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This paper presents the structural response of prescriptively designed buckling restrained braced frame buildings to four ground motion sets with different fault characteristics. The four ground motion sets are characteristic of far field, near field with pulse, near field with no pulse, and subduction zone long duration earthquakes. Two prototype buildings of different heights were used for the analysis and designed for a site in Seattle, WA. The analysis was conducted using three-dimensional numerical models of the prototype buildings developed in OpenSeesPy. The simulated buckling restrained brace response was validated with three experimental tests from the literature. The analysis results were used to investigate the effect of ground motion type on the structural response parameters of inter story drift, peak floor velocity, peak floor acceleration, residual inter story drift, and cumulative ductility demand. Results show that the near field motions increase the inter story drift demand compared to far field and long duration motions. All motion sets were likely to cause some level of structural and non-structural damage to drift, velocity, and acceleration sensitive components at the DE and MCE R hazard levels, but severe damage states may not be highly likely. The median residual inter story drift was less than 0.5% for all motion sets. The cumulative ductility demand of the subduction zone long duration motion set was 5 to 6 times greater than that of the far field or near field motion sets and exceeded the code-minimum cumulative ductility for prequalification for upwards of 60% of the analyses. • Study results confirm that near-field earthquakes result in large story drift than far-field earthquakes. • Code-designed BRBFs are likely to have low levels of nonstructural damage. • Code-designed BRBFs are unlikely to have severe levels of nonstructural damage. • Long-duration earthquakes result in 5–6 times more cumulative ductility demand than near-field or far-field earthquakes. • Long-duration earthquakes have cumulative ductility demand in excess of minimum code requirements for pre-qualified BRBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rock slope stability analysis can be performed using deterministic and probabilistic approaches. The deterministic analysis based on the safety concept factor uses fixed representative values for each input parameter involved without considering the variability and uncertainty of the rock mass properties. Probabilistic analysis with the calculation of probability of failure instead of the factor of safety against failure is emerging in practice. Such analyses offer a more rational approach to quantify risk by incorporating uncertainty in the input variables and evaluating the probability of the failure of a system. In rock slope engineering, uncertainty and variability involve a large scatter of geo-structural data and varied geomechanical test results. There has been extensive reliability analysis of rock slope stability in the literature, and different methods of reliability are being employed for assessment of the probability of failure and the reliability of a slope. Probabilistic approaches include Monte Carlo simulation (MCS), the point estimate method (PEM), the response surface method (RSM), first- and second-order reliability methods (FORMs and SORMs), and the first-order second-moment method (FOSM). Although these methods may be complicated, they provide a more complete definition of risk. Probabilistic slope stability analysis is an option in most commercial software; however, the use of this method is not common in practice. This paper provides an overview of the literature on some of the main probabilistic reliability-based methods available for the design of the rock slope in open pit mining. To demonstrate its applicability, the paper investigates the stability of a rock slope in an open pit mine in the Goldfields region, Western Australia. Two different approaches were adopted: deterministic stability analysis using two-dimensional limit equilibrium and finite element shear strength reduction methods using SLIDE and RS2 software, respectively, and probabilistic analysis by applying the MCS and RSM methods in the limit equilibrium method. In this example, the slope stability analysis was performed using the Spencer method with Cuckoo search optimization to locate the critical slip surface. The results obtained were compared and commented on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate and precise characterization of the subsurface stratigraphic configuration (geological model) at a given site is crucial to geotechnical engineering work. The uncertainty in the derived stratigraphic configuration can be significant, due to the strata's complexity and inherent spatial variability coupled with the limited availability of borehole data. The characterization and reduction of this uncertainty should be part of any site characterization project. This paper presents a method for characterization of the subsurface stratigraphic configuration with limited borehole data. Within the framework of the proposed method, the spatial correlation between the existence of a stratum in one subsurface zone and that in the other subsurface zone (or the spatial correlation of the existence of the stratum) is captured by an autocorrelation function determined with the maximum likelihood principle. The initial stratigraphic configurations are first sampled with the conditional random field theory. Next, the maximum-a-posteriori (MAP) estimates of the initial stratigraphic configurations are derived using Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) and taken as the final stratigraphic realizations. The effectiveness of the proposed method and its advantages over the existing stratigraphic characterization methods are demonstrated through a series of comparative analyses. The versatility of the new approach in modeling the 3-D stratigraphic configuration is further revealed through a case study of a site in Western Australia. This paper adds to the literature on stratigraphic uncertainty characterization and provides a basis for a risk-based geotechnical assessment that considers geological and geotechnical uncertainties. • A probabilistic method for characterizing stratigraphic configuration is proposed. • The spatial correlation of strata is estimated with maximum likelihood principle. • Conditional random field theory and MCMC method are included in this method. • Versatility of this method in modeling 3-D stratigraphic configurations is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of seismic fluid indicators are derived from seismic amplitude variations with offset. The fluid indictors typically measure the anomalous behavior of the seismic response related to hydrocarbon's saturation. This anomalous behavior can be observed in different domains such as P-wave velocity vs. S-wave velocity, P-wave reflectivity vs. S-wave reflectivity, and intercept vs. gradient, among others. In this paper, we introduce a new AVO attribute for fluid detection. The attribute is expressed as a linear combination of AVO's intercept and gradient and measures the deviation caused by pore fluid from the background fluid line defined in the Intercept-Gradient domain. The attribute can be calibrated to local geology for better performance. We test the attribute on data collected from different basins. We compare the fluid detection ability of the attribute against existing fluid indicators commonly used in AVO analysis and interpretation. The new fluid indicator shows promising performance and success in fluid detection. Next, we apply the attribute on synthetic data calculated from well data, and seismic field data from North Western Australia. The target formation is Mid-Jurassic fluvial-deltaic sandstone and is comprised of three reservoir units interbedded in shale. The attribute could help detect the gas-saturated reservoirs and distinguish them from the overall background reflectivity. • A new fluid factor expression is introduced. • The new fluid factor is a function of intercept and gradient. • The new fluid factor is compared with other existing fluid factors. • The new fluid factor demonstrated a good fluid detection comparable to existing fluid factors. • The fluid factor is applied on a data set from North Western Australia and showed promising results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amplitude Versus Offset (AVO) methods relate seismic amplitude variations to subsurface pore fluid and lithology changes. Over the past decades, numerous AVO attributes have been extracted from seismic data and combined to detect seismic expressions associated with hydrocarbon-charged sediments. In this paper, we use an AVO attribute combination composed of gradient and scaled-Poisson reflectivity (SPR) to detect hydrocarbon expressions. Irrespective of sand-shale impedance contrast, the SPR and the gradient G produce negative anomalies for shale over gas saturated reservoir. We demonstrate that SPR-G product is a good alternative to the Intercept-Gradient product which works only for unconsolidated sands. The dataset used in this study is from Poseidon field, North Western Australia. The gas reservoirs belong to the Middle Jurassic-aged Plover Formation. The Plover Formation comprises sandstone, mudstone, and coal that deposited in a fluvial-deltaic environment. AVO analysis at a well location indicates the reservoirs belong to AVO Class II, which is characterized by small zero offset reflectivity and an anomalously large G. Due to the low impedance contrast between the reservoirs and the shale intervals, the I × G product failed to detect the fluid expressions of the reservoirs. The SPR × G product and SPR-G crossplot showed better fluid detection and lithology discrimination. Furthermore, the computation of the product SPR × G volume helped highlight the fluid response and spatial distribution of the reservoir units. New prospective undrilled areas could be identified using the SPR-G product. • AVO attributes are used to detect gas-saturated reservoir in Offshore Australia. • The product and crossplot of Scaled Poisson ratio (SPR) and Gradient (G) are used. • The product and crossplot of SPR and G demonstrated promising results in hydrocarbon detection. • The SPR-G product and crossplot demonstrated a better fluid detectability than Intercept-Gradientc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Effectively addressing health disparities between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians is long overdue. Health services engaging Aboriginal communities in designing and delivering healthcare is one way to tackle the issue. This paper presents findings from evaluating a unique strategy of community engagement between local Aboriginal people and health providers across five districts in Perth, Western Australia. Local Aboriginal community members formed District Aboriginal Health Action Groups (DAHAGs) to collaborate with health providers in designing culturally-responsive healthcare. The purpose of the strategy was to improve local health service delivery for Aboriginal Australians.Methods: The evaluation aimed to identify whether the Aboriginal community considered the community engagement strategy effective in identifying their health service needs, translating them to action by local health services and increasing their trust in these health services. