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Background: Beak and feather disease virus (BFDV) is a circovirus that infects captive and wild psittacine birds, and is of conservation concern. The haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay is used to determine antibody titres against BFDV, and the use of dried blood spots (DBS) on filter paper stored at room temperature has been suggested to be an equally valid technique to the use of frozen serum. However, research on other pathogens has found variable results when investigating the longevity of antibodies stored on DBS at room temperature. Consequently, we aimed to test the temporal stability of antibodies to BFDV in DBS samples stored long-term at room temperature. A further goal was to add to the current knowledge of antibody response to naturally acquired BFDV infection in crimson rosellas (Platycercus elegans). Methods: Blood was collected from wild P. elegans in Victoria, Australia, that had been live-trapped (n = 9) or necropsied (n = 11). BFDV virus load data were obtained from blood stored in ethanol by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR); antibody titres were obtained by HI assay from either DBS or serum samples, which had been collected concurrently. All HI assays were performed commercially by the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (VDL) in Charles Sturt University, Australia, who were blind to BFDV blood status. Results: HI titres from DBS stored at room temperature declined significantly over time (~80 weeks). By contrast, frozen serum samples assayed after 80 weeks in storage all had high HI titres, only varying up to one dilution step from the initial HI titres obtained from DBS at 3-6 weeks after sampling. Weak HI titres from DBS samples all came back negative when the test was repeated only nine weeks later. Novel high HI titres were reported in P. elegans, and while most birds with high antibody titres had corresponding negative qPCR results, a single subadult presented with high HI titres and virus load simultaneously. Conclusion: Detection of antibodies on filter paper stored at room temperature decreases over time, increasing the chances of false negatives in these samples, and in repeated testing of samples with weak HI titres. Consequently, serum should be the preferred sample type to use for seroepidemiological studies on BFDV in parrots and other bird species. When not possible, it may help to store DBS on filter paper at -20 °C or lower. However, prompt testing of DBS samples (e.g., <6 weeks in storage) is recommended pending further research on antibody temporal stability. We also show that P. elegans, especially adults, can produce high antibody titres against BFDV, which may help them resist infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Australia has the highest incidence of melanoma in the world with variable care provided by a diverse range of clinicians. Clinical quality registries aim to identify these variations in care and provide anonymised, benchmarked feedback to clinicians and institutions to improve patient outcomes. The Australian Melanoma Clinical Outcomes Registry (MelCOR) aims to collect population-wide, clinical-level data for the early management of cutaneous melanoma and provide anonymised feedback to healthcare providers., Methods and Analysis: A modified Delphi process will be undertaken to identify key clinical quality indicators for inclusion in the MelCOR pilot. MelCOR will prospectively collect data relevant to these quality indicators, initially for all people over the age of 18 years living in Victoria and Queensland with a melanoma diagnosis confirmed by histopathology, via a two-stage recruitment and consent process. In stage 1, existing State-based cancer registries contact the treating clinician and provide an opportunity for them to opt themselves or their patients out of direct contact with MelCOR. After stage 1, re-identifiable clinical data are provided to the MelCOR under a waiver of consent. In stage 2, the State-based cancer registry will approach the patient directly and invite them to opt in to MelCOR and share identifiable data. If a patient elects to opt in, MelCOR will be able to contact patients directly to collect patient-reported outcome measures. Aggregated data will be used to provide benchmarked, comparative feedback to participating institutions/clinicians., Ethics and Dissemination: Following the successful collection of pilot data, the feasibility of an Australia-wide roll out will be evaluated. Key quality indicator data will be the core of the MelCOR dataset, with additional data points added later. Annual reports will be issued, first to the relevant stakeholders followed by the public. MelCOR is approved by the Alfred Ethics Committee (58280/127/20)., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

