refugee students framed as linguistically deficient and culturally "othered." While participants expressed professional commitments to inclusivity, their approaches often emphasized assimilation into Turkish norms, reflecting cultural …

Australian Education Research Organisation And Teacher Education, Bruce Haynes

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The Australian Education Research Organisation was created to initiate, collate and disseminate reliable evidence-based research to the Australian school system. It uses the latest cognitive psychology to advocate the use of explicit instruction and phonics to lift outcomes of Australian schooling. These practices are reflected in the new ‘core content’ for Initial Teacher Education programs that were identified by the Teacher Education Expert Panel to be mandated in national accreditation processes for tertiary providers delivering initial teacher education. Mandating these practices is problematic and marks a further shift towards authoritarian processes in Australia.

Harmonising The Rhythm Of Drumming With The Silence Of Meditation: An Autoethnography Of Initial Teacher Education (Ite), Elly S. Thomson

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

This article presents an autoethnographic examination of how my professional experiences inform and resist the cultural swing towards over standardisation in Initial Teacher Education (ITE) over the past twenty years. This has been articulated through five ‘turning point moments’ as reflective narratives from my professional journey. Drawing on epistemic reflexivity, this study highlights the risks of homogenising the teaching profession, arguing for an equity-focused approach that values diverse pathways and fosters inclusive classrooms. From this perspective, the paper critiques the current trends towards standardised, one-size-fits-all ITE entry requirements and conforming curriculum. The findings suggest the potential risks of such …

Enhancing Pre-Service Teachers’ Preparedness For Professional Experience Placement And Employment: Authentic School-University Partnership Opportunities, Stacey E. Jones, Deb Clarke

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The transition from university learning to classroom application presents a challenge in initial teacher education. This transition results in ‘praxis shock’; a term coined to describe the confronting exposure to the gritty realities of the classroom. This case study investigated a school-university partnership that drew on authentic learning activities using a team-teaching model to address the praxis shock challenge. Data were gathered over five years from pre-service teacher subject experience surveys, journal reflections, and semi-structured interviews. The findings revealed that this authentic approach significantly enhanced pre-service teachers’ understanding of the Australian Professional Standards for teachers, their classroom readiness, confidence, and …

“My School Makes Even The Smallest Students …. Feel Included And Happy To Be There” Student Perspectives On Inclusion., Charles Ag Kemp, Umesh Sharma, Louise Mclean

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

The objective of this study was to examine student perspectives on what inclusion means to them and what students believe to be critical school based inclusive practices. The study utilised a mixed method approach to collect data from a sample of 40 Year 9 and Year 10 students from a small school in rural Victoria.  Qualitative data were analysed using a three-stage process of thematic analysis.  Students emphasised that inclusion could be enhanced when relationships are prioritised, school environments are more participatory, when teachers know what students need to be successful, and, when teachers actively monitor and encourage the engagement …

Using Children's Picture Books To Teach Mathematical And Numeracy Concepts: An Exploration Of The Aesthetic Value Of Mathematics For Preservice Teachers’ Dispositions, Mellie Green, Lorraine Gaunt, Georgina M. Barton

Australian Journal of Teacher Education

Evidence suggests that preservice teachers tend to have negative dispositions towards the teaching of mathematics and/or numeracy. In response, this paper describes the work of three experienced teacher educators using high-quality children’s picture books to teach mathematical and/or numeracy concepts as well as foregrounding the aesthetic value of mathematics. The purpose of this type of reading is to support and improve preservice teacher dispositions towards mathematics and/or numeracy with children’s picture books. Using metalogue as methodology, the researchers discussed mathematical and/or numeracy concepts and explored the aesthetic value of mathematics within selected picture books. They used the Australian Curriculum’s General …

Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy After Stroke: A Process Evaluation Of Implementation In An Early-Supported Discharge Rehabilitation Service, Ashan Bimalka Weerakkody

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Background

Modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) improves upper limb (UL) function after stroke, but its routine delivery in rehabilitation settings remains limited.