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling. Qualitative data was collected from Aboriginal participants and health service providers using semi-structured interviews or yarning circles that were recorded, transcribed and independently analysed by two senior non-Aboriginal researchers. Responses were coded for key themes, further analysed for similarities and differences between districts and cross-checked by the senior lead Aboriginal researcher to avoid bias and establish reliability in interpreting the data. Three ethics committees approved conducting the evaluation.Results: Findings from 60 participants suggested the engagement process was effective: it was driven and owned by the Aboriginal community, captured a broad range of views and increased Aboriginal community participation in decisions about their healthcare. It built community capacity through regular community forums and established DAHAGs comprising local Aboriginal community members and health service representatives who met quarterly and were supported by the Aboriginal Health Team at the local Population Health Unit. Participants reported health services improved in community and hospital settings, leading to increased access and trust in local health services.Conclusion: The evaluation concluded that this process of actively engaging the Aboriginal community in decisions about their health care was a key element in improving local health services, increasing Aboriginal people's trust and access to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundEvidence suggests that adults with intellectual disability (ID) are vulnerable to poor health outcomes. This paper describes the health status and medication use of adults with ID in Western Australia. MethodWe conducted a cross-sectional survey by interview of 328 adults with ID (Mage = 37 years, range: 18–82) and their families/support persons (79% proxy or joint informants). ResultsAlthough 90% of participants reported long-term health conditions (M = 2.6, range: 0–10), including epilepsy, allergies, eczema, asthma, and mental health problems, three quarters of the participants (77%) described their health as good or very good. Younger participants (18–44 years) reported osteoporosis and stroke, conditions commonly associated with ageing, more often than the general population at those ages. Medication use was high, with 70% taking one or more medications (Mdn = 3 medications, range: 0–21). ConclusionsMany participants reported that health problems affected their daily lives, yet the majority reported good health. Long-term health conditions were common and many people used several types of medications. Participants had poorer health than the Western Australian population overall. Careful monitoring of health conditions and regular review of medications are recommended to improve health outcomes for adults with ID. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background and aims The alcohol industry produces 'responsible drinking' advertising campaigns. There is concern that these may promote drinking while persuading governments and the general public that the industry is acting responsibly. This paper examined young people's thoughts and feelings in response to one of these campaigns in Australia. Design A qualitative analysis of introspection data provided by young drinkers after exposure to a responsible drinking advertisement produced by DrinkWise called 'How to Drink Properly'. Setting Perth, Western Australia. Participants Forty-eight 18-21-year-old drinkers. Measurements The qualitative data were imported into NVivo10 and coded according to the various stages of advertising effects frameworks. A thematic analysis approach was used to identify patterns in the data relating to (i) perceptions of the source and purpose of the advertisement and (ii) any resulting attitudinal or behavioural outcomes. Findings Despite the sample comprising mainly high-risk drinkers, participants were generally unable to relate to the heavy drinkers depicted in the DrinkWise advertisement. This disassociation resulted in a perceived lack of need to modify their own drinking behaviours. Instead, the study participants found the advertisement to be entertaining and supportive of existing social norms relating to heavy drinking among members of this age group. Conclusions The 'How to Drink Properly' advertisement by Drinkwise in Australia may reinforce existing drinking attitudes and behaviours among young drinkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Governments and network utilities are grappling with how to manage increasing costs of electricity supply, the prospect of distributed generation while still meeting social objectives of access and affordability in remote areas. Due to geographical isolation and dispersed populations, remote Australian communities are generally electrified by distributed networks using diesel generation. This is expensive, environmentally damaging and fails to exploit vast renewable resources available. These communities are often regarded as “low hanging fruit” from a renewable energy deployment perspective. This paper examines why that fruit has not been readily picked in Australia in the context of a case study of three remote West Australian communities. In Western Australia, the local electricity distribution network service provider (DNSP) responsible for regional networks, developed a scheme (the Scheme) to incentivise renewable energy deployment in remote communities. This scheme aims to encourage communities to install renewable energy from the “bottom up” by providing a feed-in tariff capped at $0.50/kW h, to reduce the supply cost and environmental damage from diesel generation. However, to date there has been limited deployment of renewable energy in remote communities. The scheme and viability of renewable energy is assessed for three indigenous communities located in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. These communities are connected to isolated, diesel powered networks. Viability is assessed from the DNSP and community perspectives and incorporates quantitative and qualitative financial, social / human and institutional factors. Renewable energy deployment is found to benefit the DNSP and can also benefit communities subject to their cost of capital and to the imposition of connection charges. However a range of barriers are currently frustrating deployment and a dynamic and adaptive approach that recognises local challenges and provides the communities with a pathway to installation is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The Health Workforce Australia Clinical Supervision Support Program Discussion Paper (2010) highlighted the education deficits of health professionals responsible for the clinical supervision of students. This research aimed to develop, implement and evaluate a new education program for nurses to assist in the development of knowledge and attitude to supervise students whilst on clinical practicum. Design The impact of the ACS program was determined using a descriptive methodology involving the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data using a triangulation approach. This included the use of surveys, online reflections and interviews. Settings The ACS program was presented in both the metropolitan and regional areas of Western Australia. Subjects Participants (n=199) were from both the public and private health care sector working in a variety of nursing specialties within both the inpatient and community setting. Results Analysis of the data determined that participants improved their knowledge and attitude towards students and clinical supervision. Conclusions The ACS was confirmed as a strategy for providing effective education for nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The pressure on healthcare services worldwide has driven the incorporation of disease state management services within community pharmacies in developed countries. Pharmacists are recognised as the most accessible healthcare professionals, and the incorporation of these services facilitates patient care. In Australia, the opportunity to manage pharmacy patients with mental illness has been underutilised, despite the existence of service models for other chronic conditions. This paper is an independent evaluation of a novel service developed by a community pharmacy in Perth, Western Australia. The service represents collaboration between a nurse practitioner and community pharmacy staff in the management of mental health patients with metabolic risks.Methods: We applied practice service standards for Australian community pharmacies to develop an evaluation framework for this novel service. This was followed by semi-structured interviews with staff members at the study pharmacy to explore service processes and procedures. Descriptive analysis of interviews was supplemented with analysis of patients' biometric data. All data were evaluated against the developed framework.Results: The evaluation framework comprised 13 process, 5 outcomes, and 11 quality indicators. Interview data from eight staff members and biometric data from 20 community-dwelling mental health patients taking antipsychotics were evaluated against the framework. Predominantly, patients were managed by the pharmacy's nurse practitioner, with medication management provided by pharmacists. Patients' biometric measurements comprised weight, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, lipid profiles and management of obesity, smoking, hypertension and diabetes. Positive outcomes observed in the patient data included weight loss, smoking cessation, and improved blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid levels.Conclusions: The developed framework allowed effective evaluation of the service, and may be applicable to other pharmacy services. The metabolic clinic met key process, quality and outcomes indicators. The positive patient outcomes may assist in securing further funding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of stimulant medication for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) to improve classroom behaviour and sustained concentration is well known. Achieving a better academic grade has been reported as the prime motivation for stimulant use and is an increasingly discussed topic. The proliferation of stimulant use for ADHD has been a cause for public, medical and policy concern in Australia. This paper explores individuals' perceptions of ADHD, the meaning that the diagnosis carries for them and their attitudes to stimulant medication treatment.Methods: This qualitative study was underpinned by a social constructivist approach and involved semi-structured interviews with eight participants. The participants were parents of children with ADHD or were adults who themselves had been diagnosed with ADHD. