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The imminent closure of seventeen mining sites in the Wonnarua Nation in Australia's Hunter Valley over the next two decades has significant social, cultural, and economic implications. Transitioning to a post-mining future requires integrating rehabilitation efforts with socio-cultural and economic considerations. Speculative design and co-design approaches involving stakeholders from local communities, industry, and government offer alternative solutions for this complex scenario. This paper examines how architects can engage effectively in such transitions by using mixed-methods research, which includes in-class analysis, synthesis and design observation, and qualitative data from student interviews involved in a master's degree at the architectural design studio exploring the future of a major coal mine in Australia. In contrast to the conventions of assessing "before" and "after" conditions that propose a singular answer to the research, this paper describes the innovative testing of these wicked problems in the setting of the creative design studio. Anticipating the potential for multi-stakeholder co-design processes, the outcomes of this research extend beyond local perspectives. The overarching project, of which this experiment is a key part, aims to identify valuable opportunities for landscape rehabilitation in the Hunter Valley and help to articulate a scalable and replicable process that can be applied to address the environmental challenges faced in other Australian regions. This in-class approach presented the opportunity to rethink and reframe the methods used by reflecting on the interview feedback from students. This can enable students to actively engage in design-based responses to impending mine closure and promote inclusive planning in post-mining landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Racialised and culturally distinct refugee groups increasingly face hostilities and negative representations in countries of resettlment. The experience of African refugee youth in Australia illustrates this general trend. This paper explores how racial Othering discourse seriously undermines the group's wellbeing. The article concentrates in particular on two aspects of relational wellbeing, the capacity to move in public without fear or shame and the ability to feel a sense of belonging to the place where one lives in. Theoretically, the paper draws together work on wellbeing from a capability approach and relational perspective with interdisciplinary literature on racial Othering. Empirically, the paper demonstrates the pervasive culture of racial Othering through media identifications of African youth with criminality and gang violence and illustrates impacts on young people's wellbeing through data from interviews with African refugee youth. The youth's accounts show how it feels to be a problem and what it means not to belong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Australia, like in several of the Nordic countries, truth commissions (TCs) are becoming part of the political and educational landscape. These developments are related to a global phenomenon over the past 40-odd years, where states are examining their relations to minority groups and/or Indigenous people, including acknowledging historical mistreatment and addressing remaining injustices. A common aim of these processes is to spread knowledge to the broader public via institutions for education. This paper focuses on ongoing TC processes in the Australian and Nordic contexts, with a specific focus on their potential consequences for teacher education (TE). By addressing barriers and possibilities on systemic, institutional, and practical levels of TE, the paper aims to develop an understanding of (1) how new knowledge produced through TCs meets the organization of teacher training; possible ways for TE to respond to new requirements; and (2) of the pedagogical and didactical challenges that might entail. The main argument is that a closer professional dialogue is needed between scholars engaged in TCs and TEs for TE to better respond to the requirements of TCs and for TCs to better recognize conditions for organizing TE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Event-based models focus on modelling of peak runoff from rainfall data. Conceptual models indicate simplified models that provide reasonably accurate answers despite their crude nature. Rainfall-runoff models are used to transform a rainfall event into a runoff event. This paper focuses on reviewing computational simulation of rainfall-runoff processes over a catchment. Lumped conceptual, event-based rainfall-runoff models have remained the dominant practice for design flood estimation in Australia for many years due to their simplicity, flexibility, and accuracy under certain conditions. Attempts to establish regionalization methods for prediction of design flood hydrographs in ungauged catchments have seen little success. Therefore, as well as reviewing key rainfall-runoff model components for design flood estimation with a special focus on event-based conceptual models, this paper covers the aspects of regionalization to promote their applications to ungauged catchments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper uses Reiterative Truncated Projected Least Squares to estimate the effects of US monetary and fiscal policy on Australia using quarterly data between 1960 and 2022. When Australia had a fixed exchange rate (1960–1983), both US fiscal and monetary policies were positively correlated with Australia's GDP, which fits the predictions of a small-country IS/LM/BP model with relatively immobile capital. When Australia had a flexible exchange rate (1984–2022), US fiscal policy was positively correlated with Australia's GDP, but US monetary policy was negatively correlated with Australia's GDP, which fits the predictions of a large-country IS/LM/BP model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previously published studies on Australia's energy security did not examine the country's domestic energy security situation in tandem with its international energy statecraft. This paper fills this research gap. In order to provide a robust analysis of a country's strategic options in the energy sector, it is paramount to balance domestic and international dimensions, along with internal and external factors. The paper utilizes the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) method to review Australia's strategic options by balancing the inward-looking, domestic risk minimization dimension (energy security), with the outward-looking, international power projection dimension (energy statecraft). The paper also applies the 4A framework (availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptance) to assess Australia's energy security performance. On the one hand, the results demonstrate that Australia has many strengths and opportunities as a reliable and stable energy supplier, endowed with traditional and renewable energy resources, and critical minerals. On the other hand, numerous internal weaknesses and external threats may affect Australia's strategic options in the future. The most pressing issue is the historical lack of strategic government intervention in the energy market, which has, paradoxically, resulted in domestic energy accessibility and affordability crisis. The market-based approach is also the main reason why Australia has not transformed its energy resources into capabilities to be used as instruments of statecraft. The paper uses the SWOT analysis and the 4A assessment as the basis for discussion on how Australia can transform its energy sector weaknesses and threats into strengths and opportunities, to benefit the national interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Many cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and radiotherapy, can cause skin side effects. These are called 'dermatologic toxicities' or 'skin toxicities'. There are many different types of skin toxicities, some of which can not only affect the quality of life but also lead to cancer treatment being stopped or slowed down. This paper gives an overview of 12 of the most common skin toxicities experienced by people receiving cancer treatment. These include rashes, dry skin, skin irritation, hair loss, changes in skin colouring, and itching. We have provided Australia/New Zealand-specific recommendations on how skin toxicities can be prevented and managed, including the role of dermocosmetic solutions. Cancer systemic therapeutics and radiotherapy are often associated with dermatological toxicities that may reduce patients' quality of life and impact their course of cancer treatment. These toxicities cover a wide range of conditions that can be complex to manage with increasing severity. This review provides details on twelve common dermatological toxicities encountered during cancer treatment and offers measures for their prevention and management, particularly in the Australian/New Zealand context where skincare requirements may differ to other regions due to higher cumulative sun damage caused by high ambient ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. Given the frequency of these