Digital Commons Network^™

The Wellbeing Experiences Of Newly Employed Teachers At High-Fee-Paying, Independent, Pre-Kindergarten To Year 12 Schools In Perth, Western Austalia, Helen Mary Aguiar

Theses

The purpose of this research was to explore the wellbeing experiences of newly employed teachers at high-fee-paying, independent, Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12 schools in Perth, Western Australia. The research explored two factors: experiences that enhance teacher wellbeing and experiences that diminish the wellbeing of newly employed teachers in these schools.

The review of literature highlighted four areas that formed the conceptual framework for the thesis. These four areas were the role of the teacher, wellbeing defined, the factors enhancing teacher wellbeing and the factors diminishing teacher wellbeing. These areas led to the development of the primary research question and the …

Negotiating With-Ness: Midwives' Lived Experiences Of Gender, Inclusive Language, And Professional Identity., Kimberley-Ann De Wet

Theses

This research investigated midwives lived experiences of using gender-inclusive language in public maternity care, examining how linguistic practices intersect with professional identity, ethical commitment, and institutional constraint. Informed by feminist theory and guided by descriptive phenomenology with a constructivist paradigm, the study explored how midwives navigate the profession’s foundational ethos of being ‘with woman’ while responding to the ethical imperative to provide inclusive care in an increasingly diverse society. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight practising midwives in Western Australia, generating rich descriptions of how inclusive language is enacted, negotiated, and constrained in practice. Reflexive thematic analysis produced three overarching …

Motherhood Or Work: Why Not Both? Representations Of Femininity In Australian Wartime Radio Serials, Emma Price

Theses

War is a gendering activity. As media is one of the many sites where gender is constructed, this study aims to investigate through a discourse analysis of serials produced by women for radio in the 1940s, the ways these programs represented or challenged social and cultural expectations placed on women. The themes female dramatists explored through the genre of radio serials, and the statements these programs made about life as a woman during the Second World War, are under-researched areas in Australian scholarship. While it must be acknowledged that the war was not a turning point in the status of …

Defining Barriers In Pulmonary Hypertension: Pulmonary Hypertension In Remote And Rural Settings In Australia: An Epidemiologic Study Aided By Echocardiography, Pyi Naing

Theses

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common, complex, and potentially lethal haemodynamic condition with many underlying aetiologies. It is poorly understood, and diagnosis is usually made late in the disease process resulting in poor outcomes even in the developed world. An innovative universal framework is required to achieve early and accurate diagnosis for improved outcomes, especially in remote and rural areas. The thesis documents my substantial body of work that unlocks a collective framework to assist patients with PH, particularly in areas not classically serviced by tertiary level PH care.

The first chapter of my thesis outlines the history, important milestones …

Genomic And Metabolic Network Properties In Thermophiles And Psychrophiles Compared To Mesophiles, Amal Saeed Alblooshi

Theses

Thermophiles and psychrophiles are extremophilic microorganisms that thrive in harsh conditions. Thermophiles are mostly located in hot springs, prosper in high temperatures. Psychrophiles thrive in extremely cold environments, including polar regions and deep-sea habitats. Although they play a crucial role in biotechnology and environmental research, their mechanisms of adaptation are still not well understood. The main objective of this thesis is to understand the genomic characteristics and metabolic network features in thermophiles and psychrophiles compared to mesophiles. The genomes of 59 species among thermophiles, psychrophiles, and mesophiles were collected from the NCBI database. These genomes were used to analyze their …

Analysing The Behaviour Change Techniques In An Effective Food Literacy Program To Inform Future Program Design, Lucy M. Butcher, Caylah Batt, Sophie Royce, Eamon Barron, Roslyn Giglia, Andrea Begley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: Food literacy programs aim to improve food related skills and knowledge and are selected Governments as a strategy to address dietary intakes at a community level. The purpose of this research is to identify behaviour change techniques in a food literacy program, which were assessed by the achievement of participant goals related to food literacy and dietary behaviour changes. Methods: Consensus methods were applied to map behaviour change techniques to an adult food literacy program. A second phase investigation applied content analysis of participant process evaluation data (collected between 2016 and June 2021) to align target behaviours and behaviour …

Adaptive Crisis Management At The Operational Level: Responses To Covid-19 In The Australian Resources Sector, Michael M. Ajith, Andrei A. Lux, Tim Bentley, Michelle Striepe

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 significantly impacted Australia’s resources sector, particularly mining, oil, and gas industries, posing challenges for operational leaders. This study applied Adaptive Crisis Management Theory (ACMT) to understand how these leaders adapted during the crisis. Through interviews with 32 operational leaders, it was found that their roles evolved as crisis demands changed. Initially, they addressed immediate needs, then shifted focus to remote work facilitation and digital transformation, and finally emphasised recovery, trust, and resilience. These adaptations influenced leaders’ behaviours, highlighting the importance of flexibility in supporting employee wellbeing and organisational continuity during crises.