This paper was written to comment on a few important problems of an original paper published in this journal. In the original paper, polyamide (PA) ropes, a kind of plastic, were used for groundwater sampling. Also, polycarbonate, another plastic, was also used as a filter paper although their potential contamination was later evaluated. Although the original authors reported that high levels of PA were not found in any of the 21 groundwater samples, it is still necessary to only use equipment(s) made of non-plastic at every step of the method for an accurate and reliable analysis of the presence of microplastic in groundwater. The original authors collected a total of 3 l for each borehole (1 l for each sample), but for an unbiased and reliable analysis of microplastics, bigger volumes of groundwater samples should be collected. Furthermore, the original authors computed the Pearson correlation coefficients between the analyzed plastic types, but omitted the normality test of the data distribution. If the collected data are not normally distributed, then Spearman rank correlation coefficients are a better option. In addition, we found some important misstatements regarding the results of the analysis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The association between higher registered nurses (RN) staffing (educational level and number) and better patient and nurse outcomes is well-documented. This discussion paper aims to provide an overview of safe staffing policies in various high-income countries to identify reform trends in response to recurring nurse workforce challenges., Methods: Based on a scan of the literature five cases were selected: England (UK), Ireland, California (USA), Victoria and Queensland (Australia). Information was gathered via a review of the grey and peer-reviewed literature. Country experts were consulted for additional information and to review country reports., Results: The focus of safe staffing policies varies: increasing transparency about staffing decisions (England), matching actual and required staffing levels based on patient acuity measurement (Ireland), mandated patient-to-nurse ratios at the level of the nurse (California) or the ward (Victoria, Queensland). Calibration of the number of patients by the number of nurses varies across cases. Nevertheless, positive effects on the nursing workforce (increased bedside staffing) and staff well-being (increased job satisfaction) have been consistently documented. The impact on patient outcomes is promising but less well evidenced., Conclusion: Countries will have to set safe staffing policies to tackle challenges such as the ageing population and workforce shortages. Various approaches may prove effective, but need to be accompanied by a comprehensive policy that enhances bedside nurse staffing in an evidence-based, objective and transparent way., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no declarations of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Abstracts of concurrent session papers are presented including topics on Type 2 diabete, food saftey in hospital and interprofessional learning opportunities for dietetics students.

The article discusses the case study of using bitumen paper pipes in the sluicing industry in Victoria in the early 1860s. Topics include the use of pipes for water collection and distribution in the Victorian goldfields, the unreliability of the new bitumen pipes in water supply networks and how sluicing companies abandoned the experiment after their unsatisfactory performance, and the invention of bitumen paper pipes as water infrastructure development was growing in the area.

This paper critically examines the ways ageing migrants perceive and experience a sense of belonging in a mediascape during the pandemic. It underscores how 15 elderly people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds in Victoria, Australia stayed connected among their networks in and beyond Australia by accessing and consuming COVID-19 information via traditional and digital channels. By analysing the data based on conducting remote interviews in 2020 and 2021, the findings highlight the paradoxical nature of mediated belonging. On the one hand, ageing migrants forged connections at a distance with their familial and social networks by circulating and consuming COVID-19 information. This practice provided ageing migrants an assurance of their safety and their networks. On the other hand, differentiation and racialisation stirred frustrating, polarising and exclusionary-mediated environments. In this case, they deployed connective strategies to negotiate connections and belonging. In sum, this paper reveals the possibilities and politics of mediated belonging fuelled by intersecting structural and technological divides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article highlights the results of a study on the quantity of paper that comes from one tree by Phil Whiteman of Grand Ridge Plantations, operating in the Strzelecki Ranges, Victoria. The findings include: a typical plantation eucalypt has a volume of 1 m³, wood density is about 500 kg m³ requiring 7.14 liters of wood, pulp yield is about 50 percent requiring 3.57 kg of oven-dried wood, copy paper is about 80 percent fiber and 20 percent calcium carbonate and one ream of paper has 500 sheets and has area of 31.185 m².

