Digital Commons Network^™

Addressing ‘Wicked Complex Problems’: Qualitative Understandings Of Sexual Violence Prevention In Male-Dominated Industries, Sarah Vrankovich, Sharyn Burns, Giselle Woodley, Jacqueline Hendriks

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Globally there has been increased focus on the prevalence of sexual violence in workplaces, including the mining industry. In Western Australia, where this study is situated, this industry is a significant employer, predominantly male-dominated, and the prevalent use of fly-in-fly-out schedules can blur work and social life. Consequently, efforts to prevent and manage workplace sexual violence have become a priority, leading to the development and implementation of various strategies and resources. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 34 participants, including sexual violence prevention professionals (n = 16) and mining industry workers (n = 18). Reflexive thematic analysis identified systemic and behavioural …

Assessing The State Of Gender Equality For Skilled Migrant Women: Intersectionality Challenges, Uma Jogulu, Melissa A. Parris, Juliana Mutum

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to examine the present state of gender equality experienced by skilled migrant women in Australian workplaces by using an intersectionality perspective that takes into account the multiple challenges women face as managers. Design/methodology/approach: Using a mixed methods design, the authors surveyed and interviewed female and male skilled migrants who migrated to Australia as adults “first generation” immigrants and were employed in full-time managerial roles. Findings: The findings show that intersectionality features of gender and cultural background influence skilled migrant managers’ experiences in the workplace, including their opportunities for further career advancement. Their data …

Balancing Digital Presents And Futures: Understanding First-Time Parents’ Practices, Plans And Perceptions Of ‘Quality’ And Risk In Young Children's Digital Engagements, Katrin Langton, Emma Jayakumar, Harrison W. See, Catherine Archer, Giselle Woodley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Parents in Australia today have to make decisions about what counts as appropriate digital media use for their young children in a cultural context characterised by conflicting advice, impractical screen use recommendations and risk-focussed media messaging. These conditions make it challenging for parents to purposefully approach and plan not only their children's current digital engagements but also their futures as digital citizens. How parents negotiate these tensions in managing their young children's digital presents, and how they approach planning for their digital futures, remains underexplored. This paper presents the findings of two rounds of qualitative interviews and three focus groups …

Child And Family Centred Care: A Three-Phased Principle-Based Concept Analysis, Maggie Zgambo, Julie Blamires, Mandie Foster, Mohammad Al-Motlaq, Therese A. O'Sullivan, Davina Houghton, Evalotte Mörelius

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Despite a growing multidisciplinary interest in the Child and Family Centred Care approach, its meaning remains unclear in extant literature. It is, therefore, crucial to explore, analyse, describe, and clarify the concept of the Child and Family Centred Care approach and its associated terms. Method: A three-phased principle-based concept analysis approach was used to analyse the concept of Child and Family Centred Care. A systematic search of literature was completed using the CINAHL, PsycINFO, Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Peer-reviewed articles on Child and Family Centred Care, published from inception to 2023 were included if they were …

Psychological Implications Of Preterm Birth, Livio Provenzi, Minesh Khashu, Mia Mclean, Evalotte Morelius

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

Efficacy Of A School-Based Mental Health Intervention Among Zambian Youth: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial, Sherinah Saasa, Kaitlin P. Ward, Cleopas G. Sambo, Paula Barrett, Cheuk Yan Lau

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

While many children in Africa face notable psychological problems, the majority do not receive needed mental health services. The My FRIENDS Youth Program, a universal cognitivebehavioral intervention for anxiety prevention and resilience enhancement, has demonstrated effectiveness across cultures in children and adolescents. This study explores whether the program's effectiveness extends to Zambian children. Participants were 75 children and adolescents (53% female, ages 10-15) attending low-income schools in Zambia. Four schools were randomly assigned to an intervention (n=44) or waitlist control (n=31). The intervention consisted of 10 weekly sessions plus two booster sessions administered in group format. Assessments were conducted at …

Exploring The Barriers To Mental Health Help-Seeking Among African Migrants In Australia: A Qualitative Study, Nnaemeka Meribe, Obed Adonteng-Kissi, Kathomi Gatwiri, Lillian Mwanri, Frank Darkwa Baffour, Agness Tembo, Edith N. Botchway-Commey, David Chisanga, Ahmed A. Moustafa, Kerrie E. Doyle, Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: The health of African migrants in Australia is a largely under-researched topic despite the steadily increasing size of the population and its uniqueness. In particular, few studies have explored the mental health of African migrants in Australia or their utilization of mental health services.

