Digital Commons Network^™

Co-Design Of An Online Mindfulness Program For Informal Carers Of People Living With Dementia: A Qualitative Study Of Co-Designers’ Experience, Charunya A.K.R. Abeysinghe Mudiyanselage, Seng Giap Marcus Ang, Aisling Smyth, Joanne M. Dickson, Beverley Ewens

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Informal carers face significant challenges related to care provision for people living with dementia. Participating in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program could improve the wellbeing of informal carers. However, engaging in these programs can be difficult for informal carers due to the needs of their care recipients. Purpose: This study aimed to co-design an online mindfulness program in collaboration with a range of stakeholders and those with lived experience as carers. Methods: This co-design study adopted an interpretive descriptive qualitative approach to the development of the program. The stakeholders (co-designers) included people with lived experience as informal carers and …

Fall Prevention Interventions In Community-Dwelling Older People With Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review, Sumattana Glangkarn, Pelden Chejor, Rujira Nonsa-Ard, Kasama Wongprachum, Sirapat Khodseewong, Chaiwut Bourneow, Davina Porock

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Falls are a major health concern for older adults, particularly those with cognitive impairment. Many factors contribute to the risk of falls, making it a complex issue to manage. Aim: This systematic review aimed to identify and describe the implementation strategies used for fall prevention in community-dwelling older people with cognitive impairment. Eligibility criteria: The review included studies on fall prevention interventions for community-dwelling adults aged > 50 years with cognitive impairment. Eligible studies were primary research, including experimental, quasi-experimental, qualitative, and mixed methods designs, with detailed implementation strategies. Systematic reviews, protocols, editorials, opinions, commentaries, and conference papers were excluded. …

Fracture Energy Of Ambient-Cured Fly Ash-Based Geopolymer Concrete, Alireza Mohyeddin, Trijon Karmokar, Mohammad Fardipour

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Fracture energy is a key parameter in current prediction models for capacity of structural anchors. During broader research on behaviour of structural anchors in ambient-cured fly ash-based geopolymer concrete, it was realised that despite extensive literature on Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) and other types of geopolymer concrete, there is a lack of literature on fracture energy of such geopolymer concretes. The purpose of the current research is to measure this property for this specific type of concrete using Wedge Splitting Test (WST) method. This method was selected due to its stable crack propagation and suitability for small-sized specimens. The influence …

Research Publication Performance Of The Australian And New Zealand Nursing And Midwifery Professoriate, Lisa Mckenna, Fiona Bogossian, Simon Cooper, Tracy Levett-Jones, Philippa Seaton

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To analyse research publication performance of Australian and New Zealand professors and associate professors of nursing and midwifery, and compare with 2016 data. Methods: A search of university websites was conducted to identify all nursing and midwifery professoriate in Australia and New Zealand. Each individual was then searched in the Scopus database to identify individual total citations, h-index, number of publications, first author Field Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and overall FWCI. Comparisons with 2016 data were also undertaken. Results: A total of 304 academics were included, comprising 270 from Australia and 34 from New Zealand, and 169 full professors …

Sustainable Textiles Through Electrospinning: Addressing Environmental Challenges, Nicole Sharples, Omid Doustdar, Miguel Carmona‐Cabello, Shayan Abrishami, Jose M. Herreros, Ali Sadaghiani, Karl D. Dearn

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The textile industry, known for its significant environmental footprint, faces growing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. This review identifies the textile industry’s sustainability challenges and examines electrospinning as a promising technology to mitigate its environmental impact. Electrospinning enables the production of nanofibers with enhanced properties suitable for various textile applications, offering potential solutions to reduce resource consumption and waste generation. This review discusses the current uses of electrospinning in textile manufacturing and analyses emerging trends in textile recycling, emphasising the role of electrospinning in transforming waste textiles into value-added products. Prospects for advancing electrospinning techniques to achieve efficient textile recycling …

The Contributions Of Student-Level And Classroom-Level Factors For Australian Grade 2 Students’ Writing Performance, Anabela Malpique, Mustafa Asil, Deborah Pino-Pasternak, Debora Valcan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Using multilevel modeling, the current study examined student-level predictors of compositional quality and productivity in Grade 2 Australian children (N = 544), including handwriting automaticity, literacy skills, executive functioning, writing attitudes, and gender; and classroom-level (n = 47) variables predicting students’ writing outcomes, including the amount of time for writing practices and the explicit teaching of foundational (handwriting, spelling, grammar) and process writing skills (planning and revision strategies). Multilevel analyses revealed that student-level factors, including gender, general attitudes, and transcription skills (handwriting automaticity and spelling), were key predictors of writing outcomes. Interaction analyses showed that spelling and word reading influenced …