Introduction: Inequalities are evident in early childhood caries rates with the socially disadvantaged experiencing greater burden of disease. This study builds on formative qualitative research, conducted in the Moreland/Hume local government areas of Melbourne, Victoria 2006-2009, in response to community concerns for oral health of children from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Development of the community-based intervention described here extends the partnership approach to cogeneration of contemporary evidence with continued and meaningful involvement of investigators, community, cultural and government partners. This trial aims to establish a model for child oral health promotion for culturally diverse communities in Australia., Methods and Analysis: This is an exploratory trial implementing a community-based child oral health promotion intervention for Australian families from refugee and migrant backgrounds. Families from an Iraqi, Lebanese or Pakistani background with children aged 1-4 years, residing in metropolitan Melbourne, were invited to participate in the trial by peer educators from their respective communities using snowball and purposive sampling techniques. Target sample size was 600. Moreland, a culturally diverse, inner-urban metropolitan area of Melbourne, was chosen as the intervention site. The intervention comprised peer educator led community oral health education sessions and reorienting of dental health and family services through cultural Competency Organisational Review (CORe)., Ethics and Dissemination: Ethics approval for this trial was granted by the University of Melbourne Human Research Ethics Committee and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Research Committee. Study progress and output will be disseminated via periodic newsletters, peer-reviewed research papers, reports, community seminars and at National and International conferences., Trial Registration Number: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12611000532909).

Objective We sought to determine the relative frequency and nature of personal display of cigarette packs by smokers in two Australian cities where 30% front-of-pack and 90% back-of-pack health warnings have been used since 2006 and comprehensive tobacco marketing restrictions apply. Methods An observational study counted patrons, active smokers and tobacco packs at cafés, restaurants and bars with outdoor seating. Pack orientation and use of cigarette cases were also noted. Results Overall, 18 954 patrons, 1576 active smokers and 2153 packs were observed, meaning that one out of every 12.0 patrons was actively smoking, and one of every 8.8 patrons displayed a pack. Packs were more frequently observed in lower socio-economic neighbourhoods, reflecting the higher prevalence of smoking in those regions. Packs were displayed less often in venues where children were present, suggesting a greater tendency not to smoke around children. Most packs (81.4%) were oriented face-up, permitting prominent brand display. Only 1.5% of observed packs were cigarette cases, and 4.2% of packs were concealed by another item, such as a phone or wallet. Conclusions Tobacco packs are frequently seen on table-tops in café strips, providing many opportunities for other patrons and passers-by to be incidentally exposed to cigarette brand names and imagery. Use of cigarette cases is rare, suggesting that smokers eventually habituate to pictorial warnings on branded packs and/or find repeated decanting of each newly purchased branded pack into a case to be inconvenient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore the experience of mental health nurses undertaking doctoral studies. The study was conducted in Victoria, Australia. A descriptive-exploratory approach to inquiry was used for this study. Participants were mental health nurses who had successfully completed a doctoral qualification. Eligibility for inclusion required participants to be residing in Victoria (irrespective of where their doctoral studies were undertaken) and to have conducted their research within the domain of mental health and/or currently employed in the field of mental health nursing. Of the 20 potential participants invited, 16 accepted the invitation. Five emergent themes were explicated from narrative analyses. These themes were "being a trail blazer," "positioning for professional advancement," "achieving a balance between competing priorities," "maintaining a commitment to the development of the profession," and "a point of affirmation." An understanding of the experience of undertaking doctoral studies can be used to influence the development of strategies to encourage more mental health nurses to consider undertaking a doctoral degree., (Copyright 2010. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Installation art involves using everyday objects and spaces in an unusual way to gain attention and encourage interaction. While arts-based projects have the ability to inform and provoke interest, few have focused on public health. Oddsocks was conceived as a public health installation as part of the annual Melbourne Fringe Festival, with a primary aim to raise awareness concerning the importance of exercise and foot health. Promoting such underserved public health issues creates specific challenges which have been typically under-reported. This methods paper focuses on how these challenges can be met through arts-based initiatives and arts-based inquiry.