Aims: This study explored the barriers to mental health help-seeking among first-generation African migrants in Australia.

Methods: In this qualitative study conducted using the hermeneutical phenomenological research approach, the purposive sampling method was used to recruit participants. In-depth interviews with participants were undertaken online via Zoom, Teams, and WhatsApp calls. Interviews were recorded and transcribed …

Ghostbusters: Hunting Health Education Within Physical Education, Valeria Varea, Ana Riccetti

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: The school subject of physical education (PE) has experienced a “health turn” globally. However, some university undergraduate programs may need to be revised to adequately equip pre-service teachers to teach about health in schools. The aim of this study was to explore the content of an undergraduate university program in PE and what is expected for pre-service PE teachers to teach about health in schools, according to the relevant curricula. Design/methodology/approach: A pragmatic discourse analysis was conducted, using the Argentinean PE school curriculum for primary and secondary schools in the province of Córdoba and the syllabus of an undergraduate …

Health Professional Perceptions Of Delivering Hospital Falls Prevention Education—A Qualitative Study, Anne Marie Hill, Cheng Yen Loo, Steffanie Coulter, Carol Watson, Sharmila Vaz, Meg E. Morris, Leon Flicker, Tammy Weselman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Providing patient falls prevention education can help reduce falls in hospitals, yet research exploring staff perceptions about providing falls education in hospitals is limited. Objective: We sought to determine enablers and barriers to implementing a hospital falls prevention education program (the Safe Recovery Program) from the clinical staff perspective. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to recruit health professionals (N = 40) from 12 acute medical and surgical wards at a 450-bed hospital in Perth, Western Australia. Participants were given the option to take part in a focus group or semi-structured interview. Data were analyzed via directed content analysis. Results: …

Investigating The Interplay Of Thermal, Lighting, And Acoustics In Intensive Care For Enhanced Patient Well-Being And Clinical Outcomes, Emil E. Jonescu, Edward Litton, Benjamin Farrell

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This research explores the interplay among noise levels, thermal conditions, and lighting intensity in an intensive care unit (ICU), focusing on preserving circadian rhythm and promoting nighttime sleep to advance patient-centric care. This investigation assesses lighting levels (Lux), natural versus artificial light ratios, ICU room temperature, and correlations with acoustic data during a field research period and examines the collective impact of patient exposure to sleep linked to delirium and health outcomes, addressing critical gaps in understanding. Findings reveal that noise levels between 60 and 90 dB(A) during patient occupancy exceed sleep disruption thresholds, with daytime averages of 53.6 dB(A) …

School Library Professionals’ Perceptions Of Students’ Digital Information Literacy, Margaret Kristin Merga, Saiyidi Mat Roni

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Young people need strong digital information literacy (DIL) skills to effectively source, interpret and evaluate the credibility of online information. As DIL educators and advocates within contemporary schools, school library professionals can provide cross-contextual insights into their students’ DIL knowledge, skills and learning opportunities. Data from the 2024 International School Library Workforce Survey suggest that developing DIL may not be a typical priority in all schools and countries. Students’ DIL was felt to be low. School library professionals may be underutilized for supporting DIL learning in 35% of contexts, highlighting the need for greater understanding of this professional role.