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.Results: There were three interrelated yet contradictory overarching themes: (i) An impairment to achieving success, which can be a double-edged sword, but has to be fixed; (ii) Diagnosis as a relief that alleviates fault and acknowledges familial inheritance; (iii) Responsibility to be normal and to fit in with societal expectations. Collectively, these perceptions and meanings were powerful drivers of stimulant use.Conclusions: Paying attention to perceptions of ADHD and reasons for seeking or not seeking stimulant treatment is important when planning appropriate interventions for this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vast parts of the Australian continent are prospective for precious and base metal mineralisation, but exploration is hindered by extensive cover of often deeply reaching regolith. New operational exploration methods are required that can help to characterise the cover and provide information about bedrock signatures. This paper shows how mineral mapping information from a combination of satellite multispectral Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) imagery and drill core hyperspectral profiling data (HyLogging™) can be used to unravel the regolith stratigraphy and to describe regional variations of regolith landforms, delivering important information for mineral exploration. The case study is located in the Neale tenements in the northeastern Albany–Fraser Orogen (Western Australia), which is prospective for Tropicana-style gold mineralisation. By interpretation of indicator minerals from hyperspectral drill hole logging data the regolith stratigraphy atop a metamorphic basement, comprising saprock, ferrugineous saprolite, kaolinitic saprolite, silcrete and transported cover, is recorded in cm-detail. Important mineralogical parameters extracted from the hyperspectral subsurface data and validated by XRD and FTIR, are 1) the abundance and type of iron oxides, 2) the abundance and crystallinity of kaolinite, 3) the abundance and composition of primary minerals, such as white mica, and 4) the abundance of quartz. The HyLogging™ data served as ground control points for mineral mapping information provided by CSIRO's ASTER Geoscience Products, which are a collection of mineral maps that highlight variations in the abundance, type or chemistry of selected mineral groups. Key ASTER Geoscience Products for regolith characterisation were the Ferric Oxide and AlOH abundance and composition images. The comparison of the surface with the subsurface data suggests three major different regolith landforms, including erosional, depositional and relict areas, which were used to generate a map showing transported versus relict and erosional areas. Erosional domains were mapped out in great detail, providing important information for exploration in saprolite dominated areas. Furthermore, source areas of transported material could be identified, which may help to understand the distribution of geochemical signatures collected during, for example, geochemical soil sampling projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for all people with disability to have access to reliable information before they can make informed choices in individualised funding programmes is well documented. However, little guidance exists on how information can be provided to ensure it reaches its target audience. While information provision is important everywhere, there is a pressing need in the Australian context to ensure all people have access to information as the National Disability Insurance Scheme is designed and introduced. The authors identified key principles of information provision documented in the literature and used these to analyse their data from Australian studies of individualised funding programmes. The data came from 143 transcripts and records of interview in five studies conducted from 2011 to 2013. The analysis confirmed the importance of the principles previously documented and identified two additional principles, these being related to gender and ‘hard to reach’ groups. This analysis informs a new framework to increase equity and improve people’s access to information in individualised funding programmes. Information needs to be: (i) accessible and diverse in format, mode, source and location; (ii) personalised and targeted; (iii) accurate, consistent and timely; (iv) from a trusted source; (v) independent; (vi) culturally appropriate; (vii) actively promoted to ‘hard to reach’ groups and (viii) gender appropriate. This paper provides a new framework to guide information in individualised funding programmes for professionals in roles ranging from policy makers to service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the aviation industries developed, so too did the recognition that there must be an effective regulatory framework to address issues related to the workers’ compensation and rehabilitation. All employees would like to work and return home safely from their workplace. Therefore, the efficient management of workplace injury and disease reduces the cost of aviation operations and improves flight safety. Workers’ compensation and injury management laws regulate a majority of rehabilitation and compensation issues, but achieving an injury-free workplace remains a major challenge for the regulators. This paper examines the clauses of the workers’ compensation and injury management laws of Western Australia related to workplace safety, compensation, and rehabilitations of the injured workers. It also discusses various provisions of common law under the relevant workers’ health injury management legislations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper describes an evaluation of postgraduate midwifery students' experiences of a model of blended learning, following completion of a newly accredited Master of Midwifery Practice (MMP) course in a Western Australian university. Successful completion of the course leads to registration as a midwife with a Master's degree. This is the first midwifery degree at Master's level offered in Western Australia, which offers another route into the midwifery profession alongside existing options for postgraduate and undergraduate students. Midwifery students enrolled on the 2-year MMP course are registered nurses, who are offered flexible learning options involving on-campus and online learning, as opposed to traditional on-campus lectures and tutorials. The evaluation consisted of a 10-part questionnaire given to 25 midwifery students, of which 17 were completed and returned. Responses were analysed by the authors and a consensus on the final interpretation was reached. Four main themes were identified from the evaluation: variety of teaching methods, feeling overwhelmed, contextualising midwifery, and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives. To describe modifications to a second extended version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire for online use in nursing populations, and check validity and reliability. Background. The Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire has been used to assess the severity and impact of musculoskeletal symptoms in occupational groups. The reliability of a previous extended version was established for paper-based, self-administration among nursing students. This current study extended the questionnaire to collect more information regarding musculoskeletal symptoms in all nine body regions and their work-relatedness, as an instrument is needed to gather evidence about the impact of fitness levels on occupational musculoskeletal disorders among nurses. Design. Psychometric evaluation. Method. Sixty-five undergraduate nurses completed the online extended Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire twice. Content validity was examined by expert review and construct validity by exploratory factor analysis of 90 responses from the first completion. Reliability was checked by examining internal consistency, kappa statistics, proportions of observed, and positive and negative agreements, intra-class correlation coefficient and standard error of measurement. Results. The instrument had high internal consistency and exploratory factor analysis revealed it was a relatively homogenous (unidimensional) measure of musculoskeletal symptom severity. Age of onset of symptoms questions were reliable, with high mean intra-class correlation coefficients and low mean standard errors of measurement. Overall, questions showed high mean strengths of agreement and proportions of observed agreement: three-quarters of the prevalence questions and 99% of the severity/impact questions had 10% or fewer disagreements. Conclusions. Modifications to the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and online administration did not diminish its validity or reliability for obtaining information about the severity of nurses' musculoskeletal symptoms. Relevance to clinical practice. Occupational musculoskeletal disorders are an issue for nurses. This questionnaire can be used to monitor nurses' musculoskeletal health, and in musculoskeletal disorder prevention studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents results of a study determining the efficacy of a values based approach to changing vaccination attitudes. It reports an evaluation survey of the “I Immunise” campaign, conducted in Fremantle, Western Australia, in 2014. “I Immunise” explicitly engaged with values and identity; formulated by locals in a community known for its alternative lifestyles and lower-than-national vaccine coverage rates. Data was collected from 304 online respondents. The campaign polarised attitudes towards vaccination and led some to feel more negatively. However, it had an overall positive response with 77% of participants. Despite the campaign only resonating positively with a third of parents who had refused or doubted vaccines, it demonstrates an important in-road into this hard-to-reach