Schools are often the first point of contact for young refugees resettling in Australia and play a significant role in establishing meaningful connections to Australian society and a sense of belonging in Australia (Olliff in Settling in: How do refugee young people fair within Australia's settlement system? Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues, Melbourne. http//:. Accessed 21 June 2010, ; Gifford et al. in: Good Starts for recently arrived youth with refugee backgrounds: Promoting wellbeing in the first three years of settlement in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne: La Trobe Refugee Research Centre. . Accessed 4 June 2011, ; Sidhu and Taylor in: Educational provision for refugee youth in Australia: Left to chance? Journal of Sociology, 43(3), 283-300, ). However, too little is known of how refugee youth encounter school in their new country. This article draws upon individual narratives of young former refugee's experiences of high schools. It explores the stories told by the young people of being identified as different and of negotiating ways of belonging in schools both academically and socially. It argues that it is how the school positions the newly arrived refugee students within mainstream school culture that opens up or restricts opportunities for inclusion in all aspects of school (in culture and pedagogy). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To review visual acuity outcomes from paediatric traumatic cataract and examine the mechanisms by which they occur. Methods: A retrospective review of paediatric patients (aged less than 18 years) who underwent lens surgery following ocular trauma, between 1992 and 2006 at the Royal Children's Hospital and Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne. Data collected included gender, mechanism of injury, wound type, age at injury, age at surgery, refractive rehabilitation, complications and visual acuity outcome. Results: A total of 74 patients (75% male) were identified over the 15-year period, representing an incidence of 4.9 cases per year. The mean age at injury was 7.5 years. Sixty-five cataracts (88%) followed a penetrating eye injury, whereas only nine patients (12%) developed cataract after known blunt trauma. Fourteen patients (19%) underwent lensectomy at the time of primary wound repair and 45 patients (61%) underwent primary intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. Visual acuity outcomes ranged from 6/5 to no perception of light. Twenty-five patients (34%) achieved 6/12 or better in the injured eye, 23 patients (31%) achieved between 6/15 and 6/60, and 14 patients (19%) had visual acuity of less than 6/60. Twelve patients (16%) were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: In a paediatric population, cataract formation as a result of trauma requiring lensectomy is not uncommon. Males are more likely to suffer from such injury. A variety of sharp and blunt objects are the primary mechanism by which the injury is sustained with variable visual outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article cites references from the parliamentary papers from of state of Victoria, Australia and aspects of labor history such as social conditions for working-class migrants, working conditions, and unemployment.

Studies somatic mutation that causes aging by researchers from Victoria. Propositions that somatic mutations make major contributions to aging; Evidence showing a contributory role of a gene knock-in mouse for mutation in mtDNA; Indications that some GC-rich sequences in the nuclear DNA are more sensitive to oxidative damage than mtDNA.