dermatological toxicities, a proactive phase is envisaged where patients can actively try to prevent skin toxicities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2021 census data in Australia show that a higher proportion of Bangladeshi Muslim women in Australia have postgraduate degrees compared to the broader female population. They are also more likely to have a bachelor's degree when compared to their counterparts in the wider female cohort. However, the unemployment rate for Bangladeshi Muslim women is more than twice as high as that of the general female population. While a comparison between higher educational attainment and lower labour participation raises the question of whether the goal of higher education is indeed labour participation and the dilemma of valuing education solely based on its economic returns, nonetheless, the disparity alarms curiosity to investigate the reasons. The existing research on Muslim women in Australia reveal a complex web of external and internal multilayered intersecting factors that influence migrant women's labour participation and makes them more susceptible to financial vulnerabilities. Utilizing qualitative methods in analysing fieldwork data from ongoing PhD research, this paper underscores the critical need for a nuanced understanding of internal cultural, domestic, and religious factors to address the unique challenges faced by this demographic in their labour market participation in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines retirement by older workers with intellectual disability. Much research and intervention about retirement and intellectual disability in the last decade or so emanates from Australia, although there are some current cross-sectional and descriptive studies from other developed countries. The Australian literature stands out as the forerunner in the development and controlled evaluation of interventions to support the process of preparing for, practising, and then experiencing retirement. Therefore, this paper begins by briefly describing retirement-related aspects of employment for people with intellectual disability in Australia. Next, we present a critical summary of Australian research on the retirement of people with intellectual disability, supported by a briefer analysis of international literature. Then, key issues, such as financial factors, age of retirement, the time course of retirement (sudden or gradual), and self-determination regarding the decision to retire, are explored. Finally, to help guide future research and policy, we identify a number of retirement-related research questions that are currently under-researched or unexamined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ilyarachninae are a diverse and widely distributed subfamily of the asellote family Munnopsidae. This paper describes nine new deep-sea species from two Ilyarachninae genera, Ilyarachna and Notoapais, from the southwestern Pacific, namely from New Zealand and the east coast of Australia. Ilyarachna aculeatus n. sp., Ilyarachna brucei n. sp., Ilyarachna franki n. sp., Ilyarachna mclayi n. sp., Ilyarachna pacifica n. sp., Ilyarachna sami n. sp., Ilyarachna taranui n. sp. and Notopais chathamensis n. sp. are described from New Zealand waters, while Notopais likros n. sp. is described from off the east coast of Australia. Additionally, a redescription of Notopais spinosa from the Balleny Islands, Antarctica, and a revised key to the Ilyarachna and Notopais species from the southwest Pacific are included, and the distribution, affinities, and diagnostic characters of the new species are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypersaline Hamelin Pool, with mean salinity >65, is located in Shark Bay, Western Australia. The high salinity has reduced its biodiversity, but it is home to a diverse assemblage of modern marine stromatolites. The limited exchange of water between Hamelin Pool and the rest of Shark Bay, due to the presence of the shallow Faure Sill together with high evaporation and low rainfall-runoff have resulted in a hypersaline environment. With climate-change-induced mean sea level rise (MSLR), hydrodynamic processes that maintain the hypersaline environment may be affected and are the focus of this paper. Oceanographic observations, together with hydrodynamic model results, were used to examine the hydrodynamic processes under present and future MSLR scenarios. A large attenuation in the tidal range, changes in the tidal characteristics, and current speeds together with a strong salinity gradient were observed across the Faure Sill under present-day conditions. Under an MSLR scenario of 1 m, the tidal amplitude decreased by up to 10% to the north, whilst to the south, the tidal range increased by up to 15%. Regions of strong vertical stratification were present on both sides of the Faure Sill. The simulations indicated that, under MSLR scenarios, these regions expanded in area and exhibited higher levels of vertical stratification. The salt flux across the Faure Sill was maintained as a diffusive process under MSLR scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Forest Fire Danger Index (FFDI) is the main measure used in Australia for estimating fire risk. Recent work by the authors showed that the FFDI forms stable state regimes, nominated as fire climate regimes. These regimes shifted to greater intensity in southern and eastern Australia around the year 2000 and, a decade later, further north. Reductions in atmospheric moisture were the primary contributor. These changes have not been fully incorporated into future projections. This paper compares the recent regime shifts with the most recent national projections of FFDI, published in 2015. They show that for most states and regions, the 2030 upper limit is approached or exceeded by the recent shift, except for two states with large arid zones, South Australia and Western Australia. Methods for attributing past changes, constructing projections, and the inability of climate models to reproduce the recent decreases in atmospheric moisture, all contribute to these underestimates. To address these shortcomings, we make some suggestions to modify efforts aiming to develop seamless predictions and projections of future fire risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Superannuation is the fund set aside by employers to provide their employees with a dignified retirement. Studies highlight that issues can arise with retirement funds from employers, such as failure to make required contributions to an employee's superannuation fund, incorrect payments, or debiting the wrong fund, contrary to legal or contractual obligations. To address these issues, the Australian Government has implemented laws and regulations to ensure employers fulfil their contribution obligations. Despite these safeguards and highly secured information systems, there has been a significant increase in fraudulent activity in the finance sector, and there have been several instances of employers not making contributions, misusing retirement funds, or reporting incorrectly in their systems. The current process restricts employees from viewing recent data until the contributions reach their super fund, which opens the doors for fraud. Recently, blockchain technology has gained popularity because of its ability to improve security and prevent fraud across many sectors, including finance. Prior studies have shed limited light on how superannuation fraud can be prevented. Moreover, there is limited literature on the possibility of utilizing blockchain technology to address this issue. Therefore, this paper aims to review the current superannuation contribution process and identify the factors contributing to non-payment, incorrect payments, misallocation of funds and communication gaps. This study presents a novel process model and develops a blockchain-based application to mitigate fraudulent practices. This research provides valuable insights into the design of innovative process models that utilize blockchain technology to address superannuation challenges. Furthermore, the paper presents a sample simulated smart contract to explore additional implications and advancements in this domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electric automated vehicles (AVs) are expected to become part of the transportation system within the coming years. The implications of their implementation are still uncertain. What is known is that human behaviour will be central to determining AV adoption. This research aims to gain insight into how potential users of privately owned (PAVs) and shared (SAV) electric automated vehicles are characterised across three different continents assessing the influence of cultural and geographic features, personal attitudes and characteristics and the perceived advantages and disadvantages of AVs. Using survey data collected among residents (N = 1440) in Greater Sydney, Australia; Greater Montréal, Canada; and the Randstad, the Netherlands, this paper explores individuals' willingness to adopt PAVs and SAVs using statistical descriptive analysis and logistic regression models. The study supports the impact of personal characteristics (e.g., age and travel characteristics) and attitudes towards