The Effect Of Climate Change On Different Types Of International Visitors In Western Australia, Ghialy Yap, Charbel Bassil

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper examines the effects of climate change on tourist arrivals to Western Australia, which we classify according to the purpose of their visit (business, education, holiday, visitors of friends and relatives (VFR), and employment). We construct a temperature variability indicator that measures the deviation of extreme temperatures from the average temperature. Overall, the results reveal that temperature variabilities have long-term diminishing effects on tourist arrivals, specifically VFR, visitors for employment and education. Surprisingly, unusually low-temperature variability negatively affects tourist arrivals more than unusually high-temperature variability. This suggests that cooler temperatures than expected could lead to tourists’ dissatisfaction and reduce …

Travel Therapy: Simple Exercise Interventions For Osteoporosis Patients, Jun Wen, Fangli Hu, Yuan Chai

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

No abstract provided.

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Individuals With Functional Neurological Disorders (Fnd) In Australia, Omid Rezaei, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study aims to explore the lived experiences of individuals with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) in Australia, focusing on the challenges they face in daily life, healthcare interactions, and service access. Materials and methods: A qualitative approach was employed, involving semi-structured interviews with 11 participants diagnosed with FND. Data were analysed thematically to identify key issues impacting their experiences. Results: Five key themes emerged: (1) disruptions in daily life due to symptoms, (2) a prolonged and frustrating diagnostic journey, (3) difficulties accessing healthcare services in regional areas, (4) societal misconceptions and stigma surrounding FND, and (5) financial strain linked …

A Moving Cause: Travel Notes Towards Pilgrimage As Creative Writing Process, Elizabeth Reid Boyd

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Pilgrimage Studies is a growing field across the arts and humanities, yet pilgrimage writing is not established as a distinct genre. In this article I share my exploration of pilgrimage as a creative writing process and potential genre. As a social scientist and a creative writer, my approach is qualitative and interdisciplinary, drawing upon an on-the-ground social constructivist perspective and definitions of genre as social action. This includes an ethnomethodological account of my practice that distils ten narrative and thematic elements in the pilgrimage writing process. These elements hinge on the leitmotif of pilgrimage writing being ‘a moving cause’, with …

Effect Of 6-Week Single Leg Countermovement Jump Training On Force Time Metrics In Elite Female Youth Footballers, Jack T. Fahey, Paul Comfort, Paul Jones, Nicholas, J. Ripley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Female football participation has grown exponentially. Unfortunately, females exhibit greater injury risk than male athletes, and experience increased mechanical stress during adolescence. Force plates provide accurate and reliable force-time characteristics enabling profiling of injury risk and benchmarking using a variety of jump and isometric tasks. The purpose of this study was to determine whether test-retest reliability and force-time characteristics of SLCMJ, bilateral countermovement jump (CMJ), countermovement rebound jump (CMJ-R) and isometric mid-thigh pull (IMTP) change with six weeks of SLCMJ training. Twenty-eight elite youth female footballers (13.7 ± 1.1 years, 53.27 ± 8.82 kg, 162.20 ± 5.37 cm) completed six …

Embedding Coaching And Local Education Champions In Implementing Trauma Informed Practice, Govind Krishnamoorthy, Domenico Antonaglia, Vicki Dallinger, Emily Berger, Sonja March, Sabrina Ong, Katrina Sherman, Nicole Goodwin, Nathan Eiby, Bronwyn Rees, Jessica Koslouski, Kay Ayre

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Growing recognition of the high prevalence of childhood adversity and maltreatment in the general population has led to efforts to support students through trauma-informed practice (TIP). This study investigated the use of coaching in effectively implementing trauma-informed programs in schools. A psychologist and a program “champion” (learning engagement coordinator) provided individual teachers coaching on student socio-emotional and behavioral concerns. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 26 teachers at an Australian primary school implementing the Trauma-informed Behavior Support (TIBS) program. Reflexive thematic analysis was employed to ascertain coaching acceptability, feasibility, and impact themes. Findings suggested that the alignment of coaching with preceding …

Perceived Professional Identity Formation And Influencing Characteristics Among Speech Pathology Students, Abigail Lewis, Denise Jackson, Dawn Bennett