A Collaborative Communities-Of-Practice Methodology For Environmental Design Research: A Case Study Application In Palliative Care, Emil E. Jonescu, Benjamin Farrell, Chamil Erik Ramanayaka, Lori Delaney, Edward Litton, Talia J. Uylaki, Gareth Watts, Bella Brigham, Frances Bellemore, Davinia Seah

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Environmental design in palliative care settings receives increasing attention, yet methodologies for studying such environments often lack interdisciplinary integration. Traditional research designs may overlook the lived expertise of clinicians and designers. Objectives: This article describes a collaborative, cross-disciplinary communities-of-practice model developed as a methodological framework to enable effective environmental evaluation and design processes in healthcare settings. Its application is illustrated through a case study in a palliative care unit. Methods: A co-designed, multi-methods approach was developed by a team of clinicians, facility managers, and academic researchers. The methodology included a scoping review, site-specific environmental data logging (sound, temperature, lighting), and …

Deep Reinforcement Learning–Driven Multi-Omics Integration For Constructing Gtage: A Novel Aging Clock From Igg N-Glycome And Blood Transcriptome, Yao Xia, Syed Mohammed Shamsul Islam, Xingang Li, Abdul Baten, Xuerui Tan, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Previous studies have demonstrated that the immunoglobulin G (IgG) N-glycome and transcriptome are potential biochemical signatures of chronological and biological ages, and several aging clocks have been developed. By integrating the IgG N-glycome and transcriptome, we propose a novel aging clock, gtAge. We developed a deep reinforcement learning-based multiomics integration method called AlphaSnake. The results showed that AlphaSnake achieved a predicted coefficient of determination (R²) value of 0.853, outperforming the concatenation-based integration method (R² = 0.820). The gtAge estimated by AlphaSnake explained up to 85.3% of the variance in chronological age, which was higher than that in …

Digital Provision, Educators’ Attitudes And Use In Early Learning Settings: Ready To Implement The Eylf V2.0?, Lennie Barblett, Maria Enriquez Watt, Patricia R. Collins, Fiona Boylan, Pauline Roberts, Leesa Costello

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

An update of the Early Years Learning Framework V2.0 emphasises the thoughtful, balanced and purposeful integration of digital technology in facilitating positive outcomes for children’s learning, development and wellbeing. In addition, educators are asked to support families with eSafety, yet it is unclear how educators are poised to respond to these changes. Within a post-positivist frame, 123 Australian early learning educators described their workplace digital provision, digital knowledge, skills, confidence and attitudes through a national online survey. Findings show that educators were confident about their own personal digital use, however their attitudes varied towards the use of digital technologies with …

Sport Participation And The Pursuit Of Active And Healthy Lifestyles: Everyday Athletes’ Relationships With Eating And Exercise, Valeria Varea, Eibhlish O'Hara, Dawn Penney, Victoria Evans

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose – Athletes are more likely to experience eating and exercise disorders than non-athletes. Little is known about the incidence of eating and exercise disorders amongst non-elite participants, many of whom participate outside of club governance and support structures. The aim of this paper is to explore eating and exercise attitudes and behaviours amongst participants in both formal and informal sport and, in so doing, generate insights to inform future educational initiatives that seek to promote healthy and active lifestyles. Design/methodology/approach – An online survey was completed by 110 participants, 9 of whom were interviewed for the second phase of …

A Review On Underwater Beamforming: Techniques, Challenges, And Future Directions, Ruba Zaheer, Quoc Viet Phung, Iftekhar Ahmad, Asma Aziz, Daryoush Habibi, Yue Rong, Walid K. Hasan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper comprehensively reviews recent advancements in Underwater Beamforming (UWB) systems, highlighting its pivotal role in underwater communication, sensing, and environmental monitoring. It explores the various beamforming applications, ranging from maritime surveillance to marine life monitoring, and indicates its significance in enhancing signal clarity, spatial resolution, and noise suppression in underwater acoustic environments. The unique challenges posed by the underwater environment that introduce complexities into the beamforming process such as non-stationary noise interference, severe signal attenuation, multipath propagation, and dynamic environmental variability are thoroughly discussed. The review systematically discusses and examines conventional, adaptive, and learning-based beamforming techniques, analyzing their strengths, …

Breaking Down Seagrass Fragmentation In A Marine Heatwave Impacted World Heritage Area, Michael D. Taylor, Simone Strydom, Matthew W. Fraser, Ana M.M. Sequeira, Gary A. Kendrick