personal and societal gains on the willingness to adopt AVs. Furthermore, this paper provides cross-continental evidence for the regional socio-urban context, affecting the desire to adopt AVs in different forms. Policy-makers should consider these factors and tailor different strategies according to cultural norms in order to motivate a coherent and sustainable implementation of AVs into existing and future mobility landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthy ageing refers to the development and maintenance of the functional ability of ageing individuals. Aged care nurses provide nursing care to elderly individuals and usually work in aged care residential facilities, nursing homes, home care services, and/or hospital departments. The registered nurse working in the aged care sector has several important roles. Key roles cover both therapeutic and preventative paradigms, as discussed in this paper. The aged care nurse is also "tasked with" holistic patient-centred care and the promotion of healthy ageing via advocacy and sociocultural roles. This paper examined, described, and analysed the multifaceted role of an aged care nurse from an Australian perspective. We conducted meticulous searches using PubMed, Google Scholar, government guidelines, authoritative body regulations, quality control guidelines, and government portals pertaining to aged care nursing in Australia. This paper relied upon the information garnered from publications, reports, and guidelines resulting from these searches and analyses. Multiple aspects of healthy ageing and holistic aged care nursing are discussed. The key roles of the aged care nurse are enumerated next, in accordance with the code of conduct from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). The NMBA promotes evidence-based, culturally sensitive, consultative, holistic aged care clinical practice that includes input from care recipients, their decision makers, and/or their health care providers. The difficult issue of loneliness is discussed with strategies to ameliorate aspects of this. Good social networks, community interactions, meaningful friendships, and participation in personalised spiritual/religious practices improve the quality of aged care. The key topic of elder abuse and its forms are discussed apropos of aged care nursing. Healthy ageing is promoted by identifying and reporting elder abuse at the earliest. Current Australian law and recent federal legislation changes pertaining to aged care nursing are discussed next. As a result of these legislation changes, several new quality control imperatives (for aged care organisations/facilities) under the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (ACQSC) have been implemented. Residential and flexible aged care providers should now have robust ongoing documentation and a well-developed behaviour support plan (BSP) for each care recipient who currently requires or may require restrictive practices, which must be reported under the new serious incident reporting scheme (SIRS). Various strategies to promote healthy ageing and approaches to communicate effectively with aged care recipients are also discussed. Healthy ageing is promoted when age care recipients are empowered with making their own autonomous choices in "major and minor" aspects of life. Finally, approaches to optimise quality aged care nursing care are discussed. The Roper–Logan–Tierney model is one of the models used to assess and optimise nursing care. This is premised on the capability of an ageing individual to accomplish 12 basic activities of daily living. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a shift towards plant-based diets for human and planetary health, monitoring the mineral content of staple crops is important to ensure population nutrient requirements can be met. This review aimed to explore changes in the iron content of unprocessed wheat and rice in Australia over time. A comprehensive systematic search of four electronic databases and the gray literature was conducted. A total of 25 papers published between 1930 and 2023 that measured the iron content of unprocessed wheat and rice were included. Triticum aestivum was the most common wheat type studied, including 26 cultivars; iron content ranged from 40 to 50 µg/g in the 1930s and 1970s and was more variable after this time due to the introduction of modern cultivars, with most values between 25 and 45 µg/g. The iron content of rice (Oryza sativa) was more consistent at 10–15 µg/g between the 1980s and 2020s. Variations over the years may be attributed to environmental, biological, and methodological factors but these were not well documented across all studies, limiting the interpretation of findings. As the number of individuals following plant-based diets continues to rise, the ongoing monitoring of the mineral content in commonly consumed plant-based foods is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In November 2022, a climate change performance index report released at the COP27 United Nations conference in Egypt, ranked Australia 55th on a list of 63 countries and country groupings in addressing the climate crisis. Australia is a leading development partner in the Pacific region; a region economically, environmentally, socially, and culturally impacted by climate change and global warming in the form of (e.g.,) rapid sea level rises, alarming shifts in marine ecosystems, and extreme weather events. How did Australia, a high-income country situated in the Pacific, become a nation that trails other developed countries in addressing climate change? Why has there been a lack of urgency for uptake of sustainable development policy and planning? A new Federal Government, elected in May 2022, has indicated willingness to meaningfully progress Australia's interconnected climate change, wellbeing, and sustainability policy agendas, in which futures public health policy is inextricably linked. This change in government provides an important moment to review Australia's sustainable-development climate change policy landscape over a 35-year period. By examining this landscape through a health lens, this paper can provide one of many critical perspectives tracing Australia's slippage to the bottom of the global climate rankings today. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With urban areas facing rapid population growth, public transport plays a key role to provide efficient and economic accessibility to the residents. It reduces the use of personal vehicles leading to reduced traffic congestion on roads and reduced pollution. To assess the performance of these transport systems, prior studies have taken into consideration the blank spot areas, population density, and stop access density; however, very little research has been performed to compare the accessibility between cities using a GIS-based approach. This paper compares the access and performance of public transport across Melbourne and Sydney, two cities with a similar size, population, and economy. The methodology uses spatial PostGIS queries to focus on accessibility-based approach for each residential mesh block and aggregates the blank spots, and the number of services offered by time of day and the frequency of services at the local government area (LGA) level. The results of the study reveal an interesting trend: that with increase in distance of LGA from city centre, the blank spot percentage increases while the frequency of services and stops offering weekend/night services declines. The results conclude that while Sydney exhibits a lower percentage of blank spots and has better coverage, performance in terms of accessibility by service time and frequency is better for Melbourne's LGAs, even as the distance increases from the city centre. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the real estate sector, the concept of sustainability has traditionally been associated with green building initiatives. This study broadens the scope by examining environmental disclosure practices across a spectrum of stakeholders, including developers, financiers, suppliers, and advisors, within the real estate sectors of Australia and India. Utilizing the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards to evaluate environmental reporting, this research scrutinizes publicly disclosed company data to assess the sector's engagement with sustainability. The findings reveal a pronounced focus on emissions and energy, with less attention to other critical factors like biodiversity, materials, and supplier environmental assessment. This selective disclosure suggests a need for a more holistic approach to sustainability reporting. This study also investigates the influence of regional nuances and the integration of international reporting standards, shedding light on the varied practices of sustainability reporting within the industry. Furthermore, this paper examines the relationship between environmental disclosures and financial performance, measured by the economic value added (EVA). It was observed that environmental disclosures do not show a significant correlation with EVA for companies in either country, indicating that current reporting practices do not directly impact financial outcomes as captured by this