Career Resources And Securing Quality Work: Graduate Perspectives, Denise Jackson, Claire Lambert, Matalena Tofa, Ruth Bridgstock, Ruth Sibson

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Empowering graduates to secure quality post-graduation employment is a key goal for higher education institutions and their students. University support in developing career resources may aid transition to work by enhancing social support and networks, fostering a strong sense of professional self, promoting career self-management, and instilling career confidence. Yet there lacks empirical understanding of these resources and the role they play, including how they interrelate, how they vary by personal characteristics, and how they are developed. This study examines how graduates fare in the labour market, characterises their career resources, and explores the relationship between career resources and graduate-level …

Evaluation Of The Sources Of Sexual Knowledge And Information Among Men In Kenya, Darlene Mwende Ndasi, Kwadwo Adusei-Asante, Anh Vo Van Ha, Madalena Grobbelaar, Victor Fannam Nunfam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Sources of sexual knowledge and information among men have impact on quality of their sexual literacy and decision making. Sexual knowledge impacts on sexual attitudes, which underpin sexual behaviours and in turn impacts the sexual health outcomes of men. A cross-sectional quantitative survey was used to assess the sources of sexual knowledge and information among 484 Kenyan adult men aged 18–54. Data analysis was performed with STATA-16. Results showed that 79% of men learned about sex from school-based sex education, 75% and 72% from peers and mass media respectively while healthcare professionals (35%) and parents (28%) had the lowest influence …

Exercise And Sports Science Australia Updated Position Statement On Exercise For Preventing Falls In Older People Living In The Community, Anne Tiedemann, Daina L. Sturnieks, Elissa Burton, Jeannette M. Thom, Stephen R. Lord, Stacey Scott, Catherine Sherrington

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Backgrounds: Falls affect a significant number of older Australians and present a major challenge to health care providers and health systems with over 380 older Australians hospitalised for a fall each day.

Objectives: This statement seeks to inform and guide exercise practitioners and health professionals in safe and effective prescription of exercise to prevent falls amongst community-dwelling older people.

Exercise prescription to prevent falls: Exercise is crucial for preventing falls in older age. Research evidence has identified that programmes which include functional balance and muscle strength training are the most effective in preventing falls. It is also important for exercise …

Four Overlooked Errors In Roc Analysis: How To Prevent And Avoid, Zhuoqiao He, Qingying Zhang, Manshu Song, Xuerui Tan, Wei Wang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Diagnostic tests are frequently applied within clinical practice to assist with disease diagnosis, differential diagnosis, disease grading and prognosis evaluation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis is one common approach for analysing discriminative performance of a diagnostic test, where it can determine the optimal cut-off value with the best diagnostic performance.1 However, as a majority of clinicians are non-statisticians, several errors have been observed in clinical research when applying ROC curves. These errors may be misleading in the selection of diagnostic tests and disease diagnosis, thus adding to patient burden. To address these errors, clinicians do not need a …

Impact Of Rurality On Health Care Utilization Among Australian Residents From 2009 To 2021, Engida Yisma, Martin Jones, Lee San Pauh, Sandra Walsh, Sara Jones, Esther May, Marianne Gillam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: In Australia, there is limited research regarding the effect of rurality on health care utilization using longitudinal data.