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Marine heatwaves, and other extreme climatic events, are driving mass mortality of habitat-forming species and substantial ecological change worldwide. However, habitat fragmentation is rarely considered despite its role in structuring seascapes and potential to exacerbate the negative impacts of habitat loss. Here, we quantify fragmentation of globally significant seagrass meadows within the Shark Bay World Heritage Area before and after an unprecedented marine heatwave impacting the Western Australian coastline over the austral summer of 2010/11. We use a spatial pattern index to quantify seagrass fragmentation from satellite-derived habitat maps (2002, 2010, 2014 and 2016), assess potential predictors of fragmentation and …

Driven To Serve: Exploring Meaningful Work For Doctors Through The Lens Of Public Service Motivation, Abid Hussain, Uma Jogulu, Esme Franken, Rahatulaain Ahmad, Tim Bentley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper reports on a study of meaningful work amongst doctors in a non-Western context. This study advances the current understanding of meaningful work by establishing a connection with public service motivation theory. By examining unique contextual features where societal, public systems, institutional, and individual factors are diverse and unique, we contribute to public service motivation theory in three ways. First, public service motivation theory argues that individuals are not only driven by self-interest but also by a drive to contribute to society and to help others, and that this motivation is particularly high amongst public servants in the West. …

Persistence Of Contested Value Cocreation Practices, Kim Feddema, Kaisa Koskela-Huotari, Paul Harrigan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The climate crisis and other global challenges make it clear that not only are new value cocreation practices (VCPs) needed, but some current VCPs must be discontinued. Prior service literature assumes that VCPs can be disrupted by reforming the institutions that govern them. However, empirical observations show that VCPs may persist even when targeted by institutional work, and recent organizational research points to contested practices that continue to be enacted even when challenged or criticized. To understand this phenomenon in value cocreation, we conducted an embedded case study of exotic pet-keeping—a set of VCPs that continue despite intervention efforts. Our …

The Role Of Extra-/Co-Curricular Activities And Work On Law Graduates’ Initial Employment Outcomes, Denise Jackson, Craig Cameron

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Developing student employability is a strategic priority for higher education institutions and is often measured by transition to initial employment. Extra-/co-curricular activities, in addition to in-curriculum programs, can develop different aspects of student employability, supporting students in securing and transitioning to work post-graduation. This study examines the perspectives of 7000 graduates of Australian law degrees on their engagement in, and the value gained from, extra-/co-curricular, employability-building activities and paid employment during their studies between 2020 and 2023. The results indicated declining overall participation in extra-/co-curricular activities over the four-year period, and relatively greater engagement among female, younger, international and/or students …

I Am Still Concerned About Them: Grandmother Kinship Caregivers And The Challenge Of Abuse By Children In Their Care, Hajara Bentum, Vicki Banham, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Research evidence has shown that adverse occurrences within the kinship caregiving environment, such as the grandparents' experiences of violence and abuse, may introduce new stressors or exacerbate existing aged-related challenges, leading to adverse impacts on grandparent kinship carers. Yet no research has explored the impact of abuse and violence experienced by grandparent kinship caregivers from children in their care. This study involved narrative interviews with 31 grandmother kinship caregivers in Ghana to explore the adverse effects of the abuse they have experienced from children in their care. The study findings revealed the following impacts on grandmothers: (1) high blood pressure, …

Blending Minds, Balancing Goals: Tmt Heterogeneity And Sustainable-Innovation In Family Firms, Mahdi Vesal, Muhammad Aftab Alam, Mohammad H. Rahmati

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Family firms often prioritize profitability and growth, but balancing these with environmental sustainability is challenging. While TMT heterogeneity shapes various performance outcomes, its role in addressing the profitability–environmental sustainability dilemma in family firms remains unclear. Building on the upper echelons theory, we investigate how TMT heterogeneity drives the simultaneous pursuit of financial and environmental performance, which we refer to as hybrid financial–environmental performance, through sustainable-innovation practices. Additionally, we examine how family-firm governance mechanisms influence these relationships. Analyzing data from two matched samples of CEOs and senior production managers of Australian family firms, we find not only that TMT heterogeneity enhances …

It Makes Me Feel Dysphoric: Transgender And Non-Binary Students’ Perspectives Of Gendered Grouping Practices And Curriculum Provision In Secondary School Physical Education In England, Shaun D. Wilkinson, Dawn Penney