Aims

The objectives were to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and sustainability of implementing mCIMT within an early-supported discharge (ESD) rehabilitation service, using existing resources and staffing.

Aims were to:

• Develop and deliver a multi-modal behaviour change intervention to clinicians to increase mCIMT delivery.
• Explore the acceptability of mCIMT among stroke survivors, carers, therapists, and allied health managers.
• Identify program adaptations to better suit stakeholder needs.
• Evaluate the process of implementing mCIMT in the ESD service.

Methods

This thesis …

Conservative Opposition To Climate Policy May Be Partially Threat-Based: A Test And Critique Of The Integrated Threat Model Of Climate Attitudes, Samantha K. Stanley, Zoe Leviston, Kirsti M. Jylhä, Iain Walker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

One explanation for the link between political conservatism and rejection of the science and solutions of climate change is based on perceived threats. Yet, until recently, this claim has not been studied by simultaneously considering the different levels at which individuals may experience a sense of threat (i.e., threat of climate change or climate policy, at personal or collective level, on economic or cultural domains). A recent theoretical advance integrated the existing threat-based explanations for conservatives' lower acceptance of climate change and support for pro-climate policy. We aimed to subject aspects of this integrated threat model of climate change attitudes …

The Somatechnics Of Journalism: Applying An Embodied Perspective To Enduring Issues In Journalism Studies, Laura Glitsos, Mark Deuze

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This research applies Somatechnics to the study of journalism and contributes to an emergent epistemological “bodily turn” in the discipline of Journalism Studies. This is a turn toward the body, embodied experience, and the inevitable emotionality of journalism and the journalist as brought forth by Chantal Francoeur and Belinda Middleweek, among others. We invite journalism scholars (and practitioners) to understand journalists’ bodies as sophisticated organic technologies—and to subsequently understand how those bodies are further transmogrified by, and collapsed into, the ever-changing world of news media. We deploy a process of retheorising as a qualitative method in which researchers apply new …

Understanding The Identity Work And Aspirations Of Indigenous Males Navigating Elite Australian Higher Education, James A. Smith, Garth Stahl, Andrew Harvey, Braden Hill, Himanshu Gupta, Sam Moore, Jianing Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

In Australia, there has been increased attention to attracting Indigenous peoples into higher education but, despite a recent growth in enrolment numbers, they remain severely underrepresented. This underrepresentation is particularly notable among Indigenous males, who are the least likely to attend. In this paper, we investigate the experiences of four Indigenous young men who attended an elite higher education institution. Aligned with other research on the experiences of Black and Minority Ethnic males in higher education, the article captures how their experience in privileged institutions compels them to reflect on their own positionality and the cultural interface between Indigenous and …

Appearances Can Be Deceiving: How Naturalistic Changes To Target Appearance Impact On Lineup-Based Decision-Making, Dominic T. Jordan, Adrian J. Scott, Donald M. Thomson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The present study examined the influence of appearance, procedure and position on identification decisions, post-decisional confidence ratings and estimates of discrimination and confidence-specific accuracy. Regarding appearance, the study examined the combined influence of three naturalistic changes that occur day-to-day (i.e. a reduction in cranial hair length, the removal of stubble, and a change of clothing), two of which have not been considered before in a lineup-decision context. Participants (N = 350) completed four experimental lineups which involved: viewing a target person, completing a brief distractor task, and making an identification decision and a post-decisional confidence rating from a photographic lineup. …

When Descriptor Is Diagnosis: An Autoethnographic Response To The Medical Treatment Of Women With Vulvodynia, Josephine Taylor, Alexandra Ridgway