group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the effects of time on the shaft capacity of jacked piles in sand through an experimental program performed at three separate test sites in Western Australia. A total of 18 instrumented pile tests were conducted to track the changes of radial stress on the pile shafts, as well as shaft friction, up to a maximum of 72 days after installation. The results confirm that the gains in shaft capacity of jacked piles are small after a period of about 1 day. This observation is in keeping with limited available case history data, but is in stark contrast to the significant capacity gains reported for driven piles. Further examination reveals that set-up effects for jacked piles in sand are relatively significant within one day of installation, and that the increased friction is associated primarily with larger increases in radial effective stress during shearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Reliable ascertainment of intellectual disability (ID) is important to identify those with special needs, in order for those needs to be met in the criminal justice system. Although the Hayes Ability Screening Index (HASI) is valid and widely used for the identification of possible ID, the risk of inter-rater bias between researchers when scoring the HASI has not yet been established. The current paper estimates the inter-rater reliability of the HASI in a sample of Indigenous and non-Indigenous prisoners in Western Australia. Methods We estimated intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) for the consistency of agreement among three blinded raters using a two-way random-effects model assessing the inter-rater agreement of the HASI. Kappa was also estimated for the dichotomous HASI screening threshold outcome between the raters. Results The HASI exhibited very good within-subject consistency of agreement for Section B (ICC = 0.95; 95%CI:0.94-0.96), Section C (ICC = 0.97; 95%CI: 0.96-0.98) and Section D (ICC = 0.90; 95%CI: 0.87-0.92) subscales and for the total scaled score (ICC = 0.97; 95%CI: 0.96-0.98). The inter-rater reliability of the dichotomous adult ID screening threshold (<85) was also very good (Kappa = 0.95). Conclusions The current study provides new evidence that the HASI has a low risk of bias from between-rater scoring and can be reliably scored by both non-clinicians and clinicians with little training, when administered in prison settings. Pre-scoring training should focus on the more subjective 'clock-drawing' section, in order to maximise inter-rater reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western Australia's housing sector is growing rapidly and around half a million houses are expected to be built by 2030, which not only will result in increased energy and resources demand but will have socio-economic impacts. Majority of Western Australians live in detached houses made of energy intensive clay bricks, which have a high potential to generate construction and demolition (C&D) waste. Therefore, there is a need to look into the use of alternative materials and construction methods. Due to Western Australia's temperate climate, concrete could not only offer a comfortable living space but an operational energy saving also can be achieved. This paper has assessed the global warming implications of cast in-situ concrete sandwich wall system as an alternative to clay brick walls (CBW) with partial replacement of cement in concrete with by-products such as fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), natural aggregate (NA) with recycled crushed aggregate (RCA), natural sand (NS) with manufactured sand (MS) and, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foam core as a replacement to polystyrene core for construction of a typical 4 x 2 x 2 detached house in Perth. Life cycle management (LCM) approach has been used to determine global warming reduction benefits due to the use of available by-products and recycled materials inWestern Australian houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The introduction of the convict system in 1850 into the Western Australian (WA) economy resulted in a large injection of capital into the colony, the dissemination of which cannot be overlooked when considering the transformative effect of the convict system. This injection resulted from the purchase of goods and services by the penal system that ultimately transferred money from the British Crown into the local market. For this paper, historical and archaeological data was used to develop an understanding of the breakdown of spending by the penal system, and to consider how the circumstance of individual aspects of the penal system impacted purchasing choices, and subsequently benefitted the local market. Using artefacts recovered from two sites within Fremantle Prison, one representing institutional purchases and the other relating to a wage earner, it was possible the test the variation in economic impact of spending given institutional circumstance. By considering whether purchases represented local commodities or imports, it was possible to see how capital transferred into the local economy and how much of that spending leaked out through imports. In doing this, the analysis highlighted the varying benefit of the capital injected by the penal system related to circumstance and the value of considering the penal system as an elaborate entity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Incorporation of the Nutrition Care Process (NCP) and NCP Terminology (NCPt) into clinical dietetics practice is advocated in Australia; however, no evidence ‐ based implementation process exists, which may hinder uptake. Based on formative research findings from the Attitudes Skill Knowledge (ASK) NCP survey and using a change management framework, we developed an implementation package for Australian hospital dietitians. This paper aims to report on the outcome of the pilot evaluation and efficacy of the package. Methods: Dietitians from three hospitals (two tests and one control) in Western Australia who had not undergone NCP implementation were recruited. Evaluation occurred through administering the ASK NCP survey pre and post implementation in all subjects and focus groups at test sites. The Mann – Whitney U ‐ test was applied to determine whether the changes in the test group were significantly different to the control group. The Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to determine whether there were significant changes within groups. Focus groups were audio ‐ recorded, transcribed and then analysed for themes by the authors. Results: Compared to pre ‐ implementation, the dietitians from the test hospitals had significantly higher NCP knowledge (P = 0.006), were more familiar with NCP (P = 0.01) and NCPt (P = 0.025), and more confident to utilise NCP practice (P = 0.011). Compared to pre ‐ implementation, the control group displayed significantly higher familiarity with NCP and NCPt (P = 0.041); however, significant improvements in other constructs were not observed. No significant difference was observed between groups for all constructs. Conclusions: Dietitians found the package useful and would recommend it to Australian hospital dietetic departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquifers in the Perth Metropolitan Region of Western Australia have been explored and exploited for water supply since the late 19th century. Throughout the early 20th century, the availability of warm groundwater from the Yarragadee confined aquifer at relatively shallow depths was popular with laundries, public baths and for industrial applications but it was not until 1997 that the first direct-use geothermal project for bathing and swimming was implemented. By 2016, a dozen commercially successful geothermal schemes will use low enthalpy geothermal water supplies from the Yarragadee aquifer at depths ranging from 750 to 1150 m for heating leisure centres, building air and outdoor pools. With distributed heat estimated to more than 110 × 10 3 GJ per year and up to 180 × 10 3 GJ when considering projects currently at construction stage but not yet commissioned, Perth currently has the biggest concentration of operating geothermal direct-use projects in Australia. The development of geothermal projects in Perth was made possible by early achievements pioneered by designers from the groundwater industry. This paper presents the hydrogeological setting of the Yarragadee aquifer which is the main geothermal resource in Perth, the well and surface heat exchanger design criteria, the economic and environmental considerations, and the best practices and circumstances that led to the 100% success rate of direct-use geothermal projects in Perth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breast milk is the optimal source of nutrition for infants in the first six months of life. Promoting and protecting breastfeeding is reflected in public health policy across the globe, but breastfeeding rates in both developing and industrialised countries continue to demonstrate that few mothers meet these recommendations. In addition to sociodemographic factors such as age, education and income, modifiable factors such as maternal infant feeding attitudes have been shown to influence breastfeeding duration. The objective of this paper was to describe the influence of infant feeding attitudes on breastfeeding duration in rural Western Australia. Methods: A cohort of 427 women and their infants were recruited from hospitals in rural Western Australia and followed for a period of 12 months. Information about feeding methods was gathered in hospital and at a further seven follow-up contacts. Infant feeding attitude was measured using the Iowa Infant Feeding Attitude Scale (IIFAS), and a score of > 65 was considered positive towards breastfeeding. Results: Mothers with an IIFAS score of > 65 were approximately twice as likely to be exclusively breastfeeding at six months, and breastfeeding at any intensity to 12 months. The median duration of exclusive breastfeeding for mothers with an IIFAS score of > 65 was 16 weeks (95 % CI 13.5,18.5) compared with 5 weeks for those with a score < 65 (95 % CI 3.2, 6.8) (p < 0.0001). The median duration of any breastfeeding to 12 months was more than twice as long for mothers with an IIFAS score > 65 (48 vs. 22 weeks, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Women in this rural cohort who had a more positive attitude towards breastfeeding had a longer duration of both exclusive breastfeeding to six months and any breastfeeding to 12 months. Further research examining the breastfeeding attitudes of specific subgroups such as men, grandparents and adolescents in rural areas will contribute to the evidence base and help to ensure that breastfeeding is