John Davies Thomas (1844-1893) described a two-ounce drop-bottle for chloroform in 1872 while he was a resident medical officer at University College Hospital, London. After working as a ship's surgeon, he settled in Australia. In May 1875, Thomas presented a paper on the mortality from ether and chloroform at a meeting of the Medical Society of Victoria in Melbourne, Victoria. Surveys conducted in Europe and North America had established that the mortality from chloroform was eight to ten times higher than that from ether. At that time, chloroform was the most widely administered anaesthetic in Australia. Thomas' paper was published in The Australian Medical Journal and reprinted by the Medical Society of Victoria for distribution to hospitals in the Colony of Victoria. Later that year, Thomas moved to Adelaide, South Australia, where he may have been influential at the Adelaide Hospital in ensuring that ether was administered more often than chloroform. It does not appear that Thomas' papers on anaesthesia had a significant effect on the conduct of anaesthesia in Victoria or New South Wales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we offer a conjunctural analysis of policing and incarceration, examining their expansion in relation to structural economic conditions over the last 50 years and interrogating how the sudden onset of the Covid-19 pandemic enabled extraordinary growth in policing powers in the Australian jurisdictions of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria (VIC). We examine how popular support for police-led responses to crisis and fines as a common-sense solution to social problems were sought during the period that the Public Health Orders were in effect in the two states. We argue that the discursive project of naturalizing the police-led response to the pandemic—via official communications from the state governments as well as media coverage of the pandemic—attempts to further entrench a vision of law and order governance in which infrastructures of discipline and punishment are necessary and inevitable. We identify this vision as a direct barrier to abolition and a significant limit on the capacity to imagine alternative frameworks for justice. We end by considering a small archive of tweets from users in NSW and VIC published on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter (now called X) in 2020–21. We argue that this archive registers the way the common-sense status of the fine as an efficient, effective, and equitable punishment gives way to punitive fantasies about police and prisons. We read this archive alongside the broad refusal to pay Covid-related fines and the ongoing legal disputes contesting the legitimacy of their issuance, concluding by proposing that the conjunctural moment of the Covid-19 pandemic has given rise to unresolved contradictions between the naturalized logic of law and order crisis management and the potential for this logic to come undone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Victoria, Australia, senior secondary mathematics students are expected to use technology and thus need to make decisions about using pen-and-paper (P&P) or technology when solving mathematics problems. The predominant technology is a Computer Algebra System (CAS). This study investigated the beliefs about CAS held by twelve Year 11 students as they learnt to use CAS and whether these beliefs were stable over time. These students held a range of beliefs related to the usefulness of CAS, speed of CAS compared to P&P, whether CAS is proper mathematics, choice of CAS or P&P, ease of use, the correctness of answers and solving problems in Mathematical Methods (i.e. the mathematics subject studied). Beliefs are often described as being stable (e.g. McLeod, 1992), but some researchers stress stability needs to be determined empirically rather than being seen as a characteristic of beliefs (e.g. Liljedahl et al., 2012). For this sample of students, stability (rather than instability) is a feature of students' beliefs about CAS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to describe the development and implementation of a co-designed value-based healthcare (VBHC) framework within the public dental sector in Victoria. Methods: A mixed-method study was employed. Explorative qualitative design was used to examine patient, workforce and stakeholder perspectives of implementing VBHC. Participatory action research was used to bring together qualitative narrative-based research and service design methods. An experience-based co-design approach was used to enable staff and patients to co-design services. Quantitative data was sourced from Titanium (online patient management system). Results: Building a case for VBHC implementation required intensive work. It included co-designing, collaborating, planning and designing services based on patient needs. Evidence reviews, value-stream mapping and development of patient reported outcomes (PROMs) and patient reported experience measures (PREMs) were fundamental to VBHC implementation. Following VBHC implementation, a 44% lower failure to attend rate and 60% increase in preventive interventions was reported. A higher proportion of clinicians worked across their top scope of practice within a multi-disciplinary team. Approximately 80% of services previously provided by dentists were shifted to oral health therapists and dental assistants, thereby releasing the capacity of dentists to undertake complex treatments. Patients completed baseline International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement PROMs (n = 44,408), which have been used for social/clinical triaging, determining urgency of care based on risk, segmentation and tracking health outcomes. Following their care, patients completed a PREMs questionnaire (n = 15,402). Patients agreed or strongly agreed that: the care they received met their needs (87%); they received