metric. These findings offer actionable insights for enhancing reporting practices, encouraging a collective approach to address the environmental impacts of real estate, and contributing to the discourse on responsible environmental stewardship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amidst the evolving paradigms of the contemporary energy landscape, marked by the imperative of sustainability and efficiency, the integration of energy storage has emerged as a transformative strategy that seeks to recalibrate the dynamics of electricity distribution and consumption. However, there remains a pressing need to determine the most economically viable approach for deploying energy storage solutions in residential low-voltage (LV) feeders, especially in rural areas. In this context, this paper presents the results of an economic evaluation of energy storage solutions for a residential LV feeder in a rural town in Australia. Specifically, the study compares the financial viability of a front-of-the-meter (FTM) battery installed on the feeder with that of a fleet of behind-the-meter (BTM) batteries. The FTM battery, with a size of 100 kW/200 kWh, is assumed to be operated by the retailer but owned by the community, with any profits assigned to the community. In this scenario, we studied a battery operating under standard network tariffs and three different trial tariffs that distribution network service providers currently offer in Australia. On the other hand, the fleet of BTM batteries (3 kW, 3.3 kWh) are individually owned by households with solar installations, and their cumulative capacity matches that of the FTM battery. The comparison is based on key economic parameters, including network charges, retail margins, frequency control ancillary service (FCAS) revenues, wholesale energy costs, technology costs associated with community batteries, and net profit or loss for the community, as well as considerations of utility grid arbitrage and solar photovoltaic (PV) self-consumption. The study also assumes different grant levels to assess the impact of subsidies on the economic feasibility for both battery configurations. The findings indicate that, while both require some form of subsidy for profitability, the BTM batteries outperform the FTM battery in terms of economic viability and so would require lower grant support. The FTM battery case finds a need for grants ranging from 75% to 95% to break even, while the BTM fleet requires approximately 50% in grants to achieve a similar outcome. In conclusion, this study highlights the importance of grant support in making energy storage solutions economically feasible. In particular, it highlights how the less mature segment of FTM batteries will need higher support initially if it is to compete with BTM. The outcomes of this study inform decision-making processes for implementing energy storage solutions in similar communities, fostering sustainable and cost-effective energy systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of COVID-19-related psychosocial risks to the Australian architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) project organisation has triggered the development of innovative organisational interventions for mitigating the risks and promoting of positive mental health among project management (PM) practitioners. Therefore, the paper aims to explore the COVID-19-related organisational interventions for improving mental health in the AEC project organisation. Through a comprehensive literature review, 20 organisation interventions were retrieved, and an online expert forum was conducted with nine industry experts. The results of the expert opinion confirmed the 20 organisational interventions identified from the literature. Moreover, the organisational interventions were used to develop a questionnaire survey distributed among PM practitioners via convenient sampling. Mean score ranking analysis was used to analyses the survey responses from 58 participants. The research findings show that the identified organisational interventions are important, but are ranked differently by architecture, engineering and construction sectors based on their importance in promoting mental health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within Australian cities there is significant socioeconomic disparity between communities, which is an obstacle to sustainable urban development. There is a voluminous amount research into the causes and some of the ameliorative actions to address socio-spatial disadvantage, though many studies do not localize or systematize their analyses. This paper presents the results of a co-design process conducted with community stakeholders using innovative realist inquiry and system mapping to answer the question: what are the impacts and drivers of socioeconomic and spatial disadvantage in a regional city in Victoria, Australia, and what actions might ameliorate these in three localities? Participants identified 24 separate causes and impacts of acute socioeconomic disadvantage. Using system maps, these community members developed 13 intervention ideas for action with potential to positively impact health and wellbeing, education, housing, employment, and livability, and be translatable to policy positions. The paper therefore presents a unique method of enquiry into spatial disadvantage and a grounded set of strategies for positive action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dealing with the wicked problem of global food waste and loss is a complex and challenging area. In Australia, increased political will has landed the diversion of domestic food waste from landfill squarely at the feet of local government (councils), often requiring significant change to kerbside collections systems. This paper discusses how post-kerbside household food waste treatment systems can encourage pro-environmental behaviours. To achieve this, current food waste literature is examined against kerbside domestic waste collection measurable outcomes (diversion rates, system uptake and contamination rates). The hypothesis is that specific interventions can establish, or rebuild, community trust, responsibility and pro-environmental behaviours around food waste avoidance and diversion. Two post-kerbside systems—commercial composting and anaerobic digestion—provided the framework. Two themes emerged from the study: (1) the benefits of connecting the community with the interactions of household food waste inputs with post-treatment outputs (compost, soil conditioners, digestates and biogases); and (2) providing engaged communities with pathways for sustainable, pro-environmental actions whilst normalizing correct kerbside food waste recycling for the less engaged (habitual behaviours, knowledge and cooperation). The paper contributes to understanding how councils can connect their communities with the issues of household food waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to provide a better understanding of the transition towards a new paradigm of wildfire risk management in Victoria that incorporates Aboriginal fire knowledge. We show the suitability of cultural burning in the transformed landscapes, and the challenges associated with its reintroduction for land management and bushfire risk reduction after the traumatic disruption of invasion and colonization. Methods of Environmental History and Regional Geography were combined with Traditional Ecological Knowledge to unravel the connections between past, present and future fire and land management practices. Our study area consists of Dja Dja Wurrung and Bangarang/Yorta Yorta Country in north-central Victoria. The results show (i) the ongoing socio-political process for building a renewed integrated fire and land management approach including cultural burning, and (ii) the opportunities of Aboriginal fire culture for restoring landscape resilience to wildfires. We conclude that both wildfire risk management and cultural burning need to change together to adapt to the new environmental context and collaborate for mutual and common benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic violence (DV) is a gendered issue, with women more likely to be victim/survivors and men more likely to perpetrate abuse. With a strong emphasis on protecting the safety of women and children, the ways in which faith-based communities and leaders engage DV has come under scrutiny. Clergy are potential responders to DV and shape cultural contexts in which DV occurs. Yet, how religious norms relate to actions taken when clergy respond to DV remains under-researched. Using a survey of Australian Anglican clergy, this paper explores how views about "headship" and the sanctity of marriage relate to the uptake of actions by clergy and churches. Increased support for headship predicted a lower take-up of victim/survivor safety-focused actions by clergy and a lower frequency of actions by churches focused on DV organizations. Male clergy were more likely than their female counterparts to engage with perpetrators and to counsel couples. No independent associations were observed between actions and heightened support for the sanctity of marriage. While the strength of relationships between DV actions and both norms and gender was