seen as the normal method of infant feeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Differential Evolution Algorithm (DE) is a commonly used stochastic search method for solving real-valued numerical optimization problems. Unfortunately, DE's problem solving success is very sensitive to the internal parameters of the artificial numerical genetic operators (i.e., mutation and crossover operators) used. Although several mutation and crossover methods have been developed for DE, there is not still an analytical method that can be used to select the most efficient mutation and crossover method while solving a problem with DE. Therefore, selection and parameter tuning processes of artificial numerical genetic operators used by DE are based on a trial-and-error process which is time consuming. The development of modern DE versions has been focused on developing fast, structurally simple and efficient genetic operators that are not sensitive to the initial values of their internal parameters. Problem solving successes of the Universal Differential Algorithms (uDE) are not sensitive to the structure and internal parameters of the related artificial numerical genetic operators used, unlike DE. In this paper a new uDE, Bezier Search Differential Evolution Algorithm , BeSD, has been proposed. BeSD's mutation and crossover operators are structurally simple, fast, unique and produce highly efficient trial patterns. BeSD utilizes a partially elitist unique mutation operator and a unique crossover operator. In this paper, the experiments were performed by using the 30 benchmark problems of CEC2014 with Dim =30, and one 3D viewshed problem as a real world application. The problem solving success of BeSD was statistically compared with five top-methods of CEC2014, i.e., CRMLSP, MVO, WA, SHADE and LSHADE by using Wilcoxon Signed Rank test. Statistical results exposed that BeSD's problem solving success is better than those of the comparison methods in general. • A new parameter-free crossover operator. • A new multi-component mutation operator. • A new Universal Differential Evolution Algorithm. • Real-valued evolutionary search for numerical function optimization. • Evolutionary 3D viewshed analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To integrate large-scale renewable energy into energy systems, an effective participation from private investors and active customer engagement are essential. Virtual power plants (VPPs) are a very promising approach. To realize this engagement, an efficient monitoring and control system needs to be implemented for the VPP to be flexible, scalable, secure, and cost-effective. In this paper, a realistic VPP in Western Australia is studied, comprising 67 dwellings, including a 810 kW rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system, a 700 kWh vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB), a heat pump hot water system (HWS), an electric vehicle (EV) charging station, and demand management mechanisms. The practical and detailed concept design of the monitoring and control system for EEBUS-enabled appliances, and also for the PV and VRFB system, with smart inverters, is proposed. In addition, a practical fog-based storage and computing system is developed to enable the VPP owner to manage the PV, VRFB, and EV charging station for maximizing the benefit to the customers and the VPP owner. Further, the proposed cloud-based applications enable customers to participate in gamified demand response programs for increasing the level of their engagement while satisfying their comfort level. All proposed systems and architecture in this paper have the capability of being implemented fully and relevant references for practical devices are given where necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Wildfires are becoming more severe and frequent and their effects increasingly expose water resources to stress. • Climate, wildfire, streamflow records (1975 to 2018), topography, and landcover data from 92 catchments were combined to quantify the contribution of wildfire to streamflow variability across Australian temperate forests. • On average wildfire regimes relatively results in 8.8% increases in streamflow across Australian temperate forests. • Wildfire effects on regional streamflow varied spatially depending on hydroclimate factors, particularly precipitation. As wildfires become more frequent and severe, there are concerns regarding their impacts on water yield from forested catchments. While there are many studies in Australia about the effects of individual wildfires on streamflow at fine scales (<1 km2) in specific geographic settings, the effects of wildfire regimes on streamflow at broad spatial scales across temperate forests in Australia are not well understood. In this paper, we combined climate, wildfire, streamflow records (1975 to 2018), topographic, and landcover data from 92 catchments (74 – 4740 km2) in the Australian temperate zone to quantify the contribution of wildfire regimes over time to streamflow variability in different hydroclimatic settings (humid, dry sub-humid, and semi-arid) and geographic regions (Southeast Australia (SEA), Southwest Western Australia (SWWA), and Tasmania (TAS)). Wildfire regimes were represented by two metrics: the burnt area to drainage area (BDA) ratio for wildfire events in each year and a spatially averaged metric of Time Since Fire (TSF), which is a spatial average of time since the last wildfire in the catchment. By comparing prefire and postfire runoff ratios our study found that on average there was a short-term increase in runoff ratio (∼3% in year 1 and ∼6% in year 2 post-fire) after wildfires with BDA > 25%. No influence of fire was found in the long-term (15–20 years after the wildfire) runoff ratio. We found that wildfire regime, measured by TSF, explained ∼8.8% of the variation in annual streamflow across the Australian temperate zone, and that with decreasing TSF (i.e., increased wildfire impact), the average streamflow increased. Streamflow variation explained by wildfire regimes varied with hydroclimate. The explained variance of streamflow by wildfire regimes in semi-arid catchments (23%) and dry sub-humid catchments (13%) were higher than humid catchments (5%). Our results provide a broad-scale understanding of how wildfire regimes influence streamflow variability at broad temporal and spatial scales, and provided important context and baseline information for determining the implications of changes in climate and fire regimes for regional water availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The colonial Northwest of Western Australia was a harsh frontier, where demands for Aboriginal land, labour and knowledge led to dispossession, loss of rights, massacre and generations encumbered with the colonial legacy. In the Pilbara, there are some rare attempts to engage with this difficult colonial history, mainly in the form of heritage site interpretation and heritage trails. Overall, the difficult colonial history of the Northwest is poorly represented. Colonialism and its legacy are not effectively commemorated, nor are distinct local cultural and civic attributes highlighted as ‘lessons from the past’. In this paper, we explore the memorialization and commemoration of the Northwest's traumatic colonial history and consider a history of how heritage has been represented across the landscape. We suggest that the affective heritage of the Northwest especially cross-cultural or multi-cultural sites and histories can provide a basis for commemorating difficult colonial history or violent events that are underrepresented in dominant heritage regimes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The Gnangara groundwater system in Western Australia supports multiple ecological systems and human uses, and is under unprecedented stress. This paper examines some of Ostrom's ‘situational variables’ for the analysis of institutional choice in common-pool resources, as they relate to the Gnangara case. The institutional analysis identifies elements of the current governance institutions that could be altered to facilitate collective action. We use data from a set of water licensing documents obtained from the state's Department of Water. A number of factors are identified as inhibiting the potential for collective action. Current arrangements are top–down in nature, with all rules, monitoring, and any enforcement supplied by the state-level management agency. Norms and expectations among appropriators appear to be competitive rather than co-operative, and discount rates appear to be high. Monitoring and enforcement are under-supplied, and opportunistic behaviour affects compliance. The interactions between user and regulator influence the appropriation of flows, and have resulting impacts on the resource stock. We conclude that several factors in this case prejudice the development of collective action institutions by appropriator efforts alone. The study highlights important aspects of the institutional arrangements in place, and their likely effects upon the attitudes and behaviours of appropriators who, along with wildlife and ecosystems, depend on the common-pool resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Young adulthood is a critical life period for health and health behaviours. Related measurements collected before and after birth, and during childhood and adolescence can provide a life-course analysis of important factors that contribute to health and behaviour in young adulthood. The Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study has collected a large number of such measurements during the fetal, perinatal, infancy, childhood and adolescence periods and plans to relate them to common health issues and behaviours in young adults, including spinal pain, asthma, sleep disorders, physical activity and sedentary behaviour and, work absenteeism and presenteeism. The aim of this paper is to describe the rationale, design and methods of the 22 year follow-up of the Raine Study cohort. Methods/Design: The Raine Study is a prospective cohort study. Participants still active in the cohort (n = 2,086) were contacted around the time of their 22nd birthday and invited to participate in the 22 year follow-up. Each was asked to complete a questionnaire, attend a research facility for physical assessment and an overnight sleep study, wear activity monitors for a week, and to maintain a sleep and activity diary over this week. The questionnaire was broad and included questions related to sociodemographics, medical history, quality of life, psychological factors, lifestyle factors, spinal pain, respiratory, sleep, activity and work factors. Physical assessments included anthropometry, blood pressure, back muscle endurance, tissue sensitivity, lung