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Women with chronic vulvar pain experience symptoms that can affect their everyday functioning. These women are often diagnosed with vulvodynia, defined as vulvar pain without a medical explanation lasting at least three months. Yet while vulvodynia is presented by medical authorities as a diagnosis it is, more accurately, a descriptor of the physical condition. As such it does not have the ability to explain what causes this vulvar pain and, consequently, cannot determine an appropriate treatment pathway for all patients. As women with vulvodynia (‘V women’), we use this article to highlight the issues posed by a descriptor camouflaging as …

Serial Killers And The Production Of The Uncanny In Digital Participatory Culture, Laura Glitsos, Mark Deuze

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Many theorists have expounded on what serial killing says about the social in any given context and the ways in which serial killing and media are entangled, in particular, Mark Seltzer, Jon Stratton and Elliot Leyton. However, in this article, we ask, how is serial killer mythology developing in relation to participatory culture typical of our current digital environment? In scaffolding discourse analysis with theories from various literature, such as Judith Fathalla and Mark Deuze, what we find is that people’s lives as lived in media open up radically new spaces through which media publics consume, cultivate and perform knowledge …

Circulating Medium- And Long-Chain Acylcarnitines Are Associated With Plasma P-Tau181 In Cognitively Normal Older Adults, Tahmida Sharmin, Pratishtha Chatterjee, James D. Doecke, Nicholas J. Ashton, Kevin Huynh, Steve Pedrini, Hamid R. Sohrabi, Benjamin Heng, Shaun Eslick, Henrik Zetterberg, Kaj Blennow, Manohar Garg, Ralph N. Martins

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis involves dysregulation in diverse biochemical processes. Nevertheless, plasma tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (P-tau181), a recognised AD biomarker, has been described to reflect early-stage cortical amyloid-β (Aβ) deposition in cognitively normal (CN) adults. Therefore, identifying changes in plasma metabolites associated with plasma P-tau181 at the pre-clinical stage may provide insights into underlying biochemical mechanisms to better understand initial AD pathogenesis. In the current study, plasma P-tau181, quantified via single molecule array (Simoa) technology, and plasma metabolites, quantified via targeted-mass spectrometry, were investigated for associations in CN older adults and upon stratification by positron emission tomography (PET)-Aβ …

Empowerment Through Choice: The Interplay Of Choice And Control After Spinal Cord Or Brain Injury, Gisela Van Kessel, Shylie Mackintosh, Carolyn M. Murray, Michelle Guerin, Caroline Elizabeth Fryer, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: To gain knowledge of the early phase post-injury experiences related to choice and control for individuals living with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury, as well as their caregivers. Materials and Methods: A qualitative study was conducted to understand the experiences of individuals with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury and their caregivers in the early phase post-injury, focusing on the aspects of choice and control. Nine individuals with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury and four of their caregivers participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews, and the data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four themes …

Senior Registered Nurses' Organisational Communication Satisfaction, Job Satisfaction, Burnout, And Intention To Stay: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Two Healthcare Groups, Gemma Doleman, Kaoru Nosaka, Annemarie De Leo

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To explore organisational communication satisfaction and its impact on senior registered nurses' job satisfaction, burnout, and intention to stay. Design: A cross-sectional design using surveys. The study was conducted with senior registered nurses across two healthcare groups in Western Australia. Results: One hundred seventy-four usable surveys were returned. The results of this study indicated that those with higher communication satisfaction levels were more likely to have higher levels of job satisfaction. Senior registered nurses who intended to leave their jobs had a higher risk of emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation, which may result in higher rates of burnout compared to …

Do Anxiety, Depression, Fear Of Movement And Fear Of Achilles Rupture Correlate With Achilles Tendinopathy Pain, Symptoms Or Physical Function?, George White, Fletcher Bright, Ebonie K. Rio, Ruth L. Chimenti, Myles C. Murphy