Methods: We analyzed data from four annual waves (2009, 2013, 2017, and 2021) of the longitudinal Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey to examine changes in the health care utilization over time among urban and rural residents. Poisson regression models estimated adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for rural versus urban residents, accounting for a range of health-related and sociodemographic characteristics. Health care utilization was measured using four key indicators: visits to family doctor …

Innovation Through Conceptual Research: Tips For Stoking Curiosity, Jun Wen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Conceptual research represents a critical step in the theory-building process and contributes innovative ideas that inspire empirical studies. This feature article highlights the importance of such research in academia with examples drawn from the tourism literature. It also critically discusses issues related to publishing conceptual research in premier journals. By using a five-dimension framework of curiosity (i.e., deprivation sensitivity, joyous exploration, social curiosity, stress tolerance, and thrill seeking), scholars can assess researchers’ conceptual topics and readers’ responses when contemplating “what's new” to gauge a paper's publication potential. Several tips are offered to guide like-minded scholars in conducting sound conceptual research: …

Managing The Impact Of Workplace Trauma For Australian First Responders: Harmonizing Policy And Practice, Aglae Hernandez Grande, Fleur Sharafizad, Ben Farr-Wharton, Yvonne Brunetto, Matthew Richman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Police, fire, ambulance, and emergency services workers face an increased exposure to traumatic events while at work, negatively affecting their mental health, and with broader financial, legal, and moral implications for the public sector organizations that employ them. To better support these workers, and to mitigate the potential financial burden resulting from workers’ compensation claims, many first responder organizations are implementing wellbeing initiatives. This article examines the efficacy of an initiative for a sample of 530 frontline and administrative first responders, working in one state jurisdiction in Australia. The results indicate that wellbeing programmes moderate the impact of trauma on …

Measuring Career Aspirations In Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics And Education, Michael Fitzgerald, Saeed Salimpour, David Mckinnon, Rachel Freed, Dan Reichart

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

There has been a sustained interest in student perceptions about STEM fields and their choice of careers over the past few decades. Research has shown that there is a decline in students pursuing STEM careers, and this has raised global concern. Despite these issues, no unistructural, broad, parsimonious and unambiguous quantitative instrument exists to probe student career aspirations. This paper highlights the background, extension and validation of an instrument, derived from a previous science-focussed high-quality instrument that allows student career aspirations to be quantitatively characterised. Participants were 1221 undergraduate students, 1003 of whom were judged to have provided good data, …

Methyl Jasmonate Application Downregulates Drupelet Reversion And Enhances Phenolic Biosynthesis And Antioxidant Potential Of Blackberries, Hafiz Muhammad Shoaib Shah, Zora Singh, Mahmood Ul Hasan, Jashanpreet Kaur, Eben Afrifa-Yamoah, Andrew Woodward

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Blackberry plants were sprayed with methyl jasmonate (MJ 0, 1, 2 or 3 mmol L−1), 2 weeks before tentative harvest maturity, to evaluate its influence on red drupelet reversion (RDR), antioxidant capacity and postharvest quality during cold storage up to 12 days. MJ significantly reduced RDR and weight loss while maintaining higher anthocyanins and flavonoids during cold storage for 12 days. MJ application upregulated phenolic metabolism by maintaining higher phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity, and showed higher total antioxidants, ascorbic acid, and glutathione content. MJ-treated blackberries displayed higher activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione …

Neurodivergent (Autism And Adhd) Student Experiences Of Access And Inclusion In Higher Education: An Ecological Systems Theory Perspective, Luke Butcher, Stevie Lane

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Higher Education (HE) can be a complicated and isolating experience for neurodivergent students. Many systemic barriers and injustices create challenges for the accessibility and inclusivity of learning environments and curriculums. However, with the appropriate accommodations, staff guided by neurodiversity-affirming practices, accessible curricula, and opportunities to connect with neurodivergent peers, it can be highly rewarding. Through 15 in-depth, lived-experience-informed interviews with neurodivergent HE students who are Autistic and/or ADHDers in Australia, we analyse experiences at different system levels. By validating the robust framework of ecological systems theory in this context, we extend the academic understanding and add to the limited research …

Neuromuscular Characteristics Of Eccentric, Concentric And Isometric Contractions Of The Knee Extensors, Cassio V. Ruas, Janet L. Taylor, Christopher Latella, G. Gregory Haff, Kazunori Nosaka

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: We compared voluntary drive and corticospinal responses during eccentric (ECC), isometric (ISOM) and concentric (CON) muscle contractions to shed light on neurophysiological mechanisms underpinning the lower voluntary drive in a greater force production in ECC than other contractions.