function, airway reactivity, allergic status, 3D facial photographs, cognitive function, and overnight polysomnography. Discussion: Describing the prevalence of these health issues and behaviours in young adulthood will enable better recognition of the issues and planning of health care resources. Providing a detailed description of the phenotype of these issues will provide valuable information to help educate health professionals of the needs of young adults. Understanding the life-course risk factors of health issues and behaviours in young adulthood will have important health planning implications, supporting the development of targeted interventions to improve current health status and reduce the onset and development of further ill-health across adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research involving marine mammals often requires costly field programs. This paper assessed whether the benefits of using cameras outweighs the implications of having personnel performing marine mammal detection in the field. The efficacy of video and still cameras to detect Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in the Fremantle Harbour (Western Australia) was evaluated, with consideration on how environmental conditions affect detectability. The cameras were set on a tower in the Fremantle Port channel and videos were perused at 1.75 times the normal speed. Images from the cameras were used to estimate position of dolphins at the water’s surface. Dolphin detections ranged from 5.6 m to 463.3 m for the video camera, and from 10.8 m to 347.8 m for the still camera. Detection range showed to be satisfactory when compared to distances at which dolphins would be detected by field observers. The relative effect of environmental conditions on detectability was considered by fitting a Generalised Estimation Equations (GEEs) model with Beaufort, level of glare and their interactions as predictors and a temporal auto-correlation structure. The best fit model indicated level of glare had an effect, with more intense periods of glare corresponding to lower occurrences of observed dolphins. However this effect was not large (-0.264) and the parameter estimate was associated with a large standard error (0.113). The limited field of view was the main restraint in that cameras can be only applied to detections of animals observed rather than counts of individuals. However, the use of cameras was effective for long term monitoring of occurrence of dolphins, outweighing the costs and reducing the health and safety risks to field personal. This study showed that cameras could be effectively implemented onshore for research such as studying changes in habitat use in response to development and construction activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) are widely used in Western Australia (WA) to treat and dispose of household wastewater in areas where centralized sewerage systems are unavailable. Septic tanks, aerobic treatment units (ATUs), and composting toilets with greywater systems are among the most well established and commonly used OWTS. However, there are concerns that some OWTS installed in WA are either performing below expected standards or failing. Poorly performing OWTS are often attributed to inadequate installation, inadequate maintenance, poor public awareness, insufficient local authority resources, ongoing wastewater management issues, or inadequate adoption of standards, procedures, and guidelines. This paper is to review the installations and failures of OWTS in WA. Recommendations to the Department of Health Western Australia (DOHWA) and Local Government (LG) in regard to management strategies and institutional arrangements of OWTS are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the role of women in fishing industry organisations and communities in promoting best-practice health behaviours among fishers in Australia. Design This paper reports aspects of research that examined how the fishing industry can best support physical health and mental well-being of fishers. The study employed a mixed-methods, multisite case study approach. Data were gathered from face-to-face and phone interactions. Setting Two sites in Victoria and one in Western Australia. Participants Thirty-one male fishers, including commercial licence owners, skippers, deckhands, three female family members, three fishing association representatives, one local government representative, two health care providers, and three regional health planning and funding bodies. Interventions Not applicable. Main outcome measures Not applicable. Results Often unrecognised, women associated with the fishing industry are integral to the promotion of good health for fishers. They are key to identifying health issues (particularly mental health issues) and proposing community-based health and well-being strategies. They often do so by incorporating health information and activities into 'soft entry points' - informal, non-health service mechanisms by which fishers can access health information and health services. Conclusions While not working at the industry coalface, women have a stake, and are key players, in the commercial fishing industry. Their knowledge of, and credibility within, fishing enterprises makes them valuable sources of information about health issues facing the industry and effective strategies to address them. This expertise should be applied in conjunction with industry associations and health providers to achieve better health outcomes for fishers and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the qualitative changes occurring in the local social landscape as a result of mining. Building on Colantonio's social sustainability assessment framework, we argue that there are three thematic areas (related to demographics, social capital and well-being) which identify change generally and specifically caused by mining. By studying the social impacts of mining, we examine both ‘hard’ themes around quantifiable indicators and ‘soft’ themes which deal with less tangible community characteristics and values. The analysis of the Western Australian Boddington case study demonstrates that such an approach can generate important insights about a community's nature and potential capabilities to cope and respond to change. We argue that if social impact assessment is to be used as a development tool, which is a tool that facilitates development, there is need to understand those aspects of the social environment that impact positively and/or negatively its demographic, quality and operational attributes as they influence the overall capacity of communities to maintain and enhance their long-term functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This paper presents the relative merits and comparative costs of conducting trial of void using Hospital-In-The-Home vs. the Day Procedure Unit. Background Hospitals increasingly discharge patients with acute urinary retention with indwelling urinary catheters. For these to be removed and patients supported to return to normal urinary function, outpatient or in-home services are used. To date, the relative effectiveness and costs of Hospital-In-The-Home care and Day Procedure Unit care for trial of void have not been examined. Design This retrospective study used a static-group comparison design. Methods Hospital administrative data from 1 February 2009-30 March 2011 for patients having trial of void in the Day Procedure Unit ( n = 107) and Hospital-In-The-Home ( n = 163) of a tertiary hospital in Western Australia were compared in terms of patient outcomes and costs. Results Day Procedure Unit patients had longer wait times than Hospital-In-The-Home patients; there was no difference between the two groups for average per patient days of service or successful first trials. Hospital-In-The-Home care did not increase the overall period of care. Per patient average ward-equivalent cost in the Day Procedure Unit was A$396 higher than the Hospital-In-The-Home ward-equivalent cost. The average cost saving per patient for Hospital-In-The-Home care including trial of void cost and emergency department visits was A$117. Conclusion Patient outcomes from Hospital-In-The-Home trial of void in low-risk patients were comparable to those of Day Procedure Unit care and less costly. Hospital-In-The-Home care for this well-defined procedure could permit more efficient management of patient throughput. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cascade of climate and environmental changes, government intervention and economic responses has led to major social impacts on the Western Australian fishing community of the Abrolhos Islands. In 2006, a significant decline in the number of settling lobster larvae was met with major changes to the management of the fishery. The decline in larval settlement appears to be climate driven. Stocks were protected by reducing the overall catch, but these measures also led to a decrease in the number of fishers operating in the fishery. The management changes have resulted in the decline of this well-established fishing community. From the perspectives of fishing women, this paper explores the tension between the contribution that women make to fishing and their well-documented ‘invisibility’ in this industry. The authors suggest that the lack of management focus on social outcomes and subsequent community impacts are related to the invisibility of women in the fishing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