generally weak, these findings indicate that more work is needed to heighten awareness of the importance of actions focused on victim/survivor safety, connections with DV support services, the problematic practice of couples counselling, and challenges around directly pastoring perpetrators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Innovation districts are widely known as an effective land use type for fostering and sustaining knowledge and innovation economy growth in cities. Knowledge workers and the public are among the main stakeholders and key drivers for the growth of innovation districts. However, these groups' needs are often not well considered in the top-down implementation of innovation districts. This paper aims to explore the user preferences and decision makers' perspectives in innovation district planning, design, and development. The study tackles the question of which characteristics fulfil the responsibility of innovation districts toward both societies (reflecting user preferences) and cities (reflecting decision makers' perspectives). As for the methodology, a case study approach was employed to collect the required data from three innovation districts in Brisbane, Australia. The data are qualitatively and quantitatively analysed. The analysis findings highlighted the similarities between user preferences and decision makers' perspectives—e.g., usefulness of decentralisation, urbanism, mixed-use development, street life, and social interactions in innovation districts—and the differences that need to be carefully factored into the planning, design, and development of innovation districts with a user-centric approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Clinical supervision in providing mental health and psychosocial support services (MHPSSs) is an ethical imperative and a key to ensuring quality of care in terms of service users' skills enhancement, well-being, and satisfaction. However, humanitarian contexts in low-resource countries usually lack sufficient infrastructures to ensure staff have access to supervision. Against this backdrop, a pilot supervision program was introduced in Bangladesh and Syria to help MHPSS staff provide quality care. However, supervision provided by experts unfamiliar with these contexts decontextualizes the supervision process and hinders cultural relevance. The aim of this paper is to present a decolonial model of supervision called "WONDERFUL Supervision". Methods: We provided fortnightly online supervision to a total of 32 MHPSS practitioners (seven in Bangladesh and twenty-five in Syria) working in humanitarian contexts in Bangladesh and Syria as well as their surrounding countries (such as Türkiye) between 2019 and 2021.The issues talked about were the skills needed for the practitioners to provide optimal levels of service, manage staff burnout, and present cases. Focus group discussions and reflective discussions included 19 participants, involving both practitioners and supervisors across sites. Results: Despite some notable effects, the supervision was obstructed due to being decontextualized, such as the supervisors not having adequate knowledge about the contexts and culture of beneficiaries, a perceived feeling of power imbalance, practitioners having limited access to resources (e.g., internet connection and technical support), and different time zones. This defect paves the way for a new mode of supervision, WONDERFUL, which takes into account contextual factors and other sociocultural aspects. Conclusions: WONDERFUL supervision has the potential to indigenize the concept of clinical supervision and thereby more sustainably and effectively ensure quality mental health care in resource-limited countries, especially in humanitarian contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite substantial investments and efforts by governments, construction organisations, and researchers, the construction industry remains one of the most male-dominated industries in Australia, with women being underrepresented numerically and hierarchically. Efforts to attract and retain women in construction have been implemented inconsistently on an ad hoc basis. As part of a larger research project that focuses on retaining women in the Australian construction industry, this research conducts a systematic literature review (SLR) in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. The objective is to explore the factors that influence women's careers and their experiences in the Australian construction industry that have been identified in the literature over the past three decades. Additionally, the findings are anticipated to inform future efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of current initiatives to retain women and develop a framework for enhancing women's experiences and retaining them in this profession. This SLR revealed that excessive and rigid work hours, gendered culture and informal rules, limited career development opportunities, and negative perceptions of women's abilities are the main factors and issues that cause women to leave the industry. Among these, rigid and long work hours seem to be the foremost factor to be prioritised. Understanding the roles of key variables in driving this cultural change is important to ensure that concrete progress is made. The paper draws three major aspects from the literature in which solutions and policies can be researched, designed and implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research affirms positive results between children's play and academic success. While play is heavily featured within the early childhood curriculum, limited studies have explored how play is actually implemented within early years settings. The aim of this study was to enhance children's play and learning by using photographs to explore play-related pedagogical practices of early childhood teachers in Australia over time. Using visual narrative inquiry, three families participated (mother and child) and shared school photos of the mother in an early childhood context and the current child in an early childhood context. The photos were analysed with a visual analysis approach to understand play and teaching across the two time periods. Key findings revealed what has changed and what has become part of the foundation of play in Australian early childhood education. Findings are important to expand the current understanding of play and the historical perspectives of play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design flood estimations at ungauged catchments are a challenging task in hydrology. Regional flood frequency analysis (RFFA) is widely used for this purpose. This paper develops artificial intelligence (AI)-based RFFA models (artificial neural networks (ANN) and support vector machine (SVM)) using data from 181 gauged catchments in South-East Australia. Based on an independent testing, it is found that the ANN method outperforms the SVM (the relative error values for the ANN model range 33–54% as compared to 37–64% for the SVM). The ANN and SVM models generate more accurate flood quantiles for smaller return periods; however, for higher return periods, both the methods present a higher estimation error. The results of this study will help to recommend new AI-based RFFA methods in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the nature of public opposition (PO) to the siting of construction and demolition (C&D) waste management facilities in Australia. A qualitative case study of PO to the development proposal for the Gunnedah waste facility, in the state of New South Wales (NSW), was conducted. The waste facility is promised to process up to 250 kilotons of waste materials, much of which is C&D waste intended for use in road constructions after processing. Using a content analysis approach, the study analysed 86 public submissions that were lodged within the allocated development application exhibition period to systematically analyse the arguments used by the submitters about the establishment of the facility. The case study revealed five broad perceived risk classes to the siting of the Gunnedah waste facility, namely location, environmental, human health, financial and process risks. It was also shown that while not-in-my-back-yard (NIMBY) attitudes may have played a part in the PO to the sitting at the facility, the PO was heavily affected by the poor public participation process. The study outlines key strategies for an effective public participation process that may assist with the management of PO to the siting of C&D waste management facilities in Australia. The study contributes to the theory and practice of effective C&D waste management, enhancing the social acceptance of such facilities toward a more circular economy in the built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices among travel agents and tour operators within the Australia–China tourism supply chain. A sequential, exploratory mixed-methods approach was employed, combining key-informant interviews with a reduced form of discrete choice analysis—best-worst scaling. The findings highlight that while Australian and Chinese travel intermediaries differed significantly in terms of their preferences regarding the different CSR