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

While professional identity formation (PIF) is an important facet of employability and becoming a health professional, there has been little research on PIF among speech pathology (SP) students. This single group, cross-sectional study explored perceived PIF among SP students at a large, urban, Australian university selected via stratified sampling from a four-year undergraduate program. Using an established online self-assessment tool to measure perceived employability, the study reports on seven related constructs relevant to PIF. The self-assessment has previously been found to have strong validity and reliability and the subset used in this study likewise had strong validity and reliability. There …

Philosophers On Prison Abolitionism: Theory Versus Practice, Piero Moraro

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Philosophers have long been debating the moral justifiability of punishment. However, they have seemingly ignored the adjacent question concerning the moral justifiability of incarceration, as demonstrated by the dearth of philosophical work on prison abolitionism. This silence is puzzling, given that, on closer examination, many philosophers implicitly (or even explicitly) endorse the core assumptions of prison abolitionism. By discussing some examples in the recent literature in philosophy of punishment, I argue that philosophers support prison abolitionism in practice, but not in theory. They endorse the practical strategies in the abolitionist agenda, yet refuse to engage with the normative assumptions that …

A Tale Of Two Publishing Houses, Linda Martin

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This research explores the use of creative nonfiction in writing an account of two publishing houses established decades apart, and demonstrates how a hybrid approach that incorporates multiple voices can contribute to the field of biographies and memoirs on publishing. Using practice-led research as its primary methodology, ‘A tale of two publishing houses’ is a creative nonfiction work that focusses on the publishing experiences of Fremantle Arts Centre Press (now Fremantle Press) in its first decade of publishing from 1975, alongside present publishing experiences of Night Parrot Press in its formative years of publishing from 2019. The accompanying reflexive exegesis …

Challenging Behaviour In The Early Years: Investigating Teacher Perceptions, Gillian Anne Smith

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

An upward national trend in challenging behaviour amongst young children in Australian schools has prompted widespread concern and garnered frequent media scrutiny. Scholars have established that child-teacher relationships are central to understanding and mitigating challenging behaviour; however, exploration of teacher perceptions of children’s challenging behaviour in the early years has been limited. This study aimed to address this gap by investigating how early childhood teachers perceive and respond to young children’s challenging behaviour in Western Australia’s Kindergarten to Year 2 settings. The research was grounded in Attachment Theory and Ecological Systems Theory, highlighting the relational and environmental factors influencing teacher …

Learning Contexts And Visions For Stem In Schools, Mellita Jones, Vince Geiger, Garry Falloon, Sharon Fraser, Kim Beswick, Benjamin Holland-Twining, Vesife Hatisaru

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

STEM education is viewed as being vital for economic prosperity and productivity; and can contribute productively to changing technological, economic, and social demands of the twenty-first Century. However, there is limited consensus on how STEM education is understood and taught, and inadequate discussion around its role in addressing global issues such as climate change, health, poverty, food security, and other STEM-related social concerns. In this paper, we identify the contexts adopted for STEM teaching and learning in 47 Australian schools, drawing data from semi-structured interviews with principals and teachers who participated in the Principals as STEM Leaders (PASL) project. These …

Offenders’ Perspectives On Acquisitive Crime Targets And Stolen Goods Disposal Methods, Joseph Clare, Liam Quinn, Natalie Gately, Suzanne Rock

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper examines offenders’ perspectives about acquisitive crime targets and stolen goods markets in Australia that have not been comprehensively reviewed since 2005. Over the last 18 years there have been significant changes in the rates of property crime, reductions in cash usage, and rapid movements to online markets as a disposal outlet, that motivate this updated analysis. In late 2022, n = 107 detainees in a Western Australian police watchhouse were interviewed about their property offending frequency, offence preferences, target selection, disposal methods, and estimated financial return for targeted goods. Results demonstrated (a) meaningful shifts towards shoplifting and away …

Family Members’ Experiences Of Post-Cardiac Surgery Delirium In The Intensive Care Unit: A Narrative Inquiry, Amber Coral Mclean

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Aim: This study explores delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU) following cardiac surgery from the perspective of family members.