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: To determine if psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression, fear of movement and fear of rupture are associated with increased tendon-related disability, quantified by the Tendinopathy Severity Assessment-Achilles (TENDINS-A). Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Online Qualtrics survey. Participants: Sixty-eight participants (54% female) with Achilles tendinopathy and a mean (standard deviation) age of 40.1 (12.6) years. Main Outcome Measures: The TENDINS-A (including subscales of pain; symptoms such as stiffness; physical function), Patient Health Questionnaire-9, General Anxiety Disorder-7, Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia and fear of tendon rupture. Associations were evaluated using generalised linear models (adjusting for age and sex), with significance accepted when …

Survival Mode: Navigating The First Five Years Of Teaching Performing Arts In Neoliberal Education Assemblages, Kirsten Lambert, Christina Gray

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper shares data from a longitudinal study into secondary performing arts teachers’ perceptions of their first five years of teaching. Utilising Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of rhizomatic becomings and Braidotti’s posthuman knowing subject, our research explores the embodied, relational, and fluid identities of early career teachers. This is important when exploring nascent teacher becomings because it takes into consideration the configuration of bodies and hyper-performative expectations in neoliberal educational assemblages. Our longitudinal qualitative research in Western Australia revealed that early career teachers (ECTs) experienced concerning levels of mental ill-health in response to insecure employment, high stress, long hours, performative …

Out Of The Woods: Mount Lawley Teachers College, The First Decade 1970 - 1980, Glen Phillips, Sybe Jongeling, John Renner, John Sherwood

ECU Books

This book focuses exclusively on the visions and contribution of Robert (Bob) G.Peter, the first Principal, appointed to build a radically new teachers’ college, the first new tertiary institution in Australia since the end of WWII.It covers the first decade or so of the College,1970-1979.The story describes how Bob Peter based his visions on modern educational thought and practices and how he enthused his selected foundation staff to work with public works department architects to incorporate these new ideas in the design and building of this new tertiary institution.

Phase-Specific Pandemic Survival Strategies: Insights From Tour Operators, Kai Xin Tay, Thanam Subramaniam, Jeniffer Kim Lian Chan, Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan, S. Mostafa Rasoolimanesh, Joaquim Dias Soeiro

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and a significant and negative impact on the tourism sector, and effective strategies were required to resolve pertinent challenges. The present study sought to appraise the survival strategies of Malaysian tour operators through a systematic literature review and in-depth interviews with 26 tour operator firms. The findings were discussed by employing a reactive, adaptive, protective, and proactive (RAPP) framework to underscore phase-specific strategies. The first phase included decreasing operational expenditures and staff layoffs. The second phase encompassed retraining existing staff while diversifying the current business scope. The third phase prioritised protecting financial integrity, engaging …

Exploring How Nutrition Students Used The Relational Employability Framework To Reflect On Their Micro-Placement Experiences, Elizabeth J. Cook, Ros Sambell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

As the world grapples with multiple challenges, workforces increasingly require university graduates who can navigate complexity to facilitate positive change. The relational employability framework (REF) is used by educators to help students develop an awareness of their human and more-than-human career interactions, contributions and possibilities, in addition to developing their foundational employability skills and attributes. This case study, situated in a third-year community nutrition unit at Edith Cowan University, explores how students applied the REF in their final written reflection assessment following a micro-placement. Eighteen students reflected on their micro-placement experience and developing relational employability using Gibbs’ reflective cycle. Codebook …

She Speaks: Amplifying Women's Voices For Wellbeing, Narelle Lemon

Reports accepted as research outputs

Executive Summary

The SheSpeaks project successfully transformed how 223 Western Australian women understand and practice self-care, demonstrating  that targeted wellbeing literacy interventions can create lasting change  in women’s relationship with their own wellbeing. Funded by the Women’s Grants for a Stronger Future program, this innovative initiative combined evidence-based workshops with authentic podcasting to challenge the pervasive cultural narrative that positions women’s self-care as selfish  or impossible.