Methods: Sixteen participants (20–33 years) performed ISOM and isokinetic (30°/s) CON and ECC knee extensor contractions (110°–40° knee flexion) in which electromyographic activity (EMG) was recorded from vastus lateralis. Voluntary activation (VA) was measured during ISOM, CON and ECC maximal voluntary contractions (MVCs). Transcranial magnetic stimulation elicited motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) and corticospinal silent periods (CSP) during MVCs and submaximal (30%) contractions, …

Pedagogy Of Belonging: Cultivating Wellbeing Literacy In Higher Education, Narelle Lemon, Siobhan O’Brien, Naja Later, Shaun Britton, Julia Prendergast

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Wellbeing literacy is the capability to set intentions and comprehend and compose wellbeing language. This is cultivated and embodied across contexts with the intention of maintaining or improving the wellbeing of oneself, others, or the world. In this paper, as co-authors we share the way we understand our wellbeing as educators in higher education, that is, through a Pedagogy of Belonging. Belonging is one of the domains to our wellbeing as academics and educators, as well as students in the studied higher education learning context. Pedagogy of Belonging helps us develop our wellbeing literacy individually and collectively. Through an authentic …

People With Hip Osteoarthritis Have Reduced Quadriceps Voluntary Activation And Altered Motor Cortex Function, Myles C. Murphy, Molly Coventry, Janet L. Taylor, Ebonie K. Rio, Andrea B. Mosler, Jackie L. Whittaker, Christopher Latella

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: Compare quadriceps voluntary activation, corticospinal and intracortical excitability between people with and without hip osteoarthritis (OA). Exploratory objectives include quantifying the association of corticospinal/intracortical excitability with voluntary activation, corticospinal/intracortical excitability with hip related pain, and motor threshold with motor cortex inhibition and facilitation. Methods: Case-control study including participants with clinically and radiologically confirmed hip OA and non-OA controls. Quadriceps voluntary activation was assessed using twitch interpolation via femoral nerve stimulation. Single- and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation over the motor cortex assessed resting motor threshold (RMT), active motor threshold (AMT), short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), intracortical facilitation (ICF) and silent period. …

The Careful Project: Evaluating The Acceptability Of Local Virtual Reality Experiences As A Leisure Activity For Residents In Aged Care, Davina Porock, Patricia Cain, Christopher Young, Julieanne Hilbers, Maria Bomm, Manonita Ghosh, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Objectives: The aim of this project was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of virtual reality (VR) as a leisure activity for people living in residential aged care. Virtual reality experiences may offer alternatives for residents with limited mobility, or during times when older people are unable to leave residential care. Methods: The intervention used VR videos delivered via a head-mounted device. Video content was created by a local artist specifically for use with older Western Australian adults and used local content. VR sessions were videotaped for analysis. The evaluation included structured observation of video content to assess mood and …

The Impact Of The Covid-19 Pandemic On Nurses' And Junior Doctors' Workloads, Gemma Doleman, Annemarie De Leo, Dianne Bloxsome

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aims: To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nurses' and junior doctors' workload, changes to direct care and the impact of workload on resource allocation. Design: Mixed-method design was used. Methods: Data were collected from direct observation, hospital administrative database and a survey. Nurses and junior doctors were observed on two COVID-19 wards and one non-COVID-19 ward using a semi-structured observation schedule. Survey data were collected from nurses and junior doctors that had worked on the COVID-19 ward during the pandemic. Patient data were collected from Web Patient Administration System during the period of March–August 2021 and compared …

Translating Acceptability To Sustained Delivery: Clinician And Manager Perspectives On Implementing Modified Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy In An Early-Supported Discharge Rehabilitation Service, Ashan Weerakkody, Erin Godecke, Barby Singer

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Background: Modified constraint-induced movement therapy (mCIMT) improves upper limb (UL) function after stroke. Despite up to one-third of stroke survivors being eligible, clinical uptake remains poor. To address this, a multi-modal behaviour change intervention was implemented across a large seven-site early-supported discharge (ESD) rehabilitation service. This study investigated the acceptability of mCIMT implementation within this ESD service and identified adaptations required for sustained delivery.