factors, they were unanimous in regard to their belief that commitment to CSR was critical to firm performance. The research also reports universal support for a partial-mediating relationship, suggesting that firm performance is enhanced by strong alignment in the CSR orientation of supply chain intermediaries. This finding reinforces the inter-dependent nature of tourism supply chains, emphasizing that firms and society can benefit from supply chain partners working more closely together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new land use type, innovation districts are taking prominence in the urban development policies and plans of many cities across the globe. This new urban land use comes in many shapes and forms and offers various features and functions to the users. Despite its increasing popularity, there exist only limited approaches to classify innovation districts, and there are no holistic typologies developed so far. This study focuses on this understudied, but important area of research. The paper aims to develop an innovation district typology matrix and evaluates its practicality with real innovation district data. The methodological approach is three-fold. First, the multidimensional innovation district classification framework is adopted as a performance framework. Second, data from three eminent Australian innovation districts—i.e., Macquarie Park Innovation District (Sydney), Monash Technology Precinct (Melbourne), and Kelvin Grove Urban Village (Brisbane)—are collected. Third, both qualitative and quantitative analysis methods are employed for data analysis. The study finds that innovation district performances can be measured, and typologies can be developed though a novel approach. These, in return, inform property developers and managers, city administrators, and urban planners in their efforts to plan, design, develop, and manage competitive innovation districts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant contribution to the reduction of carbon emissions will be enabled through the transition from a centralised fossil fuel system to a decentralised, renewable electricity system. However, due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy, storage is required to provide a suitable response to dynamic loads and manage the excess generated electricity with utilisation during periods of low generation. This paper investigates the use of stationary hydrogen-based energy storage systems for microgrids and distributed energy resource systems. An exploratory study was conducted in Australia based on a mixed methodology. Ten Australian industry experts were interviewed to determine use cases for hydrogen-based energy storage systems' requirements, barriers, methods, and recommendations. This study suggests that the current cost of the electrolyser, fuel cell, and storage medium, and the current low round-trip efficiency, are the main elements inhibiting hydrogen-based energy storage systems. Limited industry and practical experience are barriers to the implementation of hydrogen storage systems. Government support could help scale hydrogen-based energy storage systems among early adopters and enablers. Furthermore, collaboration and knowledge sharing could reduce risks, allowing the involvement of more stakeholders. Competition and innovation could ultimately reduce the costs, increasing the uptake of hydrogen storage systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a research project which investigated permeability prediction for the Precipice Sandstone of the Surat Basin. Machine learning techniques were used for permeability estimation based on multiple wireline logs. This information improves the prediction of CO2 injectivity in this formation. Well logs and core data were collected from 5 boreholes in the Surat Basin, where extensive core data and complete sets of conventional well logs exist for the Precipice Sandstone. Four different machine learning (ML) techniques, including Random Forest (RF), Artificial neural network (ANN), Gradient Boosting Regressor (GBR), and Support Vector Regressor (SVR), were independently trained with a wide range of hyper-parameters to ensure that not only is the best model selected, but also the right combination of model parameters is selected. Cross-validation for 20 different combinations of the seven available input logs was used for this study. Based on the performances in the validation and blind testing phases, the ANN with all seven logs used as input was found to give the best performance in predicting permeability for the Precipice Sandstone with the coefficient of determination (R2) of about 0.93 and 0.87 for the training and blind data sets respectively. Multi-regression analysis also appears to be a successful approach to calculate reservoir permeability for the Precipice Sandstone. Models with a complete set of well logs can generate reservoir permeability with R2 of more than 90%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the relationship between urban traffic, retail location and disease control during the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and tries to find a way to simultaneously address these issues for the purpose of street recovery. Drawing on the concept of the 15 min city, the study also aims at seeking COVID-19 exit paths and next-normal operating models to support long-term business prosperity using a case study of Royal Street, East Perth in Western Australia. Nearly half of the shops became vacant or closed at the end of 2020 along the east section of Royal Street, demonstrating the fragility of small business in a car-oriented street milieu that is inadequately supported by proper physical, digital and social infrastructure. A key finding from the analysis is the formulation of the concept of the Minute City. This describes a truly proximity-centred and socially driven hyper-local city, where residents and retailers work together on the local street as a walkable public open space (other than movement space), and benefit from ameliorated traffic flow, improved business location and a safer, connected community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dairy industry can be considered a contributor to biodiversity loss in Australia. To address this, many forms of governance can be enlisted, including traditional legislation and regulations, persuasive techniques such as publicly funded subsidy programs or education, and participation in voluntary stewardship programs. This paper explores the benefits of collaborative governance programs, which have international applications to reduce the impact of the dairy industry on biodiversity loss. However, as the Australian sector is unique, the specific opportunities and present challenges are discussed. This paper reports three important objectives that could underpin industry-led initiatives by supporting improved biodiversity conservation on dairy farms: (1) Increase the personal and financial capacities of individual farmers to operate profitable, biodiverse farms; (2) Facilitate market rewards to incentivise pro-conservation behaviours; and (3) Improve the effectiveness of the implementation of biodiversity protection laws and regulatory objectives via collaborative governance arrangements. Existing environmental programs that have been developed by the dairy industry could be suitable for incorporation into more formal co-governance structures sympathetic to biodiversity conservation. However, to be successful in addressing sustainability issues, including biodiversity loss, strengthening the integrity mechanisms around farmers' self-reporting of performance is required to ensure that the industry can credibly refute claims of greenwashing and defend their environmental credentials in the global marketplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Oral health-related general health diseases and conditions refers to medical conditions or diseases that have a connection or impact on both oral health and overall health. (1) Background: A study was undertaken to provide a comprehensive profile of the prevalence and distribution, by selected socio-demographic characteristics, of chronic diseases and health conditions including those that impact the oral health and oral health self-care of independently living older adults in rural areas of the state of Victoria; (2) Methods: The study analyzed data from the Crossroads-II project, with a total of 1407 participants aged 55 years and older. Participants responded to questionnaires about their medical health history, health service use, and socio-demographics. In total, 572 attended a 2-h health screening that included an assessment of prescribed medications; (3) Results: Most participants were female (55.3%), with a mean age of 69.1 (SD = 9.2) years. Participants had a high prevalence of medical conditions; the most common were high blood pressure, arthritis, high lipids, hearing loss, and chronic pain. Almost all participants reported taking medications, with an average of 4.3 medications per person. Among those who attended the health screening, 78.1% were taking medications that could cause xerostomia (dry mouth); (4) Conclusions: This study provides initial information on the prevalence of medical conditions, medication usage, and the potential impact on the oral health of older adults living in rural Victoria. This information would be valuable for healthcare and dental workforce planning, policy development, and improving the overall well-being of this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural disasters such as bushfires are a test of individual and group resilience, and in extreme cases, threaten the sustainability of communities. Bushfires have long been common in Australia, although anthropogenic climate change has exacerbated their prevalence and severity. The aim of the present study was to assess the individual resilience and disaster-specific adaptation and resilience of community members in the wake of a bushfire event. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional design, an adult community sample of 165 residents of Noosa Shire in regional Queensland, Australia completed the 25-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC©) and the 43-item Disaster Adaptation and Resilience Scale (DARS). Mean scores for the CD-RISC© indicated significantly greater resilience (p < 0.001) than reported previously for a large Australian community cohort. Similarly, the DARS scores indicated significantly greater adaptation and resilience (p < 0.001) than that of a comparable cohort in the USA. The two oldest groups of residents (66+ years and 51–65 years) reported significantly greater adaptation and resilience than the group of younger residents (≤50 years; p < 0.001). The study findings provide the Noosa Shire community with an objective baseline from which they can assess the efficacy of future resilience-building initiatives and, more broadly, offer a valuable point of reference for future disaster-related research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this systematic review was to assess the global prevalence of sleep bruxism and awake bruxism in pediatric and adult populations. Methods: This systematic review was conducted by analyzing studies published from 2003 to 2023. The following keyword combination was utilized: prevalence, epidemiology, population, and bruxism. The PubMed database was analyzed, supplemented by manual searches using the Google search. Additionally, the snowballing procedure method was applied. A double assessment of the quality of publications was carried out to preserve the highest possible quality of evidence (e.g., Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist). Analyses were conducted using the R statistical language. Results: The global bruxism (sleep and awake) prevalence is 22.22%. The global sleep bruxism prevalence is 21% and awake prevalence is 23%. The occurrence of sleep bruxism, based on polysomnography, was estimated at 43%. The highest prevalence of sleep bruxism was observed in North America at 31%, followed by South America at 23%, Europe at 21%, and Asia at 19%. The prevalence of awake bruxism was highest in South America at 30%, followed by Asia at 25% and Europe at 18%. Conclusions: One in four individuals may experience awake bruxism. Bruxism is a significant factor among women. It was observed that age is a significant factor for the occurrence of sleep bruxism in women. Among the limitations of the study is the lack of analysis of the prevalence of bruxism in Africa and Australia due to not collecting an adequate sample for analysis. The study was registered in the Open Science Framework (10.17605/OSF.IO/ZE786). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most older individuals prefer to age in place during their later years; however, achieving this aspiration presents significant challenges. Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) represent a potential option for promoting healthy aging, both from the perspective of meeting seniors' real needs and cost-effectiveness. This article aims to analyze the distribution of NORCs in Australia and compares census data from 2011 to 2021 to understand the overall distribution patterns and changes across the nation, by providing a localized analysis of the hotspot distribution of NORCs in eight Greater Capital Cities. The study employs methods of geovisualization, Global Moran's I, and Getis-Ord Gi* analysis to examine the spatial correlations and clustering effects of NORCs. The results indicate that NORCs are rapidly growing in Australia, with their distribution primarily influenced by sea change and urbanization. Understanding the trends in NORC distribution can assist the government in developing effective and localized policies and interventions to help older Australians to better age in place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Construction Engineering and Management (CEM) is a critically important discipline that provides a scientific and management-oriented perspective for building and construction projects. Owing to the contingent nature of this industry, CEM research is highly context-specific and is governed by socio-economic needs, environmental challenges, and industry-specific issues. Australia is home to several universities engaged in CEM-related research and training. In terms of the CEM research volume, Australia occupies fourth place, globally. Considering the importance of Australia-based CEM research, the aim of this study was to investigate how CEM research in Australia has developed temporally and across different institutions, how research collaborations in this area materialized, and which topics and research domains are typically being explored. Accordingly, this study conducted a systematic review of 4318 publications from 158 Australia-based CEM academics, primarily based in eight Australian universities. Based on Scientometric and critical review techniques, this study provides insights into research topics, research growth, publication volume, and collaboration in the CEM research discipline in Australia. Similar to global CEM research, Australia-based CEM research places a high emphasis on topics such as risk, sustainability, decision-making, cost, design, and BIM. However, unlike global research trends, Australia-based CEM research places a much higher emphasis on safety and stakeholder management. Australian institutions have high collaboration among themselves and with Chinese and Hong Kong-based institutions. Recommendations for research development in Australia are provided to facilitate a discussion on how Australian institutions can set the future agenda for CEM research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Arboviruses, such as Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, and dengue virus, have the potential to pose a public health threat in Australia. Certain arboviruses pose significant concerns due to their potential impact on the safety and supply of blood transfusion products, necessitating a greater in-depth understanding of spatiotemporal patterns. This study analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution of eight arboviruses of public health significance in Australia from 2002 to 2017, using Geographic Information System mapping and space–time scan statistics. Key weather variables, including rainfall, temperature, and humidity, were found to influence arbovirus incidence rates and blood donation counts. The findings highlight regions at risk and offer insights for improving public health interventions. Arboviruses pose a significant global public health threat, with Ross River virus (RRV), Barmah Forest virus (BFV), and dengue virus (DENV) being among the most common and clinically significant in Australia. Some arboviruses, including those prevalent in Australia, have been reported to cause transfusion-transmitted infections. This study examined the spatiotemporal variation of these arboviruses and their potential impact on blood donation numbers across Australia. Using data from the Australian Department of Health on eight arboviruses from 2002 to 2017, we retrospectively assessed the distribution and clustering of incidence rates in space and time using Geographic Information System mapping and space–time scan statistics. Regression models were used to investigate how weather variables, their lag months, space, and time affect case and blood donation counts. The predictors' importance varied with the spatial scale of analysis. Key predictors were average rainfall, minimum temperature, daily temperature variation, and relative humidity. Blood donation number was significantly associated with the incidence rate of all viruses and its interaction with local transmission of DENV, overall. This study, the first to cover eight clinically relevant arboviruses at a fine geographical level in Australia, identifies regions at risk for transmission and provides valuable insights for public health intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the global energy market undergoes a wholesale transformation accelerated by the need to decarbonise, a rapid transition to renewable energy and the mass deployment of distributed energy resources, autonomous energy networks or microgrids are emerging as an attractive mechanism for the delivery of electricity to end users. Yet in Australia, at least, relatively little is known about key aspects of microgrids that are fundamental to their successful