clear answers to their questions (93%); they left their visit knowing what is next (91%); they felt taken care of during their visit (94%); and they felt involved in their treatment and care (94%). Conclusion: The potential for health system transformation through implementation of VBHC is significant, however, its implementation needs to extend beyond organisational approaches and focus on sustaining the principles of VBHC across healthcare systems, policy and practice. What is known about the topic? Value-based healthcare (VBHC) has gained significant momentum within the healthcare sector and is seen as a driver for improving patient outcomes and equitable use of resources. What does this paper add? The paper describes firsthand experience and lessons learnt from implementing VBHC within a Victorian public healthcare system; the learnings are applicable to other organisations wanting to implement VBHC. What are the implications for practitioners? In implementing a co-designed VBHC framework, we ensured that its principles are applicable at both patient and population levels, centres on equity of access to care, achieves the best possible health outcomes and sustainable use of resources. This article belongs to the Special Issue: Value-based Healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The industry diversity thesis of economic resilience to economic shocks is embedded in community development policy across Australia. The idea being that in the event of an economic shock some industries will prove more recession‐proof than others. The greater the industry diversity, the greater the likelihood of off‐setting industry effects, resulting in greater economic resilience. The COVID‐19 pandemic and the associated restrictions created a unique natural experiment to explore whether the industry diversity thesis holds true under the conditions of a global health pandemic. In this policy paper, we use JobKeeper applications as a proxy for decreased economic resilience. We explore if Australian local government areas (LGAs) with higher industry diversity had less necessity for JobKeeper. We also briefly consider if concentrations of certain industries acted as a better economic buffer to the COVID‐19 economic shock. We observe that as diversity increases, economic resilience strengthens except for Victoria (where the association is inverted). This observation has important implications for current and future policy formation and implementation across all layers of government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstracts of plenary papers are presented including "New Dietetic Competency Standards and Their Impact On The Profession" by Claire Palermo, "Cardiovascular Health Future Directions and Opportunities" by Dr. Karen J. Murphy and "Research Translation and Primary Care" by Margaret Allman-Farinelli.

Professional teaching associations in Australia and abroad have been developing teacher and/or teaching standards and associated professional learning and assessment models in the key discipline areas since the 1990s. In Australia, a specific intent of this approach is to capture and recognise the depth and range of accomplished educators' teaching. Despite the increasing work in this area, there has been a dearth of discussion about teacher standards in environmental education and no previous attempt to research and/or develop professional teacher standards for environmental education in Australia. This paper discusses the history of teacher standards in Australia, and considers the implications for the development of teacher standards in environmental education. In doing so, we present a research-practice model that is currently being piloted in Victoria for developing accomplished professional teacher standards and learning in environmental education with and for accomplished Australian primary and secondary teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parents and guardians in child protection systems are in unequal power relationships with child protection practitioners. This relationship is experienced as exclusionary or even oppressive by many parents and guardians. For families and communities in the child protection system who experience intersectional discrimination and disadvantage, such as people with intellectual disabilities and First Nations people, this unequal relationship and subsequent potential exclusion and oppression can be even more profound. A growing body of literature indicates that advocacy can assist in addressing unequal relationships in other contexts, such as involuntary mental health. This paper explores the role of representational advocacy in supporting parents in child protection settings through a case study of an advocacy service in Victoria, Australia. Using a human rights framework to guide the analysis, the paper highlights how advocacy can help support rights, but that broader structural change will be required to consistently uphold the rights of parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores social inclusion approaches implemented by ten secondary schools in Victoria, Australia, to support refugee students' well-being, as articulated in their policies, reports, and other published documents. Using an exploratory, qualitative research design, we found that all schools employed a holistic approach to implementing social inclusion programs for refugee students. This paper reports on the best practices and unique examples of social inclusion programs from all schools involved in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate public disclosures and accountability for government decision-making in the case of a major prison project delivered through a Public–Private Partnership (PPP) in the State of Victoria (Australia). Design/methodology/approach: The study explores a unique case to provide insights into public disclosures for PPPs in a jurisdiction that is a