When educators consider ‘student behaviour’, they usually think about ‘problem behaviour’ such as disruption or defiance. This limited and limiting view of ‘student behaviour’ not only fails to acknowledge children as educational actors in a wider sense, but also narrowly positions educators as either in control or out of control of their classroom. Mainstream educational psychology’s responses to ‘challenging behaviour’ point educators to numerous ways to prevent its occurrence, through, for example, changing their disciplining approaches and techniques. However, much of the advice directed at improving student behaviour fails to interrogate the core notion of ‘student behaviour’ itself, as well as the conceptual baggage that it carries. The focus is squarely on eliminating ‘problem behaviour’ and often resorts to a pathologisation of students. Meanwhile, when considering ‘student behaviour’ through a Foucauldian post-structuralist optic, behaviour emerges as something highly complex – as spatialised, embodied action within/against governing discourses. In this opening up, it becomes both possible and critical to defamiliarise oneself with the categorisation of ‘challenging behaviour’ and to interrogate the discourses and subject positionings at play. In this paper, we pursue this task by asking: what happens with the notion of ‘behaviour’ if we change focus from ‘fixing problems’ to looking at the discursive constitution of ‘learner subjectivities’? What does it become possible to see, think, feel and do? In this exploration, we theorise ‘behaviour’ as learning and illustrate the constitution of ‘learner subjectivities’. Drawing on two case scenarios, we explore how children accomplish themselves as learners and how this accomplishment links the production of subjectivity and embodied action, and illustrate how ‘student/child behaviour’ appears significantly different to what mainstream educational psychology would have us see. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective This paper examines health reform which has been designed to improve cancer services across Western Australia. Setting Western Australia is a large state divided into nine regions each with differing demographics. The diversity of the state and the distribution of the population over a large area of land create significant challenge in ensuring equality in service delivery. Design A comparison was conducted looking at cancer services in Western Australia pre-2005 and service delivery in 2014. A review of the partnership initiatives and programs provides a clear discussion on the need for coordination of care between service providers. Main Outcome The approach undertaken in Western Australia has seen an increase in the delivery of cancer services closer to the patient's home as well as greater involvement of primary care professionals in cancer care. This work has resulted in demonstrated improvements in patient care and support. Conclusion Services for cancer patients need to be accessible closer to home with distance being an appreciable barrier to treatment access.A statewide approach needs to be developed to ensure all people have equitable access to service delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of mental health problems and disorders in Australia is significant. Mental health problems often start early and disproportionately affect young people. Poor adolescent mental health can predict educational achievement at school and educational and occupational attainment in adulthood. Many young people attend higher education and have been found to experience a range of mental health issues. The university setting therefore presents a unique opportunity to trial interventions to reduce the burden of mental health problems. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) aims to train participants to recognise symptoms of mental health problems and assist an individual who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. Training nursing students in MHFA may increase mental health literacy and decrease stigma in the student population. This paper presents a protocol for a trial to examine the efficacy of the MHFA training for students studying nursing at a large university in Perth, Western Australia. Methods/Design: This randomised controlled trial will follow the CONSORT guidelines. Participants will be randomly allocated to the intervention group (receiving a MHFA training course comprising two face to face 6.5 hour sessions run over two days during the intervention period) or a waitlisted control group (not receiving MHFA training during the study). The source population will be undergraduate nursing students at a large university located in Perth, Western Australia. Efficacy of the MHFA training will be assessed by following the intention-to-treat principle and repeated measures analysis. Discussion: Given the known burden of mental health disorders among student populations, it is important universities consider effective strategies to address mental health issues. Providing MHFA training to students offers the advantage of increasing mental health literacy, among the student population. Further, students trained in MHFA are likely to utilise these skills in the broader community, when they graduate to the workforce. It is anticipated that this trial will demonstrate the scalability of MHFA in the university environment for pre-service nurses and that implementation of MHFA courses, with comprehensive evaluation, could yield positive improvements in the mental health literacy amongst this target group as well as other tertiary student groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. In Australia, access to dental care has been available through several different pathways: (1) private practice; (2) public clinics; (3) Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS)-based clinics; and (4) until recently, the Chronic Disease Dental Scheme (CDDS). The aim of the present study was to compare the types of dental services most commonly delivered in the various clinical pathways based on the hypothesis that disease-driven care should lead to similar mixes of dental care provided. Methods. Data from a series of previously published sources was used to identify and compare the most commonly performed dental procedures in the different pathways. A comparison was also made with the available international data (US). Results. There was a marked difference between service mixes provided through the four pathways. Patients obtaining dental care through AMS-based and public pathways had more extractions and less restorative and preventive care compared with private and CDDS pathways. Compared with the international data, dental service mixes in Australia were found to be not as evenly distributed. Value of care provided through private and CDDS pathways were two- to threefold higher than that of AMS-based and public pathways. Conclusion. The data indicate that the original hypothesis that the disease-driven care should lead to similar mixes of provided dental care, is not supported. What is known about the topic? The pricing of dental care is a topic that gets substantial discussion in the private sector. However, its effect in the government sector is very limited in its consideration. This research is a bold first step in Australia to look at the influence of different modes of care delivery on the mix of care provided. What does this paper add? This research is a unique first effort to examine the influence of different modes of care delivery on the type of care provided. It clearly highlights that the pathway for care in the government sector do have very different care outcomes. What are the implications for practitioners? The implications are clear; practitioners need to be aware that care is provided in the context of the pathway in which the care is offered and this will influence the type of care provided. Care is not a single outcome and multiple factors influence the outcome for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first, detailed sedimentological analysis of the Paleoproterozoic Kungarra Formation, the lowermost of three formations comprising the Turee Creek Group in Western Australia, which was deposited across the rise in atmospheric oxygen (the Great Oxidation Event, or GOE) and the transition from early to modern Earth. The data show that the Kungarra Formation has a gradational, conformable lower contact with underlying banded iron-formation of the Hamersley Group and predominantly comprises an upward-shallowing succession from deepwater shales and siltstones, through rippled fine-grained sandstones and stromatolitic carbonates, to tidal flat deposits that immediately underlie coastal–fluvial deposits of the overlying Koolbye Formation. At the base of the Kungarra Formation is a gradual transition from alternating units of magnetic green shale and thin units of banded iron-formation that pass upsection to units of non-magnetic shale and ferruginous chert and grey chert, reflecting a gradual loss of iron from the world's oceans accompanying the rise of atmospheric oxygen. A falling stage system s tract is recognised above this transition in the Hardey Syncline area, capped by stromatolitic carbonates and a period of exposure marked by an erosional unconformity and carbonate beachrock. Two glacio-eustatic cycles are recognised within the middle to upper parts of the Kungarra Formation, each of which is marked by the rapid onset of falling systems tracts and characterised by falling systems tracts during and following diamictite deposition. Stratigraphic data are used to infer a depobasin filled by a sediment wedge prograding from southeast to northwest, in contrast to previous models of a north-northeastward deepening foreland basin. The lack of seismites or internal unconformities within the formation precludes a foredeep setting. Rather, deposition is interpreted as having occurred within an intracratonic basin, with detritus sourced from erosion of uplifted bedrock to the southeast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Road traffic crashes and their outcomes are substantial global public health issues and public health initiatives are increasingly involving relevant community members in order to create sustainable change. This paper describes an applied research project utilizing participatory methods to establish a road trauma support service in Western Australia and reflects on the extent of participation in the community-based research partnership. Methods Community-based participatory research (CBPR) provided the basis for the research project conducted in partnership with 34 government and non-government agency representatives and people affected personally by road trauma and which resulted in 22 recommendations for establishing the service. Results Attempts to position the group as co-researchers highlighted the dynamic interplay of factors that hinder and enable participation in participatory research. Barriers to participation within the research process included the limited time and funds, reluctance to share authorship, and a lack of clarity regarding roles and processes. Factors that enabled participation were the recognition of each member's expertise, providing different forms and methods of communication, and the reimbursement of costs according to role. Conclusions In May 2012, the Government of Western Australia announced it would fund the recommendations and Road Trauma Support Western Australia was launched in November 2013. Notwithstanding this successful outcome, there were varied experiences of participation in the research process, and this was despite the use of a research methodology that is by definition participatory, with explicit and embedded participatory structures and processes. The research project shows that elements of CBPR can be incorporated into public health research, even in projects with externally-imposed time and budget constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health nursing has an ageing workforce with a critical shortage of nurses in Western Australia. Additionally, mental health is not the preferred career for many graduate nurses. Current challenges with recruitment and retention suggest that strategies are needed to address this issue. This research project adopted a novel approach that focused on exploring the positive aspects of why mental health nurses remain, rather than why they leave. A cross-sectional design was employed comprising a brief interview survey, and nurses working within one public mental health service in Western Australia were invited to participate. A total of 192 nurses participated across 5 months, from adult, older adult, forensic, and education/research programmes. Thematic analysis was conducted from five key questions, and responses from questions one and two are discussed in this paper: 'Why did you choose mental health nursing?' and 'Why do you remain in mental health nursing?'