deployment, not least the more commercial and economic elements rather than the purely technical. Drawing on the extant global literature on microgrids, in this paper, we explore the most important of these aspects including business models, ownership and investment. Identifying the ambiguity, inconsistency and uncertainty evident in many of the feasibility studies currently in train across Australia, in this paper, we highlight specific areas for future research. These research areas must be addressed if the full potential of microgrids is to be realised in the context of a global energy transition both domestically and internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy transition to wind and solar opens up opportunities for green hydrogen as wind and solar generation tend to bring electricity prices down to very low levels. We evaluate whether green hydrogen can integrate well with wind and solar PVs to improve the South Australian electricity grid. Green hydrogen can use membrane electrolysis plants during periods of surplus renewable energy. This hydrogen can then be electrified or used in industry. The green hydrogen system was analysed to understand the financial viability and technical impact of integrating green hydrogen. We also used system engineering techniques to understand the system holistically, including the technical, social, environmental, and economic impacts. The results show opportunities for the system to provide seasonal storage, grid firming, and reliability services. Financially, it would need changes to electricity rules to be viable, so at present, it would not be viable without subsidy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children born from pregnancy complications are at higher risk of chronic diseases in adulthood. Identifying which children born from a complicated pregnancy are likely to suffer from later chronic disease is important in order to intervene to prevent or delay the onset of disease. This study examined the associations between the major pregnancy complications (gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, small- and large for gestational age, and preterm birth) and child telomere length, a biomarker of chronic disease risk. This was a population-based longitudinal analysis using data from the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children. The primary outcome is telomere length, measured in 11–12-year-old children. Multivariable linear regression was used to estimate the association between pregnancy complications and child telomere length, adjusting for a range of a priori confounders. Data from 841 families were used. One in four pregnancies (27.1%) featured a pregnancy complication. In the adjusted analysis, there was no association between pregnancy complications and child telomere length (high blood pressure: mean difference (95% CI): 0.00 (−0.12, 0.12); gestational diabetes (0.05 (−0.10, 0.19)); small for gestational age (0.07 (−0.04, 0.19)); large for gestational age (−0.06 (−0.15, 0.03)); and preterm birth (−0.10 (−0.21, 0.01)). Our results do not support the notion that telomere length is shorter in children born to mothers after a pregnancy complication. Methodological considerations should be rigorous to improve the reproducibility of findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In January 2021, Australia initiated a national COVID-19 vaccine rollout strategy but faced setbacks, leading to negative press and media controversy, which may have diminished vaccine confidence. This study aimed to assess the factors influencing vaccine confidence in Australian adults (≥18 years of age) following the administration of a COVID-19 vaccine. Conducted at Blacktown Hospital, Sydney, a cross-sectional survey with 1053 respondents gauged vaccine confidence and influencing factors. The results showed overall high confidence (mean score 33/40). Trusted sources included the Australian Department of Health (77.8%), NSW Health (76.7%), and general practitioners (53.7%), while social media was distrusted (5.9%). The motivations for vaccination varied: university-educated individuals prioritised personal health (X2 = 17.81; p < 0.001), while religious and/or older respondents (≥50 years of age) emphasised community (X2 = 11.69; p < 0.001) and family protection (X2 = 17.314; p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed use of the Australian Department of Health website as a trusted source of COVID-19 information as the strongest predictor of high confidence (>30; OR 1.43; p = 0.041), while exposure to fake news decreased confidence (OR 0.71; p = 0.025). The study underscores the importance of reliable health information sources in bolstering vaccine confidence and highlights the detrimental effects of misinformation. Promoting awareness of trustworthy health channels is crucial to combat vaccine hesitancy in Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clearing of native vegetation on private agricultural land has contributed greatly to the loss of ecosystems and biodiversity worldwide. Native vegetation on private land may be cleared for a variety of reasons, of which the expansion of agriculture is only one. In this study, we investigate how the clearing of native vegetation on private land is influenced by (1) the utilitarian, social and hedonic objectives of landholders and (2) the way in which the presence of native vegetation interacts with the farm system to contribute to, or detract from, achieving those objectives. Using data from a survey of agricultural landholders in New South Wales, Australia, we found that the landholders' management of native vegetation was strongly influenced by their perceptions of the opportunities and threats the native vegetation on their properties presented to them. The implications are drawn for predicting the clearing of native vegetation and designing effective policy interventions to influence the extent of clearing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Australian Bureau of Meteorology offers a national operational 7-day ensemble streamflow forecast service covering regions of high environmental, economic, and social significance. This semi-automated service generates streamflow forecasts every morning and is seamlessly integrated into the Bureau's Hydrologic Forecasting System (HyFS). Ensemble rainfall forecasts, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), and Poor Man's Ensemble (PME), available in the Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) suite, are used to generate these streamflow forecasts. The NWP rainfall undergoes pre-processing using the Catchment Hydrologic Pre-Processer (CHyPP) before being fed into the GR4H rainfall–runoff model, which is embedded in the Short-term Water Information Forecasting Tools (SWIFT) hydrological modelling package. The simulated streamflow is then post-processed using Error Representation and Reduction In Stages (ERRIS). We evaluated the performance of the operational rainfall and streamflow forecasts for 96 catchments using four years of operational data between January 2020 and December 2023. Performance evaluation metrics included the following: CRPS, relative CRPS, CRPSS, and PIT-Alpha for ensemble forecasts; NSE, PCC, MAE, KGE, PBias, and RMSE; and three categorical metrics, CSI, FAR, and POD, for deterministic forecasts. The skill scores, CRPS, relative CRPS, CRPSS, and PIT-Alpha, gradually decreased for both rainfall and streamflow as the forecast horizon increased from Day 1 to Day 7. A similar pattern emerged for NSE, KGE, PCC, MAE, and RMSE as well as for the categorical metrics. Forecast performance also progressively decreased with higher streamflow volumes. Most catchments showed positive performance skills, meaning the ensemble forecast outperformed climatology. Both streamflow and rainfall forecast skills varied spatially across the country—they were generally better in the high-runoff-generating catchments, and poorer in the drier catchments situated in the western part of the Great Dividing Range, South Australia, and the mid-west of Western Australia. We did not find any association between the model forecast skill and the catchment area. Our findings demonstrate that the 7-day ensemble streamflow forecasting service is robust and draws great confidence from agencies that use these forecasts to support decisions around water resource management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With increasing numbers of parents choosing to home-school their child, currently there is very limited information about how this is implemented. Utilizing the recently developed Parents' Perceptions of Home-Schooling scale (PPHS), a survey of 93 home-schooling parents in Western Australia was undertaken. Data were collected using five Likert scales to obtain information concerned with a range of implementation aspects. Key findings were related to the process for registering and providing an appropriate learning program, the role of the home-educator moderator, the type of study and support utilized, and whether the student had a disability or ALNs. The discussion considers links to inclusion and how the heightened uptake of home-schooling can be monitored effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]