recognised leader in PPP policy and practice. The analysis is theoretically framed by an understanding of neoliberalism and New Public Management, and draws on data from case-specific reporting, media reporting and public policy, to examine interconnections between accounting, public discourse and accountability. Findings: The analysis shows how publicly available information relating to key government decisions routinely lacked supporting evidence or explanation, even though areas of subjectivity were recognised in public policy. Accounting was deployed numerically and discursively to present potentially contestable decisions as being based on common-sense "facts". The implied "truth" status of government reporting is problematised by media disclosure of key issues absent from government disclosures. Social implications: Under neoliberalism, accountingisation can help depoliticise the public sphere and limit discourse by constructing ostensible "facts" in an inherently contestable arena. By contrast, democratic accountability requires public disclosures that infuse a critical dialogical public sphere. Originality/value: The paper shows how neoliberalism can be embedded in public policies and institutional practices, and buttressed by the use of accounting. The analysis illuminates the persistence and "failing forward" character of neoliberalism, whereby crises are addressed through further neoliberalisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The OECD's PISA is seen as a 'global yardstick' against which countries measure the quality of their education systems. In 2018 PISA included an assessment of global competence. This paper starts with the premise that in using a single global instrument to 'measure' this phenomenon, PISA claims standardisation over contextually rich data that can then inform policy and, arguably, in turn practice. Data for this study is based on tracking 'global competence' through documentary analysis, interviews, and then 'survey encounters' where PISA global competence questionnaire items were discussed by principals and teachers in three schools in Victoria, Australia. The analysis illustrates that schools and teachers variously educate for global competence according to the specific cultural context, policy and curriculum in ways that highlight the inadequacy of a global metric. With the growing attention to educating for global citizenship and the OECD's development of global measures, this investigation of localised understandings of global competence magnifies the 'situatedness' of knowledge (and therefore assessment practices). Questions are raised about what is ignored in metrics when such a contested concept is operationalised, and points to the lack of validity of this metric because it de-contextualises how global competence is understood by teachers and enacted in curriculum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to describe and compare the proportion of patients classified as an emergency department (ED) mental health presentation under different definitions, including the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) definition. Methods: This retrospective cohort study enrolled all patients that presented to the EDs of a multi-centre Victorian health service between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2023. Varying definitions of a mental health presentation were applied to each ED attendance, applying the current AIHW definition (using selected diagnosis codes), broader diagnosis-based coding, the presenting complaint recorded at triage and whether the patient was seen by or referred to the emergency psychiatric service (EPS). The proportion of all ED presentations meeting each definition and any overlap between definitions were calculated. The agreement between each definition and the AIHW definition was evaluated using Kappa's coefficient. Results: There were 813,078 presentations to ED of which 34,248 (4.2%) met the AIHW definition for a mental health presentation. Throughout the study, 45,376 (5.6%) patients were seen and/or referred to EPS, and 36,160 (4.4%) patients were allocated a mental health presenting complaint by triage staff. There was moderate interrater agreement between these definitions, with a kappa statistic (95% confidence interval) between the AIHW definition and a mental health presenting complaint recorded at triage of 0.58 (0.58–0.59) and between the AIHW definition and review by EPS of 0.58 (0.57–0.58). Conclusions: The AIHW definition is a conservative measure of ED mental health presentations and may underestimate emergency psychiatry workload in Australian EDs. What is known about this topic? It is unknown whether the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) definition of an emergency department (ED) mental health presentation definition accurately reflects ED mental health workload. What does this paper add? The AIHW definition appears to underestimate the clinical workload related to ED mental health presentations. There is moderate agreement between the AIHW definition and mental health presentations classified according to complaint recorded at triage, or whether the patient is reviewed by psychiatry services. What are the implications for practitioners? Accurate measurement of emergency psychiatry workload should not rely on the AIHW definition alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Mental health triage services are the first contact for people wanting support for their mental health and provide access to public mental health services in Victoria, Australia. People living with young-onset dementia and their families may contact triage services seeking assistance for behaviour changes and pathways to care as there are few alternative services available. Methods: The authors reviewed the minimum triage dataset from one of the largest mental health services in Victoria, Australia from 2018 to 2021 