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study foregrounds the voices of transgender (trans) and non-binary students in a large-scale mixed-methods investigation of gendered grouping practices and curriculum provision in secondary school physical education (PE) in England. Theoretically, the research brought together an interdisciplinary framework for educational inclusion and the trans inclusion staged model to pursue conceptualisations and expressions of inclusion that disrupt cisnormative policies and structures. A survey of 14 co-educational secondary schools generated data from 36 students who identified as trans (n = 18) or non-binary (n = 18). The findings revealed that most trans (n = 16) and all non-binary students expressed preferences …

Configurations Of Work Design: A Person-Centered Perspective Of Job Demands And Resources In The Healthcare Sector, Arian Kunzelmann, Mina Askovic, Vivien W. Forner, Nate Zettna, Anupama Jolly, Shanta Dey, Helena Nguyen, Anya Johnson, Sharon K. Parker

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Work design is fundamental Human Resource Management (HRM) responsibility, which is crucial for employee well-being. Current HRM research on work design largely relies on variable-centered approaches. We argue that a person-centered approach uncovers more complex interaction patterns that are often obscured and provides a more holistic view of work design. Additionally, work design research often neglects occupational specificity, focusing on universal work characteristics. While this is important for generalizability, it can miss important industry and occupational variations, such as in healthcare. In this research, we focus on both universal work characteristics (feedback, autonomy, and support) and a dominant occupation-specific work …

The Nurse's Role In Curative-To-Palliative Transitions In Advanced Cancer: A Theory Synthesis Using Turner's Method, Geya George, Deborah Kirk, Davina Porock

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: This paper aims to explain the process of formulating a robust theory that comprehensively explains the nurse's role during the transition from curative to the palliative phase in advanced cancer care. Design: A qualitative theory synthesis approach was applied, utilising Turner's 9-step theory synthesis method to integrate five grounded theories and 10 qualitative studies. The Walker and Avant method of concept development and analysis further ensured rigour. Methods: Turner's theory synthesis was used to formulate a more comprehensive, testable theory from five existing grounded theories and 10 other qualitative studies that explain the nurse's role in supporting and facilitating …

Are Australian Schools Becoming Less Inclusive? Changes To Class Ability Grouping Practices In Australian Secondary Schools, Olivia Johnston, Peter Palamara

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Class ability grouping does not improve overall academic results, and is inequitable because it segregates students according to their disability, race, class, gender, and other factors that already make students at risk in education. The practice is not inclusive and previous research has shown that it exacerbates social disadvantage. Despite the evidence, historical efforts to change practices in Australia have been unsuccessful and many schools still use class ability grouping. This paper presents analysis of data from the Class Ability Grouping Survey about how often schools reported changing their class ability grouping practices in Year 7–9 Mathematics, English, Science, and …

A Comprehensive Review Of Cyber Security And Current Practices In Global Mining Critical Infrastructure, Abu Barkat Ullah, Wanli Ma, Mohiuddin Ahmed, Bazlur Rashid, Munir Ahmad Saeed, Omer Arshad, Utkarsh Raghav

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The purpose of the study is to explore the reasons behind the low uptake of Information Security Management Standards (ISMS), Asset Management, and Business Continuity Plans despite increasing cyber threats to the mining sector. Mining companies need to modernize and automate to keep up with the ‘Fourth Industrial Revolution’, driven by disruptive technology, forcing systems and technologies to become more integrated, increasing cyber attack threats. To address this, we conducted a literature review analyzing the mining industry across various regions. The research is based on a qualitative analysis of diversified literature. The results highlighted factors behind the low uptake of …

The Paradoxical Effects Of Emerging Mining Technologies On Psychosocial Work Factors: An Integrated Framework And Research Agenda, Keyao Li, Mengting (Rachel) Xia, Tim Bentley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

As industries strive for healthier, safer, and more productive workplaces, a comprehensive understanding of psychosocial work factors is essential for sustainable improvement. In the context of digital transformation, automation and emerging technologies have led to mixed health and safety outcomes. However, how emerging technologies are reshaping work and organisational structures and driving varied effects, remains unclear. This uncertainty provides little guidance for practitioners and researchers on systematically integrating new technologies to optimise health and safety. This paper argues that a deeper understanding of how the evolving technological landscape affects psychosocial work factors is essential for bridging this research gap. Focusing …

Extending The Theory Of Planned Behaviour To Explain Contract Cheating In The Age Of Generative Ai: Evidence From Australian Higher Education, Madugoda Gunaratnege Senali