Background: Delirium is a common complication affecting 28-52% of people following cardiac surgery in the ICU, which can lead to distress for both the person and their family members. While research has been conducted on clinical outcomes of family involvement in delirium care, there is a lack of understanding of how delirium impacts the family members themselves. This study seeks to provide detailed narrative accounts of families’ experience of witnessing delirium in their loved one following cardiac surgery in the …

The Rise Of Women In Mining - How To Improve Inclusion And Diversity Through Organisational Programs, Ashley Mcgrath

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The inclusion and diversity (I&D) of women has become a priority for organisations due to the positive association with business performance and rising expectations of employees and shareholders for fair outcomes for all genders. Improving the I&D of women is also being driven by the evolving Australian legal framework which has heightened the responsibility of organisations regarding psychological safety and the prevention of sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination. Companies operating in male dominated industries in Western Australia (WA) are under particular pressure due to lagging performance in addressing equity issues at a state level. Existing research correlates the I&D of …

The Role Of Game-Based Learning Simulation To Enhance Leadership In Pandemic Preparedness For Nursing Students, Scott James Andrews

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses around the world suffered with the impact of resource scarcity on the provision of quality nursing care to patients. Nursing staff were at higher risk of infection than all other healthcare workers, with working conditions during the pandemic resulting in significant staffing pressures. The challenges faced by staff during the pandemic inevitably influenced the quality and delivery of clinical education, highlighting the need for innovative solutions such as digital learning to address emerging training needs. Further, the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on clinical education has highlighted the benefits of digital learning environments as alternatives to …

A Testing Load: A Review Of Cognitive Load In Computer And Paper-Based Learning And Assessment, James Pengelley, Peter R. Whipp, Anabela Malpique

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The rising use of technology in classrooms has also brought with it a concomitant wave of computer-based assessments. The argument for computer-based testing is often framed in terms of efficiency and data management: computer-based tests facilitate more efficient processing of test data and the rate at which feedback can be leveraged for student learning rather than being framed in terms of the direct effects that students experience from engaging with novel learning tools. Whilst potentially beneficial, for some students the outcomes of computer-based tests may be counter-productive. This review considers the cognitive, and often implicit, consequences of testing mode upon …

Boardroom Dissent: An Integrative Review And Future Research Agenda, Aira Eirola, Pieter Jan Bezemer, Stephan Reinhold

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Research Question/Issue: Scholars and practitioners view boardroom dissent as central to the functioning of boards of directors. However, there is a lack of consensus on what dissent is, who is involved, when and where it happens, and whether it is a behavioral or cognitive phenomenon. This conceptual unclarity and related fragmentation of empirical results call for an integrative literature review to build a coherent agenda for future research. Research Findings/Results: A content-analysis of 73 articles published between 1997 and 2023 reveals three distinct research clusters that explore the empirical phenomenon: (1) dissent as expressed through voting, (2) dissent as diverging …

Complex Lives And Procedural Barriers: Detainees’ “Life Happens” Explanations For Breaching Orders, Natalie Gately, Suzanne Rock, James L. Finney, Cate Parry

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The Australian bail system routinely permits most individuals accused of a crime to remain in the community while awaiting a court date under a range of conditions. However, statistics have indicated that a high number of bailees breach the orders placed on them, increasing police and court interactions, and resulting in additional charges. This project utilised the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia – Western Australia (DUMA-WA) collection to survey 230 police detainees about their orders and reasons for breaching recent orders. The results indicated that most understood their orders but disclosed a range of complexities which interfered with compliance. Qualitative …

Nursing Assessment Of Mental Health Issues In The General Clinical Environment: A Descriptive Study, Irene Ngune, Beverley Ewens, Sharlene Bell, Brendon Burns, Claire Sutton, Craig Creswell, Yvonne Middlewick

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of a mental health screening form for early identification and care escalation of mental health issues in general settings. A secondary aim was to explore general nurses' use of the form and their confidence to discuss mental health issues with patients. Methods: A cross-sectional design comprising a review of clinical records to determine use of the form, instances of missed care and escalation to the mental health team. The survey focused on nurses' confidence in general settings to engage in discussions with patients about mental health. Data were collected from April to December 2022. The …