investigating reasons for referral for people with young-onset dementia. Results: Of the 1766 referrals for 'dementia', 145 were for young-onset dementia. Of these, 69% were referred for behaviour changes. About half of the referrals for behaviour changes were triaged as 'advice only'. One-third of referrals were from general practitioners. Conclusions: The availability of dementia-specific support services that could provide advice on dementia as well as advice for behaviour changes related to the disease could potentially ease the burden of phone calls received by mental health triage services. What is known about the topic? Young-onset dementia refers to a dementia with onset at less than 65 years of age. People with young-onset dementia may contact mental health services for support but the reasons for contact are unknown. What does this paper add? The reasons for contacting one Victorian mental health service included behaviour changes such as agitation or aggression and psychotic symptoms (74%) and general advice, including about dementia pathways (14%). General practitioners made up one-third of referral sources. What are the implications for practitioners? Victorian mental health services are generally overloaded and complex. There is a need to promote alternative dementia support organisations in order to provide an alternative contact for people affected by young-onset dementia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study explored the experiences, concerns and perceptions of hospital clinical staff returning to work after parental leave during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: An exploratory mixed-methods study was performed. Eligible staff employed at a large metropolitan tertiary health service in Melbourne, Australia, completed an ethics-approved anonymous online cross-sectional survey and/or participated in an interview between February and June 2021. Results: Ninety-six staff completed a survey and four participated in an interview. Staff reported both positive and negative aspects of being on parental leave during the COVID-19 pandemic including disappointment their leave had not gone as planned; feeling isolated from family and friends; wanting greater communication from their health service; appreciating the increased opportunities for them and their partner to be at home and bond with their baby; and concerns about returning to work such as limited knowledge of COVID-19 workplace policies and potentially infecting their baby and family. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic had a unique impact on the parental leave and return to work experiences of hospital clinical staff. The findings suggest that staff would benefit from formal return to work policies and programs including regular contact with their manager while on parental leave and workplace reorientation on their return, especially during events such as a pandemic. What is known about the topic? Healthcare workers often experience additional challenges and stressors returning to work after parental leave compared to other workers. What does this paper add? The COVID-19 pandemic had a unique impact on the parental leave and return to work experiences of healthcare workers who reported positive and negative aspects including isolation, limited workplace communication and increased opportunities for bonding with their baby. What are the implications for practitioners? Appropriate organisational initiatives may alleviate staff distress and support their return to work and could include formal return to work programs, regular managerial contact and workplace reorientation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Individuals living with young-onset dementia fall through the gaps of adult and geriatric services. Given that non-cognitive symptoms of dementia in younger people are often psychiatric and behavioural in nature, these people may contact mental health services. There is sparse information investigating the frequency of people with young-onset dementia who contact mental health triage in Victoria. Methods: Triage data were obtained from the Victorian Agency for Health Information. The data contained demographics for people registered with Victorian mental health services. Consumers who had an International Classification for Diseases code for dementia and were aged less than 65 years were identified as people with young-onset dementia. Using information of the frequency of people with young-onset dementia who were registered with each area-based mental health service, population census statistics were used to make estimates of the frequency of young-onset dementia. Results: Of the 6172 people who had a dementia diagnosis, 1020 of them were aged less than 65 years and had young-onset dementia. There were proportionally more men who had young-onset dementia compared to women. There were more people with young-onset dementia registered to rural mental health services compared to metropolitan services. Conclusion: Findings provide important information for service planning in Victoria. Recommendations include upskilling and education for the assessment of dementia for those clinicians who work in mental health services, particularly in rural regions. What is known about the topic? Young-onset dementia refers to a dementia with onset at an age less than 65 years. Accessing age-appropriate services for these people is difficult as they fall through the gaps of adult and aged services due to their age. What does this paper add? Due to the behavioural and psychiatric manifestations related to young-onset dementia, data is provided about mental health service involvement for these people. What are the implications for practitioners? There is a need to upskill mental health clinicians, especially in rural areas, as younger people with dementia are accessing these services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]