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Academic contract cheating (CC) poses a significant challenge for Higher Education (HE), a problem that has become more complex with the increasing use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) tools. While similarity detection software can flag AI-generated text, it remains ineffective in identifying CC, potentially displacing misconduct rather than reducing it. Drawing on and extending the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), this study examines how traditional TPB constructs and technology-mediated perceptual factors jointly influence students’ intentions and behaviours related to CC within the Australian HE context. The findings reveal significant direct and indirect pathways linking perceived instructor involvement, detection awareness, …

Mental Health Professionals’ Perspectives On Essential Elements Of Telehealth Family Psychoeducation For Major Depressive Disorder: An Exploratory Study, Obumneke Obieche, Jing Yu Tan, Sita Sharma, Daniel Bressington, Tao Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Family-inclusive interventions, such as family psychoeducation (FPE), improve outcomes in major depressive disorder (MDD), particularly when tailored to the needs of individuals with MDD, their families, and carers. This study explored mental health professionals’ (MHPs) perspectives on the essential elements of telehealth FPE for MDD, including patients’ and their families’ informational and support needs. An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted as part of the Supportive Program for Advancing Recovery, Knowledge, and Empowerment in Depression (SPARKED) research project, using an online questionnaire targeting MHPs within a regional area of Australia. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and quantitative and qualitative content analysis, …

Quantifying The Fatal And Non-Fatal Burden Of Disease Associated With Child Growth Failure, 2000–2023: A Systematic Analysis From The Global Burden Of Disease Study 2023, Gbd 2023 Child Growth Failure Collaborators, Amanuel Gebremedhin

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Child growth failure (CGF), which includes underweight, wasting, and stunting, is among the factors most strongly associated with mortality and morbidity in children younger than 5 years worldwide. Poor height and bodyweight gain arise from a variety of biological and sociodemographic factors and are associated with increased vulnerability to infectious diseases. We used data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2023 to estimate CGF prevalence, the risk of infectious diseases associated with CGF, and the disease mortality, morbidity, and overall burden associated with CGF.

Methods: In this analysis we estimated the all-cause and …

Pathways To Prosperity: How Tourism Industry Training Reduces Poverty, Panpan Sun, Songshan Huang, Ghialy Yap, Zhibin Lin, Lei Zhao

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study investigates the effects of tourism industry training (TIT) on poverty alleviation, considering both direct and indirect pathways. Integrating labour mobility theory, human capital theory, and the tourism-led growth (TLG) hypothesis, we propose a new theoretical framework. Based on panel data from 29 Chinese provinces between 2000 and 2019, the empirical results show that TIT has a significant negative effect on poverty level, depth, and severity, with a larger direct impact than the indirect effect through tourism development. We also find significant regional differences in the impact of TIT on poverty reduction, with TIT having a more substantial impact …

The Hows And Whys Of Gendered Grouping Practices In Primary Physical Education In England, Shaun D. Wilkinson, Annette Stride, Dawn Penney

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Single- and mixed-sex grouping have long been a focus of attention in physical education (PE) and are matters often at the fore of discussions about curriculum planning, teaching, and learning. Nonetheless, there remains little consensus or guidance on which approach (or combination of approaches) should be preferred in PE in primary and secondary schools in England. Further, while single- and mixed-sex grouping have been extensively researched in PE in secondary schools, hitherto there remains an absence of research examining these practices in PE in primary schools. This research sought to address gaps in the literature to build a stronger …

Promoting The Concept Healthy Ageing For Use In Gerontological Health And Social Care Policy And Practice, Claire Donnellan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: The concept of healthy or successful ageing dates back to the 1960s, where its goal is more realistic in today's ageing society as a result of effective interventions to control and reduce disability and health risks. The aim of this paper is to outline the importance of defining ageing, the semantics and indicators used, and to identify common challenges for health professionals' understanding and application of a healthy ageing approach in their everyday clinical practice. Design and Methods: This discursive paper demonstrates how realistic ageing indicators are for highlighting the variation and impact of challenges associated with ageing. It …

Centring The Audience: Attitudes And Behaviours In Australian Arts Organisations, Katya Johanson, Abbie Trott, Mark Taylor, Anne Kershaw, Hilary Glow, Tracy Margieson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Many arts organisations seek to increase the diversity of their audiences. Recent literature suggests that this requires organisations to interrogate and change their ways of operating. This is a fundamental shift for a sector that has long considered the goal of diversifying audiences as a problem external to the organisation. Responding to this discrepancy, this article compares attitudes and behaviours among workers in arts organisations, to identify whether staff see the need to make change and practise the behaviours required. It identifies and uses three organisational capabilities–‘dynamic capabilities’, ‘social networks’ and ‘business improvement processes’–to frame an analysis of a national …