Methods: This qualitative study was nested within a mixed-methods process evaluation of mCIMT implementation. Four focus groups (n = 24) comprising therapists (two groups), therapy assistants (one group), and allied health managers (one group) were conducted. …

Understanding Supervisory Practice And Development In The Pre-Hdr Space: An Ethogenic Approach, Jenny Martin, Alison Owens, Sara Bayes, Paul Tofari, Claire Lynch, Nicola Brown, Benjamin Mountford, Ellen Warne

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This article addresses the lack of support for new supervisors in the pre-Higher Degree Research space, including undergraduate honours and postgraduate capstone projects. The research provides an inter-faculty perspective on the needs of pre-HDR students and supervisors, informing an online professional learning resource to address the problem. Concepts from ethogenic social psychology were used to theorise supervision as a complex practice involving two analytically distinct domains of human behaviour: the expressive and practical domains. Semi-structured focus group interviews with alumni and supervisors from Education, Arts-Humanities, and Health Sciences provided data for a needs analysis and to stimulate deliberation amongst the …

Submission To The Nsw Standing Committee On Social Issues Inquiry “Impacts Of Harmful Pornography On Mental, Emotional, And Physical Health”, Giselle Woodley, Lelia Green

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Our submission is formed from a combined experience of decades of working with teens and more recently, the Australian Research Council funded project (DP190102435), Perceptions of harm from adolescents accessing online sexual content, which explored Australian teens and young people’s (aged 11-17) perspectives of Sexually Explicit Material (SEM) including pornography. Qualitative data was collected between 2021 to 2023, and involved 30 teen interviews, with another 19 interviews with teens occurring a year later (49 interviews in total), and four focus groups (n-18) to explore these issues further. 26 parents of these teens from 24 families were also interviewed, followed by …

Cards Against Everyday Sexisms, Mindy Blaise, Emily M. Gray, Jacqueline Ullman, Emma Fishwick, Georgia Beardman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This deck of cards has been created using direct quotes from participants who took part in a nation-wide survey about everyday sexisms in Australian Universities. For more information about the project see: www.everydaysexismsau.com

Supporting People Bereaved By Suicide In The South West Region Of Western Australia: Report, Colleen M. Carlon

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper reports on the practices of service providers in working with people and communities bereaved by suicide in regional contexts. For people bereaved by suicide experiences of grief, trauma and stigma and the questioning of why someone has died create a complex mix of need and emotion that can leave people vulnerable to complicated grief and poor physical and mental health. These effects may also be exacerbated by stigma in social and communal contexts. As such experiences of suicide grief are different to other forms of grief and loss, effectively supporting people and communities bereaved by suicide requires knowledge …

A Brief History Of Antenatal Colostrum Expression, And Where To From Here, Therese A. O’Sullivan, Connie N. Ihlein

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The practice of antenatal colostrum expression (ACE), or the extraction of colostrum from the breasts during pregnancy, has an interesting history and continues to evolve. This narrative review aims to describe how perception and practices of ACE have changed over time, summarise the evidence on ACE in maternal and infant care, and highlight areas for future research. The literature demonstrates that ACE is safe for low-risk women when done from around 36 weeks’ gestation. Women should be reassured that the skill of hand expressing is a valuable tool post-birth, regardless of whether they are able to collect colostrum antenatally or …

Assessment Of The Psychometric Properties Of The Mask Usability Scale: A Measure Of The Perceived Usability Of N95 Respirators Among Healthcare Students And Staff, Lorna Kwai Ping Suen, Wai Hang Kwok, Ignatius Tak Sun Yu, Sony Nai Yeung So, Kin Cheung, Paul Hong Lee, Lily Yuen Wah Ho, Ka Yan Ko, Sukki Ho, Simon Ching Lam

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Aim: To test the reliability and construct validity of the Mask Usability Scale in healthcare students and staff. Design: A methodological study involving repeated measures. Methods: The study included two batches of participants: (1) 283 university nursing students and (2) 1753 participants composed of students (61%) and clinical staff (39%). All participants underwent N95 respirator fit tests and user seal checks. They also responded to the Mask Usability Scale, which comprises 11 items evaluated using Likert scales. The internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and item–total correlation test. Test–retest reliability was evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The …

Comusichiamo. First Language, Life-Soundtracks And Storytelling To Support The Cultural Wellbeing Of Migrants Living With Dementia, Simone Marino, Loretta Baldassar

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study, located at the intersection of anthropology, ageing, music therapy and dementia, explores the value of music, life-storytelling and first language, to support the cultural identity and wellbeing of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds living with dementia in Australia. It uses participant observation, the collection of oral histories and ‘life soundtracks’ to co-create a song with older Italian migrants and their families. This paper presents the first case study which informed the development of the music engagement program we call Comusichiamo (let’s make music together). The case study shows that the co-creation of a culturally tailored song, …