. The main themes extracted in response to choosing mental health nursing were wanting to make a difference, mental health captured my interest, encouraged by others, and opportunities. Subsequent themes extracted from responses to remaining in mental health nursing were facing reality, passion for mental health nursing, patient-centred caring, and workplace conditions. Findings will be utilized to inform strategies for recruitment and retention of graduate nurses; further development of support systems, such as preceptorship training and improving student clinical experiences; as well as improving professional development opportunities for existing mental health nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Capital is an essential enabler of contemporary public hospital services funding hospital buildings, medical equipment, information technology and communications. Capital investment is best understood within the context of the services it is designed and funded to facilitate. The aim of the present study was to explore the information on capital investment in Australian public hospitals and the relationship between investment and acute care service delivery in the context of efficient pricing for hospital services. Methods. This paper examines the investment in Australian public hospitals relative to the growth in recurrent hospital costs since 2000-01 drawing from the available data, the grey literature and the reports of six major reviews of hospital services in Australia since 2004. Results. Although the average annual capital investment over the decade from 2000-01 represents 7.1% of recurrent expenditure on hospitals, the most recent estimate of the cost of capital consumed delivering services is 9% per annum. Five of six major inquiries into health care delivery required increased capital funding to bring clinical service delivery to an acceptable standard. The sixth inquiry lamented the quality of information on capital for public hospitals. In 2012-13, capital investment was equivalent to 6.2% of recurrent expenditure, 31% lower than the cost of capital consumed in that year. Conclusions. Capital is a vital enabler of hospital service delivery and innovation, but there is a poor alignment between the available information on the capital investment in public hospitals and contemporary clinical requirements. The policy to have capital included in activity-based payments for hospital services necessitates an accurate value for capital at the diagnosis-related group (DRG) level relevant to contemporary clinical care, rather than the replacement value of the asset stock. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents findings from the Western Australian Electric Vehicle Trial (2010–2012) and the ongoing Electric vehicle (EV) charging research network in Perth. The University of Western Australia is collecting the data from eleven locally converted EVs and 23 charging stations. The data confirms most charging is conducted at business and home locations (55%), while charging stations were only used for 33% of charging events. The EV charging power over time-of-day and aggregated over all charging stations closely resembles a solar PV curve, which means that EV charging stations can ideally be offset by solar PV. Another important finding is that EVs spend significantly more time at a charging station than what is technically required for the charging process. Also on average, EVs have more than 50% battery charge remaining when they plug in. This tells us parking spaces are in higher demand than Level-2 charging facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PBDEs are a class of brominated flame retardants applied to consumer goods to reduce their flammability. These compounds are lipophilic, persistent and bioaccumulate through the food web. PBDEs have been detected in human blood, adipose tissue and breast milk. There are a small number of studies reporting concentrations of PBDEs in Australian populations. These indicate that concentrations are higher than in studies reporting concentrations from Europe but lower than those from Northern America. The aim of this paper was to determine the concentrations of PBDEs in the plasma of pregnant women participating in the Australian Maternal Exposure to Toxic Substances (AMETS) study in Western Australia. The samples comprised 164 pregnant women, aged 18 years and over, who were non-smokers and not occupationally exposed to persistent substances. Participants provided blood samples at 38 weeks gestation and these were analysed for five PBDE congeners. Maternal health and birth outcomes data were also obtained. The median for sum PBDE concentrations in plasma was 53.9 pg g-1 (range 13.2 to 1390 pg g-1 ww). Concentrations were adjusted for the estimated plasma lipid content. The concentrations of Σ5PBDE ranged from 2.44 to 258 ng g-1 lipid with a median of 9.97 ng g-1 lipid. BDE-47 was the dominant congener (median 21.4 pg g-1, range < 4.95 to 1030 pg g-1) followed by BDE-153 (median 12.2 pg g-1, range < 2.94 to 353 pg g-1). There were no significant associations between maternal, housing or dietary factors and concentrations of PBDEs in this study. Maternal PBDE concentrations were not associated with infant birth weight. This study builds upon previous Australian research and shows that concentrations in this sample of Western Australian women were higher than in parts of Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infragravity (IG) period oscillations in harbours and marinas can often lead to interruption in harbour operations due to excessive vessel movements. Field measurements in Two Rocks Marina in south-west Australia have shown that IG period oscillations were always present and the amplitude of the oscillations was related to incident swell climate and was enhanced during storm events. The marina is fronted by two shallow, shore-parallel, reef systems located ~ 3.2 and ~ 4.7 km from the shoreline. The area experiences continuous swell and frequent storm systems, particularly during winter months. This paper describes the application of a Boussinesq wave model, validated using field data, to examine: (1) source of the IG waves incident on the marina; and (2) modal characteristics of the IG period oscillations inside the marina. The cross-shore evolution of the IG wave energy was examined using simulations with different contrasting incident wave conditions, which included measured and idealised wave spectra. The model results indicated that free IG waves were generated as the wind/swell waves propagated over the offshore reef systems independent of the external forcing. During stormy sea condition, the IG energy over the primary and secondary reefs increased by a factor ~ 10 and ~ 8 respectively, compared to the IG energy at offshore. The IG wave spectrum near the marina entrance did not contain any major energy peaks, and has an almost constant energy distribution across the IG wave frequencies. However, the frequencies similar to the marina's natural oscillation periods were excited within the marina. The predicted energy distribution maps and water level snapshots inside the marina identified different oscillation modes, which included mode 1 and mode 2 oscillations corresponding to a partially enclosed water body and, zeroth mode corresponding to an open-ended water body. This study showed that in coastal regions characterised by complex offshore topography, IG waves are generated independent of offshore wave conditions, and harbours located in such environment are at risk of IG period oscillations, depending on their geometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrated cement-treated crushed rock base (HCTCRB) is produced by adding 2% Portland cement (by mass) to a standard crushed rock base (CRB) at an optimum moisture condition. The unique production process for HCTCRB is different from that of a common cement-treated base in that a remixing process is performed after the hydration of cement, preventing cementitious bonding to maintain the unbound material characteristics with an improvement in material engineering properties. This paper presents the resilient modulus () and permanent deformation (PD) characteristics of HCTCRB after variable hydration periods, water addition during compaction, and dryback. The difference in material hydration periods affected the performance of HCTCRB. However, in this study, a consistent performance trend with various hydration periods could not be found. Moisture contents have a major influence on the properties of HCTCRB. The results indicate that a higher moisture content increases the PD and decreases the of this material. The addition of more water during compaction caused inferior PD and performance even though the samples achieved a higher dry density. A dryback process to achieve a dryer condition can improve material performance. After samples were subjected to a dryback process, it was found that samples prepared by adding water during compaction showed a decrease in material performance compared with samples that were compacted without additional water. Thus, the amount of water added to mixes during compaction must be controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western Australia recently passed legislation that allows information about convicted sex offenders to be disclosed to the general public. After critically appraising the rationale behind community notification, this paper considers its impact on offenders’ reintegration into the community and their subsequent risk of reoffending, its potential deterrent effect and usefulness as a management tool, and implementation issues. This discussion identifies several factors that potentially moderate the effectiveness of community notification schemes and some directions for future research and the development of policy and practices in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]