Students As Digital Designers In Engineering, Matthew Daniel Christie, Belinda Von Mengersen, Martin Levins, Carol Puddicombe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This chapter examines the integration of digital technologies in Engineering education contexts from primary to secondary school classrooms. It outlines a progression of learning experiences integrating digital tools, such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software, programming platforms, and data analysis applications, into Engineering education modules so that students can build their technological proficiency and creativity. The chapter emphasises using real-world scenarios, such as the design of a smart garden or bridge-building projects, to make engineering principles more tangible. It explores the role of signature pedagogies and the Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy (STEL) in structuring curriculum and instructional strategies to …

Reducing Methamphetamine Use In Aboriginal And Torres Strait Islander Communities With The “We Can Do This” Web App: Qualitative Evaluation Of Acceptability And Feasibility, Leda Sivak, Rachel Reilly, Shani Crumpen, Carla Treloar, Rebecca Mcketin, Julia Butt, Yvette Roe, Nadine Ezard, Brendan Quinn, Jack Nagle, Wade Longbottom, Clifford Warrior, James Ward

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Preventing and treating methamphetamine-related harm in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations is a significant challenge for health care services. Digital health care may offer opportunities to support individuals and families in ways that complement existing methamphetamine treatment options. This study responds to a community-identified priority as Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services identified methamphetamine use as a key concern and sought support to respond to the needs of people who use methamphetamine and their families. Objective: This paper reports on a process evaluation of the web application’s acceptability and feasibility when used by clients and clinicians in residential rehabilitation …

You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby: Authenticating Popular Music Tribute Shows, Colin James Outhwaite

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article forwards an alternative perspective on how authenticity can be constructed through popular music tribute show performances. It adopts Edward Bruner's (1994, American Anthropologist, 96, 397-415) categorisation of authenticity in relation to the replication of 'historical sites' in museum exhibitions. It argues that rather than focusing on sonic and historical 'accuracy', tribute musicians strive to curate their history and personal experiences with the music they play to prove their 'authority' as cultural ambassadors. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted in Perth, Western Australia, and a case study of a UK-based international touring tribute to The Smiths, this article highlights how …

Tying The Goreum: Using Stanislavsky’S Concept Of Emotional Memory To Capture A Childhood, Susie Conte

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Goreum/Ties was a cross-cultural, multidisciplinary theatre project that explored memory, identity, and belonging. Developed during a residency at Incheon Art Platform in collaboration with Fremantle Arts Centre, the work marked my first return to Korea in 35 years. This journey allowed me to reconnect with my ten-year-old self and reassemble the fragments of memory into performance. Blending theatre, video, sound, and fabric as transformative media, the project engaged audiences in a tapestry of cultural perspectives that shape remembrance. I drew on Stanislavski’s concept of emotional memory to filter my childhood in South Korea into poetic reflection. My experiences as a …

Complex Tapestry Of Ebooking Determinants: A Moderation Analysis Of Short-Term Rental, E. A. Ndaguba, K. Brown

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The objective of this study is to investigate the multifaceted determinants influencing booking intentions in the dynamic landscape of short-term rentals. Drawing on established theories in consumer behaviour and hospitality management, the research aims to shed light on the interplay of factors such as price, occupancy rate, reviews, superhost status, instant book feature, listing type, and their potential moderation. By synthesising these insights, the study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the complex decision-making processes of potential guests in the evolving context of modern hospitality and short-term accommodation platforms.

Dementia Awareness Raising Forum: Improving Attitudes Towards People Living With Dementia, Sheridan T. Read, Rosemary Saunders, Matthew A. Albrecht, Ravani Duggan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Stigma surrounding dementia is a significant issue affecting individuals and communities leading to discrimination towards those living with the condition. However, the changing paradigm in dementia support to living well with dementia can reduce this stigma and improve community attitudes. A community initiative aimed to address this evaluated the impact of a two-hour education forum involving 92 community members. Presentations from experts, including a person with dementia, addressed dementia-related human rights issues and initiatives to live well with dementia. Attendees completed the new Dementia Community Attitudes Questionnaire (DCAQ) aligned with the evolving paradigm of living well with dementia before and …